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Geng T, Mangeret A, Péron O, Suhard D, Gorny J, Darricau L, Le Coz M, Ait-Ouabbas N, David K, Debayle C, Blanchart P, Montavon G, Gourgiotis A. Unveiling the origins and transport processes of radioactive pollutants downstream from a former U-mine site using isotopic tracers and U-238 series disequilibrium. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 472:134416. [PMID: 38703677 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
High U concentrations (reaching up to 14,850 mg ⋅ kg-1), were determined in soils and sediments of a wetland downstream of a former U mine in France. This study aims to identify the origin of radioactive contaminants in the wetland by employing Pb isotope fingerprinting, (234U/238U) disequilibrium, SEM, and SIMS observations. Additionally, information about U and 226Ra transport processes was studied using U-238 series disequilibrium. The results of Pb fingerprinting highlighted inherited material inputs of different U-mines with mainly two types of U-ores: i) pitchblende (UO2), and ii) parsonsite (Pb2(UO2)(PO4)2). Moreover, significant disequilibrium of (230Th/238U) and (226Ra/230Th) activity ratios highlighted the mobility of 238U and 226Ra in the wetland, primarily driven by the water table fluctuations. Finally, this work uncovered a limitation of Pb isotope fingerprinting in the case of parsonsite materials, as the high natural Pb content of this mineral may hide the uranogenic Pb signature in the samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Geng
- Laboratoire SUBATECH, UMR 6457, IMT Atlantique/Université de Nantes/CNRS/IN2P3, 4, rue Alfred Kastler, Nantes 44307, France; Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, PSE-ENV/SPDR/LT2S, LETIS, USDR, PSE-SANTE/SESANE/LRSI, Fontenay-aux-Roses F-92260, France
| | - Arnaud Mangeret
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, PSE-ENV/SPDR/LT2S, LETIS, USDR, PSE-SANTE/SESANE/LRSI, Fontenay-aux-Roses F-92260, France
| | - Olivier Péron
- Laboratoire SUBATECH, UMR 6457, IMT Atlantique/Université de Nantes/CNRS/IN2P3, 4, rue Alfred Kastler, Nantes 44307, France
| | - David Suhard
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, PSE-ENV/SPDR/LT2S, LETIS, USDR, PSE-SANTE/SESANE/LRSI, Fontenay-aux-Roses F-92260, France
| | - Josselin Gorny
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, PSE-ENV/SPDR/LT2S, LETIS, USDR, PSE-SANTE/SESANE/LRSI, Fontenay-aux-Roses F-92260, France
| | - Louise Darricau
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, PSE-ENV/SPDR/LT2S, LETIS, USDR, PSE-SANTE/SESANE/LRSI, Fontenay-aux-Roses F-92260, France
| | - Mathieu Le Coz
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, PSE-ENV/SPDR/LT2S, LETIS, USDR, PSE-SANTE/SESANE/LRSI, Fontenay-aux-Roses F-92260, France
| | - Nicolas Ait-Ouabbas
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, PSE-ENV/SPDR/LT2S, LETIS, USDR, PSE-SANTE/SESANE/LRSI, Fontenay-aux-Roses F-92260, France
| | - Karine David
- Laboratoire SUBATECH, UMR 6457, IMT Atlantique/Université de Nantes/CNRS/IN2P3, 4, rue Alfred Kastler, Nantes 44307, France
| | - Christophe Debayle
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, PSE-ENV/SPDR/LT2S, LETIS, USDR, PSE-SANTE/SESANE/LRSI, Fontenay-aux-Roses F-92260, France
| | - Pascale Blanchart
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, PSE-ENV/SPDR/LT2S, LETIS, USDR, PSE-SANTE/SESANE/LRSI, Fontenay-aux-Roses F-92260, France
| | - Gilles Montavon
- Laboratoire SUBATECH, UMR 6457, IMT Atlantique/Université de Nantes/CNRS/IN2P3, 4, rue Alfred Kastler, Nantes 44307, France
| | - Alkiviadis Gourgiotis
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, PSE-ENV/SPDR/LT2S, LETIS, USDR, PSE-SANTE/SESANE/LRSI, Fontenay-aux-Roses F-92260, France.
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2
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Morereau A, Jaegler H, Hain K, Steier P, Golser R, Beaumais A, Lepage H, Eyrolle F, Grosbois C, Cazala C, Gourgiotis A. Deciphering sources of U contamination using isotope ratio signatures in the Loire River sediments: Exploring the relevance of 233U/ 236U and stable Pb isotope ratios. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 307:135658. [PMID: 35835235 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135658] [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: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
A broad range of contaminants has been recorded in sediments of the Loire River over the last century. Among a variety of anthropogenic activities of this nuclearized watershed, extraction of uranium and associated activities during more than 50 years as well as operation of several nuclear power plants led to industrial discharges, which could persist for decades in sedimentary archives of the Loire River. Highlighting and identifying the origin of radionuclides that transited during the last decades and were recorded in the sediments is challenging due to i) the low concentrations which are often close or below the detection limits of routine environmental surveys and ii) the mixing of different sources. The determination of the sources of anthropogenic radioactivity was performed using multi-isotopic fingerprints (236U/238U, 206Pb/207Pb and 208Pb/207Pb) and the newly developed 233U/236U tracer. For the first time 233U/236U data in a well-dated river sediment core in the French river Loire are reported here. Results highlight potential sources of contamination among which a clear signature of anthropogenic inputs related to two accidents of a former NUGG NPP that occurred in 1969 and 1980. The 233U and 236U isotopes were measured by recent high performance analytical methods due to their ultra-trace levels in the samples and show a negligible radiological impact on health and on the environment. The determination of mining activities by the use of stable Pb isotopes is still challenging probably owing to the limited dissemination of the Pb-bearing material marked by the U-ore signature downstream to the former U mines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amandine Morereau
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LRTA, SEDRE/LELI, BP 3, 13115, Saint-Paul-Lez-Durance, France
| | - Hugo Jaegler
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LRTA, SEDRE/LELI, BP 3, 13115, Saint-Paul-Lez-Durance, France
| | - Karin Hain
- Faculty of Physics, Isotope Physics, University of Vienna, Währinger Str. 17, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Steier
- Faculty of Physics, Isotope Physics, University of Vienna, Währinger Str. 17, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Robin Golser
- Faculty of Physics, Isotope Physics, University of Vienna, Währinger Str. 17, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Aurélien Beaumais
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LRTA, SEDRE/LELI, BP 3, 13115, Saint-Paul-Lez-Durance, France
| | - Hugo Lepage
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LRTA, SEDRE/LELI, BP 3, 13115, Saint-Paul-Lez-Durance, France
| | - Frédérique Eyrolle
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LRTA, SEDRE/LELI, BP 3, 13115, Saint-Paul-Lez-Durance, France
| | - Cécile Grosbois
- Université de Tours, EA 6293 Géohydrosystèmes Continentaux (GéHCO), Parc de Grandmont, 37200, Tours, Cedex, France
| | - Charlotte Cazala
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LRTA, SEDRE/LELI, BP 3, 13115, Saint-Paul-Lez-Durance, France
| | - Alkiviadis Gourgiotis
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LRTA, SEDRE/LELI, BP 3, 13115, Saint-Paul-Lez-Durance, France.
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3
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Le Coz M, Gourgiotis A, Blanchart P, Mangeret A. Factorial kriging for estimating and mapping the geochemical background from in situ gamma dose rate measurements downstream of a former uranium mine. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2021; 237:106681. [PMID: 34144247 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2021.106681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
A geostatistical approach is applied for extracting the geochemical background from gamma dose rate data acquired downstream of a former French uranium mining area. The exploratory data analysis shows that the spatial structure of the gamma dose rate consists of two components: a short isotropic component (10 m-range) that corresponds to the geochemical background; and a long anisotropic component (30-60 m-range) that corresponds to the drainage network features previously fed by the mine discharge water. The gamma dose rate on the whole area of interest was estimated and simulated (to deal with uncertainties) through a kriging of the measured values. The spatial component related to the geochemical background was then extracted through factorial kriging. The proportion of the gamma dose rate explained by the geochemical background according to factorial kriging is consistent within uncertainties with geochemical analyses performed on soil and sediment samples. This study thus highlights the potential of such geostatistical approaches for better exploiting radiometric data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Le Coz
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sureté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SEDRE, 31 avenue de la Division Leclerc, 92260, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.
| | - Alkiviadis Gourgiotis
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sureté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SEDRE, 31 avenue de la Division Leclerc, 92260, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Pascale Blanchart
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sureté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SEDRE, 31 avenue de la Division Leclerc, 92260, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Arnaud Mangeret
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sureté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SEDRE, 31 avenue de la Division Leclerc, 92260, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
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Hu N, Chen S, Lang T, Zhang H, Chen W, Li G, Ding D. A novel method for determining the adequate dose of a chelating agent for phytoremediation of radionulides contaminated soils by M. cordata. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2021; 227:106468. [PMID: 33296860 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2020.106468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2020] [Revised: 11/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
A chelating agent in an adequate dose used to enhance phytoremediation of radionuclide-contaminated soil should not inhibit the growth of the plant. If this constraint condition is satisfied, the total bioaccumulation amount (TBA) of radionuclide by the plant can be maximized. This is a constrained optimization problem to determine the adequate dose of the chelating agent for phytoremediation of radionuclide-contaminated soil. In this research, an adequate dose of a chelating agent for phytoremediation of radionuclide-contaminated soil was determined by a novel approach using pot experiments. The proposed approach was applied to specify the adequate doses of citric acid (CA) and S,S-ethylenediamine disuccinic acid (EDDS) for phytoremediation of uranium contaminated soil by M. Cordata. By using this method, the adequate doses of CA and EDDS for phytoremediation of 238U, 232Th and 226Ra contaminated soils by M. cordata were measures as 10.0 and 5.0 mmol kg-1, respectively. The results showed that the approach could be used to establish the adequate dose of a chelating agent for phytoremediation of radionuclide or other toxic heavy metal contaminated soil by a plant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Hu
- Key Discipline Laboratory for National Defense for Biotechnology in Uranium, Mining and Hydrometallurgy, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Siyu Chen
- Key Discipline Laboratory for National Defense for Biotechnology in Uranium, Mining and Hydrometallurgy, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Tao Lang
- Key Discipline Laboratory for National Defense for Biotechnology in Uranium, Mining and Hydrometallurgy, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- Key Discipline Laboratory for National Defense for Biotechnology in Uranium, Mining and Hydrometallurgy, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Key Discipline Laboratory for National Defense for Biotechnology in Uranium, Mining and Hydrometallurgy, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Guangyue Li
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Green Development Technology for Extremely Low Grade Uranium Resources, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China
| | - Dexing Ding
- Key Discipline Laboratory for National Defense for Biotechnology in Uranium, Mining and Hydrometallurgy, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China; Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Green Development Technology for Extremely Low Grade Uranium Resources, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China.
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5
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Gourgiotis A, Mangeret A, Manhès G, Blanchart P, Stetten L, Morin G, Le Pape P, Lefebvre P, Le Coz M, Cazala C. New Insights into Pb Isotope Fingerprinting of U-Mine Material Dissemination in the Environment: Pb Isotopes as a Memory Dissemination Tracer. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:797-806. [PMID: 31821755 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b04828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Stable Pb isotope ratios were measured and compared to U distributions in three soil cores located in a wetland highly impacted by water discharge of a former U-mine. Pb isotope ratios showed notable alignments in binary mixing plots, demonstrating the dissemination of radioactive-enriched material from the U-mine. Thanks to these alignments and to the measurement of the 204Pb isotope, a precise characterization of the Pb isotope composition of the U-ore was performed without the use of U-ore samples. The well-defined end-members with the help of a reevaluated isotope mixing model allowed the accurate determination of the radiogenic Pb percentages in the cores that were overall found to be >50%. Noncorrelated distributions of radiogenic 206Pb and U are observed in several of the wetland soil samples. They reveal postdepositional U redistribution explained by major U speciation changes due to redox cycling in the wetland. On the contrary, the radiogenic 206Pb showed no or little postdepositional mobility and thus can be considered to be a memory tracer of the dissemination of U-rich radioactive material: even after an important U loss, the radiogenic 206Pb is able to reveal past contamination by U-rich materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alkiviadis Gourgiotis
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire - PSE/ENV - SEDRE/LELI , Fontenay-aux-Roses 92262 , France
| | - Arnaud Mangeret
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire - PSE/ENV - SEDRE/LELI , Fontenay-aux-Roses 92262 , France
| | - Gérard Manhès
- Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Université Paris-Diderot, UMR CNRS 7154 , 1 rue Jussieu , Paris 75238 Cedex , France
| | - Pascale Blanchart
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire - PSE/ENV - SEDRE/USDR , Fontenay-aux-Roses 92262 , France
| | - Lucie Stetten
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire - PSE/ENV - SEDRE/LELI , Fontenay-aux-Roses 92262 , France
- Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie (IMPMC), UMR 7590 CNRS-Sorbonne Université IRD-MNHN , Case 115, 4 place Jussieu , Paris 75252 Cedex 5 , France
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science , University of Vienna , Althanstraße 14, UZA II , Vienna 1090 , Austria
| | - Guillaume Morin
- Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie (IMPMC), UMR 7590 CNRS-Sorbonne Université IRD-MNHN , Case 115, 4 place Jussieu , Paris 75252 Cedex 5 , France
| | - Pierre Le Pape
- Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie (IMPMC), UMR 7590 CNRS-Sorbonne Université IRD-MNHN , Case 115, 4 place Jussieu , Paris 75252 Cedex 5 , France
| | - Pierre Lefebvre
- Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie (IMPMC), UMR 7590 CNRS-Sorbonne Université IRD-MNHN , Case 115, 4 place Jussieu , Paris 75252 Cedex 5 , France
| | - Mathieu Le Coz
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire - PSE/ENV - SEDRE/LELI , Fontenay-aux-Roses 92262 , France
| | - Charlotte Cazala
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire - PSE/ENV - SEDRE/LELI , Fontenay-aux-Roses 92262 , France
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Liu J, Luo X, Wang J, Xiao T, Yin M, Belshaw NS, Lippold H, Kong L, Xiao E, Bao Z, Li N, Chen Y, Linghu W. Provenance of uranium in a sediment core from a natural reservoir, South China: Application of Pb stable isotope analysis. CHEMOSPHERE 2018; 193:1172-1180. [PMID: 29874746 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.11.131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Revised: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/22/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
As part of ongoing environmental investigations of U mining impacts, forty-two sediment samples of a nearly-half-meter-long sediment core retrieved from a natural reservoir near an active uranium (U) mining site, South China were analyzed to quantify the extent of U release and identify U release mechanism within the riverine catchment. Enrichment levels of U was dispersed not only in the surface sediments but also in deep sediments across the depth profile. Further analysis by SEM-EDS and XRD indicated that U partitioning in the depth profile was possibly controlled by complicated interplay of leaching and precipitation cycles of U-bearing minerals. Even with the relative complexity of U dispersal processes within the catchment, the Pb isotopic fingerprinting techniques allowed quantification of source inputs of the sediments by using a binary mixing model. The results revealed that along the depth profile, only 6%-50% of the sediment material is anthropogenically derived from the U ore tailing, with the other predominant proportions originated from geogenically natural weathering of granitic bedrocks. This study highlights the use of Pb isotopes as a powerful tool for quantitatively fingerprinting the sources of U dispersal in the sediment core, and natural-occurring U contamination that may become a hidden geoenvironmental health hazard in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Liu
- Innovation Center and Key Laboratory of Waters Safety & Protection in the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3AN, UK
| | - Xuwen Luo
- Innovation Center and Key Laboratory of Waters Safety & Protection in the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Jin Wang
- Innovation Center and Key Laboratory of Waters Safety & Protection in the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3AN, UK
| | - Tangfu Xiao
- Innovation Center and Key Laboratory of Waters Safety & Protection in the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Meiling Yin
- Innovation Center and Key Laboratory of Waters Safety & Protection in the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | | | - Holger Lippold
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf e.V. (HZDR), Institut für Ressourcenökologie, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Lingjun Kong
- Innovation Center and Key Laboratory of Waters Safety & Protection in the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Enzhong Xiao
- Innovation Center and Key Laboratory of Waters Safety & Protection in the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Zhi'an Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Nuo Li
- Innovation Center and Key Laboratory of Waters Safety & Protection in the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Yongheng Chen
- Innovation Center and Key Laboratory of Waters Safety & Protection in the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| | - Wensheng Linghu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Life Science, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, 312000, China.
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Cuvier A, Pourcelot L, Probst A, Prunier J, Le Roux G. Trace elements and Pb isotopes in soils and sediments impacted by uranium mining. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 566-567:238-249. [PMID: 27220101 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.04.213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2016] [Revised: 03/28/2016] [Accepted: 04/28/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the contamination in As, Ba, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Sr, V, Zn and REE, in a high uranium activity (up to 21,000Bq∙kg(-1)) area, downstream of a former uranium mine. Different geochemical proxies like enrichment factor and fractions from a sequential extraction procedure are used to evaluate the level of contamination, the mobility and the availability of the potential contaminants. Pb isotope ratios are determined in the total samples and in the sequential leachates to identify the sources of the contaminants and to determine the mobility of radiogenic Pb in the context of uranium mining. In spite of the large uranium contamination measured in the soils and the sediments (EF≫40), trace element contamination is low to moderate (2<EF<5), except for Ba (5<EF<15), due to the precipitation of barium sulfate resulting from mining activities. Most of the trace elements are associated with the most mobile fractions of the sediments/soils, implying an enhanced potential availability. Even if no Pb enrichment is highlighted, the Pb isotopic signature of the contaminated soils is strongly radiogenic. Measurements performed on the sequential leachates reveal inputs of radiogenic Pb in the most mobile fractions of the contaminated soil. Inputs of low-mobile radiogenic Pb from mining activities may also contribute to the Pb signature recorded in the residual phase of the contaminated samples. We demonstrate that Pb isotopes are efficient tools to trace the origin and the mobility of the contaminants in environments affected by uranium mining.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Cuvier
- ECOLAB, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, Toulouse, France; IRSN/PRP-ENV/SESURE/Laboratoire d'études radioécologiques en milieu continental et marin, BP 1, 13108 Saint Paul Lez Durance Cedex, France.
| | - L Pourcelot
- IRSN/PRP-ENV/SESURE/Laboratoire d'études radioécologiques en milieu continental et marin, BP 1, 13108 Saint Paul Lez Durance Cedex, France
| | - A Probst
- ECOLAB, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - J Prunier
- Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, laboratoire Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS/IRD/Université Paul Sabatier, 14 avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - G Le Roux
- ECOLAB, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, Toulouse, France.
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El Hayek E, El Samrani A, Lartiges B, Kazpard V, Benoit M, Munoz M. Potential of Opuntia ficus-indica for air pollution biomonitoring: a lead isotopic study. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 22:17799-17809. [PMID: 26160126 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-4998-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2015] [Accepted: 06/30/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Opuntia ficus-indica (Ofi) is a long-domesticated cactus that is widespread throughout arid and semiarid regions. Ofi is grown for both its fruits and edible cladodes, which are flattened photosynthetic stems. Young cladodes develop from mother cladodes, thus forming series of cladodes of different ages. Therefore, successive cladodes may hold some potential for biomonitoring over several years the local atmospheric pollution. In this study, cladodes, roots, dust deposited onto the cladodes, and soil samples were collected in the vicinity of three heavily polluted sites, i.e., a fertilizer industry, the road side of a highway, and mine tailings. The lead content was analyzed using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) was used to characterize the cladode surfaces and the nature of dust deposit, and the lead isotopes were analyzed to identify the origin of Pb. The results show that (i) Ofi readily bioaccumulates Pb, (ii) the lead isotopic composition of cladodes evidences a foliar pathway of lead into Ofi and identifies the relative contributions of local Pb sources, and (iii) an evolution of air quality is recorded with successive cladodes, which makes Ofi a potential biomonitor to be used in environmental and health studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliane El Hayek
- Laboratoire Géosciences Environnement Toulouse (UMR CNRS-UPS 5563 IRD 234), University of Toulouse (Paul Sabatier), 14 Av. Edouard Belin, 31400, Toulouse, France.
- Plateforme de Recherche et d'Analyses en Sciences de l'Environnement, Ecole Doctorale des Sciences et Technologies, Lebanese University, Hadath, Lebanon.
| | - Antoine El Samrani
- Plateforme de Recherche et d'Analyses en Sciences de l'Environnement, Ecole Doctorale des Sciences et Technologies, Lebanese University, Hadath, Lebanon
| | - Bruno Lartiges
- Laboratoire Géosciences Environnement Toulouse (UMR CNRS-UPS 5563 IRD 234), University of Toulouse (Paul Sabatier), 14 Av. Edouard Belin, 31400, Toulouse, France
| | - Veronique Kazpard
- Plateforme de Recherche et d'Analyses en Sciences de l'Environnement, Ecole Doctorale des Sciences et Technologies, Lebanese University, Hadath, Lebanon
| | - Mathieu Benoit
- Laboratoire Géosciences Environnement Toulouse (UMR CNRS-UPS 5563 IRD 234), University of Toulouse (Paul Sabatier), 14 Av. Edouard Belin, 31400, Toulouse, France
| | - Marguerite Munoz
- Laboratoire Géosciences Environnement Toulouse (UMR CNRS-UPS 5563 IRD 234), University of Toulouse (Paul Sabatier), 14 Av. Edouard Belin, 31400, Toulouse, France
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9
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Cuvier A, Panza F, Pourcelot L, Foissard B, Cagnat X, Prunier J, van Beek P, Souhaut M, Le Roux G. Uranium decay daughters from isolated mines: Accumulation and sources. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2015; 149:110-120. [PMID: 26232768 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2015] [Revised: 07/09/2015] [Accepted: 07/11/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
This study combines in situ gamma spectrometry performed at different scales, in order to accurately locate the contamination pools, to identify the concerned radionuclides and to determine the distribution of the contaminants from soil to bearing phase scale. The potential mobility of several radionuclides is also evaluated using sequential extraction. Using this procedure, an accumulation area located downstream of a former French uranium mine and concentrating a significant fraction of radioactivity is highlighted. We report disequilibria in the U-decay chains, which are likely related to the processes implemented on the mining area. Coupling of mineralogical analyzes with sequential extraction allow us to highlight the presence of barium sulfate, which may be the carrier of the Ra-226 activities found in the residual phase (Ba(Ra)SO4). In contrast, uranium is essentially in the reducible fraction and potentially trapped in clay-iron coatings located on the surface of minerals.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Cuvier
- Université de Toulouse, INP, UPS, EcoLab (Laboratoire Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement), ENSAT, Avenue de l'Agrobiopole, F-31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France; IRSN/PRP-ENV/SESURE/Laboratoire d'Études Radioécologiques en milieu Continental et Marin, BP 1 13108 Saint Paul Lez Durance Cedex, France; CNRS, EcoLab, UMR 5245, 31326 Castanet Tolosan, France.
| | - F Panza
- IRSN/Pôle Radioprotection, Environnement, Déchets et Crises, Service d'Intervention et d'Assistance en Radioprotection (SIAR), 92262 Fontenay aux Roses Cedex, France
| | - L Pourcelot
- IRSN/PRP-ENV/SESURE/Laboratoire d'Études Radioécologiques en milieu Continental et Marin, BP 1 13108 Saint Paul Lez Durance Cedex, France
| | - B Foissard
- IRSN/Pôle Radioprotection, Environnement, Déchets et Crises, Service d'Intervention et d'Assistance en Radioprotection (SIAR), 92262 Fontenay aux Roses Cedex, France
| | - X Cagnat
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Bat 501 Bois des Rames, 91400 Orsay, France
| | - J Prunier
- Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, Laboratoire Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS/IRD/Université Paul Sabatier, 14 avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - P van Beek
- Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, Laboratoire d'Etudes en Géophysique et Océanographie Spatiales UMR 5566, CNRS/CNES/IRD/Université Paul Sabatier, 14 av. Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - M Souhaut
- Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, Laboratoire d'Etudes en Géophysique et Océanographie Spatiales UMR 5566, CNRS/CNES/IRD/Université Paul Sabatier, 14 av. Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - G Le Roux
- Université de Toulouse, INP, UPS, EcoLab (Laboratoire Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement), ENSAT, Avenue de l'Agrobiopole, F-31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France; CNRS, EcoLab, UMR 5245, 31326 Castanet Tolosan, France.
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10
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Rodríguez-Seijo A, Arenas-Lago D, Andrade ML, Vega FA. Identifying sources of Pb pollution in urban soils by means of MC-ICP-MS and TOF-SIMS. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 22:7859-72. [PMID: 25583263 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-014-4027-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2014] [Accepted: 12/18/2014] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Lead pollution was evaluated in 17 urban soils from parks and gardens in the city of Vigo (NW Spain). The Pb isotope ratios ((207)Pb/(206)Pb, (208)Pb/(204)Pb, (206)Pb/(204)Pb and (208)Pb/(206)Pb) were determined after being measured by MC-ICP-MS. The association of the isotopes ((204)Pb, (206)Pb, (207)Pb and (208)Pb) with the different components of the soil was studied using TOF-SIMS. The isotopic ranges obtained for the samples were between 1.116 and 1.203 ((206)Pb/(207)Pb), 2.044-2.143 ((208)Pb/(206)Pb), 37.206-38.608 ((208)Pb/(204)Pb), 15.5482-15.6569 ((207)Pb/(204)Pb) and 17.357-18.826 ((206)Pb/(204)Pb). The application of the three-end-member model indicates that the Pb derived from petrol is the main source of Pb in the soils (43.51% on average), followed by natural or geogenic Pb (39.12%) and industrial emissions (17.37%). The emissions derived from coal combustion do not appear to influence the content of Pb in the soil. TOF-SIMS images show that the Pb mainly interacts with organic matter. This technique contributes to the understanding of the association of anthropogenic Pb with the components of the soil, as well as the particle size of these associations, thus allowing the possible sources of Pb to be identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Rodríguez-Seijo
- Department of Plant Biology and Soil Science, Universidade de Vigo, As Lagoas, Marcosende, 36310, Vigo, Spain
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11
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Hu N, Ding D, Li G, Zheng J, Li L, Zhao W, Wang Y. Vegetation composition and ²²⁶Ra uptake by native plant species at a uranium mill tailings impoundment in South China. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2014; 129:100-106. [PMID: 24412774 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2013.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2013] [Revised: 09/16/2013] [Accepted: 12/17/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
A field investigation was conducted for the vegetation composition and (226)Ra uptake by native plant species at a uranium mill tailings impoundment in South China. 80 species belonging to 67 genera in 32 families were recorded in the sampling sites. The Poaceae and Asteraceae were the dominant families colonizing the impoundment. The number of the plant species and vegetation community composition in the sampling sites seemed most closely related to the activities of (226)Ra and the pH value of the uranium tailings. The plant species in the sampling sites with relatively low activities of (226)Ra and relatively high pH value formed a relatively stable vegetation community. The plant species in the sampling sites with medium activities of (226)Ra and medium pH value formed the transitional vegetation community. The plant species in the sampling sites with relatively high activities of (226)Ra and relatively low pH value formed a simple unstable vegetation community that was similar to that on the unused grassland. The activities of (226)Ra and transfer factors (TFs) varied greatly with the plant species. The high activities of (226)Ra and TFs were found in the leaves of Pteris multifida (150.6 Bq/g of AW; 9.131), Pteridium aquilinum (122.2 Bq/g of AW; 7.409), and Dryopteris scottii (105.7 Bq/g of AW; 6.408). They satisfied the criteria for a hyperaccumulator for (226)Ra. They may be the candidates for phytoremediation of (226)Ra in the uranium mill tailings impoundment areas and the contaminated soils around.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Hu
- Key Discipline Laboratory for National Defense for Biotechnology in Uranium Mining and Hydrometallurgy, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, PR China
| | - Dexin Ding
- Key Discipline Laboratory for National Defense for Biotechnology in Uranium Mining and Hydrometallurgy, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, PR China.
| | - Guangyue Li
- Key Discipline Laboratory for National Defense for Biotechnology in Uranium Mining and Hydrometallurgy, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, PR China
| | - Jifang Zheng
- Key Discipline Laboratory for National Defense for Biotechnology in Uranium Mining and Hydrometallurgy, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, PR China
| | - Le Li
- Key Discipline Laboratory for National Defense for Biotechnology in Uranium Mining and Hydrometallurgy, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, PR China
| | - Weichao Zhao
- Key Discipline Laboratory for National Defense for Biotechnology in Uranium Mining and Hydrometallurgy, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, PR China
| | - Yongdong Wang
- Key Discipline Laboratory for National Defense for Biotechnology in Uranium Mining and Hydrometallurgy, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, PR China
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12
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Álvarez-Iglesias P, Rubio B, Millos J. Isotopic identification of natural vs. anthropogenic lead sources in marine sediments from the inner Ría de Vigo (NW Spain). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2012; 437:22-35. [PMID: 22903001 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.07.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2012] [Revised: 07/19/2012] [Accepted: 07/20/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
San Simón Bay, the inner part of the Ría de Vigo (NW Spain), an area previously identified as highly polluted by Pb, was selected for the application of Pb stable isotope ratios as a fingerprinting tool in subtidal and intertidal sediment cores. Lead isotopic ratios were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry on extracts from bulk samples after total acid digestion. Depth-wise profiles of (206)Pb/(207)Pb, (206)Pb/(204)Pb, (207)Pb/(204)Pb, (208)Pb/(204)Pb and (208)Pb/(207)Pb ratios showed, in general, an upward decrease for both intertidal and subtidal sediments as a consequence of the anthropogenic activities over the last century, or centuries. Waste channel samples from a nearby ceramic factory showed characteristic Pb stable isotope ratios different from those typical of coal and petrol. Natural isotope ratios from non-polluted samples were established for the study area, differentiating sediments from granitic or schist-gneiss sources. A binary mixing model employed on the polluted samples allowed estimating the anthropogenic inputs to the bay. These inputs represented between 25 and 98% of Pb inputs in intertidal samples, and 9-84% in subtidal samples, their contributions varying with time. Anthropogenic sources were apportioned according to a three-source model. Coal combustion-related emissions were the main anthropogenic source Pb to the bay (60-70%) before the establishment of the ceramic factory in the area (in the 1970s) which has since constituted the main source (95-100%), followed by petrol-related emissions. The Pb inputs history for the intertidal area was determined for the 20th century, and, for the subtidal area, the 19th and 20th centuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Álvarez-Iglesias
- Department of Marine Geosciences and Land Use Management, Faculty of Marine Sciences, University of Vigo, Spain.
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13
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Frostick A, Bollhöfer A, Parry D. A study of radionuclides, metals and stable lead isotope ratios in sediments and soils in the vicinity of natural U-mineralisation areas in the Northern Territory. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2011; 102:911-918. [PMID: 20471726 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2010.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2009] [Revised: 11/11/2009] [Accepted: 04/01/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Australian guidelines recommend that tailings materials from uranium (U) mining and milling be contained without any detrimental impact on the environment for at least 1000 years. Natural analogue sites are being investigated to determine if they can provide data on the rates of natural erosion processes which occur over these timescales, for input into predictive geomorphic computer models. This paper presents radionuclide, metal and stable lead (Pb) isotope data from sediment cores and surface soils in the vicinity of two mineralised areas in the Alligator Rivers Region. Surface scrapes from the natural Anomaly #2, south of the Ranger mineral lease, exhibit radiogenic (206)Pb/(207)Pb and (208)Pb/(207)Pb ratios, and elevated U and metal concentrations typical for a near surface U anomaly. In contrast, samples taken from the Koongarra mineral lease (KML) show radionuclide activity and metal concentrations similar to natural areas elsewhere in the Alligator Rivers Region and Pb isotope ratios are closer to present day average crustal ratios (PDAC), as the orebodies at KML are covered by surficial sand. A sediment core collected from Anbangbang Billabong, downstream of KML, exhibits small variations in Pb isotope ratios that indicate that approximately 1% of the upper sediments in the sediment core may be derived from material originating from the U anomaly at Koongarra.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Frostick
- Charles Darwin University, School of Environment and Life Sciences, Darwin NT, Australia.
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14
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Li GY, Hu N, Ding DX, Zheng JF, Liu YL, Wang YD, Nie XQ. Screening of plant species for phytoremediation of uranium, thorium, barium, nickel, strontium and lead contaminated soils from a uranium mill tailings repository in South China. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2011; 86:646-652. [PMID: 21523506 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-011-0291-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2010] [Accepted: 04/18/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The concentrations of uranium, thorium, barium, nickel, strontium and lead in the samples of the tailings and plant species collected from a uranium mill tailings repository in South China were analyzed. Then, the removal capability of a plant for a target element was assessed. It was found that Phragmites australis had the greatest removal capabilities for uranium (820 μg), thorium (103 μg) and lead (1,870 μg). Miscanthus floridulus had the greatest removal capabilities for barium (3,730 μg) and nickel (667 μg), and Parthenocissus quinquefolia had the greatest removal capability for strontium (3,920 μg). In this study, a novel coefficient, termed as phytoremediation factor (PF), was proposed, for the first time, to assess the potential of a plant to be used in phytoremediation of a target element contaminated soil. Phragmites australis has the highest PFs for uranium (16.6), thorium (8.68), barium (10.0) and lead (10.5). Miscanthus floridulus has the highest PF for Ni (25.0). Broussonetia papyrifera and Parthenocissus quinquefolia have the relatively high PFs for strontium (28.1 and 25.4, respectively). On the basis of the definition for a hyperaccumulator, only Cyperus iria and Parthenocissus quinquefolia satisfied the criteria for hyperaccumulator of uranium (36.4 μg/g) and strontium (190 μg/g), and could be the candidates for phytoremediation of uranium and strontium contaminated soils. The results show that the PF has advantage over the hyperaccumulator in reflecting the removal capabilities of a plant for a target element, and is more adequate for assessing the potential of a plant to be used in phytoremediation than conventional method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guang-yue Li
- Key Discipline Laboratory for National Defense for Biology Technology in Uranium Mining and Hydrometallurgy, University of South China, 421001 Hengyang, Hunan, People's Republic of China
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