Gamma irradiation of cultural artifacts for disinfection using Monte Carlo simulations

In this study, it has been investigated the disinfection of Korean cultural artifacts by gamma irradiation, simulating the absorbed dose distribution on the object with the Monte Carlo methodology. Fungal contamination was identified on two traditional Korean agricultural tools, Hongdukkae and Holta...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied radiation and isotopes 2012-11, Vol.70 (11), p.2564-2568
Main Authors: Choi, Jong-il, Yoon, Minchul, Kim, Dongho
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Computer Simulation
Disinfection
Disinfection - methods
Fungi - radiation effects
Gamma Rays
Korean cultural artifacts
Manufactured Materials - microbiology
Manufactured Materials - radiation effects
Monte Carlo Method
Monte Carlo simulations
Radiation
Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted - methods
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:In this study, it has been investigated the disinfection of Korean cultural artifacts by gamma irradiation, simulating the absorbed dose distribution on the object with the Monte Carlo methodology. Fungal contamination was identified on two traditional Korean agricultural tools, Hongdukkae and Holtae, which had been stored in a museum. Nine primary species were identified from these items: Bjerkandera adusta, Dothideomycetes sp., Penicillium sp., Cladosporium tenuissimum, Aspergillus versicolor, Penicillium sp., Entrophospora sp., Aspergillus sydowii, and Corynascus sepedonium. However, these fungi were completely inactivated by gamma irradiation at an absorbed dose of 20kGy on the front side. Monte Carlo N Particle Transport Code was used to simulate the doses applied to these cultural artifacts, and the measured dose distributions were well predicted by the simulations. These results show that irradiation is effective for the disinfection of cultural artifacts and that dose distribution can be predicted with Monte Carlo simulations, allowing the optimization of the radiation treatment. ► Radiation was applied for the disinfection of Korean cultural artifacts. ► Fungi on the artifacts were completely inactivated by the irradiation. ► Monte Carlo N Particle Transport Code was used to predict the dose distribution. ► This study is applicable for the preservation of cultural artifacts by irradiation.
ISSN:0969-8043
1872-9800
DOI:10.1016/j.apradiso.2012.07.004