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Łokas E, Baccolo G, Cwanek A, Buda J, Kołtonik K, Takeuchi N, Wachniew P, Clason C, Zawierucha K, Beard DB, Ambrosini R, Pittino F, Franzetti A, Owens PN, Nastasi M, Sisti M, Di Mauro B. Isotopic signature of plutonium accumulated in cryoconite on glaciers worldwide. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 951:175356. [PMID: 39122024 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Revised: 07/22/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Glaciers are recognized as repositories for atmospheric pollutants, however, due to climate change and enhanced melting rates, they are rapidly transitioning from being repositories to secondary sources of such apollutants. Artificial radionuclides are one of the pollutants found on glaciers that efficiently accumulate onto glacier surfaces within cryoconite deposits; a dark, often biogenic sediment. This work provides information about the accumulation, distribution and sources of plutonium (Pu) isotopes in cryoconite samples from glaciers worldwide. Plutonium is an artificial radionuclide spread into the environment in the last decades as a consequence of nuclear test explosions, accidents and nuclear fuel re-processing. Samples collected from 49 glaciers across nine regions of Earth are considered. Activity concentrations of plutonium in cryoconite are orders of magnitude higher than in other environmental matrices typically used for environmental monitoring (e.g. lichens, mosses, soils and sediments), particularly in the Northern Hemisphere. Isotopic ratios indicate that plutonium contamination of cryoconite is dominated by the global signal of stratospheric fallout related to atmospheric nuclear tests. However, specific glaciers in Svalbard reveal a signature compatible with a contribution from the re-entry of the SNAP-9A satellite in 1964, which was equipped with a 238Pu radioisotope thermoelectric generator. Similarly, an excess of 238Pu is observed in cryoconite from the Exploradores Glacier (Chile). This could be associated with the November 1996 crash of the automatic Interplanetary Station "Mars '96" which was carrying a 238Pu thermoelectric generator. This is the first time ever that an isotopic evidence for this event is reported. These findings highlight the role that cryoconite can play in reconstructing the radioactive contamination history of different glaciated regions of the Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edyta Łokas
- Department of Mass Spectrometry, Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland.
| | | | - Anna Cwanek
- Department of Mass Spectrometry, Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland
| | - Jakub Buda
- Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Kołtonik
- Department of Mass Spectrometry, Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland
| | - Nozomu Takeuchi
- Department of Earth Sciences, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Przemysław Wachniew
- Faculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science, AGH University of Krakow, Krakow, Poland
| | | | - Krzysztof Zawierucha
- Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Dylan Bodhi Beard
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - Roberto Ambrosini
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milano, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Philip N Owens
- Department of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, Canada
| | - Massimiliano Nastasi
- Physics Department, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy; INFN section of Milano Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Biagio Di Mauro
- Institute of Polar Sciences, National Research Council, Milan, Italy
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2
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Gorzkiewicz K, Kierepko R, Paatero J, Virkkula A, Mietelski JW. Air radioactivity in Marambio Base: The peculiar character of Antarctic Peninsula. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2022; 251-252:106930. [PMID: 35700568 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.106930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The Antarctic region is considered to be the least contaminated in the world due to its specific location and separation of this area as well as low activity of humans (Hashimoto et al., 1988). Additionally, in accordance with the provision of the Antarctic Treaty System (Antarctic Treaty Secretariat, 2020) it is prohibited to conduct any actions with nuclear materials in this area. Nevertheless, Antarctica is not free from radioactive pollutants (human activity, nuclear tests or accidents) created in other parts of the world and transported by air masses or sea currents to the region of the South Pole where they can be detected. This paper presents results of measurements of activity concentrations of both natural and artificial gamma-ray emitting isotopes present on air-filters exposed in the ground level of the air in Marambio Base (Antarctic Peninsula). Furthermore, comparison with results obtained from other part of Antarctica were performed (i.e. Aboa Station, including radioisotope sources estimation). Investigation suggests that the northern part of the Antarctic Peninsula is effectively isolated from the Antarctic mainland and, in case of air radioactivity, should be considered separately.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Gorzkiewicz
- Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences, Radzikowskiego 152, 31-342, Krakow, Poland.
| | - Renata Kierepko
- Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences, Radzikowskiego 152, 31-342, Krakow, Poland
| | - Jussi Paatero
- Finnish Meteorological Institute, P.O.Box 503, FI-00101, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Aki Virkkula
- Finnish Meteorological Institute, P.O.Box 503, FI-00101, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jerzy W Mietelski
- Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences, Radzikowskiego 152, 31-342, Krakow, Poland
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3
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Szufa KM, Mietelski JW, Olech MA. Assessment of internal radiation exposure to Antarctic biota due to selected natural radionuclides in terrestrial and marine environment. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2021; 237:106713. [PMID: 34388521 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2021.106713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The present article introduces data on natural radioactivity (40K, 230,232Th, 234,238U) in the Antarctic marine and terrestrial environment. Various biota samples were analysed due to internal exposure to 40K, 230,232Th, 234,238U. Activity concentration of 40K was the highest in both marine and terrestrial samples. Mean values of 40K activity concentration are 1340 Bq/kg and 370 Bq/kg for the marine and terrestrial samples respectively. 234U/238U ratios analysis revealed that sea waters and sea spray are the main source of the uranium in the terrestrial samples. Average 230,232Th, 234,238U activity concentrations in the Antarctic biota do not exceed 6 Bq/kg. Weighted internal dose rates are relatively low; they range from approximately 0.1 to 0.6 μGy/h. Statistically significant differences in radionuclide accumulation were discovered between the mosses and lichens. It may point to various mechanisms of the nutrient absorption from the environment by these organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- K M Szufa
- Department of Experimental and Applied Physics, Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa, Armii Krajowej 13/15, 42-200, Czestochowa, Poland; Institute of Nuclear Physics,Polish Academy of Sciences, Radzikowskiego 152, 31-342, Kraków, Poland.
| | - J W Mietelski
- Institute of Nuclear Physics,Polish Academy of Sciences, Radzikowskiego 152, 31-342, Kraków, Poland
| | - M A Olech
- Institute of Botany, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 3, 30-387, Kraków, Poland; Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Department of Antarctic Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5a, 02-109, Warszawa, Poland
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4
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Sanchez-Cabeza JA, Rico-Esenaro SD, Corcho-Alvarado JA, Röllin S, Carricart-Ganivet JP, Montagna P, Ruiz-Fernández AC, Cearreta A. Plutonium in coral archives: A good primary marker for an Anthropocene type section. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 771:145077. [PMID: 33736122 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
While we officially live in the Holocene epoch, global warming and many other impacts of global change have led to the proposal and wide adoption of the Anthropocene to define the present geological epoch. The Anthropocene Working Group (AWG) established that it should be treated as a formal stratigraphic unit, demonstrated by a reference level commonly known as "golden spike", still under discussion. Here we show that the onset of bomb-derived plutonium recorded in two banded massive corals from the Caribbean Sea is consistent (1955-1956 CE), so sites far from nuclear testing grounds are potentially suitable to host a type section of the Anthropocene. Coastal coral demonstration sites are feasible, could foster economic development, and may serve as focal points for scientific dissemination and environmental education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan-Albert Sanchez-Cabeza
- Unidad Académica Mazatlán, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mazatlán, Mexico.
| | - Serguei Damián Rico-Esenaro
- Posgrado en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | | | - Stefan Röllin
- Nuclear Chemistry Division, Spiez Laboratory, Federal Office for Civil Protection, CH-3700 Spiez, Switzerland
| | - Juan P Carricart-Ganivet
- Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Mexico
| | | | - Ana Carolina Ruiz-Fernández
- Unidad Académica Mazatlán, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mazatlán, Mexico
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Chamizo E, Rääf C, López-Lora M, García-Tenorio R, Holm E, Rabesiranana N, Pédehontaa-Hiaa G. Insights into the Pu isotopic composition ( 239Pu, 240Pu, and 241Pu) and 236U in marshland samples from Madagascar. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 740:139993. [PMID: 32927566 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This work provides new insights into the presence of 239Pu, 240Pu, 241Pu, and 236U in the Southern Hemisphere through the study of peat bog cores from marshlands in Madagascar (19°S). 210Pb, 238Pu and 239+240Pu activities were characterized by alpha spectrometry in previous studies. Here, Pu from alpha-spectrometry discs corresponding to 10 peat-bog cores (85 samples) was reassessed for the aim of completing its isotopic composition (239Pu, 240Pu, and 241Pu) by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry. In addition, 236U was studied in a single core exhibiting unusually low 240Pu/239Pu ratios. Integrated 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios in the single cores ranged above and below the (0-30°S) fallout average ratio, 0.173 ± 0.027, from 0.126 ± 0.003 to 0.206 ± 0.002, without a regional pattern, thereby demonstrating the heterogeneous distribution of the 239Pu and 240Pu signal. However, such a variability was not observed for 241Pu/239Pu, ranging from (6 ± 1) · 10-4 to (11 ± 1) · 10-4 and consistently below the (0-30°S) fallout ratio of (9.7 ± 0.3) · 10-4 (2012). The integrated 236U/239Pu atom ratio in the studied core, 0.147 ± 0.005, was also significantly lower than the values reported for the global fallout in the Northern Hemisphere, in the 0.20-0.23 range. Our results point out to stratospheric fallout as the main source of both 236U and 241Pu at the studied site, whereas 239Pu and 240Pu signals show the influence of tropospheric fallout from the low-yield tests conducted in Australia (1952-1958) by United Kingdom and in French Polynesia (1966-1975) by France despite the long relative distances (i.e. about 15,000 and 8500 km). It was also demonstrated that a representative number of samples is necessary in order to assess Pu contamination and its various origins in a specific region in the Southern Hemisphere due to the heterogeneous distribution, and results based on single sample analysis should be interpreted with caution.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Chamizo
- Centro Nacional de Aceleradores (CNA), Universidad de Sevilla, Junta de Andalucía, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Parque Científico y Tecnológico Cartuja, c/ Thomas Alva Edison, 7, 41092 Seville, Spain.
| | - C Rääf
- Medical Radiation Physics, ITM, Malmö, Lund University, Sweden.
| | - M López-Lora
- Centro Nacional de Aceleradores (CNA), Universidad de Sevilla, Junta de Andalucía, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Parque Científico y Tecnológico Cartuja, c/ Thomas Alva Edison, 7, 41092 Seville, Spain.
| | - R García-Tenorio
- Centro Nacional de Aceleradores (CNA), Universidad de Sevilla, Junta de Andalucía, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Parque Científico y Tecnológico Cartuja, c/ Thomas Alva Edison, 7, 41092 Seville, Spain; Department of Applied Physics II, University of Seville, 41012 Seville, Spain.
| | - E Holm
- Department of Radiation Physics, Sahlgren Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - N Rabesiranana
- Department of Nuclear Analyses and Techniques, Institut National des Sciences et Techniques Nucléaires, INSTN-Madagascar, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
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Buda J, Łokas E, Pietryka M, Richter D, Magowski W, Iakovenko NS, Porazinska DL, Budzik T, Grabiec M, Grzesiak J, Klimaszyk P, Gaca P, Zawierucha K. Biotope and biocenosis of cryoconite hole ecosystems on Ecology Glacier in the maritime Antarctic. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 724:138112. [PMID: 32408434 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Despite recent great interest in glacier ecosystems in the continental Antarctic, little is known about their maritime counterparts. Our study presents descriptive data on cryoconite sediments and cryoconite holes on Ecology Glacier (King George Island) to accomplish three main objectives: (a) to identify main eukaryotic (algae, invertebrates) and prokaryotic (cyanobacteria) components of microbial communities; (b) to provide a "baseline" of community composition, organic matter and artificial contamination; and (c) to identify key abiotic factors that might be important in community assembly. Cryoconite holes were sampled along an altitudinal gradient of Ecology Glacier in January, mid Austral Summer 2017. Cryoconite holes located in lower altitude were deeper than those located in the middle and the highest altitude. Seventeen species of algae and cyanobacteria with biomass of 0.79 to 5.37 μg/cm3 have been found in sediments. Dominant species were cyanobacterial Pseudanabaena frigida and Bacillariophyceae Microcostaus sp. Biomass of Bacillariophyceae was significantly higher than that of Chlorophyta and Cyanobacteria. We found three species of rotifers (potentially two new to science) and for the first time a glacier dwelling Acari (suspension feeder, Nanorchestes nivalis). Organic matter content ranged from 5.4% to 7.6%. Investigated artificial radionuclides included 137Cs, 238Pu, 239+240Pu and 241Am. 210Pb seems to be related to organic matter content. Overall, cryoconite holes on Ecology Glacier present unique habitats that serve as biodiversity hotspots of psychrophiles, source of organic matter, matrices for radioactivity tracking and model for observing changes in supraglacial ecosystems in the maritime Antarctic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Buda
- Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
| | - Edyta Łokas
- Department of Mass Spectrometry, Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences, Radzikowskiego 152, 31-342 Kraków, Poland
| | - Mirosława Pietryka
- Department of Botany and Plant Ecology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Science, pl. Grunwaldzki 24a, 50-363 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Dorota Richter
- Department of Botany and Plant Ecology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Science, pl. Grunwaldzki 24a, 50-363 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Wojciech Magowski
- Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
| | - Nataliia S Iakovenko
- Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Kamýcká 129, CZ - 165 21 Praha 6, Suchdol, Czech Republic
| | - Dorota L Porazinska
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Tomasz Budzik
- Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Będzińska 60, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland
| | - Mariusz Grabiec
- Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Będzińska 60, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland
| | - Jakub Grzesiak
- Department of Antarctic Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Piotr Klimaszyk
- Department of Water Protection, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
| | - Paweł Gaca
- Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, United Kingdom
| | - Krzysztof Zawierucha
- Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614 Poznań, Poland.
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Szufa KM, Mietelski JW, Olech MA, Kowalska A, Brudecki K. Anthropogenic radionuclides in Antarctic biota - dosimetrical considerations. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2020; 213:106140. [PMID: 31983449 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.106140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The article presents results of the research on artificial radionuclides (137Cs, 90Sr, 241Am) in the Antarctic environment. Samples of 12 species from the marine environment: Pygoscelis adeliae, Pygoscelis papua, Macronectes giganteus, Pagodroma nivea, Catharacta antarctica, Leptonychotes weddellii, Mirounga leonina, Harpagifer antarcticus, Chaenocephalus aceratus, Nacella concinna, Himantothallus grandifolius, Iridaea cordata (bones, feathers, soft tissues, eggs' shells of birds, bones, skin, fur of mammals, fish, mollusks' soft tissues and shells, algae) and samples of 4 species from the terrestrial environment: Sanionia uncinata, Usnea antarctica, Usnea aurantiaco-atra, Deschampsia antarctica (mosses, lichens, grass) were investigated. Differences in the accumulation of 137Cs between marine and terrestrial ecosystem were shown, which are mostly due to conservatism of mosses and lichens and active removal of cesium by animal body. Furthermore discrepancy between mosses and lichens in the radioceasium accumulation was statistically proven with the additional use of Neutron Activation Analysis. Moreover, the internal weighted dose rates assessment was prepared using the ERICA Tool. The dose rates were relatively low, not exceeding several dozen nGy/h. Nonetheless, one species - Pagodroma nivea, was significantly outstanding due to the highest weighted dose rate it is burdened with.
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Affiliation(s)
- K M Szufa
- Institute of Physics, University of Silesia, 75 Pułku Piechoty 1, 41-500, Chorzów, Poland; Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Radzikowskiego152, 32-342, Kraków, Poland.
| | - J W Mietelski
- Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Radzikowskiego152, 32-342, Kraków, Poland
| | - M A Olech
- Institute of Botany, Jagiellonian University, Kopernika 27, 31-501, Kraków, Poland; Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Department of Antarctic Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5a, 02-109, Warszawa, Poland
| | - A Kowalska
- Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże S. Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370, Wrocław, Poland
| | - K Brudecki
- Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Radzikowskiego152, 32-342, Kraków, Poland
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