Dr. Weihua Zhang
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Dr. Weihua Zhang

Research Scientist
Radiation Protection Bureau of Health, Canada

Highest Degree
Ph.D. in Chemistry from Dalhousie University, Canada

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Biography

Dr. Weihua Zhang is currently working as Research Scientist at RPB of Health Canada. His research focused on Developing and Improving Gamma, Beta and Alpha-Spectrometry for improved Monitoring of Environmental Radioactivity and investigating Radiation Exposure to Humans from Natural and Anthropogenic Radiation Sources. He obtained his Ph.D. in Radio Chemistry from Dalhousie University Chemistry Department in 1997. He has 56 publications in journals.

Area of Interest:

Chemistry
100%
Spectrometry
62%
Environmental Radioactivity
90%
Radiation Exposure
75%
Anthropogenic Radiation Sources
55%

Research Publications in Numbers

Books
0
Chapters
0
Articles
0
Abstracts
0

Selected Publications

  1. Zhang, W., K. Lam, K. Ungar and C. Liu, 2018. Software to compensate coincidence losses in the environmental sample analysis of a digital anti-compton spectrometer. J. Eng. Environ. Res. Technol., 2: 1-8.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  2. Zhang, W., K. Lam and K. Ungar, 2018. The development of a digital gamma-gamma coincidence/anticoincidence spectrometer and its applications to monitor low-level atmospheric 22Na/7Be activity ratios in Resolute Bay, Canada. J. Environ. Radioact., 192: 434-439.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  3. Zhang, W., B. Sadi, C. Rinaldo, J. Chen, N. Spencer and K. Ungar, 2018. Evaluation of mean transit time of aerosols from the area of origin to the Arctic with 210Pb/210Po daily monitoring data. J. Environ. Radioact., 188: 79-86.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  4. Zhang, W. and A. Chatt, 2018. An analytical figure of merit term to assess the practical advantages of anticoincidence gamma-ray spectrometry in INAA and its application to the determination of low levels of magnesium in biological reference materials. J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem., 318: 445-455.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  5. Liu, C., W. Zhang, K. Ungar, E. Korpach, B. White, M. Benotto and E. Pellerin, 2018. Development of a national cosmic-ray dose monitoring system with health Canada's fixed point surveillance network. J. Environ. Radioact., 190: 31-38.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  6. Liu, C., W. Zhang, D. Pierce, K. Ungar, C. Tulk and M. Bean, 2018. Gamma spectrum and coincidence summation simulations with Geant4 in the analysis of radionuclide using BEGe detector. Applied Radiat. Isot., 137: 210-218.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  7. Zhang, W., H. Ro, C. Liu, I. Hoffman and K. Ungar, 2017. Design and optimization of a dual-hpge γ spectrometer and its cosmic veto system. IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci., 64: 894-900.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  8. Zhang, W. and K. Ungar, 2017. Atmospheric particulate and xenon radioisotopes monitoring over Canada and health impact estimation before and after the fukushima nuclear accident. Radiat. Prot. Dosim., 179: 136-141.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  9. Mekarski, P., W. Zhang, C. Liu and K. Ungar, 2017. Accurate efficiency characterization of a BEGe detector in the low-energy range using empirical and Monte Carlo simulation approaches. J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem., 314: 273-279.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  10. Liu, C., K. Ungar, D. Pierce, I. Hoffman and W. Zhang, 2017. Detection efficiency calculations using Geant4 for a broad-energy germanium gamma spectrometer. J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem., 312: 471-478.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  11. Zhang, W., K. Ungar, C. Liu and M. Mailhot, 2016. Cosmic-muon intensity measurement and overburden estimation in a building at surface level and in an underground facility using two BC408 scintillation detectors coincidence counting system. J. Environ. Radioactivity, 162: 340-346.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  12. Cook, M.C., M.J. Stukel, W. Zhang, J.F. Mercier and M.W. Cooke, 2016. The determination of Fukushima-derived cesium-134 and cesium-137 in Japanese green tea samples and their distribution subsequent to simulated beverage preparation. J. Environ. Radioactivity, 153: 23-30.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  13. Chen, J., W. Zhang, B. Sadi, X. Wang and D.C.G. Muir, 2016. Activity concentration measurements of selected radionuclides in seals from Canadian Arctic. J. Environ. Radioactivity, 169: 48-55.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  14. Chen, J., M.D. Rennie, B. Sadi, W. Zhang and N. St-Amant, 2016. A study on the levels of radioactivity in fish samples from the experimental lakes area in Ontario, Canada. J. Environ. Radioact., 153: 222-230.
    CrossRef  |  PubMed  |  Direct Link  |  
  15. Zhang, W., J. Chen, K. Ungar and M. Cooke, 2015. Estimation of the Arctic aerosols from local and long-range transport using relationships between 210Pb and 212Pb atmospheric activity concentrations. J. Environ. Radioact., 141: 123-129.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  16. Chen, J., W. Zhang and B. Sadi, 2015. A report of radioactivity measurements of freshwater fish samples from the National Capital Region of Canada. J. Environ. Radioact., 144: 175-178.
    CrossRef  |  PubMed  |  Direct Link  |  
  17. Zhang, W., P. Mekarski, M. Bean, J. Yi and K. Ungar, 2014. Modelling of a single-channel beta-gamma coincidence phoswich detector using geant4 for the conversion electron energy peak resolution and beta-gamma coincidence efficiency improvement. Pure Applied Geophys., 171: 621-627.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  18. Zhang, W., K. Ungar, M. Stukel and P. Mekarski, 2014. A gamma-gamma coincidence/anticoincidence spectrometer for low-level cosmogenic 22Na/7Be activity ratio measurement. J. Environ. Radioact., 130: 1-6.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  19. Zhang, W. and A. Chatt, 2014. Evaluation of INAA-anticoincidence counting for measuring nanogram levels of vanadium in relatively high-salt nutritional reference materials. J. Radioanal. Nuclear Chem., 299: 1777-1785.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  20. Zhang, W. and A. Chatt, 2014. Anticoincidence counting further improves detection limits of short-lived products by pseudo-cyclic instrumental neutron activation analysis. J. Radioanal. Nuclear Chem., 302: 1201-1211.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  21. Zhang, W., J. Friese and K. Ungar, 2013. The ambient gamma dose-rate and the inventory of fission products estimations with the soil samples collected at Canadian embassy in Tokyo during Fukushima nuclear accident. J. Radioanal. Nuclear Chem., 296: 69-73.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  22. Zhang, W., E. Korpach, R. Berg and K. Ungar, 2013. Testing of an automatic outdoor gamma ambient dose-rate surveillance system in Tokyo and its calibration using measured deposition after the Fukushima nuclear accident. J. Environ. Radioact., 125: 93-98.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  23. Zhang, W., B. Keeshan, P. Mekarski, J. Yi and K. Ungar, 2013. Performance evaluation and optimization for a newly developed digital list-mode data acquisition Compton suppression spectrometer. Applied Radiat. Isotopes, 81: 96-102.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  24. Zhang, W. and A. Chatt, 2013. Epithermal instrumental neutron activation analysis in conjunction with anti-coincidence gamma-ray spectrometry for investigating iodine levels in Canadian foods. J. Radioanal. Nuclear Chem., 296: 495-501.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  25. Hoffman, I., E. Korpach, P. Mekarski, K. Ungar and J. Yi et al., 2013. Fukushima event reconstruction using modelling and isotope relationships. J. Radioanal. Nuclear Chem., 296: 1091-1098.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  26. Zhang, W., P. Mekarski, M. Dion, J. Yi and K. Ungar, 2012. A digital Compton suppression spectroscopy without gamma-ray coincidence-summing loss using list-mode multispectral data acquisition. J. Radioanal. Nuclear Chem., 292: 1265-1272.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  27. Chen, J., W. Zhang and A. Jiao, 2012. An extended study on the correlation between 210Pb in household dust and indoor radon concentration. Environ. Pollut., 1: 70-74.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  28. Zhang, W., P. Mekarski, M. Bean, J. Yi and K. Ungar, 2011. An optimized design of single-channel beta-gamma coincidence phoswich detector by Geant4 Monte Carlo simulations. Sci. Technol. Nuclear Install. 10.1155/2011/741396.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  29. Zhang, W., M. Bean, M. Benotto, J. Cheung, K. Ungar and B. Ahier, 2011. Development of a new aerosol monitoring system and its application in Fukushima nuclear accident related aerosol radioactivity measurement at the CTBT radionuclide station in Sidney of Canada. J. Environ. Radioact., 102: 1065-1069.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  30. Zhang, W., J. Yi, P. Mekarski, K. Ungar, B. Hauck and G.H. Kramer, 2011. Quantification of 235U and 238U activity concentrations for undeclared nuclear materials by a digital gamma-gamma coincidence spectroscopy. Applied Radiat. Isotopes, 69: 904-907.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  31. Zhang, W., J. Yi, P. Mekarski, K. Ungar, B. Hauck and G.H. Kramer, 2011. A gamma-gamma coincidence spectrometric method for rapid characterization of uranium isotopic fingerprints. J. Radioanal. Nuclear Chem., 288: 43-47.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  32. Zhang, W., J. Yi, P. Mekarski, I. Hoffman, K. Ungar and A.P. Leppanen, 2011. A system for low-level the cosmogenic 22Na radionuclide measurement by gamma-gamma coincidence method using BGO detectors. J. Radioanal. Nuclear Chem., 287: 551-555.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  33. Thomas, P.A., D.W. Anderson, W. Zhang, A.S. Baweja and B.L. Tracy, 2011. Radon emanation in Saskatchewan soils. Health Phys., 100: 565-573.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  34. Zhang, W., P. Mekarski, J. Lam, K. Ungar and E. Pellerin, 2010. Geant4 Monte Carlo radioxenon beta-gamma coincidence efficiency simulation for a phoswich detector. J. Radioanal. Nuclear Chem., 285: 475-482.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  35. Zhang, W., P. Mekarski, J. Lam and K. Ungar, 2010. A Geant4 Monte Carlo method for synthesizing radioxenon beta-gamma coincidence spectra. J. Radioanal. Nuclear Chem., 286: 235-240.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  36. Zhang, W., P. Mekarski and K. Ungar, 2010. Beta-gamma coincidence counting efficiency and energy resolution optimization by Geant4 Monte Carlo simulations for a phoswich well detector. Applied Radiat. Isotopes, 68: 2377-2381.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  37. Zhang, W., J. Ala-Heikkila, K. Ungar, I. Hoffman and R. Lawrie, 2010. Automated analysis for large amount gaseous fission product gamma-scanning spectra from nuclear power plant and its data mining. J. Radioanal. Nuclear Chem., 284: 647-651.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  38. Zhang, W., K. Ungar, J. Chen, N. St-Amant and B.L. Tracy, 2009. An accurate method for the determination of 226Ra activity concentrations in soil. J. Radioanal. Nuclear Chem., 280: 561-567.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  39. Zhang, W., K. Ungar, I. Hoffman and R. Lawrie, 2009. Xenon isotopic signature study of the primary coolant of CANDU nuclear power plant to enhance CTBT verification. J. Radioanal. Nuclear Chem., 280: 121-128.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  40. Zhang, W., K. Ungar, I. Hoffman and R. Lawrie, 2009. Krypton isotopic signature study of the primary coolant of CANDU nuclear power plant. J. Radioanal. Nuclear Chem., 282: 761-765.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  41. Zhang, W., K. Ungar and M. Bean, 2009. Improved radioxenon gamma-spectrometry counting system and its efficiency calibration: Monte Carlo simulation and experimental results at enriched xenon counting environment. J. Radioanal. Nuclear Chem., 279: 83-91.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  42. Zhang, W. and A. Chatt, 2009. Determination of selenium in foods by pseudo-cyclic neutron activation and anti-coincidence gamma-ray spectrometry. J. Radioanal. Nuclear Chem., 282: 139-143.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  43. Mekarski, P., W. Zhang, K. Ungar, M. Bean and E. Korpach, 2009. Monte Carlo simulation of a PhosWatch detector using Geant4 for xenon isotope beta-gamma coincidence spectrum profile and detection efficiency calculations. Applied Radiat. Isotopes, 67: 1957-1963.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  44. Li, W., F. Wang, W. Zhang and D. Evans, 2009. Measurement of stable and radioactive cesium in natural waters by the diffusive gradients in thin films technique with new selective binding phases. Anal. Chem., 81: 5889-5895.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  45. Lariviere, D., J.C. Whyte, W. Zhang, I. Hoffman, R.K. Ungar, S. Johnson and R.J. Cornett, 2009. Rapid and Automated Analytical Technologies for Radiological/Nuclear Emergency Preparedness. In: Nuclear Chemistry: New Research, Koskinen, A.N. (Ed.). Nova Science Publ., New York, USA., ISBN: 978-1-60456-957-5, pp: 99-154.
  46. Hennig, W., W.K. Warburton, A. Fallu-Labruyere, K. Sabourov and M.W. Cooper et al., 2009. Development of a phoswich detector system for radioxenon monitoring. J. Radioanal. Nuclear Chem., 282: 681-685.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  47. Chen, J., W. Zhang, D.G. Sandles, R. Timmins and K. Verdecchia, 2009. 210Pb concentration in household dust: A potential indicator of long-term indoor radon exposure. Radiat. Environ. Biophys., 48: 427-432.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  48. Zhang, W., M. Zahringer, K. Ungar and I. Hoffman, 2008. Statistical analysis of uncertainties of gamma-peak identification and area calculation in particulate air-filter environment radionuclide measurements using the results of a Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) organized intercomparison, Part I: Assessment of reliability and uncertainties of isotope detection and energy precision using artificial spiked test spectra, Part II: Assessment of the true type I error rate and the quality of peak area estimators in relation to type II errors using large numbers of natural spectra. Applied Radiat. Isotopes, 66: 1695-1701.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  49. Li, C., Y.L. Feng, J. Chen, S. Kiser, W. Zhang and J. Zhu, 2008. 210Pb in home dust as a possible marker for radon exposure in indoor air. Health Phys., 95: 436-439.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  50. Aarnio, P.A., J.J. Ala-Heikkila, A. Isolankila, A. Kuusi and M. Moring et al., 2008. LINSSI: Database for gamma-ray spectrometry. J. Radioanal. Nuclear Chem., 276: 631-637.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  51. Ungar, K., W. Zhang, P. Aarnio, J. Ala-Heikkila and H. Toivonen et al., 2007. Automation of analysis of airborne radionuclides observed in Canadian CTBT radiological monitoring networks using LINSSI. J. Radioanal. Nuclear Chem., 272: 285-291.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  52. Stocki, T.J., M. Bean, R.K. Ungar, H. Toivonen, W. Zhang, J. Whyte and D. Meyerhof, 2004. Low level noble gas measurements in the field and laboratory in support of the comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty. Applied Radiat. Isotopes, 61: 231-235.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  53. Zhang, W.H. and A. Chatt, 2000. Determination of vanadium by instrumental neutron activation analysis in conjunction with compton suppression gamma-ray spectrometry. Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc., 83: 486-488.
    Direct Link  |  
  54. Zhang, W.H. and A. Chatt, 2000. Determination of copper by neutron activation analysis in conjunction with compton suppression gamma spectrometry. Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc., 82: 92-93.
    Direct Link  |  
  55. Rao, R.R., W.H. Zhang, J. Holzbecher and A. Chatt, 1999. Determination of iodine in foods by instrumental, preconcentration and radiochemical neutron activation analysis. Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc., 81: 21-22.
  56. Cankur, O., N.K. Aras, I. Olmez, W. Zhang, W.E. Goodwin and A. Chatt, 1999. Correlation between total and EDTA/DTPA-extractable trace elements in soil and wheat. Biol. Trace Elem. Res., 71: 109-119.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  57. Zhang, W. and A. Chatt, 1998. Compton suppression spectrometry coupled to instrumental neutron activation for iodine in biological materials. Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc., 78: 95-96.
  58. Zhang, W.H. and A. Chatt, 1997. Compton suppression spectrometry for arsenic in biological reference materials. Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc., 77: 11-12.
    Direct Link  |  
  59. Zhang, W. and A. Chatt, 1996. Quality assurance program for the determination of selenium in foods and diets by instrumental neutron activation. Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc., 74: 18-19.
    Direct Link  |  
  60. Zhang, W., 1994. Preconcentration neutron activation analysis to determine 14 rare earth elements in geological samples. Nucl. Tech., 17: 424-428.
  61. Zhang, W., 1993. Correction for interference from iron in the measurement of gallium by MNSR reactor neutron activation analysis. Rock Miner. Anal., 12: 109-112.
    Direct Link  |  
  62. Zhang, W., 1992. Determination of 29 elements in deep-sea sediments and polymetallic nodules by INAA with MNSR reactor. Rock Miner. Anal., 11: 246-248.
    Direct Link  |  
  63. Weihua, Z. and C. Chuanru, 1991. Determination of multi-elements in sediments by INAA with MNSR reactor. Rock Miner. Anal., 10: 107-110.
    Direct Link  |  
  64. Zhang, W. and G. Li, 1990. Determination of REE in geological samples at MNSR reactor by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Nucl. Tech., 13: 355-359.
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