Occupational Thorium Exposure or Self-Poisoning?
Thoriated electrodes are used in TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding [1]. Thorium intake may happen during grinding and welding operations using thoriated electrodes [2]. The use of thoriated tungsten electrodes may be at the origin of a potential hazard [3]. The annual commited effective dose from inhalation of 232Th, 230Th, 228Th and 228Ra is usually below 1mSv for a full-time TIG welder [4]. Electrode consumption during welding was primarily the result of tip sharpening. Indeed, less than 3% of weight loss was attributable to the welding process [5].
Thorium-232 exposure during tungsten inert gas arc welding and electrode sharpening.
To assess the exposure of welders to thorium-232 (232Th) during tungsten inert gas arc (TIG) welding, airborne concentrations of 232Th in the breathing zone of the welder and background levels were measured. The radioactive concentrations were 1.11 x 10(-2) Bq/m3 during TIG welding of aluminum (TIG/Al), 1.78 x 10(-4) Bq/m3 during TIG welding of stainless steel (TIG/SS), and 1.93 x 10(-1) Bq/m3 during electrode sharpening, with 5.82 x 10(-5) Bq/m3 background concentration. Although the annual intake of 232Th estimated using these values did not exceed the annual limit intake (ALI, 1.6 x 10(2) Bq), we recommend reducing 232Th exposure by substituting thoriated electrodes with a thorium-free electrodes, setting up local ventilation systems, and by using respiratory protective equipment. It is also necessary to inform workers that thoriated tungsten electrodes contain radioactive material.
Comparison between Two Chemicals for Reducing Scale Formation in Reverse Osmosis Systems
In this present research was transacted with the calcium carbonate scale inhibition on the membrane surface of the reverse osmosis desalination system. Influence of changing feed solution flow rate (10-25)l/h, pH of the feed solution (6-10) on the recovery ,penetrate flow rate and total dissolved solid in (RO) system by using solution of calcium carbonate as feed solution was investigated, furthermore the effect of adding two types of scale inhibitor ,zinc chloride and polyamino polyether methylene phosphonate with difference concentration (2-8)mg/l for zinc chloride and (8-15) mg/l for polyamino polyether methylene phosphonate was calculated. The results showed that the permeate rate increases as the feed flow rate augmentation ,while it reducing with time, the total dissolved solids decreases as the feed flow rate increases while it increases with time and recovery rate decreases as the feed flow rate increases and it also decreases with time. It was concluded that the permeate rate decreases as the feed solution pH value increases and it cause high scale forming thus decrease the permeate TDS.By adding the scale inhibitor, it was found that the permeate rate and recovery rates increases as the concentration of inhibitor increases while the total dissolved solids decreases in the permeate with increasing the concentration of both inhibitors .It was discovered that Polyamino polyether methylene phosphonate more sturdy than zinc chloride as scale inhibitor for reverse osmosis desalination system in all concentrations was studied in this article.