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This textbook presents the principles and methods for the measurement of radioactivity in the environment. In this regard, specific low-level radiation counting and spectrometry or mass spectrometry techniques are discussed, including sources, distribution, levels and dynamics of radioactivity in nature. The author gives an accurate description of the fundamental concepts and laws of radioactivity as well as the different types of detectors and mass spectrometers needed for detection. Special attention is paid to scintillators, semiconductor detectors, and gas ionization detectors. In order to explain radiochemistry, some concepts about chemical separations are introduced as well. The book is meant for graduate and advanced undergraduate students in physics, chemistry or engineering oriented to environmental sciences, and to other disciplines where monitoring of the environment and its management is of great interest.
List of contents
Introduction.- Radioactivity: history and phenomenology.- Radioactivity: decay law, definitions and units.- Natural and Artificial radioactivity.- Environmental Radioactivity.- Levels and behaviour of Environmental Radioactivity.- Radiological impact. Radiation dosimetry.- Principles of radiation detection: interaction of radiation with matter.- Principles of radiation detection: counting and spectrometry.- Gas ionization detectors.- Scintillation detectors.- Semiconductor detectors.- Dosimeters, other detectors and specific designs.- Radiochemistry for environmental samples.- Principles of Low-Level Counting and Spectrometry.- Low-Level Counting and Spectrometry Techniques.- Principles of Mass Spectrometry.- Principles of Particle Accelerators.- Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS).- Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA).
