The goal of this book is to examine the complex state of radioactivity in the environment, and to understand the interplay of its two principal sources: man-made and natural. The text examines human contributions to release of radionuclides, with an eye to future reductions, and assesses natural occurrences in an evaluation of baseline radioactivity.

Inhalt

1: Basic terms of radioactivity; R. Tykva. 1. Development of our knowledge. 2. Nuclides. 3. Characterization of radionuclides. 4. Activity expressions. 5. Doses. 2: Radionuclides in the environment; D. Berg. 1. Naturally occurring radionuclides in the environment. 2. Artificially produced radionuclides. 3. Behaviour of radioactive substances in the environment. 3: Radionuclides released into the environment; D. Berg. 1. Contamination of the environment by naturally occurring radionuclides. 2. Contamination by artificially produced radionuclides. 4: Application of environmental radionuclides in radiochronology; J. Kosler, J. Silar, E. Jelínek. 1. General concept of the radiochronology; J. Silar. 2. Radiocarbon; J. Silar. 3. Tritium; J. Silar. 4. Radiocarbon and tritium dating in science and technology; J. Silar. 5. Other radionuclides dating methods; J. Silar. 6. K - Ar and Ar - Ar dating methods; E. Jelínek. 7. Rb - Sr dating method; E. Jelínek. 8. Sm - Nd method; J. Kosler. 9. U - Th - Pb dating; J. Kosler. 10. Re - Os dating method; E. Jelínek, J. Kosler. 11. Lu - Hf dating method; E. Jelínek. 5: Radionuclide analyses; R. Tykva, J. Kosler. 1. Activity measurements; R. Tykva. 2. Analytical techniques in radiogenic dating; J. KoSler. References. Abbreviations. Index.