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Zhang M, Zhao Z, Wang Y, Chen Y, Hou X. Vertical distribution of plutonium isotopes from the floodplain and lacustrine sediments in Poyang Lake, China. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2023; 261:107143. [PMID: 36878053 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107143] [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: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic radionuclides deposited in sediments have been used for environmental radiation risk valuation as well as source identification. In this study, we investigated the vertical distribution of plutonium (Pu) isotopes and 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios in both floodplain and lacustrine sediments in Poyang Lake. The 239+240Pu activity concentrations in floodplain sediment cores were found to range from 0.002 to 0.085 Bq kg-1, with a maximum value at the subsurface layer. The activity in lacustrine sediment cores was from 0.062 to 0.351 Bq kg-1 with a mean of 0.138 ± 0.053 Bq kg-1. The inventory of 43.15 Bq m-2 in lacustrine sediment core is comparable to the average value of global fallout expected at the same latitude. The average 240Pu/239Pu atomic ratios (0.183 ± 0.032) for sediment cores indicated that the global fallout is the major source of Pu in the studied region. The results are of great significance to the further understanding of sources, records, and environmental impacts of regional nuclear activities in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingli Zhang
- School of Geography, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China; Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and Application, Nanjing, 210023, China; Key Laboratory of Material Circulation and Pollution Control in Jiangsu Province, Nanjing, 210023, China.
| | - Zihan Zhao
- School of Geography, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yanhua Wang
- School of Geography, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China; Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and Application, Nanjing, 210023, China; Key Laboratory of Material Circulation and Pollution Control in Jiangsu Province, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yan Chen
- School of Geography, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Xiaolin Hou
- Center for Nuclear Technologies, Technical University of Denmark, Risø Campus, Roskilde, 4000, Denmark.
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2
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The need for speed – Burnup determination of spent nuclear fuel. TALANTA OPEN 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.talo.2022.100152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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3
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Maillard C, Maloubier D, Boulay O, Savigny V, Quemet A. U and Pu separation with U/TEVA resin: Influence of some parameters on chromatographic cycle performances. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-021-07986-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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4
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Goldstein SJ, Price AA, Hinrichs KA, Lamont SP, Nunn AJ, Amato RS, Cardon AM, Gurganus DW. High-precision measurement of U-Pu-Np-Am concentrations and isotope ratios in environmental reference materials by mass spectrometry. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2021; 237:106689. [PMID: 34298408 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2021.106689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We report results of precise and sensitive mass spectrometric measurements of uranium, plutonium, neptunium, and americium concentrations and isotope ratios in a variety of environmental reference materials. Most of our work has been done on NIST SRM 4350b, River Sediment, but we also present results for NIST SRM 4354, Lake Sediment; NIST SRMs 4355 and 4355a, Peruvian Soil; NIST SRM 4357, Ocean Sediment; NIST SRM 1648a, Urban Particulate Material; NIST SRM 1649b, Urban Dust; IAEA CRM 385, Ocean Sediment; USGS BCR-2, Columbia River Basalt; and USGS BHVO-2, Hawaiian Volcanic Observatory Basalt. These materials reflect a wide range in long-lived actinide concentrations (e.g. 1E4 to 1E10 atoms 239Pu/g) and isotope ratios. Measurements were performed in a clean laboratory by isotope dilution, multi-collector thermal ionization and multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. In general, our results are in agreement with, but lower the uncertainty of, literature or certificate values for these reference materials. Our uranium results for the basalts also confirm previously reported high-precision mass spectrometric results from our laboratory. In many cases our measurements of U-Pu-Np-Am nuclides appear to be novel. Extensive results for NIST SRM 4350b, River Sediment, indicate that this material is heterogeneous for Pu-Np-Am concentrations and isotope ratios at a sample size of 5 g or lower. Pu-Np isotope ratios and a241Pu-241Am model age of 1954 reflect a mix of plutonium production operations at the nearby Hanford, Washington site, and global atmospheric fallout from nuclear weapons testing. Results for the oceanic sediment materials (NIST SRM 4357 and IAEA 385) collected near Sellafield, U.K. vary but are also indicative of local anthropogenic sources of varying Pu isotopic composition and a mean 241Pu-241Am model age of 1964. Large environmental fractionation between Pu and Np is observed for the ocean, river, and lake sediment reference materials. Novel measurements for the two air particulate SRMs indicate high U, Pu and Np concentrations for these collections in 1976-1977 with an anomalous regional fallout Pu isotopic signature. Results for BHVO-2 and other Hawaiian basalts indicate that those which erupted before or during the period of abundant atmospheric nuclear weapons testing (1950-1970) contain significant levels of Pu (on the order of 1E7 atoms 239Pu/g) with a global fallout Pu isotopic composition, compared to more recent eruptions which incorporated less Pu. Hence, Hawaiian basalts may provide an integrated temporal record of anthropogenic actinide fallout deposition from the atmosphere since eruption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J Goldstein
- Group C-NR, MS J514, Nuclear and Radiochemistry Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA.
| | - Allison A Price
- Group C-NR, MS J514, Nuclear and Radiochemistry Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA
| | - Kimberly A Hinrichs
- Group C-NR, MS J514, Nuclear and Radiochemistry Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA
| | - Stephen P Lamont
- Group C-NR, MS J514, Nuclear and Radiochemistry Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA
| | - Andrew J Nunn
- Group C-NR, MS J514, Nuclear and Radiochemistry Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA
| | - Ronald S Amato
- Group C-NR, MS J514, Nuclear and Radiochemistry Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA
| | - Annelise M Cardon
- Group C-NR, MS J514, Nuclear and Radiochemistry Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA
| | - Daniel W Gurganus
- Group C-NR, MS J514, Nuclear and Radiochemistry Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA
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5
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Yang G, Zheng J, Kim E, Zhang S, Seno H, Kowatari M, Aono T, Kurihara O. Rapid analysis of 237Np and Pu isotopes in small volume urine by SF-ICP-MS and ICP-MS/MS. Anal Chim Acta 2021; 1158:338431. [PMID: 33863417 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2021.338431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Internal contamination with alpha-particle emitting actinides, such as 237Np, 239Pu, 240Pu, is likely to bring a large amount of dose to the tissues of persons even if the intake amount is small. To provide timely information for prompt decision-making in radiation emergency therapy, we developed a simple and rapid method for urinary bioassay to determine ultra-trace 237Np and Pu isotopes using SF-ICP-MS and ICP-MS/MS. To avoid polyatomic interferences and tailing effects from U, 237Np and Pu isotopes were collected after removing U effectively using a simple single chromatographic column packed with 2 mL AG MP-1M anion exchange resin, exhibiting a high decontamination factor of 108 for 238U. The overall chemical fractionation between 237Np and 242Pu for the whole analytical procedure was 0.974 ± 0.064 (k = 2), allowing us to measure 237Np and Pu isotopes using 242Pu as a yield tracer with yields of 76 ± 5%. Using ICP-MS/MS with low background provided the method detection limits for 237Np, 239Pu, 240Pu, and 241Pu of 0.025, 0.025, 0.015, and 0.020 fg mL-1, respectively, for 20 mL of urine sample. Those were comparable to detection limits of SF-ICP-MS with high sensitivity. Subsequently, three urine reference materials with Pu spike, provided by the Association for the PROmotion of Quality COntrol in RADiotoxicological Analysis (PROCORAD), France, were analyzed by the developed method and the conventional alpha spectrometry technique for validation. Finally, the developed method was successfully employed to measure the contamination level of 237Np, 239Pu, 240Pu, and 241Pu in urine samples collected during decorporation therapy using DTPA, after a Pu inhalation exposure accident in Japan. The high throughput (9 h for 12 samples), simplicity, low cost, and high sensitivity of the method will allow greater numbers of related laboratories to be involved in screening activities for unexpected actinide exposure, such as in the case of a large scale radiological disaster.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guosheng Yang
- National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST), 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan
| | - Jian Zheng
- National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST), 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan.
| | - Eunjoo Kim
- National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST), 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan
| | - Shuai Zhang
- National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST), 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan; School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Hatsuho Seno
- National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST), 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan
| | - Munehiko Kowatari
- National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST), 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan
| | - Tatsuo Aono
- National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST), 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan
| | - Osamu Kurihara
- National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST), 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan
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6
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Ji M, Chang M, Liao H, Wang X, Bai Y. Vertical distribution of 137Cs and plutonium in Lake Taihu and Dianchi sediment cores: loss of radionuclides in shallow, eutrophic lakes. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-021-07594-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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7
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Guan Y, Mai J, Xu J, Liu Z. Characteristic of Pu from urban wetland and lacustrine sediments in Suzhou Industrial Park, China. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2020; 213:106134. [PMID: 31983444 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.106134] [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: 08/24/2019] [Revised: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In this study, plutonium activity concentrations in the urban wetlands and lacustrine sediment of Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) are studied for the first time. Results show 239+240Pu activity concentrations in the wetland surface soils of SIP range from 0.035 to 0.426 mBq/g and the 240Pu/239Pu atom ratio ranges from 0.171±0.024 to 0.226±0.049. Judging from the atom ratio of 240Pu/239Pu, the main source of Pu in the wetland is global fallout. The correlations of Pu between organic matter and heavy metals are also studied. The correlation coefficients show Pu has significant positive correlations with Cu, Sn and Pb but negative correlation with As. Unlike distributions of Pu in other places, Pu in SIP has weak correlation with organic matter content. A sediment core from Lake Yangcheng is also analyzed to investigate the historical record of Pu deposition. The atom ratios of each layer in the sediment core indicate the area is mainly influenced by global fallout. Using Pu as a discrete-time maker, the deposition rate in Lake Yangcheng is 0.396±0.019 cm/yr. The calculated inventory of 239+240Pu is 58.5 Bq/m2, which is in the range of inventories of the corresponding latitudes according to UNSCEAR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjin Guan
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Relativistic Astrophysics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Jingyu Mai
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Relativistic Astrophysics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China; State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X) and Collaborative Innovation Centre of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Jiawei Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X) and Collaborative Innovation Centre of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Zhiyong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X) and Collaborative Innovation Centre of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
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8
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9
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Wang R, Fu Y, Lei L, Li G, Liu Z. Distribution and Source Identification of Pu in River Basins in Southern China. ACS OMEGA 2019; 4:22646-22654. [PMID: 31909349 PMCID: PMC6941367 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.9b03650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The 239+240Pu activities and 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios in surface sediments from the major river basins in southern China were analyzed to investigate the distribution and source of Pu. We clarified that the 239+240Pu activities in these river basins were very similar, however, only the 239+240Pu activities in the Jinjiang Basin were generally higher than other samples. Because of river transport function, the distribution of 239+240Pu activities in these river basins presented an increasing trend from the upstream region to the estuary. According to the 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios, the Pu source in the inner river basins might be from global fallout, and the Pu in river estuaries might be from the global fallout and the Pacific Proving Grounds (PPG) in the Marshall Islands. Using a mass balance of the Pu model, we quantified in the Pearl River Estuary and the Pu contribution from the Pearl River Basin to Pu inventory was 13 ± 5%. These data not only filled in a knowledge gap of Pu in these river basins but also served as background data for Pu contamination from a nuclear reactor. Also, there are several planned and operating nuclear power plants in these river basins and these data could provide some indications for dealing with nuclear accidents in different parts of river basins in the future. In this study, we also analyzed some factors that would affect the distribution of 239+240Pu activities; however, only total organic carbon (TOC) content and the heavy metal As had a positive correlation with the 239+240Pu activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruirui Wang
- State
Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological
and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X) and Collaborative Innovation
Centre of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yao Fu
- State
Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological
and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X) and Collaborative Innovation
Centre of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Ling Lei
- State
Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological
and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X) and Collaborative Innovation
Centre of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Gang Li
- Key
Laboratory of Ocean and Marginal Sea Geology, South China Sea Institute
of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China
| | - Zhiyong Liu
- State
Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological
and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X) and Collaborative Innovation
Centre of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
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10
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Rapid concentration and isotopic measurements of ultra-trace 235U fission products with comparison to an ORIGEN isotope depletion model. Talanta 2019; 205:120079. [DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2019.06.079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Revised: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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11
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Zhang W, Hou X. Level, distribution and sources of plutonium in the coastal areas of China. CHEMOSPHERE 2019; 230:587-595. [PMID: 31125887 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.05.094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Plutonium is an important radioactive element in view of its biological toxicity and environmental impact. The two most important isotopes of plutonium, 239Pu and 240Pu, in the surface soil from the coastal area of China were determined using radiochemical separation combined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) measurement. The average of the measured 240Pu/239Pu atomic ratios in all these samples is 0.186 ± 0.021, which is in good agreement with the ratio of global fallout of the nuclear weapons tests. This indicates that the major source of plutonium in this region is global fallout, and there is no measurable release of plutonium from any nuclear power plant along the coast of China. The 239,240Pu concentrations in all 71 soil samples range from 0.002 mBq/g to 0.670 mBq/g, which fall in the range of the reported values in the background area not directly influenced by nuclear activities. The anthropogenic disturbance of sampling sites, vegetation coverage of land, precipitation rate and organic substance content and erosion of soil have significant influence on the level of plutonium in the surface soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weichao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Technology and Application, Xi'an AMS Center, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, 710061, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiaolin Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Technology and Application, Xi'an AMS Center, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, 710061, China; Center for Nuclear Technologies, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Nutech, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark; CAS Center of Excellence in Quaternary Science and Global Change, Xi'an, 710061, China; Open Studio for Oceanic-Continental Climate and Environment Changes, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, 266061, China.
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12
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Huang Z, Ni Y, Wang H, Zheng J, Yamazaki S, Sakaguchi A, Long X, Uchida S. Simultaneous determination of ultra-trace level 237Np and Pu isotopes in soil and sediment samples by SF-ICP-MS with a single column chromatographic separation. Microchem J 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2019.05.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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13
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Jaegler H, Pointurier F, Diez-Fernández S, Gourgiotis A, Isnard H, Hayashi S, Tsuji H, Onda Y, Hubert A, Laceby JP, Evrard O. Reconstruction of uranium and plutonium isotopic signatures in sediment accumulated in the Mano Dam reservoir, Japan, before and after the Fukushima nuclear accident. CHEMOSPHERE 2019; 225:849-858. [PMID: 30904765 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.03.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Revised: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/10/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident in Japan resulted in a major release of radionuclides into the environment. Compared to other radionuclides, few studies have investigated the fate of actinides in the environment. Accordingly, this research investigates the Pu composition in soil samples collected in paddy fields before and after the accident. Furthermore, the vertical distributions of Pu and U isotopic signatures, along with 137Cs activities, were measured in a sediment core collected in the Mano Dam reservoir, in the Fukushima Prefecture. Changes in the relative contributions of the major actinide sources (global fallout or FDNPP derived fallout) were investigated in sediment deposited in the reservoir. The distinct peak observed for all Pu isotope ratios (240Pu/239Pu, 241Pu/239Pu and 242Pu/239Pu) and for 137Cs concentrations in the sediment core was attributed to the Fukushima fallout, and coincided with the maximum atomic contribution of only 4.8 ± 1.0% of Pu from the FDNPP. Furthermore, 236U/238U ratios measured in the sediment core remained close to the global fallout signature indicating there was likely no U from the FDNPP accident detected in the sediment core. More research is required on the environmental dynamics of trace actinides in landscapes closer to the FDNPP where there are likely to be greater abundances of FDNPP-derived Pu and U.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Jaegler
- Laboratoire des Sciences Du Climat et de L'Environnement, LSCE/IPSL, UMR 8212 (CEA-CNRS-UVSQ), Université Paris-Saclay, F-91198, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
| | | | - Silvia Diez-Fernández
- Den - Service D'Etudes Analytiques et de Réactivité des Surfaces (SEARS), CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91191, Gif sur Yvette, France
| | - Alkiviadis Gourgiotis
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire - PSE/ENV - SEDRE/LELI BP 17, Fontenay-aux-Roses, 92262, France
| | - Hélène Isnard
- Den - Service D'Etudes Analytiques et de Réactivité des Surfaces (SEARS), CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91191, Gif sur Yvette, France
| | - Seiji Hayashi
- National Institute for Environmental Science, Fukushima Branch, 10-2 Fukasaku, Miharu, Tamura, Fukushima, 963-7700 Japan
| | - Hideki Tsuji
- National Institute for Environmental Science, Fukushima Branch, 10-2 Fukasaku, Miharu, Tamura, Fukushima, 963-7700 Japan
| | - Yuichi Onda
- Center for Research in Isotopes and Environmental Dynamics (CRIED), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | | | - J Patrick Laceby
- Laboratoire des Sciences Du Climat et de L'Environnement, LSCE/IPSL, UMR 8212 (CEA-CNRS-UVSQ), Université Paris-Saclay, F-91198, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France; Environmental Monitoring and Science Division, Alberta Environment and Parks, 3115 - 12 Street NE, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Olivier Evrard
- Laboratoire des Sciences Du Climat et de L'Environnement, LSCE/IPSL, UMR 8212 (CEA-CNRS-UVSQ), Université Paris-Saclay, F-91198, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France.
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14
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240Pu/ 239Pu and 242Pu/ 239Pu atom ratios of Japanese monthly atmospheric deposition samples during 1963-1966. Sci Rep 2019; 9:8105. [PMID: 31147582 PMCID: PMC6543033 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44352-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Global fallout plutonium isotopic ratios from the 1960s are important for the use of Pu as environmental tracers. We measured the 240Pu/239Pu and 242Pu/239Pu atomic ratios of monthly atmospheric deposition samples collected in Tokyo and Akita, Japan during March 1963 to May 1966. To our knowledge, our results represent the first data measured for actual atmospheric deposition samples collected continuously during the 1960s. Both atomic ratios increased rapidly from March 1963 to June 1963, followed by a gradual increase until September 1963. Then, both ratios declined with a half-life of approximately 5.6 months. The observed temporal changes of the ratios were likely caused by the upper-stratospheric input of nuclear debris from high-yield atmospheric nuclear weapon testing during 1961–62, followed by its downward transport to the troposphere.
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15
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Rapid measurements of 235U fission product isotope ratios using an online, high-pressure ion chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry protocol with comparison to isotopic depletion models. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-019-06438-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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16
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Zhuang Q, Li G, Wang F, Tian L, Jiang X, Zhang K, Liu G, Pan S, Liu Z. 137Cs and 239+240Pu in the Bohai Sea of China: Comparison in distribution and source identification between the inner bay and the tidal flat. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2019; 138:604-617. [PMID: 30660312 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2018] [Revised: 12/08/2018] [Accepted: 12/09/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
We investigated artificial radionuclides (239+240Pu and 137Cs) in surface sediments and sediment cores collected from the Bohai Bay and the tidal flat of the Liaodong Bay, China. Increasing trends for 239+240Pu activities and 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios (˃0.18) were observed from land to sea and from north to south in the Bohai Bay. This spatial pattern implied that the scavenging process between riverine sediments and Pacific Proving Ground (PPG) source Pu transported by the currents such as Yellow Sea Warm Current had occurred in the Bohai Bay. In contrast, relatively lower 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios in the tidal flat of Liaodong Bay were due to the mixing process between more global out and less PPG source Pu. The riverine Pu contributions to the total global fallout Pu in the Haihe River (32.8%) were much lower than those in the Yangtze River estuary (77%-80%), indicating better soil conservation in the Haihe River Catchment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qifan Zhuang
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X), Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiological Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions and School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Guosheng Li
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Fu Wang
- Tianjin Center, China Geological Survey, CGS, Key Laboratory of Coast and Quaternary Geo-Environment, Tianjin 300170, China.
| | - Lizhu Tian
- Tianjin Center, China Geological Survey, CGS, Key Laboratory of Coast and Quaternary Geo-Environment, Tianjin 300170, China
| | - Xingyu Jiang
- Tianjin Center, China Geological Survey, CGS, Key Laboratory of Coast and Quaternary Geo-Environment, Tianjin 300170, China
| | - Kexing Zhang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, China
| | - Geng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X), Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiological Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions and School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX37DQ, United Kingdom
| | - Shaoming Pan
- The Key Laboratory of Coastal and Island Development of Ministry of Education, School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Zhiyong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X), Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiological Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions and School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
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17
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Development of a fast and efficient analytical technique for the isotopic analysis of fission and actinide elements in environmental matrices. J Chromatogr A 2018; 1587:155-165. [PMID: 30591247 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2018.12.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Revised: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 12/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
An automated separation-direct analysis scheme has been developed to determine both the concentration and isotopic composition of a suite of elements down to the low picogram level in a complex silicon-based matrix. With the ultimate goal of performing rapid analysis of materials with non-natural isotopic compositions, RAPID (Rapid Analysis of Post-Irradiation Debris) consists of a high-pressure ion chromatography system directly coupled to an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. The RAPID method achieves matrix exclusion and direct online analysis of the elementally separated components, yielding precise isotopic compositions for up to 40 elements in less than one hour per sample. When combined with isotope dilution, this approach shows the potential to yield elemental concentrations with low uncertainties, providing a rapid analytical method that encompasses group I and II metals, transition metals, refractory metals, platinum group metals, lanthanides, and actinides. The method development, robustness, sensitivity, uncertainties, and potential applications in nuclear and environmental measurements will be discussed in this paper.
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18
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Qiao J, Lagerkvist P, Rodushkin I, Salminen-Paatero S, Roos P, Lierhagen S, Jensen KA, Engstrom E, Lahaye Y, Skipperud L. On the application of ICP-MS techniques for measuring uranium and plutonium: a Nordic inter-laboratory comparison exercise. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-018-5697-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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19
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Wang Z, Zheng J, Ni Y, Men W, Tagami K, Uchida S. High-Performance Method for Determination of Pu Isotopes in Soil and Sediment Samples by Sector Field-Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. Anal Chem 2017; 89:2221-2226. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.6b04975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Zhongtang Wang
- Biospheric
Assessment for Waste Disposal Team, National Institute of Radiological
Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Jian Zheng
- Biospheric
Assessment for Waste Disposal Team, National Institute of Radiological
Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Youyi Ni
- Biospheric
Assessment for Waste Disposal Team, National Institute of Radiological
Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
- State
Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Wu Men
- Biospheric
Assessment for Waste Disposal Team, National Institute of Radiological
Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Keiko Tagami
- Biospheric
Assessment for Waste Disposal Team, National Institute of Radiological
Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Shigeo Uchida
- Biospheric
Assessment for Waste Disposal Team, National Institute of Radiological
Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
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20
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Cao L, Bu W, Zheng J, Pan S, Wang Z, Uchida S. Plutonium determination in seawater by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry: A review. Talanta 2016; 151:30-41. [DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2016.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2015] [Revised: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 01/08/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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21
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Determination of isotopic ratios of plutonium and uranium in soil samples by thermal ionization mass spectrometry. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-015-4551-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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22
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Challenges in preparing soil samples and performing a reliable plutonium isotopic analysis by ICP-MS. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-014-3411-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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23
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Liao H, Bu W, Zheng J, Wu F, Yamada M. Vertical distributions of radionuclides ((239+240)Pu, (240)Pu/(239)Pu, and (137)Cs) in sediment cores of Lake Bosten in Northwestern China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2014; 48:3840-3846. [PMID: 24580087 DOI: 10.1021/es405364m] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Artificial radionuclides ((137)Cs, (239+240)Pu, (241)Pu, (241)Am) deposited in lacustrine sediments have been used for dating as well as radionuclide source identification. In the present work, we investigated the vertical distributions of (239+240)Pu and (137)Cs activities, (240)Pu/(239)Pu atom ratios, and (239+240)Pu/(137)Cs activity ratios in sediment cores collected from Lake Bosten, which is the lake closest to the Lop Nor Chinese Nuclear Weapon Test site in northwestern China. Uniformly high concentrations of (239+240)Pu and (137)Cs were found in the upper layers deposited since 1964 in the sediment cores, and these were controlled by the resuspension of soil containing radionuclides from the nearby land surface. As the Chinese nuclear tests varied remarkably in yield, the mixing of the tropospheric deposition from these tests and the stratospheric deposition of global fallout has led to a (240)Pu/(239)Pu atom ratio that is similar to that of global fallout and to a (239+240)Pu/(137)Cs activity ratio that is slightly higher than that of global fallout. However, a low (240)Pu/(239)Pu atom ratio of 0.080 and high (239+240)Pu/(137)Cs activity ratio of 0.087, significantly different from the global fallout values, were observed in one sediment core (07BS10-2), indicating the inhomogenous tropospheric deposition from the Chinese nuclear tests in Lake Bosten during 1967-1973. These results are important to understand the influence of the CNTs on the radionuclide contamination in Lake Bosten.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiqing Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences , Beijing 100012, China
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24
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Shen YW, Hsu PH, Unnikrishnan B, Li YJ, Huang CC. Membrane-based assay for iodide ions based on anti-leaching of gold nanoparticles. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2014; 6:2576-2582. [PMID: 24405058 DOI: 10.1021/am405027q] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
We report a label-free colorimetric strategy for the highly selective and sensitive detection of iodide (I(-)) ions in human urine sample, seawater and edible salt. A poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone)-stabilized Au nanoparticle (34.2-nm) was prepared to detect I(-) ions using silver (Ag(+)) and cyanide (CN(-)) ions as leaching agents in a glycine-NaOH (pH 9.0) solution. For the visual detection of the I(-) ions by naked eye, and for long time stability of the probe, Au nanoparticles (NPs) decorated mixed cellulose ester membrane (MCEM) was prepared (Au NPs/MCEM). The Au NPs-based probe (CN(-)/Ag(+)-Au NPs/MCEM) operates on the principle that Ag(+) ions form a monolyar silver atoms/ions by aurophilic/argentophilic interactions on the Au NPs and it accelerates the leaching rate of Au atoms in presence of CN(-) ions. However, when I(-) is introduced into this system, it inhibits the leaching of Au atoms because of the strong interactions between Ag/Au ions and I(-) ions. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry were used to characterize the surface properties of the Au NPs in the presence of Ag(+) and I(-). Under optimal solution conditions, the CN(-)/Ag(+)-Au NPs/MCEM probe enabled the detection of I(-) by the naked eye at nanomolar concentrations with high selectivity (at least 1000-fold over other anions). In addition, this cost-effective probe allowed the determination of I(-) ions in complex samples, such as urine, seawater, and edible salt samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Wei Shen
- Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Taiwan Ocean University , 2 Beining Road, Keelung, 20224, Taiwan
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25
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On peculiarities of vertical distribution of 239,240Pu, 238Pu and 137Cs activity concentrations and their ratios in lake sediments and soils. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-014-3026-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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26
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Bu W, Zheng J, Guo Q, Aono T, Tazoe H, Tagami K, Uchida S, Yamada M. A method of measurement of (239)Pu, (240)Pu, (241)Pu in high U content marine sediments by sector field ICP-MS and its application to Fukushima sediment samples. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2013; 48:534-541. [PMID: 24328266 DOI: 10.1021/es403500e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
An accurate and precise analytical method is highly needed for the determination of Pu isotopes in marine sediments for the long-term marine environment monitoring that is being done since the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. The elimination of uranium from the sediment samples needs to be carefully checked. We established an analytical method based on anion-exchange chromatography and SF-ICP-MS in this work. A uranium decontamination factor of 2 × 10(6) was achieved, and the U concentrations in the final sample solutions were typically below 4 pg mL(-1), thus no extra correction of (238)U interferences from the Pu spectra was needed. The method was suitable for the analysis of (241)Pu in marine sediments using large sample amounts (>10 g). We validated the method by measuring marine sediment reference materials and our results agreed well with the certified and the literature values. Surface sediments and one sediment core sample collected after the nuclear accident were analyzed. The characterization of (241)Pu/(239)Pu atom ratios in the surface sediments and the vertical distribution of Pu isotopes showed that there was no detectable Pu contamination from the nuclear accident in the marine sediments collected 30 km off the plant site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenting Bu
- State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, School of Physics, Peking University , Beijing 100871, China
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27
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Davoudi M, Mallah MH. Enrichment of 6Li using dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction as a highly efficient technique. ANN NUCL ENERGY 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anucene.2013.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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28
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Bu K, Cizdziel JV, Dasher D. Plutonium concentration and (240)Pu/(239)Pu atom ratio in biota collected from Amchitka Island, Alaska: recent measurements using ICP-SFMS. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2013; 124:29-36. [PMID: 23639692 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2013.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2012] [Revised: 02/28/2013] [Accepted: 03/06/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Three underground nuclear tests, including the Unites States' largest, were conducted on Amchitka Island, Alaska. Monitoring of the radiological environment around the island is challenging because of its remote location. In 2008, the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Legacy Management (LM) became responsible for the long term maintenance and surveillance of the Amchitka site. The first DOE LM environmental survey occurred in 2011 and is part of a cycle of activities that will occur every 5 years. The University of Alaska Fairbanks, a participant in the 2011 study, provided the lichen (Cladonia spp.), freshwater moss (Fontinalis neomexicanus), kelp (Eualaria fistulosa) and horse mussel (Modiolus modiolus) samples from Amchitka Island and Adak Island (a control site). These samples were analyzed for (239)Pu and (240)Pu concentration and (240)Pu/(239)Pu atom ratio using inductively coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometry (ICP-SFMS). Plutonium concentrations and (240)Pu/(239)Pu atom ratios were generally consistent with previous terrestrial and marine studies in the region. The ((239)+)(240)Pu levels (mBq kg(-1), dry weight) ranged from 3.79 to 57.1 for lichen, 167-700 for kelp, 27.9-148 for horse mussel, and 560-573 for moss. Lichen from Adak Island had higher Pu concentrations than Amchitka Island, the difference was likely the result of the higher precipitation at Adak compared to Amchitka. The (240)Pu/(239)Pu atom ratios were significantly higher in marine samples compared to terrestrial and freshwater samples (t-test, p < 0.001); lichen and moss averaged 0.184 ± 0.007, similar to the integrated global fallout ratio, whereas kelp and mussel (soft tissue) averaged 0.226 ± 0.003. These observations provide supporting evidence that a large input of isotopically heavier Pu occurred into the North Pacific Ocean, likely from the Marshall Island high yield nuclear tests, but other potential sources, such as the Kamchatka Peninsula Rybachiy Naval Base and Amchitka Island underground nuclear test site cannot be ruled out.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaixuan Bu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Mississippi, University, 116 Taylor Meadows Dr, MS 38677, USA.
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29
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Liu Z, Zheng J, Pan S, Gao J. Anthropogenic plutonium in the North Jiangsu tidal flats of the Yellow Sea in China. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2013; 185:6539-6551. [PMID: 23264060 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-012-3045-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2012] [Accepted: 12/04/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The (239+240)Pu activities and (240)Pu/(239)Pu atom ratios were analyzed using a double-focusing SF-ICP-MS for sediment core samples obtained in 2007-2008 from the North Jiangsu tidal flats in the Yellow Sea in China. Particular attention was focused on the (240)Pu/(239)Pu atom ratios in the sediment to identify the origins of Pu isotopes. The profiles of (239+240)Pu activities in the sediment cores are similar to those of the (137)Cs activities. The (240)Pu/(239)Pu atom ratios in the tidal flats showed typical global fallout values, indicating that this area did not receive the possible early direct close-in fallout or oceanic current transported Pu from the Pacific Proving Grounds (PPG). If any, the contribution of the PPG source Pu to the total Pu inventory is negligible. This is different from the sediments in the Yangtze River estuary in the East China Sea, where the PPG source Pu contributed ca. 45 % to the total inventory. In addition, the observation of the global fallout origin Pu in the North Jiangsu tidal flats indicated that the nuclear power plant in the region was not causing any alteration/contamination to the (240)Pu/(239)Pu atom ratios. The (239+240)Pu and (137)Cs activities/inventories in the sediment cores showed correlation to the mean clay sediment compositions (fine particles) in the tidal flats. Therefore, mud deposits are served as sinks for the anthropogenic radionuclides in the tidal flats and the Yellow Sea. Integrated with the previously reported spatial distributions of (239+240)Pu and (137)Cs activities in the surface sediments of the Yellow Sea, the mechanism of Pu transport with the ocean currents and the scavenging characteristics in the Yellow Sea were discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyong Liu
- Key Lab of Ministry of Education of Coast and Island Development, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
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30
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Ketterer ME, Zheng J, Yamada M. Applications of Transuranics as Tracers and Chronometers in the Environment. ADVANCES IN ISOTOPE GEOCHEMISTRY 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-10637-8_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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31
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Wu F, Zheng J, Liao H, Yamada M, Wan G. Anomalous plutonium isotopic ratios in sediments of Lake Qinghai from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2011; 45:9188-9194. [PMID: 21950768 DOI: 10.1021/es202315c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The vertical profiles of (239+240)Pu and (137)Cs activities and (240)Pu/(239)Pu isotopic ratios are determined for three sediment cores of Lake Qinghai from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China, and compared with those in sediments of another three lakes (Lakes Bosten, Sugan, and Shuangta), the only existing ones closest to Lop Nor area, China's nuclear weapons test site in the northwestern part of the country. The mean inventory of 47.7 ± 18.7 MBq km(-2) for (239+240)Pu activity in Lake Qinghai is comparable to the average value of global fallout expected at the same latitude, yet the mean inventory of 1112.0 ± 78.0 MBq km(-2) for (137)Cs is slightly lower than that of global fallout. Anomalously low (240)Pu/(239)Pu isotopic ratios (0.038-0.125) were found in the 3-6.5 cm deep sediment layers, indicating the trace Pu input from early nuclear weapons research activities at Atomic City in the lake's watershed during the 1950-60s. Model calculation indicated that the Pu input accounted for approximately 5-16% of the total Pu inventory. The observation of low (240)Pu/(239)Pu ratio in the deep sediment layer provided a new time marker for recent sediment dating in the lake and around the area. The results are of great significance to the further understanding of sources, records, and environmental impacts of global and regional nuclear activities in the environment and provide important chronological information for further studies on the water eutrophication process and climatic change, and reconstruction of pollution history of organic contaminants and heavy metals in the watershed of Lake Qinghai.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengchang Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China.
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32
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Pointurier F, Pottin AC, Hubert A. Application of Nanosecond-UV Laser Ablation–Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry for the Isotopic Analysis of Single Submicrometer-Size Uranium Particles. Anal Chem 2011; 83:7841-8. [DOI: 10.1021/ac201596t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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33
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Wu F, Zheng J, Liao H, Yamada M. Distribution of artificial radionuclides in lacustrine sediments in China. RADIATION PROTECTION DOSIMETRY 2011; 146:291-294. [PMID: 21498412 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncr173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Establishing accurate historical records of the distribution, inventory and source of artificial radionuclides in the environment is important for environmental monitoring and radiological health protection due to their potential toxicity, and is also useful for identification and risk assessment of possible future environmental inputs of radionuclides from nuclear weapons tests and accidental release from the nuclear fuel reprocessing facilities or nuclear power reactors. A sector-field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer was used to study the recent sedimentation of Pu isotopes in 11 lakes in China. The distribution of (137)Cs was investigated using the conventional radiometric analytical methods. Based on the isotopic compositions of Pu and the activity ratio of (137)Cs/(239+240)Pu, the sources of artificial radionuclides were identified. The potential applications of Pu isotopes for sediment dating and for regional and global environmental change studies were discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengchang Wu
- Chinese Research Institute of Environmental Sciences, 8 Dayangfang, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100012, China.
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34
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Liu Z, Zheng J, Yamada M, Pan S, Kawahata H. Plutonium characteristics in sediments of Hiroshima Bay in the Seto Inland Sea in Japan. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-011-1025-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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35
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Qiao J, Hou X, Roos P, Miró M. Rapid isolation of plutonium in environmental solid samples using sequential injection anion exchange chromatography followed by detection with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Anal Chim Acta 2011; 685:111-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2010.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2010] [Revised: 10/18/2010] [Accepted: 10/21/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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36
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Distribution of plutonium isotopes in sediments of Melanesian Basin, Central Pacific. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2010. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-010-0884-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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37
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Dong W, Zheng J, Guo Q, Yamada M, Pan S. Characterization of plutonium in deep-sea sediments of the Sulu and South China Seas. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2010; 101:622-629. [PMID: 20403651 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2010.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2009] [Revised: 03/15/2010] [Accepted: 03/23/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic Pu isotopes are important geochemical tracers for sediment studies. Their distributions and sources in the water columns as well as the sediments of the North Pacific have been intensively studied; however, information about Pu in the Southeast Asian seas is limited. To study the isotopic composition of Pu, and thus to identify its sources, we collected sediment core samples in the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea during the KH-96-5 Cruise of the R/V Hakuho Maru. We analysed the activities of (239+240)Pu and the atom ratios of (240)Pu/(239)Pu using isotope dilution sector-field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SF-ICP-MS). The (240)Pu/(239)Pu atom ratios in the sediments of both areas (inventory weighted mean: 0.251 for the South China Sea and 0.280 for the Sulu Sea) were higher than the global fallout value (0.178+/-0.019), suggesting the existence of Pu from the Pacific Proving Grounds in the North Pacific. Low inventories of (239+240)Pu in sediments were observed in the South China Sea (3.75 Bq/m(2)) and the Sulu Sea (1.38 Bq/m(2)). Most of the Pu input is still present in the water column. Scavenging and benthic mixing processes were considered to be the main processes controlling the distribution of Pu in the deep-sea sediments of both study areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China; Environmental Radiation Effects Research Group, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, 491 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
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38
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Guo J, Wu F, Luo X, Liang Z, Liao H, Zhang R, Li W, Zhao X, Chen S, Mai B. Anthropogenic input of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons into five lakes in western China. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2010; 158:2175-2180. [PMID: 20307921 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2010.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2009] [Revised: 02/26/2010] [Accepted: 02/27/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The temporal distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was examined in dated sediments from five lakes in Western China. The surficial concentrations of seven carcinogenic PAHs (BaA, Chyr, BbF, BkF, BaP, DBA and INP, hereafter denoted as PAH7) were highly site-specific. The SigmaPAH7 concentrations generally increased from the deep layers to surface sediments. The temporal trends of SigmaPAH7 concentrations were clearly different from those reported in developed countries. From 1950s to 1980s, which PAHs started to decrease in developed countries, is the right period that PAHs started to increase rapidly in Western China. The fluxes and mass inventories suggest that the PAH7 input over the past three decades was much more rapidly than it was before the 1980s. Source identification indicates that the PAHs were primarily from biomass burning and domestic coal combustion, and increasing vehicular and/or industrial coal combustion emission was also found.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianyang Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550002, China
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Lindahl P, Keith-Roach M, Worsfold P, Choi MS, Shin HS, Lee SH. Ultra-trace determination of plutonium in marine samples using multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Anal Chim Acta 2010; 671:61-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2010.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2010] [Revised: 04/27/2010] [Accepted: 05/09/2010] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Wu F, Zheng J, Liao H, Yamada M. Vertical distributions of plutonium and 137Cs in lacustrine sediments in northwestern china: quantifying sediment accumulation rates and source identifications. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2010; 44:2911-2917. [PMID: 20302293 DOI: 10.1021/es9029649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the vertical distributions of 239+240Pu and 137Cs activities and 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios in two lakes in northwestern China. The 240Pu/239Pu atom ratio from the Chinese nuclear test (CNT) site at Lop Nor is too complicated to identify the regional fallout source. However, radionuclides from the test site may be resolved mainly by the vertical distribution of radionuclides because there is no overlap between the global fallout peak and the local fallout peak. We analyzed Pu isotopes and 137Cs in sediments from two lakes (Sugan and Shuangta) located in northwestern China, near the CNT, and Lake Sihailongwan located in northeastern China to date recent lacustrine sediments and resolve global/local fallout sources. The apparently low 240Pu/239Pu atom ratio of 0.103 +/- 0.010 at Lake Sugan was likely representative of the fallout from the Lop Nor site. Our results also demonstrated that the 239+240Pu activity was more useful for recent chronology of lacustrine sediments, compared to 137Cs. Sediment accumulation rates of 0.651, 0.058-0.061, and 0.015 g x cm(-2) x a(-1) for sediment cores of Lake Shuangta, Lake Sugan and Lake Sihailongwan, respectively, were obtained by using the 239+240Pu fallout peak as a discrete time marker for 1964. The respective contributions of 137Cs and 239+240Pu from the CNT were estimated to be about 40 and 27% for Lake Sugan and 36 and 20% for Lake Shuangta. Plutonium isotopes in lacustrine sediments were proven to be useful for quantifying sediment accumulation rates and for source identification of the radioactive contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengchang Wu
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control, Chinese Research Institute of Environmental Sciences, 8 Dayangfang, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100012, China.
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Zheng J, Yamada M, Wu F, Liao H. Characterization of Pu concentration and its isotopic composition in soils of Gansu in northwestern China. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2009; 100:71-75. [PMID: 19058885 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2008.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2008] [Revised: 10/23/2008] [Accepted: 10/28/2008] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The total 239+240Pu activities and 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios in surface soil samples (0-5cm) in the Kumtag Desert in western Gansu Province, and in a soil core sample in Lanzhou were investigated using a sector-field ICP-MS. In the surface soil samples, 239+240Pu activities in fine particles (<150microm) were 1.3-2.1 times of those in coarse particles (150microm-1mm) which ranged from 0.005 to 0.157mBq/g. Atom ratios of 240Pu/239Pu in the surface soils ranged from 0.168 to 0.192 with a mean of 0.182+/-0.008. The mean ratio was similar to the typical global fallout value although the Kumtag Desert was believed to have received close-in fallout derived from Chinese nuclear weapons tests mainly conducted in the 1970s. Furthermore, the mean 240Pu/239Pu atom ratio observed in the soil core sample in Lanzhou was similar to the typical global fallout value. In the soil core sample, 239+240Pu activities in the various layers ranged from 0.012 to 0.23mBq/g, and the inventory of 239+240Pu (32.4Bq/m2, 0-23cm) was slightly lower than that expected from global fallout (42Bq/m2) at the same latitude. Rapid downward migration of Pu isotopes was observed in Lanzhou soil core sample layers. The contribution of the 10-cm deep top layers of surface soils to total inventory was only 17%, while the contribution of deeper layers (10-23cm) was as high as 83%. The 239+240Pu activity levels and 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios in soils in Gansu Province, China are similar to those in atmospheric deposition samples collected in the spring in recent years in Japan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zheng
- Nakaminato Laboratory for Marine Radioecology, Environmental Radiation Effects Research Group, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, 3609 Isozaki-cho, Hitachinaka, Ibaraki 311-1202, Japan.
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