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Zhang S, Liu Z, Yang G, Zheng J, Pan S, Aono T, Sakaguchi A. Rapid Method To Determine 137Cs, 237Np, and Pu Isotopes in Seawater by SF-ICP-MS. Anal Chem 2023; 95:16892-16901. [PMID: 37906231 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c02702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Neptunium-237, owing to its long half-life (t1/2 = 2.14 × 106 year) and similar conservatism to 137Cs, has the potential to replace 137Cs for water mass circulation studies on decades and even longer time scales. A new method for the determination of 137Cs, 237Np, and Pu isotopes in seawater samples was proposed to solve the difficulty of 237Np analysis in seawater. The developed method includes the separation technique of ammonium phosphomolybdate (AMP) adsorption for 137Cs and anion exchange chromatography for 237Np and Pu, a measurement technique of gamma spectrometry for 137Cs and SF-ICP-MS for 237Np and Pu isotopes. 242Pu as a pseudo isotope dilution tracer for Np, the negligible chemical fractionation between 237Np and 242Pu of 1.02 ± 0.06 (k = 2) was obtained by implementing sophisticated control of the redox system and chromatographic elution optimization. The analytical results for the International Atomic Energy Agency Certified Reference Materials (IAEA-443) agreed with the reference values, showing chemical yields of 65-88%, U decontamination factor above 106 level, and improved sample throughput (5 days for 12 samples). Meanwhile, the lower method detection limits (MDLs) of 237Np, 239Pu, and 240Pu were 1.3 × 10-3, 0.065, and 0.15 μBq L-1 for 15 L seawater, respectively. Results obtained by the developed method can be used to evaluate the impact on the marine ecological system of the planned marine discharge of Fukushima decontaminated wastewater. Working toward that purpose, we are the first to report the 237Np activity concentration in Pacific Ocean seawater sampled near the station site, and we obtained the value of 0.122-0.154 μBq L-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Zhang
- Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage , Chiba 263-8555, Japan
- School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Zhiyong Liu
- Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage , Chiba 263-8555, Japan
- 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
| | - Guosheng Yang
- Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage , Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Jian Zheng
- Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage , Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Shaoming Pan
- School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Tatsuo Aono
- Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage , Chiba 263-8555, Japan
- Radioecology Unit, Fukushima Institute for Research, Education and Innovation, 1 Hikariga-oka, Fukushima, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
| | - Aya Sakaguchi
- Institute of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba , Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan
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Kaizer J, Aoyama M, Bujdoš M, Buompane R, Pánik J, Povinec PP, Sýkora I, Tateda Y, Terrasi F. Sequential scavenging and measurement of seawater radiocesium concentrations and plutonium isotopic ratios offshore Fukushima. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2022; 251-252:106983. [PMID: 35964527 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.106983] [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: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The scientific interest in radiocesium and plutonium found in the oceans and seas has increased enormously in the past years as a consequence of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident and is expected to be ongoing due to many unresolved questions. Hence, continuous development of new and verification of old analytical methods should be at the top of the list of the community, working on the topic. In this study, we processed and analyzed several seawater samples, collected in different time frames (2011-2015) from the North Pacific Ocean offshore Fukushima, to determine their radiocesium activities, 134Cs/137Cs activity ratios and 240Pu/239Pu isotopic ratios using the sequential scavenging method, gamma spectrometry and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). The observed radiocesium levels in seawater (0.07-0.042 Bq L-1) clearly indicated that the investigated region remained impacted by releases from the damaged power plant even after four years after the accident. Regarding plutonium, its successful separation from large volume seawater samples was confirmed by detection of 240Pu by AMS. However, several problems emerged during the analyzes, which we tried to address with the use of additional methods (e.g., measurements of uranium by ICPMS). The efficiencies of the applied methods and other issues are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Kaizer
- Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University, 84248, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Michio Aoyama
- Center for Research in Isotopes and Environmental Dynamics, University of Tsukuba, 305-8577, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Marek Bujdoš
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, 84215, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Raffaele Buompane
- Department of Mathematics and Physics, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Ján Pánik
- Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, 81372, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Pavel P Povinec
- Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University, 84248, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Ivan Sýkora
- Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University, 84248, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Yutaka Tateda
- Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, 270-1194, Chiba, Japan
| | - Filippo Terrasi
- Department of Mathematics and Physics, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100, Caserta, Italy
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Wu J, Zheng X, Chen J, Yang G, Zheng J, Aono T. Distributions and impacts of plutonium in the environment originating from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident: An overview of a decade of studies. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2022; 248:106884. [PMID: 35398758 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.106884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
This paper reviews the current knowledge on plutonium (Pu) isotopic composition (the atom or activity ratios) and activity concentrations of 238Pu, 239Pu, 240Pu, and 241Pu resulting from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident in 2011. In this critical review, we document the characteristic values of Pu atom or activity ratios (fingerprints) and present their spatial distributions around the FDNPP site. Based on multiple Pu fingerprints (238Pu/239+240Pu activity ratio, 240Pu/239Pu atom ratio, and 241Pu/239Pu atom ratio), we clarify that Pu contamination from the FDNPP accident occurred in a restricted terrestrial area, while Pu in the Northwest Pacific Ocean is still predominately sourced from the Pacific Proving Grounds (PPG) and global fallout. Using a simple two end-member mixing model, we calculate average contributions of Pu from the FDNPP accident of 13 ± 20% (n = 180) in soil samples, 55 ± 32% (n = 38) in leaf litter samples, and 67 ± 26% (n = 129) in air dust/black substances. In the marine environment, the PPG source average contributions are 45 ± 15% (n = 76) in seawater and 42 ± 12% (n = 48) in sediments. The spatial distributions of Pu atom or activity ratios based on existing studies suggest that: 1) in the terrestrial region investigated 80 km northwest of the FDNPP site, the Pu contamination is mainly observed in an area within a 50 km distance, and 2) in the terrestrial region investigated 60 km southwest of the FDNPP site, the Pu contamination is mainly observed in an area within a 30 km distance. Studies of Cs-bearing radioactive particles indicate that Pu occurs as Pu oxide, and the fuel fragments containing Pu that were released from the reactors to the surrounding environment are associated with micron-scale Cs-bearing radioactive particles. We note that the fractionation between Pu and other radionuclides occurred after release. These new findings about the Pu fingerprints around the FDNPP site will help researchers to establish a reference background database for future environmental risk assessment and geochemical study there.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junwen Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Disaster Prediction and Prevention & Institute of Marine Sciences, Shantou University, Shantou, 515063, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, 511458, China
| | - Xuemin Zheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Disaster Prediction and Prevention & Institute of Marine Sciences, Shantou University, Shantou, 515063, China
| | - Jisheng Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Disaster Prediction and Prevention & Institute of Marine Sciences, Shantou University, Shantou, 515063, China
| | - Guosheng Yang
- National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan
| | - Jian Zheng
- National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan.
| | - Tatsuo Aono
- National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan
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Men W, Zheng J, Wang H, Ni Y, Kumamoto Y, Yamada M, Uchida S. Pu isotopes in the seawater off Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant site within two months after the severe nuclear accident. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 246:303-310. [PMID: 30557804 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2018] [Revised: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The marine environment is complex, and it is desirable to have measurements for seawater samples collected at the early stage after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident to determine the impact of Fukushima-derived radionuclides on this environment. Here Pu isotopes in seawater collected 33-163 km from the FDNPP site at the very early stage after the accident were determined (May 2011, within two months after the accident). The distribution and temporal variation of 239Pu and 240Pu were studied. The results indicated that both 239+240Pu activity concentrations (from 0.81 ± 0.16 to 11.18 ± 1.28 mBq/m3) and 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios (from 0.216 ± 0.032 to 0.308 ± 0.036) in these seawater samples were within the corresponding background ranges before the accident, and this suggested that Fukushima-derived Pu isotopes, if any, were in too limited amount to be distinguished from the background level in the seawater. The analysis of Pu isotopic composition indicated that the major sources of Pu in the seawater after the accident were still global fallout and the Pacific Proving Ground close-in fallout. The contribution analysis showed that the contributions of the Pacific Proving Ground close-in fallout in the water column of the study area ranged from 26% to 77% with the average being 48%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wu Men
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, 491 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan; Laboratory of Marine Isotopic Technology and Environmental Risk Assessment, Third Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, 184 Daxue Road, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Jian Zheng
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, 491 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan.
| | - Hai Wang
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, 491 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan; School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Youyi Ni
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, 491 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan
| | - Yuichiro Kumamoto
- Research and Development Center for Global Change, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, 2-15 Natushima-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa, 237-0061, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Yamada
- Department of Radiation Chemistry, Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University, 66-1 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori, 036-8564, Japan
| | - Shigeo Uchida
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, 491 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan
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Wu J. Sources and scavenging of plutonium in the East China Sea. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2018; 135:808-818. [PMID: 30301101 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Revised: 08/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The 240Pu/239Pu atom ratio and 239+240Pu activity of seawater in the East China Sea (ECS) was measured in order to examine the Pu sources and elaborate Pu scavenging process. High 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios (0.187-0.243, average = 0.221 ± 0.017) in the surface water and water column were observed during 2011, implying of non-global fallout Pu sources. The distribution of 240Pu/239Pu atom ratio in the ECS was in agreement with the introduction pathway of the Kuroshio, showing a decreasing trend away from the outer shelf. An even higher 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios (0.243-0.263, average = 0.253 ± 0.007) were observed in the Kuroshio, indicating the non-global fallout Pu signal from the Pacific Proving Grounds (PPG). Using a two end-member mixing model, the Pu source from the PPG contribution was calculated to be 36 ± 9% in the ECS seawater. The 239+240Pu activities of surface seawater were in the range of 2.00-2.95 mBq m-3 in the ECS. The spatial distribution of 239+240Pu activity in the surface seawater showed an increasing trend from the outer shelf to the nearshore. Moreover, 239+240Pu inventory of water column at the station DH23 in the ECS was calculated to be ~0.29 Bq m-2, which was 1-3 orders of magnitude lower than the estimates of sediment cores in the ECS shelf (9-407 Bq m-2). Such differences were determined by the high degree Pu scavenging efficiency in the ECS and high Pu input carried by terrestrial sediments from the Yangtze River. Finally, both 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios and 239+240Pu activities were identical before and after the Fukushima nuclear accident (FNA), suggesting that the impact of the FNA on the ECS was negligible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junwen Wu
- Institute of Marine Biology, College of Science, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiang'an District, Xiamen 361102, China.
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Xing S, Zhang W, Qiao J, Hou X. Determination of ultra-low level plutonium isotopes ( 239Pu, 240Pu) in environmental samples with high uranium. Talanta 2018; 187:357-364. [PMID: 29853059 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2018.05.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2018] [Revised: 05/09/2018] [Accepted: 05/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
In order to measure trace plutonium and its isotopes ratio (240Pu/239Pu) in environmental samples with a high uranium, an analytical method was developed using radiochemical separation for separation of plutonium from matrix and interfering elements including most of uranium and ICP-MS for measurement of plutonium isotopes. A novel measurement method was established for extensively removing the isobaric interference from uranium (238U1H and 238UH2+) and tailing of 238U, but significantly improving the measurement sensitivity of plutonium isotopes by employing NH3/He as collision/reaction cell gases and MS/MS system in the triple quadrupole ICP-MS instrument. The results show that removal efficiency of uranium interference was improved by more than 15 times, and the sensitivity of plutonium isotopes was increased by a factor of more than 3 compared to the conventional ICP-MS. The mechanism on the effective suppress of 238U interference for 239Pu measurement using NH3-He reaction gases was explored to be the formation of UNH+ and UNH2+ in the reactions of UH+ and U+ with NH3, while no reaction between NH3 and Pu+. The detection limits of this method were estimated to be 0.55 fg mL-1 for 239Pu, 0.09 fg mL-1 for 240Pu. The analytical precision and accuracy of the method for Pu isotopes concentration and 240Pu/239Pu atomic ratio were evaluated by analysis of sediment reference materials (IAEA-385 and IAEA-412) with different levels of plutonium and uranium. The developed method were successfully applied to determine 239Pu and 240Pu concentrations and 240Pu/239Pu atomic ratios in soil samples collected in coastal areas of eastern China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Xing
- 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, China; China Institute of Radiation Protection, Taiyuan, China
| | - 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, China
| | - Jixin Qiao
- Technical University of Denmark, Center for Nuclear Technologies, Risø Campus, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - 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, China; Technical University of Denmark, Center for Nuclear Technologies, Risø Campus, Roskilde, Denmark.
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Establishing rapid analysis of Pu isotopes in seawater to study the impact of Fukushima nuclear accident in the Northwest Pacific. Sci Rep 2018; 8:1892. [PMID: 29382952 PMCID: PMC5789979 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-20151-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2017] [Accepted: 01/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In order to assess the impact of the Fukushima derived Pu isotopes on seawater, a new analytical method to rapidly determine Pu isotopes in seawater by SF-ICP-MS including Fe(OH)2 primary co-precipitation, CaF2/LaF3 secondary co-precipitation and TEVA+UTEVA+DGA extraction chromatographic separation was established. High concentration efficiency (~100%) and high U decontamination factor (~107) were achieved. The plutonium chemical recoveries were 74–88% with the mean of 83 ± 5%. The precisions for both 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios and 239+240Pu activity concentrations were less than 5% when 15 L of seawater samples with the typical 239+240Pu activity of the Northwest Pacific were measured. It just needs 12 hours to determine plutonium using this new method. The limit of detection (LOD) for 239Pu and 240Pu were both 0.08 fg/mL, corresponding to 0.01 mBq/m3 for 239Pu and 0.05 mBq/m3 for 240Pu when a 15 L volume of seawater was measured. This method was applied to determine the seawater samples collected 446–1316 km off the FDNPP accident site in the Northwest Pacific in July of 2013. The obtained 239+240Pu activity concentrations of 1.21–2.19 mBq/m3 and the 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios of 0.198–0.322 suggested that there was no significant Pu contamination from the accident to the Northwest Pacific.
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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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Wu J, Dai M, Xu Y, Zheng J. Sources and accumulation of plutonium in a large Western Pacific marginal sea: The South China Sea. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 610-611:200-211. [PMID: 28803197 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.07.226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Revised: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
In order to examine the sources of plutonium (Pu) and elaborate its scavenging and accumulation processes, 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios and 239+240Pu activities in the water column of the South China Sea (SCS) were determined and compared with our previously reported data for the sediments. Consistently high 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios that ranged from 0.184-0.250 (average=0.228±0.015), indicative of non-global fallout Pu sources were observed both in the surface water and at depth during 2012-2014. The spatial distribution of the 240Pu/239Pu atom ratio in the SCS showed a decreasing trend away from the Luzon Strait, which was very consistent with the introduction pathway of the Kuroshio Current. The Kuroshio had an even heavier Pu isotopic ratio ranging from 0.250-0.263 (average=0.255±0.006), traceable to the non-global fallout Pu signature from the Pacific Proving Grounds (PPG). Using a simple two end-member mixing model, we further revealed that this PPG source contributed 41±17% of the Pu in the SCS water column. The 239+240Pu activities in the SCS surface seawater varied from 1.59 to 2.94mBqm-3, with an average of 2.34±0.38mBqm-3. Such an activity level was ~40% higher than that in the Kuroshio. The distribution of 239+240Pu in the surface seawater further showed a general trend of increase from the Kuroshio to the SCS basin, suggesting significant accumulation of Pu within the SCS. The 239+240Pu inventory of the water column in the SCS basin at the SEATS station with a total depth of ~3840m was estimated to be ~29Bqm-2, which was substantially higher than the sediment core estimates made for the SCS basin (3.75Bqm-2) but much lower than the sediment core estimates made for the shelf of the northern SCS (365.6Bqm-2). Such differences were determined by the lower scavenging efficiency of Pu in the SCS basin compared to the northern SCS shelf.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junwen Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiang'an District, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Minhan Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiang'an District, Xiamen 361102, China.
| | - Yi Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiang'an District, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Jian Zheng
- Fukushima Project Headquarters, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, 491 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
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Determination of Pu isotopes in sediment and soil samples by SF-ICP-MS: an improved anion-exchange procedure for Pu separation. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-017-5618-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Wendel CCS, Lind OC, Fifield LK, Tims SG, Salbu B, Oughton DH. No Fukushima Dai-ichi derived plutonium signal in marine sediments collected 1.5-57km from the reactors. Appl Radiat Isot 2017; 129:180-184. [PMID: 28866261 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2017.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Revised: 07/30/2017] [Accepted: 08/09/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Based on AMS analysis, it is shown that no Pu signals from the Fukushima accident could be discerned in marine sediments collected 1.5-57km away from the Fukushima Da-ichi power plant (FDNPP), which were clearly influenced by accident-derived radiocesium. The 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios (0.21-0.28) were significantly higher than terrestrial global fallout (0.182 ± 0.005), but still in agreement with pre-FDNPP accident baseline data for Pu in near coastal seawaters influenced by global fallout and long-range transport of Pu from the Pacific Proving Grounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- C C S Wendel
- Centre of Environmental Radioactivity CoE, Department of Environmental Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), N-1433 Ås, Norway
| | - O C Lind
- Centre of Environmental Radioactivity CoE, Department of Environmental Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), N-1433 Ås, Norway.
| | - L K Fifield
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - S G Tims
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - B Salbu
- Centre of Environmental Radioactivity CoE, Department of Environmental Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), N-1433 Ås, Norway
| | - D H Oughton
- Centre of Environmental Radioactivity CoE, Department of Environmental Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), N-1433 Ås, Norway
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Vassileva E, Han E, Levy I. Determination of low-level plutonium in seawater by sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry: method validation. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017; 24:7898-7910. [PMID: 27072039 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-016-6633-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2015] [Accepted: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Sources of plutonium isotopes to the marine environment are well defined, both spatially and temporally which makes plutonium (Pu) a potential tracer for oceanic processes. This paper presents the optimisation and validation of an analytical procedure for ultra-trace determination of Pu isotopes (239Pu and 240Pu) in seawater based on the external calibration and sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SF ICP-MS) determination. Additionally, method for Pu isotope ratio (240Pu/239Pu) in marine samples is also discussed. A combination of two-step anion exchange (AG1-X8) and one-step extraction chromatography (TEVA) was very efficient resulting in uranium (U) decontamination factor of 5 × 106-1 × 108. A full validation approach in line with ISO 17025 standard and Eurachem guidelines was followed. With this in mind, blanks, recovery (87 ± 8 %, k = 2), within-laboratory repeatability (5.6 %), limits of detection (0.12 and 0.08 fg mL-1 for 239Pu and 240Pu, respectively) and expanded uncertainty (13 %, k = 2) were systematically assessed. The procedure was applied for the determination of 239Pu and Pu in seawater sample coming from Mediterranean Sea. Obtained results were in good agreement with results obtained with alpha spectrometry, applied on the same seawater sample. Pu/239Pu atom ratio in seawater sample from the Mediterranean Sea was also determined. The precision and accuracy of 240Pu/239Pu isotopic ratio analysis were carefully examined using NBS-947 isotopic standard. 240Pu/239Pu ratio was found to be 0.187 ± 0.006 and is in agreement with accepted ratios for the global fallout of Pu.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilia Vassileva
- International Atomic Energy Agency, Environment Laboratories, 4 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Monaco, Principality of Monaco.
| | - Eunmi Han
- International Atomic Energy Agency, Environment Laboratories, 4 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Monaco, Principality of Monaco
| | - Isabelle Levy
- International Atomic Energy Agency, Environment Laboratories, 4 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Monaco, Principality of Monaco
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Hain K, Faestermann T, Fimiani L, Golser R, Gómez-Guzmán JM, Korschinek G, Kortmann F, Lierse von Gostomski C, Ludwig P, Steier P, Tazoe H, Yamada M. Plutonium Isotopes ( 239-241Pu) Dissolved in Pacific Ocean Waters Detected by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry: No Effects of the Fukushima Accident Observed. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2017; 51:2031-2037. [PMID: 28110524 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b05605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The concentration of plutonium (Pu) and the isotopic ratios of 240Pu to 239Pu and 241Pu to 239Pu were determined by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) in Pacific Ocean water samples (20 L each) collected in late 2012. The isotopic Pu ratios are important indicators of different contamination sources and were used to identify a possible release of Pu into the ocean by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident. In particular, 241Pu is a well-suited indicator for a recent entry of Pu because 241Pu from fallout of nuclear weapon testings has already significantly decayed. A total of 10 ocean water samples were prepared at the Radiochemie München of the TUM and analyzed at the Vienna Environmental Research Laboratory (VERA). Several samples showed a slightly elevated 240Pu/239Pu ratio of up to 0.22 ± 0.02 compared to global fallout (240Pu/239Pu = 0.180 ± 0.007), whereas all measured 241Pu-to-239Pu ratios were consistent with nuclear weapon fallout (241Pu/239Pu < 2.4 × 10-3), which means that no impact from the Fukushima accident was detected. From the average 241Pu-to-239Pu ratio of 8-2+3 ×10-4 at a sampling station located at a distance of 39.6 km to FDNPP, the 1-σ upper limit for the FDNPP contribution to the 239Pu inventory in the water column was estimated to be 0.2%. Pu, with the signature of weapon-grade Pu was found in a single sample collected around 770 km off the west coast of the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Hain
- Physics Department, Technical University of Munich , James-Franck-Strasse 1, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Thomas Faestermann
- Physics Department, Technical University of Munich , James-Franck-Strasse 1, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Leticia Fimiani
- Physics Department, Technical University of Munich , James-Franck-Strasse 1, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Robin Golser
- Faculty of Physics, Isotope Research and Nuclear Physics, University of Vienna , Währinger Strasse 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - José Manuel Gómez-Guzmán
- Physics Department, Technical University of Munich , James-Franck-Strasse 1, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Gunther Korschinek
- Physics Department, Technical University of Munich , James-Franck-Strasse 1, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Florian Kortmann
- Radiochemie München, Technische Universität München , Walther-Meißner-Strasse 3, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | | | - Peter Ludwig
- Physics Department, Technical University of Munich , James-Franck-Strasse 1, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Peter Steier
- Faculty of Physics, Isotope Research and Nuclear Physics, University of Vienna , Währinger Strasse 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Hirofumi Tazoe
- Department of Radiation Chemistry, Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University , 66-1 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori, 036 8564 Japan
| | - Masatoshi Yamada
- Department of Radiation Chemistry, Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University , 66-1 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori, 036 8564 Japan
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15
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Hirose K. Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant accident: Atmospheric and oceanic impacts over the five years. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2016; 157:113-130. [PMID: 27032342 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2016] [Accepted: 01/21/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant (FDNPP) accident resulted in huge environmental and socioeconomic impacts to Japan. To document the actual environmental and socioeconomic effects of the FDNPP accident, we describe here atmospheric and marine contamination due to radionuclides released from the FDNPP accident using papers published during past five years, in which temporal and spatial variations of FDNPP-derived radionuclides in air, deposition and seawater and their mapping are recorded by local, regional and global monitoring activities. High radioactivity-contaminated area in land were formed by the dispersion of the radioactive cloud and precipitation, depending on land topography and local meteorological conditions, whereas extremely high concentrations of (131)I and radiocesium in seawater occurred due to direct release of radioactivity-contaminated stagnant water in addition to atmospheric deposition. For both of atmosphere and ocean, numerical model simulations, including local, regional and global-scale modeling, were extensively employed to evaluate source terms of the FDNPP-derived radionuclides from the monitoring data. These models also provided predictions of the dispersion and high deposition areas of the FDNPP-derived radionuclides. However, there are significant differences between the observed and simulated values. Then, the monitoring data would give a good opportunity to improve numerical modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katsumi Hirose
- Department of Materials and Life Sciences, Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan.
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16
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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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17
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Zhang LX, Manard BT, Powell BA, Marcus RK. Preliminary Assessment of Potential for Metal–Ligand Speciation in Aqueous Solution via the Liquid Sampling–Atmospheric Pressure Glow Discharge (LS-APGD) Ionization Source: Uranyl Acetate. Anal Chem 2015; 87:7218-25. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5b01637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lynn X. Zhang
- Department
of Chemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634, United States
| | - Benjamin T. Manard
- Chemistry−Actinide
Analytical Chemistry, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Brian A. Powell
- Department of Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634, United States
| | - R. Kenneth Marcus
- Department
of Chemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634, United States
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18
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Zheng J. Evaluation of a new sector-field ICP-MS with Jet Interface for ultra-trace determination of Pu isotopes: from femtogram to attogram levels. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015. [DOI: 10.14494/jnrs.15.1_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J. Zheng
- Research Center for Radiation Protection, National Institute of Radiological Sciences
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19
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Bu W, Zheng J, Aono T, Wu J, Tagami K, Uchida S, Guo Q, Yamada M. Pu Distribution in Seawater in the Near Coastal Area off Fukushima after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015. [DOI: 10.14494/jnrs.15.1_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- W.T. Bu
- Research Center for Radiation Protection, National Institute of Radiological Sciences
- State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, School of Physics, Peking University
| | - J. Zheng
- Research Center for Radiation Protection, National Institute of Radiological Sciences
| | - T. Aono
- Research Center for Radiation Protection, National Institute of Radiological Sciences
| | - J.W. Wu
- Research Center for Radiation Protection, National Institute of Radiological Sciences
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environment Science, Xiamen University
| | - K. Tagami
- Research Center for Radiation Protection, National Institute of Radiological Sciences
| | - S. Uchida
- Research Center for Radiation Protection, National Institute of Radiological Sciences
| | - Q.J. Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, School of Physics, Peking University
| | - M. Yamada
- Department of Radiation Chemistry, Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University
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20
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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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21
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Bu W, Fukuda M, Zheng J, Aono T, Ishimaru T, Kanda J, Yang G, Tagami K, Uchida S, Guo Q, Yamada M. Release of Pu isotopes from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident to the marine environment was negligible. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2014; 48:9070-9078. [PMID: 25050458 DOI: 10.1021/es502480y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Atmospheric deposition of Pu isotopes from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident has been observed in the terrestrial environment around the FDNPP site; however, their deposition in the marine environment has not been studied. The possible contamination of Pu in the marine environment has attracted great scientific and public concern. To fully understand this possible contamination of Pu isotopes from the FDNPP accident to the marine environment, we collected marine sediment core samples within the 30 km zone around the FDNPP site in the western North Pacific about two years after the accident. Pu isotopes ((239)Pu, (240)Pu, and (241)Pu) and radiocesium isotopes ((134)Cs and (137)Cs) in the samples were determined. The high activities of radiocesium and the (134)Cs/(137)Cs activity ratios with values around 1 (decay corrected to 15 March 2011) suggested that these samples were contaminated by the FDNPP accident-released radionuclides. However, the activities of (239+240)Pu and (241)Pu were low compared with the background level before the FDNPP accident. The Pu atom ratios ((240)Pu/(239)Pu and (241)Pu/(239)Pu) suggested that global fallout and the pacific proving ground (PPG) close-in fallout are the main sources for Pu contamination in the marine sediments. As Pu isotopes are particle-reactive and they can be easily incorporated with the marine sediments, we concluded that the release of Pu isotopes from the FDNPP accident to the marine environment was negligible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenting Bu
- Research Center of Radiation Protection, National Institute of Radiological Sciences , Anagawa 4-9-1, Inage, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
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