1
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Bainbridge ZT, Olley JM, Lewis SE, Stevens T, Smithers SG. Tracing sources of inorganic suspended particulate matter in the Great Barrier Reef lagoon, Australia. Sci Rep 2024; 14:15651. [PMID: 38977793 PMCID: PMC11231178 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66561-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Water clarity on the inshore Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is greatly influenced by terrestrial runoff of suspended particulate matter (SPM). Catchment sediment tracing studies often do not extend into the marine environment, preventing the analysis of preferential marine transport. This study employs novel collection and sediment tracing techniques to examine the transport of the terrigenous 'mineral' component of plume SPM within the GBR lagoon for two flood events. Utilising geochemical, radionuclide and clay mineral analysis, we trace terrigenous mineral sediments > 100 km from the river mouth. We show that the SPM geochemistry is highly influenced by particle-size fractionation, desorption, and dilution within the plume, rendering traditional tracing methods unviable. However, the ratios of rare earth elements (REE) to thorium (Th) provide stable tracers of mineral SPM transported across the catchment to marine continuum and allow the identification of discrete catchment sources for each flood event. Plume sediment radionuclides are also stable and consistent with sub-surface erosion sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoe T Bainbridge
- Catchment to Reef Research Group, TropWATER, James Cook University, Townsville, 4811, Australia.
| | - Jon M Olley
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Brisbane, 4222, Australia
| | - Stephen E Lewis
- Catchment to Reef Research Group, TropWATER, James Cook University, Townsville, 4811, Australia
| | - Thomas Stevens
- Catchment to Reef Research Group, TropWATER, James Cook University, Townsville, 4811, Australia
| | - Scott G Smithers
- Catchment to Reef Research Group, TropWATER, James Cook University, Townsville, 4811, Australia
- Earth and Environmental Sciences, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, 4811, Australia
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2
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Peng A, Chen M, Li X, He H. The records of 239+240Pu and 137Cs of global fallout in Lake East Dongting Sediments and Responses to watershed environmental changes. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2024; 272:107364. [PMID: 38171109 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107364] [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: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Plutonium-239 + 240 and 137Cs in the environment can usually be used to track the impact of nuclear activities on the environment, and have become important tools in environmental geochemical studies. In this study, nine sediment cores (E1-E9) in Lake East Dongting were collected and measured for the activity concentration of 239+240Pu, 137Cs and the atomic ratio of 240Pu/239Pu, and then their vertical distribution characteristics were analyzed. The results show that: the activity concentrations of 137Cs and 239+240Pu in Lake East Dongting ranged from 5.26 ± 0.43 to 28.6 ± 2.23 Bq kg-1 and 0.29 ± 0.02 to 1.37 ± 0.09 Bq kg-1, with an average of 7.48 ± 0.68 Bq kg-1 and 0.39 ± 0.03 Bq kg-1, respectively. The atomic ratios of 240Pu/239Pu are 0.168 ± 0.012-0.211 ± 0.015, which are basically consistent with the global atmospheric deposition. The vertical profiles of 137Cs and 239+240Pu in sediment cores show obvious single-peak distribution in E1-E6 and bimodal distribution in E7-E9. The results of sedimentation rates calculated by 137Cs and 239+240Pu method ranged from 0.59 cm y-1 to 1.99 cm y-1 with a mean of 1.18 cm y-1 and 0.61 cm y-1 to 2.18 cm y-1 with a mean of 1.26 cm y-1. The inventories of 137Cs and 239+240Pu in nine sediment cores are 5.87-10.8 kBq m-2 and 307-545 Bq m-2, which are about 8-14 and 9-15 times the inventory in the global average atmospheric deposition at the same latitude respectively. Comparing the results of the sedimentation rates and the inventories from different sampling points indicates that extreme climatic events and human activities have a significant impact on sediment environment of Lake East Dongting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anguo Peng
- School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China.
| | - Mengting Chen
- School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Xuebin Li
- School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Husheng He
- School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
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3
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Romanenko V, Lujanienė G. Short review of plutonium applications for the sediment transport studies. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2023; 257:107066. [PMID: 36395679 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.107066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The transport of sediments in surface waters is a natural process involving the relocation of the sediments themselves and the nutrients, pollutants and radionuclides associated with them. Plutonium isotopes have proven to be a useful tool for studying this process over several decades. In this article, we review the characteristics of the behaviour of plutonium in the water column and the main directions of its use to study the transport of sediments at different scales. The characteristic isotopic fingerprints of the sources and their known input functions, as well as the good reactivity of the particles, favour the widespread use of plutonium for the study of the chronology of sediments and deposits and for studies of the fate and migration pathways of sediments at different scales. While other radionuclides are losing relevance due to the short half-life the 239Pu and 240Pu will remain useable for a long time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vitaliy Romanenko
- State Research Institute Center for Physical Sciences and Technology Public Institution, Savanorių ave. 231, LT-02300, Vilnius, Lithuania.
| | - Galina Lujanienė
- State Research Institute Center for Physical Sciences and Technology Public Institution, Savanorių ave. 231, LT-02300, Vilnius, Lithuania
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4
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Feng D, Yang F, Wang X, Zhou X, Liu Z, Liao H. Distribution of plutonium isotopes in soils between two nuclear test sites: Semipalatinsk and Lop Nor. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2022; 242:106792. [PMID: 34929510 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2021.106792] [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: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Plutonium (Pu) has attracted attention as an environmental tracer due to its radiotoxicity and the possibility of sources linked with nuclear accidents in recent years. Plutonium isotopes (239,240Pu) were detected at trace levels in soils collected from the Xinjiang region located between the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site and China's Lop Nor nuclear test site. Little is known regarding the spatial variation of 239,240Pu in soils from this region. This study reports the use of Sector Field Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (SF-ICP-MS) methods to distinguish between Pu isotopes derived from global fallout and nuclear weapon tests. We found that the 239,240Pu activity concentrations ranged from 0.035 to 1.338 mBq/g; the 240Pu/239Pu atomic ratios were 0.157-0.223 with a weighted average of 0.180 ± 0.002, corresponding with the expected average global fallout ratio of 0.180 ± 0.014. This indicated that global fallout is the major source of Pu in the study region. The 239,240Pu inventories in these soils ranged from 23.67 to 222.7 Bq/m2, corresponding with those from other areas in China and other countries within the latitude range. Our Pu isotope data was supplemented with other published Pu data for soils collected in the vicinity of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site and Lop Nor nuclear test site. Results indicate that 239,240Pu inventories and 240Pu/239Pu atomic ratios in soils exhibit large variations with distance from the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site. High deposition and accumulation of Pu, and low 240Pu/239Pu ratios were observed in close-in fallout and downwind regions of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site and China's Lop Nor nuclear test site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongxia Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China
| | - Fang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China
| | - Xihuang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China
| | - Xingxuan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, 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.
| | - Haiqing Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China.
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5
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Harrison JJ, Saunders KM, Child DP, Hotchkis MAC. A record of fallout 239Pu and 240Pu at World Heritage Bathurst Harbour, Tasmania, Australia. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2021; 237:106679. [PMID: 34118615 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2021.106679] [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: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This study presents the first measurements of anthropogenic plutonium (239Pu and 240Pu) concentrations and atom ratios (240Pu/239Pu) for Tasmania, in sediment collected from Bathurst Harbour, in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, Australia. The weighted mean 240Pu/239Pu atom ratio measured at this site was 0.172 ± 0.007 which is consistent with published data from mainland Australia and global and Southern Hemisphere averages. The 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios ranged between 0.11 and 0.21 with the earliest recorded 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios being the lowest, suggesting an influence of low atom ratio fallout from nuclear testing in Australia. Post-moratorium fallout 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios were consistent with other records. Lead-210 (210Pb) sediment chronologies indicate sediment accumulation rates have increased since the early part of the 19th century at this location.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer J Harrison
- ANSTO, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, New Illawarra Road, Lucas Heights, New South Wales, 2234, Australia.
| | - Krystyna M Saunders
- ANSTO, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, New Illawarra Road, Lucas Heights, New South Wales, 2234, Australia.
| | - David P Child
- ANSTO, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, New Illawarra Road, Lucas Heights, New South Wales, 2234, Australia.
| | - Michael A C Hotchkis
- ANSTO, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, New Illawarra Road, Lucas Heights, New South Wales, 2234, Australia.
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6
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Bouisset P, Nohl M, Cossonnet C, Boulet B, Thomas S, Cariou N, Salaun G. Contribution of close-in fallout from the French atmospheric tests in inventories of 137Cs, 241Am and plutonium (238, 239, 240) in Gambier Islands (French Polynesia) - Signatures of stratospheric fallout in the Southern Hemisphere. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2021; 235-236:106624. [PMID: 34059369 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2021.106624] [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: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The inventories of 137Cs (503 ± 34 Bq.m-2), 241Am (11.3 ± 1.2 Bq.m-2), 241Pu (33.7 ± 3.4 Bq.m-2), 238Pu (6.82 ± 0.87 Bq.m-2) and 239+240Pu (113.0 ± 5.9 Bq.m-2), sum of 239Pu (100 ± 11 Bq.m-2) and 240Pu (14.5 ± 1.7 Bq.m-2), in the Gambier archipelago (23°S) of the French Polynesia, are well higher the global fallout at this latitude, in unequal proportions for the different radionuclides. (240Pu/239Pu)AR (AR: atomic ratio) of 0.0394 ± 0.0062, and (241Pu/239Pu)AR of (2.03 ± 0.39)10-4, confirm that the overwhelmingly dominant source of these radionuclides comes from local fallout during the 1970s of the French atmospheric tests of Moruroa and Fangataufa located nearly 400 km from Gambier. The signatures of the local fallout were deduced from the excess of its inventory in 137Cs and from the mixing lines established from the signatures of the global fallout, some of the test sites and the isotopic ratios measured in Gambier. Signatures obtained are 2.0 ± 0.4 for 137Cs/239+240Pu, 0.045 ± 0.008 for 238Pu/239+240Pu, 0.031 ± 0.009 for 241Am/239+240Pu, 0.092 ± 0.027 for 241Pu/239+240Pu, 0.0163 ± 0.0049 for (240Pu/239Pu)AR, (0.78 ± 0.23)10-4 for (241Pu/239Pu)AR. The concordance of the mixing lines of the [(240Pu/239Pu)AR, (241Pu/239Pu)AR] and the linear regression of these ratios measured in the stratosphere (40°S) during the 1970s, indicates that the signatures of the close-in deposition are also those of the stratospheric injections of the French tests. The signatures of stratospheric fallout in the Southern Hemisphere were evaluated by considering that the fission energy of these injections represents 11% and that of the Northern Hemisphere represents 89% and that the isotopic ratios of stratospheric injections remained the same over the period 1970-1974. The activity ratios deducted are 21.9 ± 0.1 in 137Cs/239+240Pu, 0.11 ± 0.05 in 238Pu/239+240Pu, 1.03 ± 0.12 in 241Pu/239+240Pu and 0.35 ± 0.04 in 241Am/239+240Pu. The associated atom ratios are 0.157 ± 0.011 for (240Pu/239Pu)AR and (8.33 ± 0.48)10-4 for (241Pu/239Pu)AR. These signatures appear to be consistent with the results of the inventories at Hiva Oa, located more than 1,000 km north of both French test sites, and with those found in the Australian continent, in regions not impacted by UK-test debris. The proportions of close-in tropospheric fallout from the French tests are about 90% in Gambier. They represent a proportion in the inventories of 40% for the 137Cs, 60% for 241Am and in the range between 80 and 90% for Pu isotopes.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Bouisset
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté nucléaire, BP 182, 98725, Vairao, Tahiti, French Polynesia.
| | - M Nohl
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté nucléaire, BP 182, 98725, Vairao, Tahiti, French Polynesia
| | - C Cossonnet
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté nucléaire, Bât 501, bois des Rames, 91400, Orsay, France
| | - B Boulet
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté nucléaire, Bât 501, bois des Rames, 91400, Orsay, France
| | - S Thomas
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté nucléaire, Bât 501, bois des Rames, 91400, Orsay, France
| | - N Cariou
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté nucléaire, Bât 501, bois des Rames, 91400, Orsay, France
| | - G Salaun
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté nucléaire, Cadarache Bât 153, 13108, St Paul-lès-Durance, France
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7
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First study on 236U in environmental samples from Bangladesh by ICP-MS/MS prior to the operation of its first nuclear power plant. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-021-07931-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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8
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Cook M, de Caritat P, Kleinschmidt R, Brugger J, Wong VN. Future migration: Key environmental indicators of Pu accumulation in terrestrial sediments of Queensland, Australia. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2020; 223-224:106398. [PMID: 32932188 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2020.106398] [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: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Plutonium (Pu) interactions in the environment are highly complex. Site-specific variables play an integral role in determining the chemical and physical form of Pu, and its migration, bioavailability, and immobility. This paper aims to identify the key variables that can be used to highlight regions of radioecological sensitivity and guide remediation strategies in Australia. Plutonium is present in the Australian environment as a result of global fallout and the British nuclear testing program of 1952-1958 in central and west Australia (Maralinga and Montebello islands). We report the first systematic measurements of 239+240Pu and 238Pu activity concentrations in distal (≥1000 km from test sites) catchment outlet sediments from Queensland, Australia. The average 239+240Pu activity concentration was 0.29 mBq.g -1 (n = 73 samples) with a maximum of 4.88 mBq.g -1.238Pu/239+240Pu isotope ratios identified a large range (0.02-0.29 (RSD: 74%)) which is congruent with the heterogeneous nuclear material used for the British nuclear testing programme at Maralinga and Montebello Islands. The use of a modified PCA relying on non-linear distance correlation (dCorr) provided broader insight into the impact of environmental variables on the transport and migration of Pu in this soil system. Primary key environmental indicators of Pu presence were determined to be actinide/lanthanide/heavier transition metals, elevation, electrical conductivity (EC), CaO, SiO2, SO3, landform, geomorphology, land use, and climate explaining 81.7% of the variance of the system. Overall this highlighted that trace level Pu accumulations are associated with the coarse, refractive components of Australian soils, and are more likely regulated by the climate of the region and overall soil type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Cook
- School of Earth, Atmosphere & Environment, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia.
| | | | - Ross Kleinschmidt
- Epic Environmental, PO Box 13058, Brisbane, Queensland, 4003, Australia
| | - Joёl Brugger
- School of Earth, Atmosphere & Environment, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Vanessa Nl Wong
- School of Earth, Atmosphere & Environment, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
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9
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Meusburger K, Evrard O, Alewell C, Borrelli P, Cinelli G, Ketterer M, Mabit L, Panagos P, van Oost K, Ballabio C. Plutonium aided reconstruction of caesium atmospheric fallout in European topsoils. Sci Rep 2020; 10:11858. [PMID: 32678221 PMCID: PMC7366645 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-68736-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Global nuclear weapon testing and the Chernobyl accident have released large amounts of radionuclides into the environment. However, to date, the spatial patterns of these fallout sources remain poorly constrained. Fallout radionuclides (137Cs, 239Pu, 240Pu) were measured in soil samples (n = 160) collected at flat, undisturbed grasslands in Western Europe in the framework of a harmonised European soil survey. We show that both fallout sources left a specific radionuclide imprint in European soils. Accordingly, we used plutonium to quantify contributions of global versus Chernobyl fallout to 137Cs found in European soils. Spatial prediction models allowed for a first assessment of the global versus Chernobyl fallout pattern across national boundaries. Understanding the magnitude of these fallout sources is crucial not only to establish a baseline in case of future radionuclide fallout but also to define a baseline for geomorphological reconstructions of soil redistribution due to soil erosion processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Meusburger
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland.
| | - Olivier Evrard
- Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement (LSCE-IPSL), UMR 8212 (CEA-CNRS-UVSQ), Université Paris-Saclay, CEA Saclay, l'Orme des Merisiers, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
| | - Christine Alewell
- Environmental Geosciences, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 30, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Pasquale Borrelli
- Environmental Geosciences, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 30, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027, Ispra, VA, Italy
| | - Giorgia Cinelli
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027, Ispra, VA, Italy
| | - Michael Ketterer
- Chemistry Department, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Lionel Mabit
- Soil and Water Management and Crop Nutrition Laboratory (SWMCNL), Joint FAO, IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Seibersdorf, Austria
| | - Panos Panagos
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027, Ispra, VA, Italy
| | - Kristof van Oost
- TECLIM, George Lemaitre Center for Earth and Climate, Earth and Life Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium
- Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique (FNRS), 1000, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Cristiano Ballabio
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027, Ispra, VA, Italy
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10
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Kuzmenkova NV, Ivanov MM, Alexandrin MY, Grachev AM, Rozhkova AK, Zhizhin KD, Grabenko EA, Golosov VN. Use of natural and artificial radionuclides to determine the sedimentation rates in two North Caucasus lakes. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 262:114269. [PMID: 32146365 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 02/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The specific activities of natural (210Pb, 226Ra, and 232Th) and artificial (137Cs, 239,240Pu, and 241Am) radionuclides in the sediments of two North Caucasus lakes were determined. The two lakes, Lake Khuko and Lake Donguz-Orun, differ in their sedimentation conditions. Based on the use of unsupported 210Pbex and both Chernobyl-derived and bomb-derived 137Cs as chronological markers, it was established that the sedimentation rates in Lake Khuko over the past 55-60 y did not exceed 0.017 cm y-1. Sedimentation rates in Lake Donguz-Orun were found to be more than an order of magnitude higher. In the latter case, the sedimentation rates for the period from 1986 to the present were over 1.5 times higher than they were for the period 1963-1986. The differences in sedimentation rates were due to differences in the rates of denudation of their respective catchment areas. The specific activities of artificial radionuclides (137Cs, 2600 Bq kg-1; 239,240Pu, 162 Bq kg-1; and 241Am, 36 Bq kg-1) and their ratios in the sediments of Lake Khuko show that their deposition was mainly due to global stratospheric fallout of technogenic radionuclides associated with nuclear bomb testing during 1954-1963-rather than fallout from the Chernobyl accident. Several factors, including the mode of precipitation, features of the surface runoff, and location of Lake Khuko, were responsible for the accumulation of artificial radionuclides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia V Kuzmenkova
- Institute of Geography RAS, Russia; Chemistry Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia; Vernadsky Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry RAS, Russia.
| | - Maxim M Ivanov
- Institute of Geography RAS, Russia; Geography Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Valentin N Golosov
- Institute of Geography RAS, Russia; Geography Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia
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11
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Lal R, Fifield LK, Tims SG, Wasson RJ, Howe D. A study of soil erosion rates using 239Pu, in the wet-dry tropics of northern Australia. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2020; 211:106085. [PMID: 31733413 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.106085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The Daly River drains a large (52500 km2) and mainly undisturbed catchment in the Australian wet-dry tropics. The basin landscapes are mantled by a thick veneer of kandosol soil which has developed under varying rates of erosion, uplift, bedrock type and climate and has been identified as being suitable for agriculture. Commencement of large scale clearing and cropping since 2002 have raised concerns about the increased loss of top soil from the land clearing and cultivation activities adjacent to the Daly River. This study was undertaken to determine the modern soil loss rates which can be used to develop a sustainable soil conservation strategy for this catchment. 239Pu, released in the 1950s and 1960s by atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, is used to obtain a quantitative assessment of recent rates of soil loss. Soil cores 30-40 cm deep have been collected from fields with various land uses including peanut and hay cropping and cattle grazing. Cores taken from undisturbed and unburnt areas in open eucalypt woodland have been used as reference sites. The soil loss rates have been established by comparing the excess or deficiency of the 239Pu tracer over that of the reference sites. Since land use practices in the catchment are similar, it is likely that the measured soil loss rates are indicative of soil loss rates over the Daly Basin as well. The development of 239Pu as a soil tracer represents a viable alternative to the traditionally used 137Cs tracer. This also represents a new tool in the quantification of catchment soil loss and the adoption of appropriate soil conservation strategies for the tropical regions and regions where increasing settlement and agriculture are encroaching on catchment slopes.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Lal
- Fiji National University, Fiji; The Australian National University, ACT, 0200, Australia.
| | - L K Fifield
- The Australian National University, ACT, 0200, Australia
| | - S G Tims
- The Australian National University, ACT, 0200, Australia
| | - R J Wasson
- National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - D Howe
- Charles Darwin University, NT, 0810, Australia
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12
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Stuchbery AE. The Heavy Ion Accelerator Facility: Research Achievements and Aspirations. EPJ WEB OF CONFERENCES 2020. [DOI: 10.1051/epjconf/202023201001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
An overview of Australia’s Heavy Ion Accelerator Facility (HIAF) is presented, including a survey of the accelerator infrastructure and its capabilities, as well as the beam-line instrumentation. Some recent research achievements are highlighted. Accelerator upgrades and instrumentation developments in progress are described, along with some aspirations for the longer-term development of the Facility and its associated research programs.
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13
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Froehlich MB, Akber A, McNeil SD, Tims SG, Fifield LK, Wallner A. Anthropogenic 236U and Pu at remote sites of the South Pacific. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2019; 205-206:17-23. [PMID: 31082674 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Revised: 05/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic radionuclides, like 236U and 239,240Pu, are present in the environment as a result of global fallout from nuclear weapons tests conducted in the 1950s and 1960s and can potentially be used as tracers in soil erosion and sediment movement studies. Here, we report data on 236U and 239,240Pu in soil samples from the Motueka Valley (New Zealand) and for the first time from two remote islands Rarotonga and Atiu (Cook Islands) in the South Pacific. 236U and 239,240Pu were measured using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) at the Australian National University. The 236U and 239Pu isotope concentrations versus soil depth and the 240Pu/239Pu and 236U/239Pu isotope ratios are discussed for each site. The radionuclide depth dependence revealed any soil disturbance, whereas the isotopic signatures indicated the source of the radionuclides' origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- M B Froehlich
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia.
| | - A Akber
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - S D McNeil
- 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
| | - L K Fifield
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - A Wallner
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
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14
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Nosrati K, Haddadchi A, Collins AL, Jalali S, Zare MR. Tracing sediment sources in a mountainous forest catchment under road construction in northern Iran: comparison of Bayesian and frequentist approaches. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 25:30979-30997. [PMID: 30182314 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-3097-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Development and land use change lead to accelerated soil erosion as a serious environmental problem in river catchments in Iran. Reliable information about the sources of sediment in catchments is therefore necessary to design effective control strategies. This study used a composite sediment source tracing procedure to determine the importance of forest road cuttings as a sediment source in a mountainous catchment located in northern Iran. A fallout radionuclide (137Cs) and 12 geochemical tracers (Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, OC, Pb, Sr and TN) were used to determine the relative contributions of three sediment source types (hillslopes, road cuttings and channel banks) to both suspended and bed sediment samples. Two mixing models based on different mathematical concepts were used to apportion the sediment sources: the mixture sampling importance resampling Bayesian model which incorporates the mass-balance matrix and a distribution model using normal and summed probability of normal distributions. The results of both mixing models indicated that sub-soil erosion from road cuttings and channel banks dominated the sources of river bed and suspended sediment samples, respectively. These results therefore highlight that conservation that works in the study area to remedy the sediment problem should initially focus on stabilisation and rehabilitation of road cuttings and channel banks. This successful application of a composite (radionuclide and geochemical) tracing technique for discriminating source end members characterised by different erosion processes underscores the importance of sub-soil erosion in this case study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazem Nosrati
- Department of Physical Geography, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, 1983969411, Iran.
| | - Arman Haddadchi
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, PO Box 8602, Riccarton, Christchurch, New Zealand.
| | - Adrian L Collins
- Sustainable Agriculture Sciences Department, Rothamsted Research, North Wyke, Okehampton, EX20 2SB, UK
| | - Saeedeh Jalali
- Department of Physical Geography, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, 1983969411, Iran
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15
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Abril JM, San Miguel EG, Ruiz-Canovas C, Casas-Ruiz M, Bolívar JP. From floodplain to aquatic sediments: Radiogeochronological fingerprints in a sediment core from the mining impacted Sancho Reservoir (SW Spain). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 631-632:866-878. [PMID: 29727997 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Revised: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 03/10/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The Sancho Reservoir (SW Spain) was built in 1962, about the time of maximum 137Cs fallout, and it has been affected by acid mine drainage (AMD) particularly since the mining cease in 2001. This is a unique scenario for studying the radiogeochronological fingerprints in AMD-affected sediments deposited over the former flood plain. A sediment core sampled in 2011 was analysed for bulk density, 137Cs, 239Pu, 240Pu, 210Pb, 226Ra, 228Ra, 234Th (238U) and 40K, and studied with various radiometric dating models. Bulk density revealed unsteady compaction and likely depositional events. The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 228Ra, 234Th (238U) and 40K were uniform down-core, but declining overall in the upper 0-25cm, revealing changes in provenance except for 238U, which increased in the top 10cm likely due to its supply by AMD. The AMD fingerprint was also found in the 239+240Pu/137Cs activity ratio, which increased in the top sediment layers. The 137Cs and 239+240Pu profiles show well defined peaks at the same depth, with inventories being about four times higher than the expected integrated atmospheric deposition in the area. The unsupported 210Pb (210Pbexc) showed a complex non-monotonic profile interrupted at several sections, particularly around the 137Cs peak. The whole dataset cannot be interpreted in terms of continuous sedimentation processes. Based upon correlated features in the bulk density and 210Pbexc profiles, a series of depositional events (likely linked to peaks in the rainfall records) have been identified in the core. These events date back to the period comprised since the construction of the dam until its increase in height in 1972, which likely displaced upstream the main depositional area of riverine loads, as inferred from sediment trap data. The CRS (with a reference date) and (a piecewise) CIC models have been used for complementing and discussing the chronology.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Abril
- Department of Applied Physics I, ETSIA, University of Seville, Spain.
| | - E G San Miguel
- Department of Integrated Sciences, Area of Applied Physics, University of Huelva, Campus de El Carmen, 21071 Huelva, Spain; Research Center on Natural Resources, Health and the Environment (RENSMA), University of Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain
| | - C Ruiz-Canovas
- Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Huelva, Spain; Research Center on Natural Resources, Health and the Environment (RENSMA), University of Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain
| | - M Casas-Ruiz
- Department of Applied Physics, University of Cadiz, Spain
| | - J P Bolívar
- Department of Integrated Sciences, Area of Applied Physics, University of Huelva, Campus de El Carmen, 21071 Huelva, Spain; Research Center on Natural Resources, Health and the Environment (RENSMA), University of Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain
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16
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Bouisset P, Nohl M, Bouville A, Leclerc G. Inventory and vertical distribution of 137Cs, 239+240Pu and 238Pu in soil from Raivavae and Hiva Oa, two French Polynesian islands in the southern hemisphere. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2018; 183:82-93. [PMID: 29306711 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.12.017] [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: 09/18/2017] [Revised: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 12/24/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Atmospheric nuclear weapons tests carried out by the United States, the former Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, France and China between 1945 and 1980 resulted in radioactive fallout over the earth's surface of long-lived radionuclides, such as 137Cs, 239+240Pu and 238Pu that could be detected more than 50 years after their production. In addition, the burnup in the upper atmosphere of a thermoelectric generator fueled by 238Pu, SNAP-9A, contributed to the inventory of 238Pu deposited on the ground. In order to estimate the deposition densities of 137Cs, 239+240Pu and 238Pu in French Polynesia, we collected undisturbed soil samples up to 30 cm deep at eight sites in two islands (Hiva Oa, 139°W - 10°S and Raivavae, 148°W - 24°S) in 2015-2016. The top 0-10 cm of the soil cores were sliced into five 2-cm layers and the bottom 10-30 cm into four 5-cm layers for gamma spectrometry and alpha spectrometry measurements. We found that more than 50% of the radioactive inventories are still contained within the first 10 cm and that the average vertical migration velocities of 137Cs and Pu are less than 0.2 cm y-1. The average accumulated depositions, deduced from the profile measurements, are 236 ± 11 Bq.m-2 and 313 ± 39 Bq.m-2 for 137Cs, 12.1 ± 1.5 Bq.m-2 and 22.1 ± 1.7 Bq.m-2 for 239+240Pu, and 1.23 ± 0.46 Bq.m-2 and 1.58 ± 0.60 Bq.m-2 for 238Pu, in Hiva Oa and Raivavae, respectively. The 238Pu/239+240Pu ratios are 0.102 ± 0.050 at Hiva Oa and 0.072 ± 0.033 at Raivavae. Both values are higher than the ratio in nuclear weapons tests fallout estimated to be 0.016 in 2016 (Hardy et al., 1973), because of the contribution of 238Pu fallout from SNAP-9A, which is latitude dependent. The 137Cs/239+240Pu ratios, 19.5 ± 3.2 at Hiva Oa and 14.2 ± 2.8 at Raivavae are in the lower part of the range of values observed in other regions of the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Bouisset
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, BP 182 - 98725 Vairao, Tahiti, French Polynesia.
| | - M Nohl
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, BP 182 - 98725 Vairao, Tahiti, French Polynesia
| | - A Bouville
- National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD, United States
| | - G Leclerc
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, BP 182 - 98725 Vairao, Tahiti, French Polynesia
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17
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Lal R, Fifield LK, Tims SG, Wasson RJ. 239Pu fallout across continental Australia: Implications on 239Pu use as a soil tracer. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2017; 178-179:394-403. [PMID: 28939090 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2016] [Revised: 07/21/2017] [Accepted: 08/14/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
At present there is a need for the development of new radioisotopes for soil erosion and sediment tracing especially as fallout 137Cs levels become depleted. Recent studies have shown that 239Pu can be a useful new soil erosion and sediment radioisotope tracer. 239Pu was released in the major atmospheric nuclear weapons tests of 1950's and 1960's. However 239Pu has a half-life of 24110 years and more than 99% of this isotope is still present in the environment today. In contrast 137Cs with a half-life of 30.07 year has decayed to <35% of initially deposited activities and this isotope will become increasingly difficult to measure in the coming decades especially in the southern hemisphere, which received only about a third of the total global fallout from the atmospheric tests (UNSCEAR, 2000). In this study an assessment of the 239Pu fallout in Australia was carried out from comparison of measured 239Pu inventories with expected 239Pu inventories from fallout models. 239Pu inventories were also compared with rainfall and measured 240Pu/239Pu ratios across Australia. 239Pu fallout inventories ranged from 430 to 1461 μB/cm2. Central Australia, with fallout 107% in excess of expected values, seems to be strongly impacted by local fallout deposition. In comparison other sites typically show 5-40% variation between expected and measured fallout values. The fallout inventories were found to weakly correlate (using power functions, y = axb) with rainfall with r2 = 0.50 across the southern catchments (25-40°S latitude band). Across the northern catchments (10-25°S latitude band) fallout showed greater variability with rainfall with r2 = 0.24. Central Australia and Alice Springs which seem to be strongly impacted by local fallout are excluded from the rainfall correlation data (with these sites included r2 = 0.08 and r2 < 0.01 respectively). 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios range from 0.045 to 0.197, with averages of 0.139(0.017), 0.111(0.052) and 0.160(0.027) in the 10-20°S, 20-30°S and 30-40°S latitude bands respectively. The 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios in Central Australia (0.069) likely represent fallout from the Australian tests which also have low 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios i.e., Maralinga (0.113) and Montebello (0.045). The average ratios in the 20-30°S and 30-40° bands are closer to the global average (0.139 and 0.177 respectively when not including the close-in fallout data from the nuclear test sites) if the Australian test sites and Central Australian sites are neglected as they clearly represent the effects of close in fallout.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Lal
- Department of Nuclear Physics, The Australian National University, ACT 0200, Australia; Department of Physics, College of Engineering, Science and Technology, Fiji National University, Fiji.
| | - L K Fifield
- Department of Nuclear Physics, The Australian National University, ACT 0200, Australia
| | - S G Tims
- Department of Nuclear Physics, The Australian National University, ACT 0200, Australia
| | - R J Wasson
- Institute of Water Policy, National University of Singapore AS2, #04-321 Arts Link, 117570, Singapore
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18
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Xu Y, Pan S, Wu M, Zhang K, Hao Y. Association of Plutonium isotopes with natural soil particles of different size and comparison with 137Cs. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 581-582:541-549. [PMID: 28057340 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.12.162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2016] [Revised: 12/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/23/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Information on how plutonium (Pu) isotopes associate with natural soil particles of different size is very important for the interpretation involved in the application of Pu isotopes as soil erosion tracers. This work investigated the association of Pu isotopes with different particle size fractions of natural soils and compared it with that of 137Cs. Ten bulk soils collected from two different areas were separated into different particle size fractions by a combination of wet sieving and centrifugation techniques and the sub-samples were analyzed for 137Cs, 239Pu and 240Pu. Results showed that the concentrations of both 239+240Pu and 137Cs increase with decreased particle sizes and are closely related to the specific surface areas of soil particles, which demonstrated a similar preferential association of Pu with finer soil particles as 137Cs. The activity ratios of 239+240Pu/137Cs in soil fractions increasing with increased particle size further indicated a less preferential transport of Pu with fine particles compared to 137Cs. These results not only highlight the suitability of Pu isotopes as soil erosion tracers, but also provide useful information for assessing the migration behavior of Pu in contaminated environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihong Xu
- The key Laboratory of Coastal and Island Development of Ministry of Education, School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - 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.
| | - Mengmeng Wu
- The key Laboratory of Coastal and Island Development of Ministry of Education, School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Kexin Zhang
- The key Laboratory of Coastal and Island Development of Ministry of Education, School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yongpei Hao
- The key Laboratory of Coastal and Island Development of Ministry of Education, School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
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19
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Arata L, Alewell C, Frenkel E, A'Campo-Neuen A, Iurian AR, Ketterer ME, Mabit L, Meusburger K. Modelling Deposition and Erosion rates with RadioNuclides (MODERN) - Part 2: A comparison of different models to convert 239+240Pu inventories into soil redistribution rates at unploughed sites. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2016; 162-163:97-106. [PMID: 27227561 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2016] [Revised: 05/12/2016] [Accepted: 05/12/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Sheet erosion is one of the major threats to alpine soils. To quantify its role and impact in the degradation processes of alpine grasslands, the application of Fallout Radionuclides (FRN) showed very promising results. The specific characteristics of plutonium 239 + 240 (239+240Pu), such as the homogeneous fallout distribution, the long half-life and the cost and time effective measurements make this tracer application for investigating soil degradation in Alpine grasslands more suitable than any other FRN (e.g. 137Cs). However, the conversion of 239+240Pu inventories into soil erosion rates remains a challenge. Currently available conversion models have been developed mainly for 137Cs with later adaptation to other FRN (e.g. Excess 210Pb, and 7Be), each model being defined for specific land use (ploughed and/or unploughed) and processes (erosion or deposition). As such, they may fail in describing correctly the distribution of Pu isotopes in the soil. A new conversion model, MODERN, with an adaptable algorithm to estimate erosion and deposition rates from any FRN inventory changes was recently proposed (Arata et al., 2016). In this complementary contribution, the authors compare the application of MODERN to other available conversion models. The results show a good agreement between soil redistribution rates obtained from MODERN and from the models currently used by the FRN scientific community (i.e. the Inventory Method).
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Arata
- Environmental Geosciences, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Christine Alewell
- Environmental Geosciences, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Switzerland
| | - Elena Frenkel
- Institute de Recherche Mathématique Avancée (IRMA), University of Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Andra-Rada Iurian
- Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Consolidated Radioisotope Facility, Plymouth University, Plymouth, UK
| | - Michael E Ketterer
- Chemistry Department, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Lionel Mabit
- Soil and Water Management & Crop Nutrition Laboratory, FAO/IAEA Agriculture & Biotechnology Laboratory, Seibersdorf, Austria
| | - Katrin Meusburger
- Environmental Geosciences, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Switzerland
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20
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Meusburger K, Mabit L, Ketterer M, Park JH, Sandor T, Porto P, Alewell C. A multi-radionuclide approach to evaluate the suitability of (239+240)Pu as soil erosion tracer. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 566-567:1489-1499. [PMID: 27338845 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.06.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2016] [Revised: 06/06/2016] [Accepted: 06/06/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Fallout radionuclides have been used successfully worldwide as tracers for soil erosion, but relatively few studies exploit the full potential of plutonium (Pu) isotopes. Hence, this study aims to explore the suitability of the plutonium isotopes (239)Pu and (240)Pu as a method to assess soil erosion magnitude by comparison to more established fallout radionuclides such as (137)Cs and (210)Pbex. As test area an erosion affected headwater catchment of the Lake Soyang (South Korea) was selected. All three fallout radionuclides confirmed high erosion rates for agricultural sites (>25tha(-1)yr(-1)). Pu isotopes further allowed determining the origin of the fallout. Both (240)Pu/(239)Pu atomic ratios and (239+240)Pu/(137)Cs activity ratios were close to the global fallout ratio. However, the depth profile of the (239+240)Pu/(137)Cs activity ratios in undisturbed sites showed lower ratios in the top soil increments, which might be due to higher migration rates of (239+240)Pu. The activity ratios further indicated preferential transport of (137)Cs from eroded sites (higher ratio compared to the global fallout) to the depositional sites (smaller ratio). As such the (239+240)Pu/(137)Cs activity ratio offered a new approach to parameterize a particle size correction factor that can be applied when both (137)Cs and (239+240)Pu have the same fallout source. Implementing this particle size correction factor in the conversion of (137)Cs inventories resulted in comparable estimates of soil loss for (137)Cs and (239+240)Pu. The comparison among the different fallout radionuclides highlights the suitability of (239+240)Pu through less preferential transport compared to (137)Cs and the possibility to gain information regarding the origin of the fallout. In conclusion, (239+240)Pu is a promising soil erosion tracer, however, since the behaviour i.e. vertical migration in the soil and lateral transport during water erosion was shown to differ from that of (137)Cs, there is a clear need for a wider agro-environmental testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Meusburger
- Environmental Geosciences, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 30, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Lionel Mabit
- Soil and Water Management and Crop Nutrition Laboratory, FAO/IAEA Agriculture & Biotechnology Laboratory, IAEA Laboratories, Seibersdorf, Austria.
| | - Michael Ketterer
- Chemistry Department, Metropolitan State University of Denver, CO, USA.
| | - Ji-Hyung Park
- Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 120-750, Republic of Korea.
| | - Tarjan Sandor
- Radioanalytical Reference Laboratory, Central Agricultural Office Food and Feed Safety Directorate, Hungary
| | - Paolo Porto
- Dipartimento di AGRARIA, Università degli Studi "Mediterranea" di Reggio Calabria, Italy.
| | - Christine Alewell
- Environmental Geosciences, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 30, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland.
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21
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Smith BS, Child DP, Fierro D, Harrison JJ, Heijnis H, Hotchkis MAC, Johansen MP, Marx S, Payne TE, Zawadzki A. Measurement of fallout radionuclides, (239)(,240)Pu and (137)Cs, in soil and creek sediment: Sydney Basin, Australia. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2016; 151 Pt 3:579-586. [PMID: 26344369 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2015] [Revised: 06/12/2015] [Accepted: 06/19/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Soil and sediment samples from the Sydney basin were measured to ascertain fallout radionuclide activity concentrations and atom ratios. Caesium-137 ((137)Cs) was measured using gamma spectroscopy, and plutonium isotopes ((239)Pu and (240)Pu) were quantified using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). Fallout radionuclide activity concentrations were variable ranging from 0.6 to 26.1 Bq/kg for (137)Cs and 0.02-0.52 Bq/kg for (239+240)Pu. Radionuclides in creek sediment samples were an order of magnitude lower than in soils. (137)Cs and (239+240)Pu activity concentration in soils were well correlated (r(2) = 0.80) although some deviation was observed in samples collected at higher elevations. Soil ratios of (137)Cs/(239+240)Pu (decay corrected to 1/1/2014) ranged from 11.5 to 52.1 (average = 37.0 ± 12.4) and showed more variability than previous studies. (240)Pu/(239)Pu atom ratios ranged from 0.117 to 0.165 with an average of 0.146 (±0.013) and an error weighted mean of 0.138 (±0.001). These ratios are lower than a previously reported ratio for Sydney, and lower than the global average. However, these ratios are similar to those reported for other sites within Australia that are located away from former weapons testing sites and indicate that atom ratio measurements from other parts of the world are unlikely to be applicable to the Australian context.
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Affiliation(s)
- B S Smith
- GeoQuEST, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
| | - D P Child
- Institute for Environmental Research, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW, 2234, Australia
| | - D Fierro
- Institute for Environmental Research, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW, 2234, Australia
| | - J J Harrison
- Institute for Environmental Research, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW, 2234, Australia
| | - H Heijnis
- Institute for Environmental Research, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW, 2234, Australia
| | - M A C Hotchkis
- Institute for Environmental Research, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW, 2234, Australia
| | - M P Johansen
- Institute for Environmental Research, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW, 2234, Australia
| | - S Marx
- GeoQuEST, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
| | - T E Payne
- Institute for Environmental Research, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW, 2234, Australia
| | - A Zawadzki
- Institute for Environmental Research, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW, 2234, Australia
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22
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Tims SG, Froehlich MB, Fifield LK, Wallner A, De Cesare M. (236)U and (239,)(240)Pu ratios from soils around an Australian nuclear weapons test site. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2016; 151 Pt 3:563-567. [PMID: 26141189 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.06.020] [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: 02/12/2015] [Revised: 06/17/2015] [Accepted: 06/24/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The isotopes (236)U, (239)Pu and (240)Pu are present in surface soils as a result of global fallout from nuclear weapons tests carried out in the 1950's and 1960's. These isotopes potentially constitute artificial tracers of recent soil erosion and sediment movement. Only Accelerator Mass Spectrometry has the requisite sensitivity to measure all three isotopes at these environmental levels. Coupled with its relatively high throughput capabilities, this makes it feasible to conduct studies of erosion across the geographical extent of the Australian continent. In the Australian context, however, global fallout is not the only source of these isotopes. As part of its weapons development program the United Kingdom carried out a series of atmospheric and surface nuclear weapons tests at Maralinga, South Australia in 1956 and 1957. The tests have made a significant contribution to the Pu isotopic abundances present in the region around Maralinga and out to distances ∼1000 km, and impact on the assessment techniques used in the soil and sediment tracer studies. Quantification of the relative fallout contribution derived from detonations at Maralinga is complicated owing to significant contamination around the test site from numerous nuclear weapons safety trials that were also carried out around the site. We show that (236)U can provide new information on the component of the fallout that is derived from the local nuclear weapons tests, and highlight the potential of (236)U as a new fallout tracer.
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Affiliation(s)
- S G Tims
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
| | - M B Froehlich
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - L K Fifield
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - A Wallner
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - M De Cesare
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
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23
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Sanders CJ, Santos IR, Maher DT, Breithaupt JL, Smoak JM, Ketterer M, Call M, Sanders L, Eyre BD. Examining (239+240)Pu, (210)Pb and historical events to determine carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus burial in mangrove sediments of Moreton Bay, Australia. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2016; 151 Pt 3:623-629. [PMID: 26004816 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2014] [Revised: 04/12/2015] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Two sediment cores were collected in a mangrove forest to construct geochronologies for the previous century using natural and anthropogenic radionuclide tracers. Both sediment cores were dated using (239+240)Pu global fallout signatures as well as (210)Pb, applying both the Constant Initial Concentration (CIC) and the Constant Rate of Supply (CRS) models. The (239+240)Pu and CIC model are interpreted as having comparable sediment accretion rates (SAR) below an apparent mixed region in the upper ∼5 to 10 cm. In contrast, the CRS dating method shows high sediment accretion rates in the uppermost intervals, which is substantially reduced over the lower intervals of the 100-year record. A local anthropogenic nutrient signal is reflected in the high total phosphorus (TP) concentration in younger sediments. The carbon/nitrogen molar ratios and δ(15)N values further support a local anthropogenic nutrient enrichment signal. The origin of these signals is likely the treated sewage discharge to Moreton Bay which began in the early 1970s. While the (239+240)Pu and CIC models can only produce rates averaged over the intervals of interest within the profile, the (210)Pb CRS model identifies elevated rates of sediment accretion, organic carbon (OC), nitrogen (N), and TP burial from 2000 to 2013. From 1920 to 2000, the three dating methods provide similar OC, N and TP burial rates, ∼150, 10 and 2 g m(-2) year(-1), respectively, which are comparable to global averages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian J Sanders
- National Marine Science Centre, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, PO Box 4321, Coffs Harbour, 2450 NSW, Australia.
| | - Isaac R Santos
- National Marine Science Centre, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, PO Box 4321, Coffs Harbour, 2450 NSW, Australia
| | - Damien T Maher
- Centre for Coastal Biogeochemistry Research, School of Environment, Science and, Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Joshua L Breithaupt
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
| | - Joseph M Smoak
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Geography, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
| | - Michael Ketterer
- Department of Chemistry, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Mitchell Call
- Centre for Coastal Biogeochemistry Research, School of Environment, Science and, Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Luciana Sanders
- School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University GeoScience, Lismore, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Bradley D Eyre
- Centre for Coastal Biogeochemistry Research, School of Environment, Science and, Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, New South Wales, Australia
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Froehlich MB, Dietze MMA, Tims SG, Fifield LK. A comparison of fallout (236)U and (239)Pu uptake by Australian vegetation. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2016; 151 Pt 3:558-562. [PMID: 26141188 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.06.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2015] [Revised: 06/22/2015] [Accepted: 06/24/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The isotopes (236)U and (239)Pu, both produced during nuclear weapons tests carried out in the 1950s and 1960s, are present in the environment and may be used as tracers for soil erosion studies. Although these radionuclides occur only at ultra-trace levels in nature, they can be readily measured by accelerator mass spectrometry with the 14UD heavy ion accelerator at the Australian National University. We have analysed a series of vegetation samples for their (236)U and (239)Pu concentration and compared the results with those found in the surrounding soil. (236)U could be measured in all collected samples whereas (239)Pu could not be detected in several vegetation samples due to its very low concentration, although it was readily detectable in the soil. We find that, relative to plutonium, (236)U is preferentially taken up by plants with enrichment factors ((236)U/(239)Pu)veg/((236)U/(239)Pu)soil that range between 7 and 52 in the present study.
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Affiliation(s)
- M B Froehlich
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
| | - M M A Dietze
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia; Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - S G Tims
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - L K Fifield
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
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25
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Using 239+240Pu atmospheric deposition and a simplified mass-balance model to re-estimate the soil erosion rate: a case study of Liaodong Bay in China. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-015-4208-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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26
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Wang Z, Yang G, Zheng J, Cao L, Yu H, Zhu Y, Tagami K, Uchida S. Effect of Ashing Temperature on Accurate Determination of Plutonium in Soil Samples. Anal Chem 2015; 87:5511-5. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5b01472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zhongtang Wang
- Research
Center for Radiation Protection, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Guosheng Yang
- Research
Center for Radiation Protection, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Jian Zheng
- Research
Center for Radiation Protection, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Liguo Cao
- Research
Center for Radiation Protection, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
- School
of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Haijun Yu
- College of Materials Science & Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, China
| | - Yanbei Zhu
- National
Metrology
Institute of Japan, AIST, 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8563, Japan
| | - Keiko Tagami
- Research
Center for Radiation Protection, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Shigeo Uchida
- Research
Center for Radiation Protection, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
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27
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Lal R, Fifield LK, Tims S, Wasson R, Howe D. Using239Pu as a tracer for fine sediment sources in the Daly River, Northern Australia. EPJ WEB OF CONFERENCES 2015. [DOI: 10.1051/epjconf/20159100006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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28
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Xu Y, Qiao J, Pan S, Hou X, Roos P, Cao L. Plutonium as a tracer for soil erosion assessment in northeast China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2015; 511:176-185. [PMID: 25544336 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2014] [Revised: 12/02/2014] [Accepted: 12/02/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Soil erosion is one of the most serious environmental and agricultural problems faced by human society. Assessing intensity is an important issue for controlling soil erosion and improving eco-environmental quality. The suitability of the application of plutonium (Pu) as a tracer for soil erosion assessment in northeast China was investigated by comparing with that of 137Cs. Here we build on preliminary work, in which we investigated the potential of Pu as a soil erosion tracer by sampling additional reference sites and potential erosive sites, along the Liaodong Bay region in northeast China, for Pu isotopes and 137Cs. 240Pu/239Pu atomic ratios in all samples were approximately 0.18, which indicated that the dominant source of Pu was the global fallout. Pu showed very similar distribution patterns to those of 137Cs at both uncultivated and cultivated sites. 239+240Pu concentrations in all uncultivated soil cores followed an exponential decline with soil depth, whereas at cultivated sites, Pu was homogenously distributed in plow horizons. Factors such as planted crop types, as well as methods and frequencies of irrigation and tillage were suggested to influence the distribution of radionuclides in cultivated land. The baseline inventories of 239+240Pu and 137Cs were 88.4 and 1688 Bq m(-2) respectively. Soil erosion rates estimated by 239+240Pu tracing method were consistent with those obtained by the 137Cs method, confirming that Pu is an effective tracer with a similar tracing behavior to that of 137Cs for soil erosion assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihong Xu
- School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jixin Qiao
- Center for Nuclear Technologies, Technical University of Denmark, Risø Campus, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Shaoming Pan
- School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Xiaolin Hou
- Center for Nuclear Technologies, Technical University of Denmark, Risø Campus, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark; Xi'an AMS Center, SKLLQG, Institute of Earth Environment, CAS, Xi'an 710075, China.
| | - Per Roos
- Center for Nuclear Technologies, Technical University of Denmark, Risø Campus, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Liguo Cao
- School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
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Srncik M, Tims SG, De Cesare M, Fifield LK. First measurements of (236)U concentrations and (236)U/(239)Pu isotopic ratios in a Southern Hemisphere soil far from nuclear test or reactor sites. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2014; 132:108-114. [PMID: 24631872 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2014.02.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2013] [Revised: 02/24/2014] [Accepted: 02/24/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The variation of the (236)U and (239)Pu concentrations as a function of depth has been studied in a soil profile at a site in the Southern Hemisphere well removed from nuclear weapon test sites. Total inventories of (236)U and (239)Pu as well as the (236)U/(239)Pu isotopic ratio were derived. For this investigation a soil core from an undisturbed forest area in the Herbert River catchment (17°30' - 19°S) which is located in north-eastern Queensland (Australia) was chosen. The chemical separation of U and Pu was carried out with a double column which has the advantage of the extraction of both elements from a relatively large soil sample (∼20 g) within a day. The samples were measured by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry using the 14UD pelletron accelerator at the Australian National University. The highest atom concentrations of both (236)U and (239)Pu were found at a depth of 2-3 cm. The (236)U/(239)Pu isotopic ratio in fallout at this site, as deduced from the ratio of the (236)U and (239)Pu inventories, is 0.085 ± 0.003 which is clearly lower than the Northern Hemisphere value of ∼0.2. The (236)U inventory of (8.4 ± 0.3) × 10(11) at/m(2) was more than an order of magnitude lower than values reported for the Northern Hemisphere. The (239)Pu activity concentrations are in excellent agreement with a previous study and the (239+240)Pu inventory was (13.85 ± 0.29) Bq/m(2). The weighted mean (240)Pu/(239)Pu isotopic ratio of 0.142 ± 0.005 is slightly lower than the value for global fallout, but our results are consistent with the average ratio of 0.173 ± 0.027 for the southern equatorial region (0-30°S).
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Affiliation(s)
- M Srncik
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.
| | - S G Tims
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
| | - M De Cesare
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
| | - L K Fifield
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
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30
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Marouli M, Pommé S, Jobbágy V, Van Ammel R, Paepen J, Stroh H, Benedik L. Alpha-particle emission probabilities of 236U obtained by alpha spectrometry. Appl Radiat Isot 2014; 87:292-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2013.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2013] [Accepted: 11/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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31
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Alewell C, Meusburger K, Juretzko G, Mabit L, Ketterer ME. Suitability of 239+240Pu and 137Cs as tracers for soil erosion assessment in mountain grasslands. CHEMOSPHERE 2014; 103:274-280. [PMID: 24374184 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2013] [Revised: 11/20/2013] [Accepted: 12/01/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic radionuclides have been distributed globally due to nuclear weapons testing, nuclear accidents, nuclear weapons fabrication, and nuclear fuel reprocessing. While the negative consequences of this radioactive contamination are self-evident, the ubiquitous fallout radionuclides (FRNs) distribution form the basis for the use as tracers in ecological studies, namely for soil erosion assessment. Soil erosion is a major threat to mountain ecosystems worldwide. We compare the suitability of the anthropogenic FRNs, 137Cs and 239+240Pu as soil erosion tracers in two alpine valleys of Switzerland (Urseren Valley, Canton Uri, Central Swiss Alps and Val Piora, Ticino, Southern Alps). We sampled reference and potentially erosive sites in transects along both valleys. 137Cs measurements of soil samples were performed with a Li-drifted Germanium detector and 239+240Pu with ICP-MS. Our data indicates a heterogeneous deposition of the 137Cs, since most of the fallout origins from the Chernobyl April/May 1986 accident, when large parts of the European Alps were still snow-covered. In contrast, 239+240Pu fallout originated mainly from 1950s to 1960s atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, resulting in a more homogenous distribution and thus seems to be a more suitable tracer in mountainous grasslands. Soil erosion assessment using 239+240Pu as a tracer pointed to a huge dynamic and high heterogeneity of erosive processes (between sedimentation of 1.9 and 7 t ha(-1) yr(-1) and erosion of 0.2-16.4 t ha(-1) yr(-1) in the Urseren Valley and sedimentation of 0.4-20.3 t ha(-1) yr(-1) and erosion of 0.1-16.4 t ha(-1) yr(-1) at Val Piora). Our study represents a novel and successful application of 239+240Pu as a tracer of soil erosion in a mountain environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Alewell
- Environmental Geosciences, University of Basel, Bernoullistr. 30, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Katrin Meusburger
- Environmental Geosciences, University of Basel, Bernoullistr. 30, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Gregor Juretzko
- Environmental Geosciences, University of Basel, Bernoullistr. 30, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Lionel Mabit
- Soil and Water Management & Crop Nutrition Laboratory, FAO/IAEA Agriculture & Biotechnology Laboratory, PO Box 100, Wagramerstrasse 5, A-1400 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Michael E Ketterer
- Chemistry and Biochemistry, Northern Arizona University, Box 5698, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5698, USA.
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32
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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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Dewald A, Heinze S, Feuerstein C, Müller-Gatermann C, Stolz A, Schiffer M, Zitzer G, Dunai T, Rethemeyer J, Melles M, Wiesel H, Blanckenburg FV. The first year of operation of CologneAMS; performance and developments. EPJ WEB OF CONFERENCES 2013. [DOI: 10.1051/epjconf/20136303006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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34
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Tims SG, Tsifakis D, Srncik M, Keith Fifield L, Hancock GJ, De Cesare M. Measurements of low-level anthropogenic radionuclides from soils around Maralinga. EPJ WEB OF CONFERENCES 2013. [DOI: 10.1051/epjconf/20136303010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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35
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Xu Y, Qiao J, Hou X, Pan S. Plutonium in soils from northeast China and its potential application for evaluation of soil erosion. Sci Rep 2013; 3:3506. [PMID: 24336360 PMCID: PMC3864049 DOI: 10.1038/srep03506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2013] [Accepted: 11/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Surface and soil core samples from northeast China were analyzed for Pu isotopes. The measured (240)Pu/(239)Pu atomic ratios and (239 + 240)Pu/(137)Cs activity ratios revealed that the global fallout is the dominant source of Pu and (137)Cs at these sites. Migration behavior of Pu varying with land type and human activities resulted in different distribution of Pu in surface soils. A sub-surface maximum followed by exponential decline of (239 + 240)Pu concentrations was observed in an undisturbed soil core, with a total (239 + 240)Pu inventory of 86.9 Bq/m(2) and more than 85% accumulated in 0 ~ 20 cm layers. While only half inventory of Pu was obtained in another soil core and no sub-surface maximum value occurred. Erosion of topsoil in the site should be the most possible reason for the significantly lower Pu inventory, which is also supported by the reported (137)Cs profiles. These results demonstrated that Pu could be applied as an ideal substitute of (137)Cs for soil erosion study in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihong Xu
- 1] The Key Laboratory of Coastal and Island Development of Ministry of Education, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China [2] Center for Nuclear Technologies, Technical University of Denmark, Risø Campus, Roskilde 4000, Denmark
| | - Jixin Qiao
- Center for Nuclear Technologies, Technical University of Denmark, Risø Campus, Roskilde 4000, Denmark
| | - Xiaolin Hou
- 1] Center for Nuclear Technologies, Technical University of Denmark, Risø Campus, Roskilde 4000, Denmark [2] Xi'an AMS Center, SKLLQG, Institute of Earth Environment, CAS, Xi'an 710075, China
| | - Shaoming Pan
- The Key Laboratory of Coastal and Island Development of Ministry of Education, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
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36
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Olley J, Brooks A, Spencer J, Pietsch T, Borombovits D. Subsoil erosion dominates the supply of fine sediment to rivers draining into Princess Charlotte Bay, Australia. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2013; 124:121-129. [PMID: 23727879 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2013.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2012] [Revised: 04/18/2013] [Accepted: 04/19/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The Laura-Normanby River (catchment area: 24,350 km(2)), which drains into Princess Charlotte Bay, has been identified in previous studies as the third largest contributor of sediment to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. These catchment scale modelling studies also identified surface soil erosion as supplying >80% of the sediment. Here we use activity concentrations of the fallout radionuclides (137)Cs and (210)Pbex to test the hypothesis that surface soil erosion dominates the supply of fine (<10 μm) sediment in the river systems draining into Princess Charlotte Bay. Our results contradict these previous studies, and are consistent with channel and gully erosion being the dominant source of fine sediment in this catchment. The hypothesis that surface soil erosion dominates the supply of fine sediment to Princess Charlotte Bay is rejected. River sediment samples were collected using both time-integrated samplers and sediment drape deposits. We show that there is no detectable difference in (137)Cs and (210)Pbex activity concentrations between samples collected using these two methods. Two methods were also used to collect samples to characterise (137)Cs and (210)Pbex concentrations in sediment derived from surface soil erosion; sampling of surface-wash deposits and deployment of surface runoff traps that collected samples during rain events. While there was no difference in the (137)Cs activity concentrations for samples collected using these two methods, (210)Pbex activity concentrations were significantly higher in the samples collected using the runoff traps. The higher (210)Pbex concentrations are shown to be correlated with loss-on-ignition (r(2) = 0.79) and therefore are likely to be related to higher organic concentrations in the runoff trap samples. As a result of these differences we use a three end member mixing model (channel/gully, hillslope surface-wash and hillslope runoff traps) to determine the relative contribution from surface soil erosion. Probability distributions for (137)Cs and (210)Pbex concentrations were determined for each of the end members, with these distributions then used to estimate the surface soil contribution to each of the collected river sediment samples. The mean estimate of contribution of surface derived sediment for all river samples (n = 70) is 16 ± 2%. This study reinforces the importance of testing model predictions before they are used to target investment in remedial action and adds to the body of evidence that the primary source of sediment delivered to tropical river systems is derived from subsoil erosion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon Olley
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia.
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37
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Lukšienė B, Marčiulionienė D, Rožkov A, Gudelis A, Holm E, Galvonaitė A. Distribution of artificial gamma-ray emitting radionuclide activity concentration in the top soil in the vicinity of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant and other regions in Lithuania. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2012; 439:96-105. [PMID: 23063914 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2012] [Revised: 09/07/2012] [Accepted: 09/08/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The impact of the operating Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (INPP) on the contamination of top soil layer with artificial radionuclides has been studied. Results of the investigation of artificial gamma-ray emitting radionuclide distribution in soil in the vicinity of the INPP and distant regions in Lithuania in 1996-2008 (INPP operational period) show that nowadays (137)Cs remains the most important artificial gamma-ray emitting radionuclide in the upper soil layer. Mean (137)Cs activity concentrations in the top soil layer in the vicinity of the INPP were found to be significantly lower compared to those in remote regions of Varėna and Plungė (~300 km from INPP). In 1996 and 1998 mean (137)Cs activity concentrations were in the range of 28-45 Bq/kg in the nearest vicinity to the INPP, 103 Bq/kg in Varėna and 340 Bq/kg in Plungė region. (137)Cs activity concentrations were 5-20 times lower in meadow soil (4-14 Bq/kg) compared to swamp and forest soil. (60)Co, the INPP origin radionuclide, was detected in samples only in 1996 and 2000, and the activity concentration of (60)Co was found to be in the range from 0.4 to 7.0 Bq/kg at the sampling ground nearest to the INPP. Average annual activity concentrations of the INPP origin (137)Cs and (60)Co in the air and depositions in the INPP region were modeled using Pasquill-Gifford equations. The modeling results of (137)Cs and (60)Co depositional load in the INPP vicinity agree with the experimentally obtained values. Our results provide the evidence that the operation of INPP did not cause any significant contamination in soil surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikta Lukšienė
- Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Savanorių ave. 231, LT-02300 Vilnius, Lithuania.
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Zhao Y, Yan D, Zhang Q, Zhan J, Hu H. Spatial distributions of 137Cs in surface soil in Jing-Jin-Ji Region, North China. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2012; 113:1-7. [PMID: 22595723 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2012.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2011] [Revised: 03/22/2012] [Accepted: 04/17/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Artificial Radiocaesium ((137)Cs) has been widely deposited over global soils. In this study, we measured (137)Cs activity concentrations in the soil samples taken from Jing-Jin-Ji Region, North China, during 2007-2008. The surface soil (0-20 cm) samples were collected from 452 sites in this region. The activity concentration of (137)Cs in the samples was measured using a GEM series HPGe (high-purity germanium) coaxial detector system (ADCOM-100). The main findings are as following. (1) The activity concentration of (137)Cs in surface soils in the region of study fluctuates within 0.3±0.1 to 12.9±0.4 Bq/kg with mean value of 3.7 Bq/kg. Compared to other regions located at roughly the same latitude, the (137)Cs activity is relatively low. The results indicate that there are no new inputs of the radionuclides into the area at that time and the data obtained could serve as baseline levels of (137)Cs in Jing-Jin-Ji Region. (2) Considering land use types, surface soil in woodland mostly shows high (137)Cs activities with rare natural erosion and anthropogenic activities, and the surface soil with relatively low (137)Cs activities appears in the areas of intensive anthropogenic activities, especially in the cities, river banks, reservoirs and the strongly eroded areas. The findings suggest that the varying distribution of (137)Cs activities in surface soil corresponds with land use types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, PR China.
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Antovic NM, Vukotic P, Svrkota N, Andrukhovich SK. Pu-239+240 and Cs-137 in Montenegro soil: their correlation and origin. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2012; 110:90-97. [PMID: 22445877 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2012.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2011] [Revised: 01/13/2012] [Accepted: 02/02/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The (239+240)Pu activity concentrations in soil from Montenegro (six samples from three localities) have been measured for the first time. The alpha and gamma-spectrometric measurements are used to determine the (239+240)Pu/(137)Cs activity ratio, and it was found to be with an average of 0.02 and standard deviation of 0.007. This average activity ratio was applied to estimate (239+240)Pu in soil samples from the other 21 localities at which (137)Cs activity concentrations were measured. In this research obtained (either experimentally or estimated) (239+240)Pu activity concentrations (0.036-8.265 Bq kg(-1)) are comparable with those measured in some other European countries. On the basis of the results obtained in the present study and a survey of relevant literature, it is possible to conclude that Chernobyl contribution to (137)Cs contamination of Montenegro soils is dominant, whilst Pu contamination comes from the global fallout of nuclear weapon tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nevenka M Antovic
- University of Montenegro, Dzordza Vasingtona bb, Podgorica, Montenegro.
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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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Hancock GJ, Leslie C, Everett SE, Tims SG, Brunskill GJ, Haese R. Plutonium as a chronomarker in Australian and New Zealand sediments: a comparison with (137)Cs. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2011; 102:919-929. [PMID: 19857913 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2009.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2009] [Revised: 09/09/2009] [Accepted: 09/16/2009] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The construction of high resolution chronologies of sediment profiles corresponding to the last 50-100 years usually entails the measurement of fallout radionuclides (210)Pb and (137)Cs. The anthropogenic radionuclide, (137)Cs, originating from atmospheric nuclear weapons testing can provide an important "first appearance" horizon of known age (1954-1955), providing much-needed validation for the sometimes uncertain interpretations associated with (210)Pb geochronology. However, while (137)Cs usually provides a strong signal in sediment in the northern hemisphere, total fallout of (137)Cs in the southern hemisphere was only 25% that of the north and the low activities of (137)Cs seen in Australian and New Zealand sediments can make its horizon of first appearance somewhat arguable. Low (137)Cs fallout also limited the size of the 1963-1964 fallout peak, a peak that is usually seen in northern hemisphere sediment profiles but is often difficult to discern south of the equator. This paper shows examples of the use of nuclear weapons fallout Pu as a chronomarker in sediment cores from Australia (3 sites) and New Zealand (1 site). The Pu profiles of five cores are examined and compared with the corresponding (137)Cs profiles and (210)Pb geochronologies. We find that Pu has significant advantages over (137)Cs, including greater measurement sensitivity using alpha spectrometry and mass spectrometric techniques compared to (137)Cs measurements by gamma spectrometry. Moreover, Pu provides additional chronomarkers associated with changes in the Pu isotopic composition of fallout during the 1950s and 1960s. In particular, the (238)Pu/(239+240)Pu activity ratio shows distinct shifts in the early 1950s and the mid to late 1960s, providing important known-age horizons in southern hemisphere sediments. For estuarine and near-shore sediments Pu sometimes has another significant advantage over (137)Cs due to its enrichment in bottom sediment relative to (137)Cs resulting from the more efficient scavenging of dissolved Pu in seawater by sediment particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- G J Hancock
- CSIRO Land and Water, Black Mountain Laboratories, Canberra, Australia.
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Pan SM, Tims SG, Liu XY, Fifield LK. (137)Cs, (239+240)Pu concentrations and the (240)Pu/(239)Pu atom ratio in a sediment core from the sub-aqueous delta of Yangtze River estuary. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2011; 102:930-936. [PMID: 20561723 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2010.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2009] [Revised: 03/29/2010] [Accepted: 05/23/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
A sediment core collected from the sub-aqueous delta of the Yangtze River estuary was subjected to analyses of (137)Cs and plutonium (Pu) isotopes. The (137)Cs was measured using γ-spectrometry at the laboratories at the Nanjing University and Pu isotopes were determined with Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS), measurements made at the Australian National University. The results show considerable structure in the depth concentration profiles of the (137)Cs and (239+240)Pu. The shape of the vertical (137)Cs distribution in the sediment core was similar to that of the Pu. The maximum (137)Cs and (239+240)Pu concentrations were 16.21 ± 0.95 mBq/g and 0.716 ± 0.030 mBq/g, respectively, and appear at same depth. The average (240)Pu/(239)Pu atom ratio was 0.238 ± 0.007 in the sediment core, slightly higher than the average global fallout value. The changes in the (240)Pu/(239)Pu atom ratios in the sediment core indicate the presence of at least two different Pu sources, i.e., global fallout and another source, most likely close-in fallout from the Pacific Proving Grounds (PPG) in the Marshall Islands, and suggest the possibility that Pu isotopes are useful as a geochronological tool for coastal sediment studies. The (137)Cs and (239+240)Pu inventories were estimated to be 7100 ± 1200 Bq/m(2) and 407 ± 27 Bq/m(2), respectively. Approximately 40% of the (239+240)Pu inventory originated from the PPG close-in fallout and about 50% has derived from land-origin global fallout transported to the estuary by the river. This study confirms that AMS is a useful tool to measure (240)Pu/(239)Pu atom ratio and can provide valuable information on sedimentary processes in the coastal environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Pan
- The Key Lab of Ministry of Education of Coast and Island Development, Nanjing University, China.
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Hoo WT, Fifield LK, Tims SG, Fujioka T, Mueller N. Using fallout plutonium as a probe for erosion assessment. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2011; 102:937-942. [PMID: 20638160 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2010.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2009] [Revised: 05/14/2010] [Accepted: 06/17/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
A study has been carried out to assess the potential of using fallout plutonium (Pu), which originated from atmospheric nuclear-weapons tests, as a tool to investigate recent erosional processes within the lower Cotter water-supply catchment in the Australian Capital Territory. This catchment, which was predominantly pine plantation, was severely affected by a major bush fire in 2003. Accelerator mass spectrometry has been used to measure Pu in soil samples collected from a number of sites across the catchment. The results indicate that less than 1cm of surface soil had been lost since the early 1960s over much of the catchment. Areas of more erodible soil have, however, lost 2-4cm of topsoil, and a loss of ∼6cm of soil was identified at one particular site.
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Affiliation(s)
- W T Hoo
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics and Engineering, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
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Yii MW, Wan Mahmood ZU. Radioactivity of plutonium isotopes, 137Cs and their ratio in sediment, seawater and biota from the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-011-1149-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Sakaguchi A, Kawai K, Steier P, Imanaka T, Hoshi M, Endo S, Zhumadilov K, Yamamoto M. Feasibility of using 236U to reconstruct close-in fallout deposition from the Hiroshima atomic bomb. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2010; 408:5392-5398. [PMID: 20797770 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.07.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2010] [Revised: 07/26/2010] [Accepted: 07/28/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The first results on the feasibility of using (236)U to reconstruct the level and spatial distribution of close-in fallout deposition from the Hiroshima A-bomb are reported, coupled with the use of global fallout (137)Cs and (239+240)Pu. The results for global fallout (236)U in soil samples (0-30cm) from Ishikawa prefecture showed that the deposition density of (236)U from the global fallout can be accurately evaluated using AMS. All deposited (236)U, (137)Cs and (239+240)Pu appeared to have been recovered using 30-cm cores. It was also noted from the depth profiles for (236)U/(239+240)Pu and (236)U/(137)Cs ratios that the downward behavior of (236)U in the soil was apparently similar to that of (239+240)Pu, while the (137)Cs was liable to be retained in upper layers compared with (236)U and (239+240)Pu. The accumulated levels were 1.78×10(13)atomsm(-2) for (236)U, 4340Bqm(-2) for (137)Cs and 141Bqm(-2) for (239+240)Pu. The ratios of (236)U/(137)Cs and (236)U/(239+240)Pu were (4.10±0.12)×10(9) and (1.26±0.04)×10(11)atomsBq(-1), respectively. Results of (236)U, (137)Cs and (239+240)Pu measurements for the seven soil cores (0-30cm) from Hiroshima were discussed on the basis of ratios of (236)U/(137)Cs and (236)U/(239+240)Pu by comparing with those from the background area in Ishikawa, indicating that the global fallout dominates the current level of (236)U accumulation in soil in the Black-rain area around Hiroshima after the Hiroshima bomb, and the contribution of the close-in fallout (236)U produced by the Hiroshima A-bomb seems difficult to observe.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Sakaguchi
- Department of Earth and Planetary Systems Science, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, 739-8526, Japan.
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Dong W, Tims SG, Fifield LK, Guo Q. Concentration and characterization of plutonium in soils of Hubei in central China. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2010; 101:29-32. [PMID: 19800153 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2009.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2009] [Revised: 07/07/2009] [Accepted: 08/13/2009] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
To study the Pu concentration and isotope ratio distributions present in China, the (239+240)Pu total activities and (240)Pu/(239)Pu atom ratios in core soil samples from Hubei Province in central China were investigated using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS). The activities ranged from 0.019 to 0.502 mBqg(-1) and the (239+240)Pu inventories of 45 and approximately 55 Bqm(-2) agree well with that expected from global fallout. The (240)Pu/(239)Pu atom ratios in the soil ranged from 0.172 to 0.220. The ratios are similar to typical global fallout values. Hence, any close-in fallout contribution from the Chinese nuclear weapons tests, mainly conducted in the 1970s, must have either been negligible or had a similar (240)Pu/(239)Pu ratio to that of global fallout. The top 10 cm layer of the soil contributes approximately 90% of the total inventory and the maximum concentrations appeared in the 2-4 cm or 4-6 cm layers. It is suggested that climatic conditions and organic content are the two main factors that affect the vertical migration of plutonium in soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
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Quinto F, Steier P, Wallner G, Wallner A, Srncik M, Bichler M, Kutschera W, Terrasi F, Petraglia A, Sabbarese C. The first use of 236U in the general environment and near a shutdown nuclear power plant. Appl Radiat Isot 2009; 67:1775-80. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2009.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2009] [Accepted: 05/12/2009] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Chen ZF, Zhao Y, Qiao JJ, Zhang Q, Zhu YE, Xu CH. Retrospection of recent 30-year changes in the process of soil wind erosion in the Luanhe River Source Area of North China using Cesium-137. Appl Radiat Isot 2009; 67:1785-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2009.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2008] [Revised: 05/10/2009] [Accepted: 06/10/2009] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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