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Maystrenko T, Rybak A. Radium uptake by earthworms E. fetida after exposure to contaminated soil. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2023; 257:107085. [PMID: 36538842 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.107085] [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: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Radium-226 is one of the most important radionuclides for assessing the radiation exposure in terrestrial ecosystems in terms of its significant contribution to the internal and total dose rates. A laboratory culture of Eisenia fetida was exposed to soil contaminated with 226Ra and 238U during two months. These nuclides entered the soil as a result of industrial radium production (Vodny, Komi Republic, Russia). The concentrations of 226Ra and 238U were 89000 ± 9000 and 2130 ± 270 Bq kg-1 of soil. Bioaccumulation of 226Ra was investigated in E. fetida exposed to the radioactive soil or to a mixture containing the same radioactive soil diluted with peat and sand. The activity concentrations of 226Ra in E. fetida were higher after exposure to the contaminated soil compared to the mixture. The literature data on the radium accumulation in earthworms were considered also. Our experiments showed that the concentration ratio (CR) of 226Ra in E. fetida varied from 5.5 × 10-4 to 4.5 × 10-3 Bq kg-1 f.w./Bq kg-1 d.w. The average CRs were (6.7 ± 1.7) × 10-4 for the earthworms E. fetida from the soil mixture and (3.2 ± 1.2) × 10-3 for those from the radioactive soil. These CRs for 226Ra were up to two orders of magnitude lower than the values calculated by us from the results obtained by other researchers for natural earthworm populations in areas with lower levels radioactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Maystrenko
- Institute of Biology, Komi Scientific Center, Ural Branch of RAS, Russia.
| | - Anna Rybak
- Institute of Biology, Komi Scientific Center, Ural Branch of RAS, Russia.
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Oloś G, Dołhańczuk-Śródka A. Levels of 137Cs in game and soil in Opole Anomaly, Poland in 2012-2020. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2021; 223:112577. [PMID: 34352577 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112577] [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: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Once deposited, radiocesium remains in the environment for a long time, and constantly enters the food chain. Over time, game species tend to accumulate 137Cs by two orders of magnitude more than farm animals. This occurs especially in places heavily contaminated, thus meat products made out of local game should be treated with caution. One of such areas, known as the Opole Anomaly, is located in South-Western Poland and represents one of most 137Cs contaminated regions across Europe after the Chernobyl accident. The aim of the study was to find out the 137Cs activity in soil and local game, the value of the soil-to-game aggregated transfer factor and to assess the effective dose of the ionising radiation (Eeff) received by consumers of local game meat in years 2012-2019. We examined meat of three common game species: red deer, roe deer and wild boar for 137Cs activity. 137Cs activity in meat samples ranged from 0.14 to 592 Bq kg-1. The aggregated transfer factor (Tag) in game ranged from 0.006 to 0.01 m2 kg-1 f.w. for wild boar, 0.005-0.008 m2 kg-1 f.w. for roe deer, and 0.003-0.004 m2 kg-1 f.w. for red deer. The effective dose received by people who regularly consume local game meat ranged from less than 14.2 µSv y-1 to 134 µSv y-1, depending on the amount of differently contaminated game meat consumed annually. Even those for whom game is the only source of meat, consumption of wild boar along with local mushrooms and bilberries will, since 2012, not exceed the regulation limit of 137Cs at the level of 1 mSv y-1. By the best of our knowledge this is the first study regarding 137Cs activity in game and risk assessment from the most contaminated "post-Chernobyl" area in Poland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grzegorz Oloś
- Institute of Environmental Engineering and Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, Opole University, Kominka Street 6, 45-032 Opole, Poland.
| | - Agnieszka Dołhańczuk-Śródka
- Institute of Environmental Engineering and Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, Opole University, Kominka Street 6, 45-032 Opole, Poland
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Skoko B, Babić D, Franić Z, Bituh T, Petrinec B. Distribution and transfer of naturally occurring radionuclides and 137Cs in the freshwater system of the Plitvice Lakes, Croatia, and related dose assessment to wildlife by ERICA Tool. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:23547-23564. [PMID: 33452639 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-12415-w] [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: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the natural radioactivity of Plitvice Lakes, under the assumption that due to its status as a National Park, the area can be considered an example of a natural freshwater system. Also, considering the transfer parameter data as the largest source of uncertainty in radiological risk assessments, the impact of site-specific data on dose rate assessment, as opposed to currently available data, was investigated. The study included gamma and alpha spectrometric measurements of 238U, 226Ra, 210Pb, 228Ra, and 40K in water, sediment, and fish samples, as well as 137Cs due to the coinciding of the study with the Fukushima accident. The content of naturally occurring radionuclides significantly varied in sediments of different Lakes, probably as a reflection of the different underlying geology of the area. Also, the 210Pb distribution in sediments indicated an up to 312 Bq kg-1 of the allochthonous contribution of this radionuclide at the beginning of the Lake's watercourse, which probably entered into the lake system by the major inlet river with its steady decrease along downstream lakes. Low 40K activity concentrations (27.5 ± 20.1 mBq L-1) in the Lake's waters might be one of the causes of increased 137Cs activity concentrations in fish samples (1.5 ± 0.4 Bq kg-1), which was found to be an order of magnitude higher than average values for different fish species from other Croatian freshwater systems (0.2 ± 0.1 Bq kg-1). A temporary increase of 137Cs activity concentrations was measured in water samples collected immediately after the Fukushima accident. Calculated site-specific sediment/water distribution coefficients and fish/water concentration ratios for radium and caesium were on average lower than generic ones found in the literature. Background dose rate assessments performed by the ERICA Tool indicated a profound impact of different input data on assessment results with water activity concentrations resulting in significantly higher dose rates (0.1-67 μGy h-1) in comparison to sediment activity concentrations (0.03-9 μGy h-1). An incremental dose rate due to 137Cs was found to be in the range of < 0.001-0.023 μGy h-1 which, in comparison to background dose rates, can be considered negligible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Božena Skoko
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Dinko Babić
- 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
| | - Tomislav Bituh
- 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
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Anderson D, Beresford NA, Ishiniwa H, Onuma M, Nanba K, Hinton TG. Radiocesium concentration ratios and radiation dose to wild rodents in Fukushima Prefecture. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2021; 226:106457. [PMID: 33227677 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2020.106457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 10/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Radiocesium was dispersed from the Fukushima Dai-ichi disaster in March 2011, causing comparatively high radioactive contamination in nearby environments. Radionuclide concentrations in wild rodents (Apodemus argenteus, and Apodemus speciosus) within these areas were monitored from 2012 to 2016. However, whole-organism to soil transfer parameters (i.e., concentration ratio, CRwo-soil) for wild rodents at Fukushima were not determined and hence were lacking from the international transfer databases. We augmented the 2012-2016 data by collecting soil activity concentrations (Bq kg-1, dry mass) from five rodent sampling sites in Fukushima Prefecture, and developed corresponding CRwo-soil values for radiocesium (134Cs and 137Cs) based on rodent radioactivity concentrations (Bq kg-1, fresh mass). The CRwo-soil were added to the Wildlife Transfer Database (WTD; http://www.wildlifetransferdatabase.org/), supporting the development of the International Commission on Radiological Protection's (ICRP) environmental protection framework, and increasing the WTD from 84 to 477 entries for cesium and Muridae ('Reference Rat'). Significant variation occurred in CRwo-soil values between study sites within Fukushima Prefecture. The geometric mean CRwo-soil, in this paper, was higher than that reported for Muridae species for Chernobyl. Radiocaesium absorbed dose rates were also estimated for wild rodents inhabiting the five Fukushima study sites and ranged from 1.3 to 33 μGy h-1. Absorbed dose rates decreased by a factor of two from 2012 to 2016. Dose rates in highly contaminated areas were within the ICRP derived consideration reference level for Reference Rat (0.1-1 mGy d-1), suggesting the possible occurrence of deleterious effects and need for radiological effect studies in the Fukushima area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donovan Anderson
- Symbiotic Systems Science and Technology, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Fukushima City, Kanayagawa, 960-1248, Japan.
| | - Nicholas A Beresford
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Center, Library Av., Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
| | - Hiroko Ishiniwa
- Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Fukushima City, Kanayagawa, 960-1248, Japan
| | - Manabu Onuma
- Ecological Risk Assessment and Control Section, Center for Environmental Biology and Ecosystem Studies, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0053, Japan
| | - Kenji Nanba
- Symbiotic Systems Science and Technology, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Fukushima City, Kanayagawa, 960-1248, Japan; Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Fukushima City, Kanayagawa, 960-1248, Japan
| | - Thomas G Hinton
- Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Fukushima City, Kanayagawa, 960-1248, Japan; Centre for Environmental Radioactivity, CoE, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty for Environmental Sciences and Nature Research Management, 1430, Åas, Norway
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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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Doering C. Whole organism concentration ratios of radionuclides and metals in terrestrial vertebrates of an Australian tropical savanna environment. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2019; 207:7-14. [PMID: 31151051 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.05.016] [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: 01/24/2019] [Revised: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Preliminary values of whole organism concentration ratio (CRwo-soil) were derived for terrestrial vertebrates of an Australian tropical savanna environment. Wildlife groups included bird, bat, ground-dwelling mammal and reptile. Sample data for some of the wildlife groups (bird and bat in particular) were limited. The bird and bat CRwo-soil values were generally lower than the ground-dwelling mammal and reptile CRwo-soil values based on the available data. Arithmetic mean CRwo-soil values for two species of native marsupial and two species of non-native placental were not significantly different (p < 0.05) when tested using a one-way analysis of variance. The results hinted at possible sampling efficiencies for terrestrial vertebrates. However, verification with additional data was recommended. Used cautiously, the CRwo-soil values may assist in environmental assessments of Australian uranium mining sites. They also enhance the available data on radionuclide transfer to wildlife for use internationally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Che Doering
- Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist (ERISS), GPO Box 461, Darwin, NT, 0801, Australia.
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Beaugelin-Seiller K, Howard BJ, Garnier-Laplace J. An approach to identifying the relative importance of different radionuclides in ecological radiological risk assessment: Application to nuclear power plant releases. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2019; 197:116-126. [PMID: 30553229 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Revised: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 11/22/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
There is a need to prioritise the requirements for data to assess the radiological risk for fauna and flora, as inevitable large data gaps occur due to the large number of combinations of radionuclides and organisms for which doses need to be assessed. The potentially most important dose-forming radionuclide-pathways combinations need to be identified to optimize filling these gaps. Few attempts have been made to classify the importance of isotopes with regard to radiation protection of the environment. A hierarchical approach is described here for radionuclides that are potentially present in generic ecosystems (freshwater, marine or terrestrial) and is applied for scenarios considering ecologically relevant chronic exposure. In each ecosystem, the top ten radionuclides that may contribute to doses were identified using a qualitative Chronic Hazard Index. Including quantitative aspects by incorporating discharge quantities changed the priority list, and increased the relative importance of radionuclides contributing most to the authorized releases of nuclear facilities (14C and 3H followed by 60C). The potentially most important dose-contributing radionuclides in the framework of environmental radiation protection under a chronic exposure situation included isotopes of about 20 elements. The five most important in order of decreasing importance were: carbon, hydrogen, caesium, cobalt and americium. Consideration of acute exposure situations was hampered by data gaps that were even greater than that for chronic exposure situations, so it was only possible to consider the feasibility of developing a consistent approach.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Brenda J Howard
- NERC, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology CEH Lancaster, United Kingdom
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Doering C, Medley P, Orr B, Urban D. Whole organism to tissue concentration ratios derived from an Australian tropical dataset. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2018; 189:31-39. [PMID: 29573589 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.03.002] [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: 09/12/2017] [Revised: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Whole organism to tissue concentration ratios (CRwo-tissue) were derived for six wildlife groups (freshwater birds, freshwater bivalves, freshwater fishes, freshwater reptiles, freshwater vascular plants and terrestrial mammals). The wildlife groups and data represented species common to tropical northern Australia. Values of CRwo-tissue were derived for between 6 and 34 elements, depending upon wildlife group. The values were generally similar to international reference values. However, differences for some element-tissue combinations could affect radiation dose estimates for wildlife in certain environmental exposure situations, including uranium mining, where these data are intended to be applied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Che Doering
- Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist (ERISS), GPO Box 461, Darwin, NT, 0801, Australia.
| | - Peter Medley
- Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist (ERISS), GPO Box 461, Darwin, NT, 0801, Australia
| | - Blake Orr
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), 619 Lower Plenty Road, Yallambie, VIC, 3085, Australia
| | - David Urban
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), 619 Lower Plenty Road, Yallambie, VIC, 3085, Australia
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Skoko B, Marović G, Babić D, Šoštarić M, Jukić M. Plant uptake of 238U, 235U, 232Th, 226Ra, 210Pb and 40K from a coal ash and slag disposal site and control soil under field conditions: A preliminary study. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2017; 172:113-121. [PMID: 28342343 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2016] [Revised: 03/03/2017] [Accepted: 03/10/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the uptake of 238U, 235U, 232Th, 226Ra, 210Pb and 40K by plants that grow on a coal ash and slag disposal site known for its higher content of naturally occurring radionuclides. Plant species that were sampled are common for the Mediterranean flora and can be divided as follows: grasses & herbs, shrubs and trees. To compare the activity concentrations and the resultant concentration ratios of the disposal site with those in natural conditions, we used control data specific for the research area, obtained for plants growing on untreated natural soil. Radionuclide activity concentrations were determined by high resolution gamma-ray spectrometry. Media parameters (pH, electrical conductivity and organic matter content) were also analysed. We confirmed significantly higher activity concentrations of 238U, 235U, 226Ra and 210Pb in ash and slag compared to control soil. However, a significant increase in the radionuclide activity concentration in the disposal site's vegetation was observed only for 226Ra. On the contrary, a significantly smaller activity concentration of 40K in ash and slag had no impact on its activity concentration in plant samples. The calculated plant uptake of 238U, 235U, 226Ra and 210Pb is significantly smaller in comparison with the uptake at the control site, while it is vice versa for 40K. No significant difference was observed between the disposal site and the control site's plant uptake of 232Th. These results can be the foundation for further radioecological assessment of this disposal site but also, globally, they can contribute to a better understanding of nature and long-term management of such disposal sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Božena Skoko
- 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.
| | - Dinko Babić
- 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.
| | - Mirela Jukić
- Andrija Stampar Teaching Institute of Public Health, Mirogojska 16, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
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Lourenço J, Mendo S, Pereira R. Radioactively contaminated areas: Bioindicator species and biomarkers of effect in an early warning scheme for a preliminary risk assessment. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2016; 317:503-542. [PMID: 27343869 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2016] [Revised: 05/26/2016] [Accepted: 06/08/2016] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Concerns about the impacts on public health and on the natural environment have been raised regarding the full range of operational activities related to uranium mining and the rest of the nuclear fuel cycle (including nuclear accidents), nuclear tests and depleted uranium from military ammunitions. However, the environmental impacts of such activities, as well as their ecotoxicological/toxicological profile, are still poorly studied. Herein, it is discussed if organisms can be used as bioindicators of human health effects, posed by lifetime exposure to radioactively contaminated areas. To do so, information was gathered from several studies performed on vertebrates, invertebrate species and humans, living in these contaminated areas. The retrieved information was compared, to determine which are the most used bioindicators and biomarkers and also the similarities between human and non-human biota responses. The data evaluated are used to support the proposal for an early warning scheme, based on bioindicator species and on the most sensitive and commonly shared biomarkers, to perform a screening evaluation of radioactively contaminated sites. This scheme could be used to support decision-making for a deeper evaluation of risks to human health, making it possible to screen a large number of areas, without disturbing and alarming local populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Lourenço
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Sónia Mendo
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Ruth Pereira
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto & CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research & GreenUP/CITAB-UP, Porto, Portugal
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11
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Skoko B, Marović G, Babić D. Radioactivity in the Mediterranean flora of the Kaštela Bay, Croatia. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2014; 135:36-43. [PMID: 24769388 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2014.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2013] [Revised: 03/05/2014] [Accepted: 04/07/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
This study refers to background activity concentrations of (238)U, (226)Ra, (232)Th, (208)Tl, (40)K, and (137)Cs in soil and plants of the Kaštela Bay, Croatia and related plant-soil concentration ratios (CR's). Fourteen different Mediterranean plant species growing in natural conditions have been included and were divided into three major plant groups (grasses and herbs, shrub, tree). Radionuclide activity concentrations were determined by means of high resolution gamma-ray spectrometry. Soil parameters (pH, electrical conductivity, and organic matter content) were also analysed. CR ranges were within one order of magnitude for (40)K (10(-2)-10(-1)), (238)U, and (226)Ra (10(-3)-10(-2)), and two orders of magnitude for (232)Th, (208)Tl, and (137)Cs (10(-4)-10(-2)). There was no statistical difference between the plant groups in radionuclide uptake. Overall statistical analyses indicated a moderate negative relationship between soil concentrations and CR values, and no relationship with soil parameters, except a negative one for (137)Cs. Comparison with literature showed more agreement with studies that were done in the Mediterranean than with ICRP and IAEA databases. Our data not only describe the natural radioactivity of the Bay, but also create a dataset that could be relevant for further radioecological assessments of the Kaštela Bay.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Skoko
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - G Marović
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - D Babić
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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12
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Copplestone D, Beresford NA, Brown JE, Yankovich T. An international database of radionuclide concentration ratios for wildlife: development and uses. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2013; 126:288-298. [PMID: 23815858 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2013.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2012] [Revised: 05/12/2013] [Accepted: 05/13/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
A key element of most systems for assessing the impact of radionuclides on the environment is a means to estimate the transfer of radionuclides to organisms. To facilitate this, an international wildlife transfer database has been developed to provide an online, searchable compilation of transfer parameters in the form of equilibrium-based whole-organism to media concentration ratios. This paper describes the derivation of the wildlife transfer database, the key data sources it contains and highlights the applications for the data.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Copplestone
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, United Kingdom.
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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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