Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Natural dead sea salt and retrospective dosimetry

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Radiation and Environmental Biophysics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Accidents resulting in widespread dispersal of radioactive materials have given rise to a need for materials that are convenient in allowing individual dose assessment. The present study examines natural Dead Sea salt adopted as a model thermoluminescence dosimetry system. Samples were prepared in two different forms, loose-raw and loose-ground, subsequently exposed to 60Co gamma-rays, delivering doses in the range 2–10 Gy. Key thermoluminescence (TL) properties were examined, including glow curves, dose response, sensitivity, reproducibility and fading. Glow curves shapes were found to be independent of given dose, prominent TL peaks for the raw and ground samples appearing in the temperature ranges 361–385 ºC and 366–401 ºC, respectively. The deconvolution of glow curves has been undertaken using GlowFit, resulting in ten overlapping first-order kinetic glow peaks. For both sample forms, the integrated TL yield displays linearity of response with dose, the loose-raw salt showing some 2.5 × the sensitivity of the ground salt. The samples showed similar degrees of fading, with respective residual signals 28 days post-irradiation of 66% and 62% for the ground and raw forms respectively; conversely, confronted by light-induced fading the respective signal losses were 62% and 80%. The effective atomic number of the Dead Sea salt of 16.3 is comparable to that of TLD-200 (Zeff 16.3), suitable as an environmental radiation monitor in accident situations but requiring careful calibration in the reconstruction of soft tissue dose (soft tissue Zeff 7.2). Sample luminescence studies were carried out via Raman and Photoluminescence spectroscopy as well as X-ray diffraction, ionizing radiation dependent variation in lattice structure being found to influence TL response.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Addala S, Bouhdjer L, Chala A, Bouhdjar A, Halimi O, Boudine B, Sebais M (2013) Structural and optical properties of a NaCl single crystal doped with CuO nanocrystals. Chin Phys B 22(9):098103

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Alawiah A, Bauk S, Marashdeh MW, Nazura MZN, Abdul-Rashid HA, Yusoff Z, Gieszczyk W, Noramaliza MN, Adikan FM, Mahdiraji GA, Tamchek N (2015) The thermoluminescence glow curve and the deconvoluted glow peak characteristics of erbium doped silica fiber exposed to 70–130 kVp x-rays. Appl Radiat Isot 104:197–202

    Google Scholar 

  • Ademola JA (2017) Luminescence properties of common salt (NaCl) available in Nigeria for use as accident dosimeter in radiological emergency situation. J Radiat Res Appl Sci 10(2):117–121

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Amer H (2017) Development of NaCl salt as a reusable gamma radiation dosimeter. Int J Eng Sci Inv 6(8):80–87

    Google Scholar 

  • Arnikar HJ, Rao BSM, Gijare MA, Saradesai SS (1975) Variation of aquoluminescence during the decay and regeneration of thermoluminescence under F-light. J Chimie Phys 72:654–658

    Google Scholar 

  • Bailey RM, Adamiec G, Rhodes EJ (2000) OSL properties of NaCl relative to dating and dosimetry. Radiat Meas 32:717–723

    Google Scholar 

  • Bailiff IK (1998) Retrospective dosimetry with ceramics. Radiat Meas 27(5):923–941

    Google Scholar 

  • Bäuerle D (1973) Vibrational spectra of electron and hydrogen centers in ionic crystals. In: Solid state physics. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, pp 76–160

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernhardsson C, Christiansson M, Mattsson S, Rääf CL (2009) Household salt as a retrospective dosemeter using optically stimulated luminescence. Radiat Environ Biophys 48(1):21–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Biernacka M, Majgier R, Maternicki K, Liang M, Mandowski A (2016) Peculiarities of optically stimulated luminescence in halite. Radiat Meas 90:247–251

    Google Scholar 

  • Bootjomchai C, Laopaiboon R (2014) Thermoluminescence dosimetric properties and effective atomic numbers of window glass. Nucl Instrum Methods Phys Res 323:42–48

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Bradley DA (1986) Some physical features of post-chernobyl fallout: observations from the northern hemisphere. IRPS-News 1:7–11 (Newsletter of the International Radiation Physics Society)

    Google Scholar 

  • Christiansson M, Bernhardsson C, Geber-Bergstr T, Mattsson S, Rääf CL (2014) Household salt for retrospective dose assessments using OSL: Signal integrity and its dependence on containment, sample collection, and signal readout. Radiat Environ Biophys 53(3):559–569

    Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham JR, Johns HE (1983) In: Charles CT (ed) The physics of radiology. Springfield, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Duval E, Mariotto G, Montagna M, Pilla O, Viliani G, Barland M (1987) Low-frequency surface-enhanced raman scattering from fractal vibrational modes localized at the nacl-na colloid interface. EPL 3(3):333–339

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Eid S, Ebraheem S, Abdel-Kader NM (2014) Study the effect of gamma radiation on the optical energy gap of poly(vinyl alcohol) based ferrotitanium alloy film: its possible use in radiation dosimetry. Open J Polym Chem 04(02):21–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Ekendahl D, Judas L (2010) NaCl as a retrospective and accident dosemeter. Radiat Prot Dosim 145:36–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Elashmawy M (2018) Study of constraints in using household NaCl salt for retrospective dosimetry. Nucl Instrum Methods Phys Res 423(February):49–61

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • El-Faramawy NA, El-Somany I, Mansour A, Maghraby AM, Eissa H, Wieser A (2018) Camel molar tooth enamel response to gamma rays using EPR spectroscopy. Radiat Environ Biophys 57(1):63–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Endres GW, Kathren RL, Kogher LF (1970) Thermoluminescence personnel dosimetry at hanford—II. Energy dependence and application of tld materials in operational health physics. Health Phys 18(6):665–672

    Google Scholar 

  • Estermann I, Leivo WJ, Stern O (1949) Change in density of potassium chloride crystals upon irradiation with X-rays. Phys Rev 75(4):627–633

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Gartia RK, Sharma BA, Ranita U (2004) Thermoluminescence response of some common brands of iodised salt. Indian J Eng Mater Sci 11(2):137–142

    Google Scholar 

  • Groote JC, Weerkamp JRW, Seinen J, Den Hartog HW (1994) Radiation damage in NaCl. IV Raman Scatt Phys Rev B 50(14):9798–9802

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Hashim S, Omar SSC, Ibrahim SA, Hassan WMSW, Ung NM, Mahdiraji GA, Alzimami K (2015) Thermoluminescence response of flat optical fiber subjected to 9 MeV electron irradiations. Radiat Phys Chem 106:46–49

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Henry CH (1966) Analysis of Raman scattering by F centers. Phys Rev 152(2):699

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Horowitz YS (1981) The theoretical and microdosimetric basis of thermoluminescence and applications to dosimetry. Phys Med Biol 26(5):765–824

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunter PG, Spooner NA, Smith BW, Creighton DF (2012) Investigation of emission spectra, dose response and stability of luminescence from NaCl. Radiat Meas 47(9):820–824

    Google Scholar 

  • Inrig EL, Godfrey-Smith DI, Larsson CL (2010) Fading corrections to electronic component substrates in retrospective accident dosimetry. Radiat Meas 45(3–6):608–610

    Google Scholar 

  • Ivanov DV, Shishkina EA, Osipov DI, Starichenko VI, Bayankin SN, Zhukovsky MV, Pryakhin EA (2018) Otoliths as object of EPR dosimetric research. Radiat Environ Biophys 57(4):357–363

    Google Scholar 

  • Khan FM (2010) The physics of radiation therapy, 4th edn, p 531

  • Khanlary MRT (1991) Tl spectra of single crystal and crushed calcite. Nucl Tracks Radiat Meas 18:29–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Kurudirek M (2014) Effective atomic numbers and electron densities of some human tissues and dosimetric materials for mean energies of various radiation sources relevant to radiotherapy and medical applications. Radiat Phys Chem 102:139–146

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Majgier R, Rääf CL, Mandowski A, Bernhardsson C (2019) OSL properties in various forms of kcl and nacl samples after exposure to ionizing radiaTION. Radiat Prot Dosim 184(1):90–97

    Google Scholar 

  • McKeever SWS (1985) Thermoluminescence of solids. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Mckeever SW (1995) Thermoluminescence dosimetry materials: properties and uses. Ramtrans Publishing

  • Mische EF, McKeever SWS (1989) Mechanisms of supralinearity in lithium fluoride thermoluminescence dosemeters. Radiat Prot Dosim 29:159–175

    Google Scholar 

  • Muhamad Azim MK, Abdul Sani SF, Daar E, Khandaker MU, Almugren KS, Bradley DA (2020) Luminescence properties of natural dead sea salt pellet dosimetry upon thermal stimulation. Radiat Phys Chem. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2020.108964

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murthy KVR, Pallavi SP, Rahul G, Patel YS, Sai Prasad AS, Elangovan D (2006) Thermoluminescence dosimetric characteristics of beta irradiated salt. Radiat Prot Dosim 119(1–4):350–352

    Google Scholar 

  • Nawi SNBM, Wahib NFB, Zulkepely NNB, Amin YBM, Min UN, Bradley DA, Maah MJ (2015) The thermoluminescence response of ge-doped flat fibers to gamma radiation. Sensors (Switzerland) 15(8):20557–20569

    Google Scholar 

  • Noori A, Mostajaboddavati M, Ziaie F (2018) Retrospective dosimetry using fingernail electron paramagnetic resonance response. Nucl Eng Technol 50:526–530

    Google Scholar 

  • Ozdemir A, Yegingil Z, Nur N, Kurt K, Tuken T, Depci T, Dolek Y (2016) Thermoluminescence study of Mn doped lithium tetraborate powder and pellet samples synthesized by solution combustion synthesis. J Lumin 173:149–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Pau KS, Tiwari RC (2012) Thermoluminescence (TL) analysis of naturally occurring salt for sample weight selection for dosimetry studies. Int J Phys Appl 4:73–79

    Google Scholar 

  • Puchalska M, Bilski P (2006) GlowFit—a new tool for thermoluminescence glow-curve deconvolution. Radiat Meas 41(6):659–664

    Google Scholar 

  • Randall JT, Wilkins MHF (1945) Phosphorescence and electron traps-I. The study of trap distributions. Proc R Soc Lond 184(999):365–389

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Ranjbar AH, Durrani SA, Randle K (1999) Electron spin resonance and thermoluminescence in powder form of clear fused quartz: Effects of grinding. Radiat Meas 30(1):73–81

    Google Scholar 

  • Raptis C (1986) Evidence of temperature-defect-induced first-order Raman scattering in pure NaCl crystals. Phys Rev B 33(2):1350–1352

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Reyes RA, Romanyukha A, Trompier F, Mitchell CA, Clairand I, De T, Benevides LA, Swartz HM (2008) Electron paramagnetic resonance in human fingernails: the sponge model implication. Radiat Environ Biophys 47(4):515

    Google Scholar 

  • Roman-Lopez J, Piña López YI, Cruz-Zaragoza E, Marcazzó J (2018) Optically stimulated luminescence of natural NaCl mineral from Dead Sea exposed to gamma radiation. Appl Radiat Isot 138:60–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Romanyukha A, Trompier F, Reyes RA, Christensen DM, Iddins CJ, Sugarman SL (2014) Electron paramagnetic resonance radiation dose assessment in fingernails of the victim exposed to high dose as result of an accident. Radiat Environ Biophys 53(4):755–762

    Google Scholar 

  • Rozaila ZS, Khandaker MU, Wahib N, Abdul Jilani MKH, Abdul Sani SF, Bradley DA (2019) Characterization of smartphone screen for retrospective accident dosimetry. Phys Chem Rad. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2019.04.047

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sasho Nikolovski S, Nikolovska L, Velevska M, Velev V (2010) Thermoluminescent signal fading of encapsulated lif: Mg,Ti detectors in PTFE-Teflon registered trademark. In: Proceedings of the Second Conference on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering of R Macedonia, 111. https://inis.iaea.org/search/search.aspx?orig_q=RN:43026163

  • Singh AK, Menon SN, Kadam SY, Koul DK, Datta D (2018) OSL properties of three commonly available salt brands in India for its use in accident dosimetry. Nucl Instrum Methods Phys Res 419:38–43

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Siti Rozaila Z, Khandaker MU, Wahib NB, Hanif MK, Abdul Sani SF, Bradley DA (2019) Thermoluminescence characterization of smartphone screen for retrospective accident dosimetry. Radiat Phys Chem. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2019.04.047

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Skvortsov VG, Ivannikov AI, Stepanenko VF, Tsyb AF, Khamidova LG, Kondrashov AE, Tikunov DD (2000) Application of EPR retrospective dosimetry for large-scale accidental situation. Appl Radiat Isot 52:1275–1282

    Google Scholar 

  • Swartz HM, Greg Burke M, Coey ED, Dong R, Grinberg O, Hilton J, Iwasaki A, Lesniewski P, Kmiec M, Kai-Ming Lo R, Nicolalde J, Ruuge A, Sakata Y, Sucheta A, Walczak T, Williams BB, Mitchell CA, Romanyukha A, Schauer DA (2007) In vivo EPR for dosimetry. Radiat Meas 42:1075–1084

    Google Scholar 

  • Tamrakar RK, Bisen DP, Sahu IP, Brahme N (2014) UV and gamma ray induced thermoluminescence properties of cubic Gd 2 O 3: Er 3+ phosphor. J Radiat Res Appl Sci 7(4):417–429

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomsen KJ, Murray AS (2002) Household and workplace chemicals as retrospective luminescence dosemeters. Radiat Prot Dosim 101:515–518

    Google Scholar 

  • Tiwari RC (2014) Thermoluminescence study of naturally occurring salts relevant to dosimetry obtained from Mizoram. PhD Thesis on Radiation Dosimetry.

  • Trompier F, Romanyukha A, Reyes R, Vezin H, Queinnec F, Gourier D (2014) State of the art in nail dosimetry: free radicals identification and reaction mechanisms. Radiat Environ Biophys 53(2):291–303

    Google Scholar 

  • Wahib N, Khandaker MU, Sani SFA, Bradley DA (2019) Commercial kitchenware glass as a potential thermoluminescent media for retrospective dosimetry. Appl Rad Isot 148:218–224

    Google Scholar 

  • Wesełucha-Birczyńska A, Toboła T, Natkaniec-Nowak L (2008) Raman microscopy of inclusions in blue halites. Vib Spectrosc 48(2):302–307

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams BB, Flood AB, Salikhov I, Kobayashi K, Dong R, Rychert K, Du G, Schreiber W, Swartz HM (2014) In vivo EPR tooth dosimetry for triage after a radiation event involving large populations. Radiat Environ Biophys 53(2):335–346

    Google Scholar 

  • Worlock JM, Porto SPS (1965) Raman scattering by F centers. Phys Rev Lett 15(17):697

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Yasmin S, Rozaila ZS, Khandaker MU, Barua BS, Chowdhury FUZ, Abdur Rashida Md, Bradley David A (2018) The radiation shielding offered by the commercial glass installed in Bangladeshi dwellings. Radiat Eff Defects Solids 173(7–8):657–672

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Yasmin S, Khandaker MU, Rozaila ZS, Rashid MA, Bradley DA, Abdul Sani SF (2019) Thermoluminescence features of commercial glass and retrospective accident dosimetry. Rad Phys Chem 168:108528

    Google Scholar 

  • Yüce ÜR, Engin B (2017) Effect of particle size on the thermoluminescence dosimetric properties of household salt. Radiat Meas 102:1–9

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge University of Malaya funding for this project, under RU Faculty Grant Program (GPF036B-2018), also Sunway University through grant no. INT-2018-SHMS-CRS-02 and the Deanship of Scientific Research at Princess Noura binti Abdul Rahman University, through the Research Group Program Grant (RGP-1440-0016).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Norfadira Binti Wahib, S. F. Abdul Sani, Ain Ramli, S. S. Ismail, Muhammad Hussin Abdul Jabar & M. U. Khandaker

  2. Centre for Biomedical Physics, School of Healthcare and Medical Sciences, Sunway University, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia

    Norfadira Binti Wahib, M. U. Khandaker & D. A. Bradley

  3. Department of Physics, The University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan

    E. Daar

  4. Department of Physics, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    K. S. Almugren & F. H. Alkallas

  5. Department of Physics, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK

    D. A. Bradley

Authors
  1. Norfadira Binti Wahib
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. F. Abdul Sani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ain Ramli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. S. S. Ismail
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Muhammad Hussin Abdul Jabar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. M. U. Khandaker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. E. Daar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. K. S. Almugren
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. F. H. Alkallas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. D. A. Bradley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. F. Abdul Sani.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

Norfadira binti Wahib performed the thermoluminescence experiment at Department of Physics, University of Malaya and wrote the main manuscript text. S.F. Abdul Sani designed, directed and coordinated the experiment, and wrote the main manuscript text. Ain Ramli performed the Raman and XRD experiments at Department of Physics, University of Malaya. S.S. Ismail analysed deconvolution of TL glow curve using GlowFit software. A.J. Muhammad Hussin performed the UV-Vis experiment at Department of Physics, University of Malaya. M.U. Khandaker reviewed and proofread the main manuscript text, and made a significant intellectual contribution. E. Daar provides Dead Sea salt from the University of Jordan. K.S. Almugren analyse the data together with Norfadira binti Wahib and provides financial support for the thermoluminescence dosimetry (TLD) reader. F.H. Alkallas provides financial support for the thermoluminescence dosimetry (TLD) reader. D.A. Bradley reviewed and proofread the main manuscript text, and made a significant intellectual contribution. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wahib, N.B., Abdul Sani, S.F., Ramli, A. et al. Natural dead sea salt and retrospective dosimetry. Radiat Environ Biophys 59, 523–537 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00411-020-00846-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00411-020-00846-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation