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Lovrenčić Mikelić I, Oreščanin V, Cukrov N, Tomašić N, Rubčić M, Barišić D. Relationships between radionuclides, metals, and sediment properties in sediment of a bay exposed to anthropogenic pressure and mixed sediment sources (Kaštela Bay, Adriatic Sea, Croatia). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 197:115731. [PMID: 37939518 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115731] [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: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Natural and anthropogenic radionuclides, metals, organic matter, sediment grain size, mineral composition, and sediment sources were studied in marine sediment of Kaštela Bay up to a depth of 0.5 m. Deposition of man-modified material into the sea was evidenced in sediment mineral composition. Presence of pyrite and hematite in this sediment may pose an environmental concern. Metals, radionuclides, and organic matter were grouped in three groups: (i) variables under no anthropogenic influence and preferentially associated with carbonates (Ca, Sr); (ii) variables under no or weak anthropogenic influence and preferentially associated with aluminosilicates (Al, K, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Ga, Rb, Y, 40K, 232Th); (iii) variables under notable anthropogenic influence and/or natural processes of separation (Cu, Zn, Pb, As, 226Ra, 238U, 137Cs, organic matter). Predominant influencing parameters change with sediment depth for some variables. Anthropogenic influence was the most emphasised for Cu, Zn, and Pb, followed by 137Cs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivanka Lovrenčić Mikelić
- Laboratory for Low-Level Radioactivities, Division of Experimental Physics, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | | | - Neven Cukrov
- Laboratory for Physical Chemistry of Traces, Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Nenad Tomašić
- Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Horvatovac 102a, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Mirta Rubčić
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Horvatovac 102a, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Delko Barišić
- Laboratory for Radioecology, Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia.
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Wang Q, Wang H, Ma Y, Wang J, Su W, Xiao E, Du J, Xiao T, Zhong Q. Geochemical distributions of natural radionuclides in surface soils and sediments impacted by lead-zinc mining activity. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 263:115210. [PMID: 37418943 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the distribution features of uranium-238 (238U), radium-226 (226Ra), thorium-232 (232Th), and potassium-40 (40K) and evaluated the associated environmental radiological hazards of the topsoil and river sediments in the Jinding lead-zinc (Pb-Zn) mine catchment from Southwest China. The activity concentrations of 238U, 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K ranged from 24.0 ± 2.29-60.3 ± 5.26 Bq.kg-1, from 32.5 ± 3.95-69.8 ± 3.39 Bq.kg-1, from 15.3 ± 2.24-58.3 ± 4.92 Bq.kg-1, and from 203 ± 10.2-1140 ± 27.4 Bq.kg-1, respectively. The highest activity concentrations for all these radionuclides were primarily found in the mining areas and decreased with increasing distance from the mining sites. The radiological hazard indices, including radium equivalent activity, absorbed gamma dose rate in the air, outdoor annual effective dose equivalent, annual gonadal dose equivalent, and excess lifetime cancer, revealed that the highest values were observed in the mining area and downstream, specifically in the vicinity of the ore body. These elevated values exceeded the global mean value but remained below the threshold value, suggesting that routine protection measures for Pb-Zn miners during production activities are sufficient. The correlation analysis and cluster analysis revealed strong associations between radionuclides such as 238U, 226Ra, and 232Th, indicating a common source of these radionuclides. The activity ratios of 226Ra/238U, 226Ra/232Th, and 238U/40K varied with distance, suggesting the influence of geological processes and lithological composition on their transport and accumulation. In the mining catchment areas, the variations in these activity ratios increased indicated the impact of limestone material dilution on the levels of 232Th, 40K, and 238U in the upstream region. Moreover, the presence of sulfide minerals in the mining soils contributed to the enrichment of 226Ra and the removal of 238U caused those activity ratios decreased in the mining areas. Therefore, in the Jinding PbZn deposit, the patterns of mining activities and surface runoff processes in the catchment area favored the accumulation of 232Th and 226Ra over 40K and 238U. This study provides the first case study on the geochemical distributions of natural radionuclides in a typical Mississippi Valley-type PbZn mining area and offers fundamental information on radionuclide migration and baseline radiometric data for PbZn deposits worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiugui Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China; Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Hai Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Resources and Environment, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, Jiangxi, China
| | - Yujun Ma
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Land Surface Processes and Ecological Conservation (Ministry of Education), Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China
| | - Jinlong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Weigang Su
- Qinghai Earthquake Agency, Xining 810001, China
| | - Enzong Xiao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China; Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jinzhou Du
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Tangfu Xiao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China; Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Qiangqiang Zhong
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China.
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Lovrenčić Mikelić I, Barišić D. Natural and anthropogenic radionuclides in karstic coastal area (Kaštela Bay, Adriatic Sea, Croatia) exposed to anthropogenic activities: distribution, sources, and influencing factors. RADIOCHIM ACTA 2022. [DOI: 10.1515/ract-2022-0045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
40K, 226Ra, 232Th, 238U, and 137Cs massic activities were determined by gamma-spectrometry in limestones, marls, stream sediments, and soils of Kaštela Bay (Adriatic Sea, Croatia) coastal area. Their distribution, sources and potential influencing factors were studied. The lowest 40K, 226Ra, 232Th, and 238U massic activities were determined in limestones and the highest in soils, with the following median values, respectively: 7.2, 14, 0.8, and 5.3 Bq/kg in limestones and 518, 72, 71, and 31 Bq/kg in soils. All four radionuclides were of natural origin and reflected background values of the karstic area influenced by flysch/marl and terra rossa soil. Local TENORM disposal site did not influence the study area, but it will be needed to study its potential influence on marine sediments. Strong disequilibrium between 226Ra and 238U was found in limestones s.l. and soils, but not in marls and only moderately in stream sediments. This implies that limestones are more susceptible to selective 238U leaching than marls, and soils more than stream sediments. 137Cs was the only radionuclide of anthropogenic origin, with a global source only. It was detected in stream sediments and soils with median values of 5.4 and 31 Bq/kg, respectively. 137Cs distribution was more heterogeneous in stream sediments than in soils, but soils generally presented higher activities. Soil is considered the most important reservoir of 137Cs and its potential source.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivanka Lovrenčić Mikelić
- Laboratory for Low-Level Radioactivities, Division of Experimental Physics, Ruđer Bošković Institute , Bijenička cesta 54, 10 000 Zagreb , Croatia
| | - Delko Barišić
- Laboratory for Radioecology, Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute , Bijenička cesta 54, 10 000 Zagreb , Croatia
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Lovrenčić Mikelić I, Barišić D. Radiological risks from 40 K, 226Ra and 232Th in urbanised and industrialised karstic coastal area (Kaštela Bay, Croatia). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:54632-54640. [PMID: 35306647 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-19741-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Radiological risks associated with 40 K, 226Ra and 232Th massic activities in limestones, marls, stream sediments and soils of the Kaštela Bay (Croatia) coastal area were assessed by calculating outdoor absorbed dose rates in air (D), annual outdoor effective dose rates (Def), radium equivalent activities (Raeq) and external hazard indices (Hex). Radionuclides relative contributions to D and Hex were determined for all four types of samples as well as their total contribution to Hex in all samples. D, Def, Raeq and Hex were the lowest in limestones and the highest in soils. Maximum Raeq and Hex in soil were below the recommended values of 370 Bq/kg and 1.0. No adverse radiological effects were determined in the researched area. The most important contribution to D and Hex in limestones was almost exclusively from 226Ra, in marls from 40 K, in stream sediments from 226Ra and in soils from 232Th. The most significant total contribution to Hex in all samples came from 226Ra and 232Th, and the lowest came from 40 K. 226Ra showed the largest variability of its total contribution to Hex, with tendency to higher values. Special attention should be given to 226Ra when studying radiological risks in typical karstic areas, irrespectively of other possible influences of geological background.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Delko Barišić
- Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10 000, Zagreb, Croatia
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