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Hidouri N, Moussaoui Z, Sleimi N, Hamed Y, Hamzaoui-Azzaza F. Soil contamination by trace elements and radioelements and related environmental risks in agricultural soils of the M'Dhilla Basin (southwestern Tunisia). ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2024; 196:1024. [PMID: 39370482 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-13202-z] [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: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2024] [Indexed: 10/08/2024]
Abstract
Agricultural soil contaminated by phosphogypsum pile stocked in plan air remains a major problem in M'Dhilla city southwestern of Tunisia. The present effort aimed to enhance the knowledge of trace elements and radioactivity abundance and to assess the corresponding environment. X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy was used to evaluate the trace elements, radioactive elements, and major element concentrations. Our finding revealed that the mean values of U and Th in all the soil profiles ranged from 0.283 to 2.875 mg.kg-1 and from 0.797 to 1.491 mg.kg-1 respectively. The statistical analyses indicated that uranium abundance has non-significant correlation with the most of trace metals; it shows a moderate correlated with Sr and inverse correlation with P2O5. Contamination factors indicate that the studied soil ranged from uncontaminated to significantly contaminated. Thus, the pollution load index values classify the sites from background values to high pollution sites. The findings of this study will help improve the environmental conditions of M'Dhilla city by addressing contamination issues through targeted interventions. The study's findings highlight the importance of a periodic environmental monitoring such as soil remediation in the study area. This research fills a critical gap in the current understanding of contamination management in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naima Hidouri
- Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, Jarzouna, 7021, Bizerte, Tunisia.
- Department of Geology, Sedimentary Environments, Oil Systems and Reservoir Characterization Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
| | - Zouhour Moussaoui
- Water, Environment and Energy Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Noomene Sleimi
- RME-Laboratory of Resources, Materials and Ecosystems, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, Jarzouna, 7021, Bizerte, Tunisia
| | - Younes Hamed
- Department of Earth &, Atmospheric Sciences University of Houston, 3507 Cullen Blvd, Houston, TX, 77204-5008, USA
- L.R.-LAM3E Application of Materials to the Environment, Water and Energy, Faculty of Sciences of Gafsa, University of Gafsa, 2100, Gafsa, Tunisia
| | - Fadoua Hamzaoui-Azzaza
- Department of Geology, Sedimentary Environments, Oil Systems and Reservoir Characterization Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
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Li Y, Saparov G, Zeng T, Abuduwaili J, Ma L. Geochemical behavior of rare earth elements in agricultural soils along the Syr Darya River within the Aral Sea Basin. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2024; 196:493. [PMID: 38691227 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12647-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
The widespread use of rare earth elements (REEs) across various industries makes them a new type of pollutant. Additionally, REEs are powerful indicators of geochemical processes. As one of the two main rivers in the Aral Sea, identifying the geochemical behavior of REEs in agricultural soils of the Syr Darya River is of great significance for subsequent indicative studies. In this study, the geochemical characteristics, influencing factors, and potential application significance of REEs in agricultural soils from three sampling areas along the Syr Darya River were analyzed using soil geography and elemental geochemical analyses. The results showed that the highest total concentration of REEs in the agricultural soil was in Area I, with a mean value of 142.49 μg/g, followed by Area III with a mean value of 124.56 μg/g, and the lowest concentration was in Area II with a mean value of 122.48 μg/g. The agricultural soils in the three regions were enriched in light rare earth elements (LREEs), with mean L/H values of 10.54, 10.13, and 10.24, respectively. The differentiation between light and heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) was also high. The concentration of REEs in agricultural soil along the Syr Darya River was primarily influenced by minerals such as monazite and zircon, rather than human activities (the pollution index of all REEs was less than 1.5). The relationship between Sm and Gd can differentiate soils impacted by agricultural activities from natural background soils. The results of this study can serve as a basis for indicative studies of REEs in Central Asia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yizhen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
- Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Galymzhan Saparov
- Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
- Kazakh Research Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry Named After U. U. Uspanov, Almaty, 050060, Kazakhstan
| | - Tao Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
- Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jilili Abuduwaili
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
- Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Long Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China.
- Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Water Cycle and Utilization in Arid Zone, Urumqi, 830011, China.
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Natarajan T, Sahoo SK, Inoue K, Arae H, Aono T, Fukushi M. Natural radionuclides and radiological risk assessment in the stream and river sediments of a high background natural radiation area Kanyakumari, India. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2024; 196:330. [PMID: 38427152 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12456-x] [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: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
The Kanyakumari coast is known to be a high background natural radiation area due to the placer deposits of heavy minerals such as ilmenite, monazite, and rutile. The Kanyakumari river sediments that could be the source of the elevated amounts of natural radionuclides in the coastal sands have been studied in this paper. The activity concentrations of primordial radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K were determined using high-purity germanium (HPGe) gamma-ray spectrometry. The mean activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K were found to be 75 Bq kg-1, 565 Bq kg-1, and 360 Bq kg-1, respectively. The mean absorbed dose rate was 395 nGy h-1. Radiological hazard parameters were studied and compared with the world average values. The contribution of 232Th to the total dose rate was found to be higher than that of the two other radionuclides. The high mean ratio of 232Th/226Ra suggested an enrichment of 232Th and the occurrence of 226Ra leaching due to an oxidizing environment. Principal component analysis (PCA) was carried out for the radionuclides in order to discriminate the source of the sediments. This study provides new insights into the distribution of natural radionuclides in sediments of rivers and streams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thennaarassan Natarajan
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Graduate School of Human Health Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Arakawa-Ku, Tokyo, 116-8551, Japan
- Institute for Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST), Inage-Ku, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan
| | - Sarata Kumar Sahoo
- Institute for Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST), Inage-Ku, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan.
| | - Kazumasa Inoue
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Graduate School of Human Health Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Arakawa-Ku, Tokyo, 116-8551, Japan
| | - Hideki Arae
- Institute for Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST), Inage-Ku, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan
| | - Tatsuo Aono
- Institute for Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST), Inage-Ku, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan
- Radioecology Unit, Fukushima Institute for Research, Education and Innovation (F-REI), Fukushima, 960-1295, Japan
| | - Masahiro Fukushi
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Graduate School of Human Health Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Arakawa-Ku, Tokyo, 116-8551, Japan
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Veerasamy N, Sahoo SK, Natarajan T, Inoue K, Fukushi M, Ramola RC. Distribution of naturally occurring radionuclides and gamma dose rate assessment in the soils of high background natural radiation area Odisha, India. RADIATION PROTECTION DOSIMETRY 2023; 199:2194-2198. [PMID: 37934990 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncad254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
A study on the activity concentration of primordial radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K was carried out on the surface soil samples collected from the coastal villages between Chhatrapur and Gopalpur regions of high background natural radiation area Odisha, India, using high purity germanium gamma spectroscopy. The mean activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were found to be 231, 1692 and 250 Bq/kg, respectively. The total mean absorbed dose owing to the presence of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K was 1139 nGy/h. The mean annual effective dose was found to be 1397 μSv/y and higher than the UNSCEAR average value 70 μSv/y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nimelan Veerasamy
- Tritium Research Center, Institute for Environmental Sciences, Aomori 039-3121, Japan
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo 116-8551, Japan
| | - Sarata K Sahoo
- Institute for Radiological Science, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST), 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Thennaarassan Natarajan
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo 116-8551, Japan
- Institute for Radiological Science, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST), 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Kazumasa Inoue
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo 116-8551, Japan
| | - Masahiro Fukushi
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo 116-8551, Japan
| | - Rakesh C Ramola
- Department of Physics, H.N.B. Garhwal University, Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand 249 199, India
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Ma Q, Zhou BJ, Feng ZG, Wang XL, Chen R, Li PS, Huang C. Geochemical behaviors of uranium and thorium during weathering and pedogenesis of carbonate rock: constraint from their speciation. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:95348-95366. [PMID: 37544950 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-29007-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
During weathering and pedogenesis of carbonate rock with poor-uranium (U) and thorium (Th), U and Th present the characteristics of strong leaching (especially U) and significant residual enrichment, the cause of which is still unclear. In this paper, a weathering profile developed by dolomite in karst area of Guizhou province in southwest China was selected, which showed zonation characteristics of bedrock (Y), powdery rock (Yf), and soil layer (T1 to T12) from the bottom to up. Through the determination of the occurrence speciation of U and Th in Y and weathering profile, combined with mineralogical, geochemical characteristics, and element mass balance calculation, the constraints of U and Th speciation on the geochemical behavior of U and Th during the weathering of carbonate rock were revealed. The results proved that U and Th in Y preferentially existed in acid insoluble phase, for example, the contents of U and Th in Y were 0.90 mg·kg-1 and 0.28 mg·kg-1, respectively, while those in acid insoluble matter were 2.34 mg·kg-1 and 2.57 mg·kg-1, respectively, but because the mass percentage of acid insoluble matter was extremely low (0.95%), the mass percentages of U and Th in the acid soluble phase in the whole rock were absolutely superior (96% of U and 86% Th). The U and Th in the acid soluble phase of Y were mainly adsorbed on the crystal surface of carbonate minerals or existed in the cement, and the U and Th in the carbonate lattice only accounted for a small proportion. From Y to Yf with the initial dissolution, U and Th released from the surface of carbonate minerals and cements were in carbonate-rich alkaline environment, and these portions of U and Th were leached out, resulting in strong loss of U and Th in the Yf (the loss rates are 83% of U and 65% of Th, respectively). From the Yf to the overlying soil layer T1, the carbonate components were completely dissolved, and the U and Th released from the carbonate lattice showed different behaviors, where U was completely leached and Th tended to stay in the weathered residue. Thus, in the soil layer T1 formed by Y or Yf , the residual U was the inheritance of the U in the acid insoluble phase of Y; For Th, it not only inherited the Th of acid insoluble phase of Y, but also superimposed the Th from carbonate lattice in Y. On the other hand, during the evolution process from Y to Yf and to soil layer T1, with the dissolution of carbonate, the acid insoluble phase also showed a significant tendency of chemical weathering. However, the U and Th in the Y acid insoluble phase were not leached with the decomposition of the acid insoluble phase but were redistributed among the residual phases. For the geochemical behaviors of U and Th in the evolution of soil profile (T1~T12), they were subjected to the occurrence speciation of U and Th in T1 and the change of U and Th occurrence speciation with the upward direction of soil profile. The U and Th released from the carrier minerals were mainly redistributed among the residual solid phases, which weakened the intensity of their further loss. This study deepens the understanding of the geochemical behavior of radionuclides in karst environment and provides reference for the treatment of radioactive pollution in karst areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Ma
- School of Resource Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, 421001, Hengyang, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Rare Metal Minerals Exploitation and Geological Disposal of Wastes, University of South China, 421001, Hengyang, China
| | - Bing-Jie Zhou
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Rare Metal Minerals Exploitation and Geological Disposal of Wastes, University of South China, 421001, Hengyang, China
| | - Zhi-Gang Feng
- School of Resource Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, 421001, Hengyang, China.
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Rare Metal Minerals Exploitation and Geological Disposal of Wastes, University of South China, 421001, Hengyang, China.
| | - Xiao-Long Wang
- School of Emergency Management and Safety Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), 100083, Beijing, China
| | - Rong Chen
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Rare Metal Minerals Exploitation and Geological Disposal of Wastes, University of South China, 421001, Hengyang, China
| | - Pei-Shan Li
- School of Resource Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, 421001, Hengyang, China
| | - Chong Huang
- School of Resource Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, 421001, Hengyang, China
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Veerasamy N, Kasar S, Murugan R, Inoue K, Natarajan T, Chand Ramola R, Fukushi M, Kumar Sahoo S. 234U/ 238U disequilibrium and 235U/ 238U ratios measured using MC-ICP-MS in natural high background radiation area soils to understand the fate of uranium. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 323:138217. [PMID: 36849023 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138217] [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: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The Chhatrapur-Gopalpur coastal area in Odisha, India is a well-known natural high background radiation (HBRA) area due to the abundance of monazite (a thorium bearing radioactive mineral) in beach sands and soils. Recent studies on Chhatrapur-Gopalpur HBRA groundwater have reported high concentrations of uranium and its decay products. Therefore, the soils of the Chhatrapur-Gopalpur HBRA are reasonably suspected as the sources of these high uranium concentrations in groundwater. In this report, first the uranium concentrations in soil samples were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and they were found to range from 0.61 ± 0.01 to 38.59 ± 0.16 mg kg-1. Next, the 234U/238U and 235U/238U isotope ratios were measured to establish a baseline for the first time in Chhatrapur-Gopalpur HBRA soil. Multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) was used for measurement of these isotope ratios. The 235U/238U ratio was observed to be the normal terrestrial value. The 234U/238U activity ratio, was calculated to understand the secular equilibrium between 234U and 238U in soil and it varied from 0.959 to 1.070. To understand the dynamics of uranium in HBRA soil, physico-chemical characteristics of soil were correlated with uranium isotope ratios and this correlation of 234U/238U activity ratio indicated the leaching of 234U from Odisha HBRA soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nimelan Veerasamy
- Tokyo Metropolitan University, 7-2-10 Higashiogu, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo, 116-8551, Japan; National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan
| | - Sharayu Kasar
- National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan
| | - Rajamanickam Murugan
- National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan
| | - Kazumasa Inoue
- Tokyo Metropolitan University, 7-2-10 Higashiogu, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo, 116-8551, Japan
| | - Thennaarassan Natarajan
- Tokyo Metropolitan University, 7-2-10 Higashiogu, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo, 116-8551, Japan; National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan
| | - Rakesh Chand Ramola
- H.N.B. Garhwal University, Badshahi Thaul Campus, Tehri Garhwal, 249 199, India
| | - Masahiro Fukushi
- Tokyo Metropolitan University, 7-2-10 Higashiogu, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo, 116-8551, Japan
| | - Sarata Kumar Sahoo
- National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan.
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Ong JX, Lee KM, Koh SP, Wu Y, Chan SH. A study on natural and anthropogenic radionuclides in farmed fish and shellfish in Singapore. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-022-08642-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Morthekai P, Tiwari P, Murari M, Singh P, Thakur B, Manoj M, Ali S, Singh V, Kumar K, Rai J, Dubey N, Srivastava P. Further investigations towards luminescence dating of diatoms. RADIAT MEAS 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.radmeas.2022.106803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Determination of natural radionuclides and radioactive minerals in urban coastal zone of South India using Geospatial approach. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-022-08284-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Veerasamy N, Sahoo SK, Murugan R, Kasar S, Inoue K, Fukushi M, Natarajan T. ICP-MS Measurement of Trace and Rare Earth Elements in Beach Placer-Deposit Soils of Odisha, East Coast of India, to Estimate Natural Enhancement of Elements in the Environment. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26247510. [PMID: 34946589 PMCID: PMC8708771 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26247510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) has been used to measure the concentration of trace and rare earth elements (REEs) in soils. Geochemical certified reference materials such as JLk-1, JB-1, and JB-3 were used for the validation of the analytical method. The measured values were in good agreement with the certified values for all the elements and were within 10% analytical error. Beach placer deposits of soils mainly from Odisha, on the east coast of India, have been selected to study selected trace and rare earth elements (REEs), to estimate enrichment factor (EF) and geoaccumulation index (Igeo) in the natural environment. Enrichment factor (EF) and geoaccumulation index (Igeo) results showed that Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, Y, Zr, Cd and U were significantly enriched, and Th was extremely enriched. The total content of REEs (ƩREEs) ranged from 101.3 to 12,911.3 µg g−1, with an average 2431.1 µg g−1 which was higher than the average crustal value of ΣREEs. A high concentration of Th and light REEs were strongly correlated, which confirmed soil enrichment with monazite minerals. High ratios of light REEs (LREEs)/heavy REEs (HREEs) with a strong negative Eu anomaly revealed a felsic origin. The comparison of the chondrite normalized REE patterns of soil with hinterland rocks such as granite, charnockite, khondalite and migmatite suggested that enhancement of trace and REEs are of natural origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nimelan Veerasamy
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Sciences and Technology (QST), 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8555, Japan; (N.V.); (R.M.); (S.K.); (T.N.)
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 7-2-10 Higashiogu, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo 116-8551, Japan; (K.I.); (M.F.)
| | - Sarata Kumar Sahoo
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Sciences and Technology (QST), 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8555, Japan; (N.V.); (R.M.); (S.K.); (T.N.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Rajamanickam Murugan
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Sciences and Technology (QST), 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8555, Japan; (N.V.); (R.M.); (S.K.); (T.N.)
| | - Sharayu Kasar
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Sciences and Technology (QST), 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8555, Japan; (N.V.); (R.M.); (S.K.); (T.N.)
| | - Kazumasa Inoue
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 7-2-10 Higashiogu, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo 116-8551, Japan; (K.I.); (M.F.)
| | - Masahiro Fukushi
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 7-2-10 Higashiogu, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo 116-8551, Japan; (K.I.); (M.F.)
| | - Thennaarassan Natarajan
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Sciences and Technology (QST), 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8555, Japan; (N.V.); (R.M.); (S.K.); (T.N.)
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 7-2-10 Higashiogu, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo 116-8551, Japan; (K.I.); (M.F.)
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Ghosal S, Agrahari S, Banerjee D, Sengupta D. Assessment of a naturally occurring high background radiation area with elevated levels of thorium along coastal Odisha, India using radiometric methods. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 283:131221. [PMID: 34182624 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The present study evaluates the enrichment and distribution of radioelements along the eastern coast of India. India possesses the second largest reserve of thorium bearing monazite in the world, in terms of heavy minerals present primarily along its long coastline. Radioelement estimation of about 30 km long beach area along the eastern coast of India is reported and implications discussed. A total number of 822 data points were studied using a portable Geiger Muller counter, to estimate the variation of dose rates, due to the ambient radionuclides along two different trends. One was parallel (northeast-southwest) and the second one perpendicular to the coastline. Pre-selected samples from in-situ radiometric surveys on the heavy mineral placers were studied further, for quantitative estimation of the abundance of radioactive elements primarily uranium and thorium, using a High Purity Germanium detector. Radioelement concentration assessment of core samples (depth ~2 m), were studied from two different beaches. Radiological parameters like radium equivalent, annual effective doserate and absorbed dose rate has been calculated based on the 238U, 232Th and 40K concentrations. Heavy mineral placers along the shoreline indicate a very high thorium (avg - 2990.22 Bq kg-1) which is due to the extensive distribution indicative of monazite. The coastal area also exhibits relatively low uranium (avg - 319.1 Bq kg-1). Based on its high thorium concentration, the area can be considered as a high natural background radiation area. Based on the concentrations of uranium and thorium, the weathering conditions and depositional environment prevalent along the beach areas have been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shayantani Ghosal
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, West Bengal, India.
| | - Sudha Agrahari
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, West Bengal, India
| | - Debashish Banerjee
- Radiochemistry Division, Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre, BARC, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Debashish Sengupta
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, West Bengal, India
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Veerasamy N, Murugan R, Kasar S, Inoue K, Kavasi N, Balakrishnan S, Arae H, Fukushi M, Sahoo SK. Geochemical characterization of monazite sands based on rare earth elements, thorium and uranium from a natural high background radiation area in Tamil Nadu, India. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2021; 232:106565. [PMID: 33714078 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2021.106565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The Kanyakumari coastal area in the southernmost part of Tamil Nadu, India is a well-known natural high background radiation area due to the abundance of monazite in beach placer deposits. In the present study, the concentrations of major oxides, rare earth elements (REEs), Th and U were measured to understand geochemical characteristics of these monazite sands. Based on the ambient dose rate, 23 locations covering an area of about 60 km along the coast were selected for sample collection. The concentrations of U and Th ranged from 1.1 to 737.8 μg g-1 and 25.2-12250.6 μg g-1, respectively. The Th/U ratio ranged from 2.2 to 61.6, which clearly indicated that Th was the dominant contributing radionuclide to the enhanced natural radioactivity in this coastal region. The chondrite-normalized REEs pattern of the placer deposits showed enrichment in light REEs and depletion in heavy REEs with a negative Eu anomaly that indicated the monazite sands were derived from granite, charnockite, and granitoid rocks from the Nagercoil and the Trivandrum Blocks of the Southern Granulite Terrain.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Veerasamy
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 7-2-10 Higashiogu, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo, 116-8551, Japan; Environmental Radionuclides Research Group, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Sciences and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan
| | - R Murugan
- Environmental Radionuclides Research Group, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Sciences and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan
| | - S Kasar
- Environmental Radionuclides Research Group, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Sciences and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan
| | - K Inoue
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 7-2-10 Higashiogu, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo, 116-8551, Japan
| | - N Kavasi
- Environmental Radionuclides Research Group, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Sciences and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan
| | - S Balakrishnan
- Department of Earth Sciences, Pondicherry University, R Venkat Raman Nagar, Kalapet, Puducherry, 605014, India
| | - H Arae
- Environmental Radionuclides Research Group, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Sciences and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan
| | - M Fukushi
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 7-2-10 Higashiogu, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo, 116-8551, Japan
| | - S K Sahoo
- Environmental Radionuclides Research Group, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Sciences and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan.
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