The neutron Howitzer container at the Neutron Measurements Laboratory of the Nuclear Engineering Department of the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM), is equipped with a 241 Am-Be neutron source of 74 GBq in its center. The container allows the source to be in either the irradiation or the storage position. To measure the neutron fluence rate spectra around the Howitzer container, measurements were performed using a Bonner spheres spectrometer and the spectra were unfolded using the NSDann program. A calibrated neutron area monitor LB6411 was used to measure the ambient dose equivalent rates, H * (10). Detailed Monte-Carlo simulations were performed to calculate the measured quantities at the same positions. The maximum relative deviation between simulations and measurements was 19.53%. After validation, the simulated model was used to calculate the equivalent dose rate, H T , in several key organs of a voxel phantom. The computed H T in the skin and lenses of the eyes are within the ICRP recommended dose limits, as is the H * (10) value for the storage position.

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Historical mining activities are a source of environmental pollution that affects the food chain and the health of human beings. The aim of this study was assessment the accumulation of arsenic and lead in vegetables grown in agricultural soils contaminated by old mining in Zacatecas, Mexico. The concentration of arsenic and lead in agricultural soil and edible parts of carrot, garlic, and pepper was analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. The soil-vegetable bioconcentration factor and pollution load index were determined. The pH values of the farmland were alkaline. The concentration of arsenic in agricultural soil exceeds the permissible limit for arsenic of Mexican standards and international representing health risks. The lead content in most soil samples they were low. The arsenic and lead content in edible parts of species vegetable exceeded the national standard from various countries and the values established by the Codex Alimentarius (FAO-WHO). The highest arsenic concentration was found both in Capsicum annum and Allium sativum. The highest concentration of Pb was in pepper fruits. Among vegetable the high BCF value was for arsenic, ranging from 2.33 to 0.64, and the average for all vegetable samples was 1.01. The pollution index indicates that arsenic is the dominant pollutant accumulated in soil and vegetables grown in agricultural soils. According to the findings, the state and national agricultural and health authorities should not recommend the cultivation of vegetables in agricultural soil located in this area of historical mining activities. Likewise, preventive measures must be taken on the consumption of contaminated vegetables and certifying their safety.