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Microalgae and macrophytes are commonly used as human and animal food supplements. We examined the cultivation of the microalgae Chlorella sorokiniana and the duckweed Lemna minor in thermal waters under batch and sequencing batch conditions and we characterized the produced biomass for the presence of essential nutrients as well as for heavy metals and radioisotope content. The highest specific growth rate for the microalgae was observed when 5 or 15 mg/L N were supplemented while the optimal conditions for Lemna minor were observed in the co-presence of 5 mg/L N and 1.7 mg/L P. Lemna minor presented higher concentrations of proteins and lipids comparing to the studied microalgae. Both organisms contained high amounts of lutein (up to 1378 mg/kg for Lemna minor) and chlorophyll (up to 1518 mg/kg for Lemna minor) while β-carotene and tocopherols were found at lower concentrations, not exceeding a few tens of mg/kg. The heavy metal content varied between the two species. Lemna minor accumulated more Cd, Cu, K, Mn, Na, Ni, and Zn whereas Al, Ca and Mg were higher in Chlorella sorokiniana. Both organisms could be a significant source of essential metals but the occasional exceedance of the statutory levels of toxic metals in food products raises concern for potential risk to either humans or animals. Application of gamma-spectroscopy to quantify the effective dose to humans from 228 Ra, 226 Ra and 40 K showed that Chlorella sorokiniana was well under the radiological limits while the collected mass of Lemna minor was too small for radiological measurements with confidence., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A practical and comprehensive experimental approach for radioactivity measurements of voluminous environmental samples using high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry with High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector is presented. The radioanalytical procedure includes sample preparation, detector calibration, implemented corrections, quality control and assurance; and it is demonstrated with the determination of natural and anthropogenic radionuclides in water and soil standard samples. The methodology is verified, and the results are validated by intercomparison with the refence values provided as part of a worldwide proficiency test., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A medium resolution underwater gamma ray spectrometer was deployed in the submarine groundwater spring of Anavalos and was combined with conductivity and temperature sensors for continuous measurements of natural radioactivity, salinity and water temperature, respectively. The activity concentrations of radon progenies varied from (5-40) kBq m -3 , exhibited reverse dependence with salinity and were found above the guideline proposed by Environmental Protection Agency (11 kBq m -3 ). Their ratio was above unity indicating radon gas escape to the atmosphere. Time-series of the activity concentration together with their ratios were provided enabling the system configuration for long term monitoring applications. The in-situ method proved to be an effective tool to study the radioactivity levels of the spring and the groundwater - seawater interaction process. Furthermore, the proposed tool provides cost-effective measurements in terms of real-time and long-term requirements and, it is characterized by flexibility in terms of sensor integration in different platforms to perform submarine groundwater studies in a temporal and spatial manner., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The calibration of an underwater spectrometer, consisting of a CeBr 3 crystal, is performed for sediment sample measurements, via experimental data and Monte Carlo simulations. The system was implemented for activity concentration measurements in marine sediment samples in the laboratory. The results were compared with corresponding high resolution measurements and showed that the system provides accurate results, but relatively high uncertainties. Different measurement geometries are theoretically studied via Monte Carlo simulations in order to improve the system performance for such measurements., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Vertical variations of radionuclides, trace metals, and major elements were determined in two sediment cores, which were collected in the marine environment of Ierissos Gulf near Stratoni's mining area. The enrichment factors (EFs) were also estimated and provided moderately severe to extremely severe enrichment for most trace elements and Mn, describing the anthropogenic influence in the gulf during the previous century. According to the applied dating models based on 210 Pb and 137 Cs, the effect in the marine sediment due to the exploitation of pyrite for the production of sulfuric acid during 1912-1920 was observed. Additionally, the decrease of mining activity during 1935-1945 due to the Second World War and the type of ore exploitation, the alteration of the exploited ores, and the construction and operation of Olympiada's floatation plant during 1950-1970 were identified. The end of tailing discharging into the marine environment during 1980-2010 was also noted.

A new medium resolution gamma-ray spectrometer consisting of a cerium bromide (CeBr 3 ) crystal (2˝ x 2˝), is developed and optimized for radioactivity measurements in aquatic environments. This apparatus named GeoMAREA (Gamma-ray spectrometer for in-situ Marine Environmental Applications) is designed to control and prevent radio-contaminants in aquatic environments as well as to estimate the variation of natural radionuclides in marine systems for studying oceanographic processes. The system offers activity concentrations in Bq/m 3 for detected gamma-ray emitters in the energy range from 150 to 2600 keV, and can provide sequential continuous monitoring data in a stand-alone mode or it can be integrated in stationary/mobile platforms for (near) real-time applications. The photopeak efficiency values were estimated via the MCNPΧ code. Two experimental points were used to validate the theoretical estimations by deploying the system in a water tank with diluted reference sources such us Caesium-137 ( 137 Cs) and Potassium-40 ( 40 K). The system was subsequently deployed in the field along with a conductivity-temperature (CT) sensor, to measure 40 K and radon daughters in a region where submarine groundwater discharges (Anavalos, Kiveri, Greece) are present. The experimental calibration data was utilized to provide a first estimation for the background contribution around the photopeak of 40 K, attributed to the Cerium Bromide (CeBr 3 ) intrinsic activity., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Natural radionuclides, present in mining materials, can exhibit elevated values, thus it is of great interest to study their dispersion in mining areas. Radionuclide spatial variations were determined in coastal surface sediments near the mining area of Ierissos Gulf in northern Greece. 226 Ra and 235 U measured concentrations were compared with the estimations of ERICA Tool, the dispersion patterns were derived and the affected region around the load-out pier area was calculated to be approximately 21 km 2 ., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Two sediment cores (coastal and offshore) and surface sediments were collected near an abandoned mine area in the marine environment of Oxygono Bay at Lavreotiki peninsula to investigate temporal and spatial variations among radionuclides and trace metals/major elements. Lavreotiki was and still is well known for the mining and metallurgical activities, which lasted from ancient times to nowadays (early 1980s). Gamma-ray and X-ray fluorescence measurements were held to determine the radionuclide and trace metal/major element concentrations, respectively. The sedimentation rate at Oxygono Bay coastal core was determined using the 210 Pb and 137 Cs tracers, while the enrichment factors were estimated to assess the anthropogenic influence due to metals in a spatial (surface sediments) and a temporal (coastal core sediments) basis. The mass flux at the coastal core was utilized to provide a baseline information at Lavreotiki peninsula. The trace metal/major element profiles were indeed associated with the mining activity in the area, revealing the mining history. The ERICA Tool was incorporated to estimate the dose rates due to natural and 137 Cs radioactivity in the marine organisms and the values were found below the screening levels.

A methodology that extends the usability of low and medium resolution γ-ray detectors to a wide range of energies that appear in environmental radioactivity measurements is described. Results of the implementation of the methodology in the analysis of 20 granite samples measured with a (3″ × 3″) NaI(Tl) are presented. A comparison with the activity results obtained by a high-resolution detector (HPGe) for two samples was found in good agreement, within the uncertainties, validating the results of the proposed method., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A new approach for calibrating an in situ detection system for measurements in marine sediments has been developed. The efficiency calibration was deduced on full spectral range by Monte Carlo simulations (MCNP5 code) considering a close detector-seabed geometry set-up. Moreover, the influence of the detection efficiency with respect to the variations of the sediment geological characteristics was studied through Monte Carlo simulations. The results of the theoretical approach were compared with experimental calculations in two different real test cases, yielding a satisfactory agreement (up to 10% and 20% for sites 1 and 2 respectively) in the energy range from 351 keV to 2614 keV. For the experimental measurements, the in situ detection system KATERINA was deployed both in the seawater and on the seabed in two different marine environments. The experimental determinations of the detection efficiency were performed by utilizing the acquired data of the deployments, along with additional necessary laboratory measurements. The adopted approach and the obtained results are discussed., (Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Marine sediment samples were collected from Ierissos Gulf, N Aegean Sea, close to the coastal mining facilities. Measurements of radionuclide and metal concentrations, mineral composition and grain size distribution were performed. The concentrations of (226)Ra, (235)U and trace metals showed enhanced values in the port of Stratoni compared with those obtained near to Ierissos port. The dose rates received by marine biota were also calculated by the ERICA Assessment Tool and the results indicated no significant radiological risk., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The Full Spectrum Analysis approach was applied to obtain activity concentration estimations for in situ measurements in the marine environment. The 'standard spectra' were reproduced using the MCNP-CP code. In order to extract the activity concentrations, χ(2) minimization calculations were performed by implementing the MINUIT code. The method was applied to estimate the activity concentrations for measurements in the marine environment in three different test cases. The estimated activity concentrations were in good agreement with the experimentally derived ones within uncertainties., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Tigris and Euphrates rivers both emerge in eastern Turkey and cross Syria and Iraq. They unite to Shatt al-Arab/Arvand Rud River and discharge in Arabic/Persian Gulf. The activity concentration of natural and anthropogenic radionuclides was measured during the August of 2011 in a number of surficial sediment samples collected from the seabed along an almost straight line beginning near the estuary mouth and extending seaward. The results exhibited low activity concentration levels and an almost homogeneous spatial distribution except locations where sediment of biogenic origin, poor in radionuclides, dilute their concentrations. Dose rates absorbed by reference marine biota were calculated by the ERICA Assessment Tool considering the contribution of 40 K. The results revealed a relatively low impact of 40 K mainly to species living in, on and close to the seabed. Also, statistical association of radionuclides with selected stable elements (Ca, Ba and Sr) did not indicate presence of by-products related with oil and gas exploitation and transportation activities. Moreover, a semi-empirical sedimentology model applied to reproduce seabed granulometric facies based entirely on radionuclides activity concentrations., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The aim of the present work is the study of (137)Cs migration in sediment column taking into account the sedimentation rate in the Amvrakikos Gulf, at the western part of Greece. Marine core sediments were collected and the measurements were performed using the high resolution gamma-ray spectrometry method. The vertical distribution of (137)Cs activity concentration, as part of anthropogenic marine radioactivity, provided averaged sedimentation rate by identifying the depths of activity concentrations due to the Chernobyl accident and the nuclear tests signals. Furthermore, (137)Cs measurements were reproduced using the proposed one-dimensional diffusion-advection model which provides mainly as an output, the sedimentation rate and the average diffusivity of (137)Cs in the sediment column. The proposed model estimates the temporal variation of (137)Cs activity concentration from 1987 (one year after the Chernobyl accident) till today (2014)., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)