Welcome to our research group! We are one of the few in Sweden maintaining leading national and international expertise in a broad field of radiological sciences, with a strong international network and established collaborations globally. Our group is recognized for its expertise in actinide analysis and possesses a solid radiochemistry capability. Our goal is to contribute new knowledge and methods in radiation protection and radioecology to ensure a sustainable and safe future.
The research group is led by docent and Senior Associate Professor Mats Eriksson.
Our research profile encompasses expertise in:
• Radiation Protection
• Radioecology, including marine, limnic, and terrestrial radioecology
• Health Physics
• Tracer studies
• Radiation Protection Preparedness
• Radiometric measurement methods and instrumentation (gamma, alpha, and beta spectrometry, and coincidence measurements)
• Radiochemistry, including advanced separation methods
• Studies of both anthropogenic and naturally occurring difficult-to-measure radionuclides
• Understanding sedimentation processes in various environments
• Application of radiometric dating for environmental studies
• Development and optimization of radiochemical methods for sample preparation and separation of radionuclides
• Development of radiochemical methods for use in nuclear emergency preparedness
Currently, we are conducting research within a range of exciting projects:
• The Tvären Area: We are conducting comprehensive studies in Tvären, a unique marine environment, to investigate the distribution and behavior of radionuclides originating from the Studsvik nuclear facility. This includes research on particle formation and remobilization under anoxic/reducing conditions in the sediments, mapping the current inventory of various radionuclides, and reconstructing the release history through detailed sediment analyses. We also study the dispersion of radionuclides in the water column in relation to different seasons and the unique hydrological conditions in Tvären. An important goal is to generate area-specific data to improve the modeling of radiological dispersion.
• The Baltic Sea and Nuclear Source Terms: Our research also extends to the Baltic Sea, where we work to understand the distribution and long-term accumulation of radionuclides. This includes characterizing source terms from global nuclear fallout and the Chernobyl accident as well as investigating the transport of radionuclides from Tvären into the Baltic Sea10 and the behavior of specific radionuclides such as Pu-, Am- , Cm-, U-isotopes and Np-237 in the sediments and water.
• Optimization of Radiometric and Mass Spectrometric Methods: We place great emphasis on continuously optimizing and developing sensitive and specific methods for measuring radionuclides. This includes advanced techniques such as low level LSC (Liquid Scintillation Counting) for low activities, alpha spectrometry, gamma spectroscopy with coincidence measurements, and the integration of mass spectrometric methods (ICP-MS, AMS, LG-SIMS). A central focus is the implementation and optimization of an automated chemical separation system to streamline and improve the quality of the analysis of difficult-to-measure radionuclides, which includes collaboration with leading international researchers in this field.
• Internal Dosimetry and Uranium Aerosols: We conduct research in internal dosimetry with a focus on exposure to uranium aerosols in working environments within nuclear fuel production. Our work includes characterizing the physicochemical properties of aerosols and developing methods to assess internal dose via indirect measurements and biokinetic models.
• Other Research Interests: Our research also touches upon important areas such as nuclear emergency preparedness, development of methods for the analysis of Sr-90, and contributions to the field of nuclear forensics through advanced isotope measurements. We also investigate the behavior of radiologically important radioisotopes in various environmental matrices and under varying conditions.
Through our research, we strive to contribute to a more radiation-safe society and to strengthen the national competence in radioecology and radiochemistry. We welcome interest from collaborators and students who wish to engage in this important field of research.
