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Skoko B, Kovačić M, Lazarus M, Sekovanić A, Kovačić J, Sergiel A, Zwijacz-Kozica T, Reljić S, Petrinec B, Selva N, Huber Đ. 90Sr and stable element levels in bones of brown bears: long-term trends in bear populations from Croatia and Poland. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:32507-32522. [PMID: 36460888 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-24397-4] [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: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the temporal trends and geographical differences in 90Sr and stable element (Ba, Ca, Mn, Sr, Pb, Zn) levels in the bones of Croatian and Polish brown bear (Ursus arctos) populations. Experimental data suggest that in the decades after nuclear weapon tests and the Chernobyl accident, 90Sr bone activity concentrations decreased from 352 to 11 Bq kg-1 in the Croatian bear population (period 1982-2015) and from 831 to 27 Bq kg-1 in Polish bears (period 1962-2020). Calculated effective and ecological half-lives were 9 and 13 years for Croatian bears, and 15 and 31 years for Polish bears, respectively. Different temporal trends were noted in levels of Ba, Mn, Pb and Zn between the two countries with majority of bones having lower Pb, Sr and Zn in Croatian than in Polish bears. Estimated values for the soil-to-bear transfer of 90Sr were the same order of magnitude in the studied populations. Contrary to this, the estimated transfer of stable Sr was an order of magnitude lower for the Croatian bear population compared to Polish bears. The observed differences in soil-to-bear transfer between stable Sr and 90Sr found for Croatian bears might suggest the need for careful consideration on the use of stable Sr data as an analogue for 90Sr. To our knowledge, this is the first study that analysed 90Sr activity in tissue of brown bears. As such, it provides insight into the fate and behaviour of one of the most relevant anthropogenic radionuclides at the top of the food chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Božena Skoko
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska Cesta 2, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Milica Kovačić
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska Cesta 2, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Maja Lazarus
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska Cesta 2, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Ankica Sekovanić
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska Cesta 2, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Jelena Kovačić
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska Cesta 2, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Agnieszka Sergiel
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Aleja Adama Mickiewicza 33, 31-120, Kraków, Poland
| | | | - Slaven Reljić
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Heinzelova Ulica 55, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Branko Petrinec
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska Cesta 2, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nuria Selva
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Aleja Adama Mickiewicza 33, 31-120, Kraków, Poland
| | - Đuro Huber
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Aleja Adama Mickiewicza 33, 31-120, Kraków, Poland
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Heinzelova Ulica 55, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
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Babić D, Skoko B, Franić Z, Senčar J, Šoštarić M, Petroci L, Avdić M, Kovačić M, Branica G, Petrinec B, Bituh T, Franulović I, Marović G. Baseline radioecological data for the soil and selected bioindicator organisms in the temperate forest of Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:21040-21056. [PMID: 32266621 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-08369-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to provide baseline radioecological data for the temperate forest ecosystem in Plitvice Lakes National Park. Emphasis was placed on the determination of naturally occurring radionuclides since there is an acknowledged lack of data for these radionuclides in non-accident conditions in wildlife, even for bioindicator organisms. Activity concentrations of 238U, 226Ra, 210Pb, 232Th, 40K, 134Cs, and 137Cs were measured by gamma spectrometry in soil and bioindicators: earthworms, conifer needles, mosses, and lichens. From the measured activity concentrations, concentration ratios were calculated to quantify the transfer of these radionuclides from soil to bioindicators. Our results show that soil activity concentrations are biased toward results from other studies conducted within the Dinaric mountain region. However, in moss and lichen samples, we measured higher activity concentrations of 226Ra and lower activity concentrations of 40K and 137Cs in comparison to similar studies. Also, we estimated lower concentration ratios for all radionuclides from soil to these organisms, except for 210Pb, in comparison to generic values. The transfer of 238U was generally low for all of the bioindicator organisms. For conifer needles, a correlation was found between activity concentrations of 226Ra and 137Cs in soil and related concentration ratios. Correlation was also found between the activity concentration of 40K in soil and transfer of 40K and 137Cs to mosses and lichens. A comparison with literature data highlighted the lack of 226Ra related concentration ratios for conifer trees and especially for earthworms. Therefore, the results of this study could supplement the sparse data currently available on radionuclide background data in similar ecosystems and related soil-to-wildlife transfer of radionuclides. Dose rate assessments, performed by the ERICA Tool, estimated that 96% of the overall exposure of wildlife in the Park area is due to the background dose rates, while 0.06 μGy h-1 on average can be attributed as an incremental dose rate from 134Cs and 137Cs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinko Babić
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Božena Skoko
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Zdenko Franić
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Jasminka Senčar
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marko Šoštarić
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ljerka Petroci
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Mak Avdić
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Milica Kovačić
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Gina Branica
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Branko Petrinec
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Tomislav Bituh
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Iva Franulović
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Gordana Marović
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
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Durkalec M, Nawrocka A, Krzysiak M, Larska M, Kmiecik M, Posyniak A. Trace elements in the liver of captive and free-ranging European bison (Bison bonasus L.). CHEMOSPHERE 2018; 193:454-463. [PMID: 29154121 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.11.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2017] [Revised: 10/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/10/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
European bison is classified as a vulnerable species because of many threats. We analyzed the content of toxic and essential elements (Ag, Al, As, Ba, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Se, Th, Tl, U, V, and Zn) in the livers of 30 captive and free-ranging European bison from the Bison Breeding Center in Smardzewice and from Białowieża Primeval Forest in Poland. The contents of toxic elements were lower than reported previously in European Bison and were similar to those of wild ungulates from non-polluted areas. Accumulation of Cd and Cr was related to the age of animals. We compared the mineral status between captive and free-ranging European bison to verify whether the maintenance type could affect concentrations of trace elements in the liver. The concentration of Mn and Zn differed between captive and free-ranging group. Our results were compared to the reference values of essential elements for cattle. All animals from this study were Se-deficient and more than 80% of them have Cu deficiency. Deficiency of Mn was present in 20% of captive and 37% of free-ranging animals whereas Zn in 37% and 3% respectively. Statistical analysis confirmed that Mn and Zn deficiencies were related o the maintenance of animals (p<0.05). We revealed that mineral deficiencies could be an additional threat to the Polish population of European bison. Thus, the monitoring of essential minerals is necessary and future work is required to optimize the supplementation and foddering for preventing the occurrence of mineral deficiencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej Durkalec
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Aleja Partyzantów 57, 24-100 Puławy, Poland.
| | - Agnieszka Nawrocka
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Aleja Partyzantów 57, 24-100 Puławy, Poland
| | - Michał Krzysiak
- European Bison Breeding Centre, Białowieża National Park, Park Pałacowy 11, 17-230 Białowieża, Poland; Department of Epizootiology and Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Głęboka 30, 20-612 Lublin, Poland
| | - Magdalena Larska
- Department of Virology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Aleja Partyzantów 57, 24-100 Puławy, Poland
| | - Mirosława Kmiecik
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Aleja Partyzantów 57, 24-100 Puławy, Poland
| | - Andrzej Posyniak
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Aleja Partyzantów 57, 24-100 Puławy, Poland
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Giżejewska A, Szkoda J, Nawrocka A, Żmudzki J, Giżejewski Z. Can red deer antlers be used as an indicator of environmental and edible tissues' trace element contamination? ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017; 24:11630-11638. [PMID: 28324255 PMCID: PMC5391388 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-8798-7] [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: 07/29/2016] [Accepted: 03/09/2017] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Venison is an attractive product for consumers concerned with healthy lifestyle; however, it can contain high levels of toxic elements, and therefore, it is a possible source of hazardous contaminants in human diet. Antlers are suitable bioindicators of environmental metal contamination, and herein, we assessed the ability of trace element levels in antlers to indicate levels in edible soft tissues. We determined the concentrations of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe) in the liver, kidney, muscle, and antlers of 14 free-ranging red deer (Cervus elaphus) from northeastern Poland using atomic absorption spectrometry. We found the highest concentrations of Pb (0.321 ± 0.165 mg/kg), As (0.045 ± 0.074 mg/kg), Zn (105.31 ± 16.33 mg/kg), and Fe (220.92 ± 117.18 mg/kg) in antlers; of Cd (4.974 ± 1.90 mg/kg) and Hg (0.048 ± 0.102 mg/kg) in kidney; and of Cu (7.29 ± 7.02 mg/kg) in the liver. A positive relationship between concentrations in antlers and muscle was found only for Cu (p = 0.001), and it therefore appears that red deer antlers cannot be used as an index for element concentrations in soft tissues. While our results confirm that the Mazury region is little polluted, consumption of red deer offal from this area should be limited according to extant legal limits set for livestock consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Giżejewska
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, Oczapowskiego 14, 10-719, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Józef Szkoda
- The National Veterinary Research Institute, 57 Partyzantów Avenue, 24-100, Puławy, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Nawrocka
- The National Veterinary Research Institute, 57 Partyzantów Avenue, 24-100, Puławy, Poland
| | - Jan Żmudzki
- The National Veterinary Research Institute, 57 Partyzantów Avenue, 24-100, Puławy, Poland
| | - Zygmunt Giżejewski
- Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of Polish Academy of Sciences, Tuwima 10 Str, 10-748, Olsztyn, Poland.
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Tagami K, Howard BJ, Uchida S. The Time-Dependent Transfer Factor of Radiocesium from Soil to Game Animals in Japan after the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Accident. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2016; 50:9424-9431. [PMID: 27513196 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b03011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Since the Fukushima Dai-ichi accident, monitoring of tissues from hunted game animals ensures compliance with the standard food limits for radionuclides in Japan. We quantified the transfer of (137)Cs from contaminated land to game animals using the Aggregated transfer factor (Tag = activity concentration in meat [Bq kg(-1) fw]/amount in soil [Bq m(-2)]) of (137)Cs for Asian black bear, wild boar, sika deer, green pheasant, copper pheasant and wild duck, collected between 2011 and 2015. Open data sources were used from Fukushima, Miyagi, Ibaraki, Tochigi, and Gunma prefectures. Our initially compiled data showed that the maximum reported (137)Cs activity concentration in wild boar after the Fukushima Dai-ichi accident were lower than those reported after the Chernobyl accident. The geometric mean Tag values (m(2)kg(-1) fw) of (137)Cs in 2015 for Asian black bear, wild boar, sika deer and copper pheasant were similar (1.9-5.1) × 10(-3) while those for green pheasant and wild duck were about 1 order of magnitude lower at (1.0-2.2) × 10(-4). Effective half-lives were 1.2-6.9 y except for sika deer and copper pheasant where no decreases were found. In contrast to the Chernobyl accident, no seasonal change occurred in the meat (137)Cs activity concentrations of the wild animals during the study period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiko Tagami
- Office of Biospheric Assessment for Waste Disposal, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology : Anagawa 4-9-1, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Brenda J Howard
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre: Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, United Kingdom
| | - Shigeo Uchida
- Office of Biospheric Assessment for Waste Disposal, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology : Anagawa 4-9-1, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
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Beresford NA, Wood MD, Vives i Batlle J, Yankovich TL, Bradshaw C, Willey N. Making the most of what we have: application of extrapolation approaches in radioecological wildlife transfer models. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2016; 151 Pt 2:373-386. [PMID: 25850783 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2014] [Revised: 03/04/2015] [Accepted: 03/07/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
We will never have data to populate all of the potential radioecological modelling parameters required for wildlife assessments. Therefore, we need robust extrapolation approaches which allow us to make best use of our available knowledge. This paper reviews and, in some cases, develops, tests and validates some of the suggested extrapolation approaches. The concentration ratio (CRproduct-diet or CRwo-diet) is shown to be a generic (trans-species) parameter which should enable the more abundant data for farm animals to be applied to wild species. An allometric model for predicting the biological half-life of radionuclides in vertebrates is further tested and generally shown to perform acceptably. However, to fully exploit allometry we need to understand why some elements do not scale to expected values. For aquatic ecosystems, the relationship between log10(a) (a parameter from the allometric relationship for the organism-water concentration ratio) and log(Kd) presents a potential opportunity to estimate concentration ratios using Kd values. An alternative approach to the CRwo-media model proposed for estimating the transfer of radionuclides to freshwater fish is used to satisfactorily predict activity concentrations in fish of different species from three lakes. We recommend that this approach (REML modelling) be further investigated and developed for other radionuclides and across a wider range of organisms and ecosystems. Ecological stoichiometry shows potential as an extrapolation method in radioecology, either from one element to another or from one species to another. Although some of the approaches considered require further development and testing, we demonstrate the potential to significantly improve predictions of radionuclide transfer to wildlife by making better use of available data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas A Beresford
- NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Center, Library Av., Bailrigg, Lancaster LA14AP, UK; School of Environment & Life Sciences, University of Salford, Manchester M4 4WT, UK.
| | - Michael D Wood
- School of Environment & Life Sciences, University of Salford, Manchester M4 4WT, UK
| | | | - Tamara L Yankovich
- International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna International Centre, 1400 Vienna, Austria
| | - Clare Bradshaw
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, SE-10691, Sweden
| | - Neil Willey
- Centre for Research in Biosciences, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Frenchay, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK
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Beresford NA, Beaugelin-Seiller K, Burgos J, Cujic M, Fesenko S, Kryshev A, Pachal N, Real A, Su BS, Tagami K, Vives i Batlle J, Vives-Lynch S, Wells C, Wood MD. Radionuclide biological half-life values for terrestrial and aquatic wildlife. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2015; 150:270-276. [PMID: 26378959 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2015] [Revised: 08/23/2015] [Accepted: 08/24/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The equilibrium concentration ratio is typically the parameter used to estimate organism activity concentrations within wildlife dose assessment tools. Whilst this is assumed to be fit for purpose, there are scenarios such as accidental or irregular, fluctuating, releases from licensed facilities when this might not be the case. In such circumstances, the concentration ratio approach may under- or over-estimate radiation exposure depending upon the time since the release. To carrying out assessments for such releases, a dynamic approach is needed. The simplest and most practical option is representing the uptake and turnover processes by first-order kinetics, for which organism- and element-specific biological half-life data are required. In this paper we describe the development of a freely available international database of radionuclide biological half-life values. The database includes 1907 entries for terrestrial, freshwater, riparian and marine organisms. Biological half-life values are reported for 52 elements across a range of wildlife groups (marine = 9, freshwater = 10, terrestrial = 7 and riparian = 3 groups). Potential applications and limitations of the database are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- N A Beresford
- NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, UK; School of Environment & Life Sciences, University of Salford, Manchester M4 4WT, UK.
| | - K Beaugelin-Seiller
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, PRP-ENV, LM2E, Cadarache, France
| | | | - M Cujic
- Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy, University of Belgrade, Banatska 31b, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - S Fesenko
- International Atomic Energy Agency, A-2444 Seibersdorf, Austria
| | | | - N Pachal
- Department of Medical Physics and Applied Radiation Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - A Real
- Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas Medio Ambientales y Tecnológicas, Av. Complutense 40, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - B S Su
- Department of Medical Physics and Applied Radiation Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - K Tagami
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, 263-8555 Chiba, Japan
| | - J Vives i Batlle
- Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium
| | | | - C Wells
- NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, UK
| | - M D Wood
- School of Environment & Life Sciences, University of Salford, Manchester M4 4WT, UK
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Barnett CL, Beresford NA, Walker LA, Baxter M, Wells C, Copplestone D. Transfer parameters for ICRP reference animals and plants collected from a forest ecosystem. RADIATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOPHYSICS 2014; 53:125-149. [PMID: 24173444 DOI: 10.1007/s00411-013-0493-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2013] [Accepted: 09/15/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) have suggested the identification of a series of terrestrial, marine and freshwater sites from which samples of each Reference animal and plant (RAP) could be systematically collected and analysed. We describe the first such study in which six of the eight terrestrial RAPs, and associated soil samples, were collected from a site located in a managed coniferous forestry plantation in north-west England. Adult life stages of species representing six of the terrestrial RAPs (Wild grass, Pine tree, Deer, Rat, Earthworm and Bee) were sampled and analysed to determine concentrations of 60 elements and gamma-emitting radionuclides. The resultant data have been used to derive concentration ratios (CR(wo-soil)) relating element/radionuclide concentrations in the RAPs to those in soil. This paper presents the first-reported transfer parameters for a number of the RAP-element combinations. Where possible, the derived CR(wo-soil) values are compared with the ICRPs-recommended values and any appreciable differences discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L Barnett
- NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK,
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Wood MD, Beresford NA, Howard BJ, Copplestone D. Evaluating summarised radionuclide concentration ratio datasets for wildlife. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2013; 126:314-325. [PMID: 24090717 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2013.07.022] [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: 05/31/2013] [Revised: 07/31/2013] [Accepted: 07/31/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Concentration ratios (CR(wo-media)) are used in most radioecological models to predict whole-body radionuclide activity concentrations in wildlife from those in environmental media. This simplistic approach amalgamates the various factors influencing transfer within a single generic value and, as a result, comparisons of model predictions with site-specific measurements can vary by orders of magnitude. To improve model predictions, the development of 'condition-specific' CR(wo-media) values has been proposed (e.g. for a specific habitat). However, the underlying datasets for most CR(wo-media) value databases, such as the wildlife transfer database (WTD) developed within the IAEA EMRAS II programme, include summarised data. This presents challenges for the calculation and subsequent statistical evaluation of condition-specific CR(wo-media) values. A further complication is the common use of arithmetic summary statistics to summarise data in source references, even though CR(wo-media) values generally tend towards a lognormal distribution and should, therefore, be summarised using geometric statistics. In this paper, we propose a statistically-defensible and robust method for reconstructing underlying datasets to calculate condition-specific CR(wo-media) values from summarised data and deriving geometric summary statistics. This method is applied to terrestrial datasets from the WTD. Statistically significant differences in sub-category CR(wo-media) values (e.g. mammals categorised by feeding strategy) were identified, which may justify the use of these CR(wo-media) values for specific assessment contexts. However, biases and limitations within the underlying datasets of the WTD explain some of these differences. Given the uncertainty in the summarised CR(wo-media) values, we suggest that the CR(wo-media) approach to estimating transfer is used with caution above screening-level assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- M D Wood
- School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Manchester M5 4WT, UK.
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Howard BJ. A new IAEA handbook quantifying the transfer of radionuclides to wildlife for assessment tools. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2013; 126:284-287. [PMID: 24321845 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2013.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- B J Howard
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Av., Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, United Kingdom.
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