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Brown J, Teien HC, Thørring H, Skipperud L, Hosseini A, Lind OC, Oughton D, Salbu B. Transfer of radionuclides through ecological systems: Lessons learned from 10 years of research within CERAD CoE. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 940:173503. [PMID: 38821276 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173503] [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: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Norway's Centre of Excellence for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD) research programme included studies on transfer of radionuclides in various ecosystems within the context of environmental risk assessment. This article provides highlights from 10 years of research within this topic and summarises lessons learnt from the process. The scope has been extensive, involving laboratory-based experiments, field studies and the implementation of transfer models quantifying radionuclide uptake directly from the surrounding environment and via food chains. Field studies have had a global span and have, inter alia, covered sites contaminated with radionuclides associated with particles, ranging from nanoparticles to fragments, due to nuclear accidents (e.g., Chornobyl and Fukushima accidents) along with sites having enhanced levels of naturally occurring radioactive materials (e.g., Fen Complex in Norway and Taboshar in Tajikistan). Focus has been put on speciation and kinetics in determining radionuclide behavior and fate as well as on the influence of environmental factors that are potentially critical for the transfer of radionuclides. In particular, seasonal factors have been shown to greatly affect the dynamics of 137Cs and 90Sr bioaccumulation and loss in freshwater fish. The work has led to the collation of organism-specific (i) parameters important for kinetic models, i.e., uptake and depuration rates, and (ii) steady-state concentration ratios, CRs, where the use of stable analogue CRs as proxies for radionuclides has been brought into question. Dynamic models have been developed and applied for radiocaesium transfer to reindeer, radionuclide transfer in Arctic marine systems, transfer to fish via water and feed and commonly used agricultural food-chain transfer models applied in the context of nuclear emergency preparedness. The CERAD programme should contribute substantially to the scientific community's understanding of radionuclide transfer in environmental systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Brown
- DSA - Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, Grini Næringspark 13, 1361 Østerås, Norway; Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD) CoE, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway.
| | - Hans Christian Teien
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway; Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD) CoE, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Håvard Thørring
- DSA - Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, Grini Næringspark 13, 1361 Østerås, Norway; Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD) CoE, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Lindis Skipperud
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway; Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD) CoE, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Ali Hosseini
- DSA - Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, Grini Næringspark 13, 1361 Østerås, Norway; Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD) CoE, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Ole Christian Lind
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway; Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD) CoE, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Deborah Oughton
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway; Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD) CoE, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Brit Salbu
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway; Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD) CoE, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
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Abbasi A, Mirekhtiary F, Issa SAM, Algethami M, Zakaly HMH. Nuclear power plant biological complications on marine biota from a probabilistic accident - A case study. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 205:116611. [PMID: 38917502 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116611] [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: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
An accident at the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) would result in a significant radionuclide release into the semi-closed marine environment. In this research, the released radionuclide distribution pattern and dose rate in the Persian/Arabian (Gulf) were calculated using a combined hydrodynamic/radiobiological model. Simulations of the dispersion of artificial radionuclide concentrations were conducted using a HYSPLIT model. To assess prospective hazards in case of an incident, environmental risk from ionizing contaminants: assessment and management (ERICA) tools were used. Using the Fukushima nuclear power accident as a model, the scenario source term profile was developed. The volumetric concentrations levels of pollutants ranged between 1 × 104 mBq m-3 to 1 × 1010 mBq m-3 in the radius of 200 km after 48 h. Based on the dose rates of the various marine biotas, Polychaete worms, and Pelagic fish, they had the highest and lowest dose contribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akbar Abbasi
- Faculty of Art and Science, University of Kyrenia, Kyrenia, TRNC, via Mersin 10, Turkey.
| | - Fatemeh Mirekhtiary
- Department of Physics, Near East University, Nicosia, TRNC, via Mersin 10, Turkey.
| | - Shams A M Issa
- Physics Department, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Merfat Algethami
- Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hesham M H Zakaly
- Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assiut Branch, Egypt; Istinye University, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Computer Engineering Department, Istanbul 34396, Turkey; Institute of Physics and Technology, Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg, Russia.
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Zhang F, Wang J, Huang D, Zhong Q, Yu T, Du J. Fresh Groundwater Discharge as a Major Source of 90Sr into the Coastal Ocean. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:12033-12041. [PMID: 37530516 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
The behavior and source of 90Sr in the coastal ocean remain uncertain. Here, we investigated the distributions of 90Sr in coastal fresh groundwater, river water, pore water, and seawater in three bays along the southeastern coast of China between 2019 and 2021 and evaluated the potential of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) as a source of coastal 90Sr. The 90Sr activity in coastal fresh groundwater was higher than that in river water and seawater, while the 90Sr activity in pore water was comparable to that in adjacent seawater. In addition, nonconservative mixing behavior of 90Sr along the salinity gradient between river water and seawater was observed. These observations indicated that fresh SGD may serve as an additional source of 90Sr in coastal seawater. Combining our groundwater 90Sr data with the reported fresh SGD flux data, the estimated fresh SGD-derived 90Sr fluxes into the three bays were comparable to or even higher than those supplied by riverine sources. These results revealed that fresh SGD is a major but overlooked source of 90Sr in the coastal ocean. This subterranean pathway for transport of 90Sr to the coastal ocean should be considered in the monitoring and risk assessment of coastal areas, especially those near nuclear facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fule Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Jinlong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Dekun Huang
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Qiangqiang Zhong
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Tao Yu
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Jinzhou Du
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
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Abbasi A, Zakaly HMH, Almousa N. Radiotoxic fission products and radiological effects in the Mediterranean Sea biota from a hypothetical accident in Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 193:115166. [PMID: 37348277 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
A combined hydrodynamic/radiobiological model was used to calculate the distribution and dose rate of significant radionuclides in the Mediterranean Sea marine organisms in the event of an accident at the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP). The Hybrid single-particle Lagrangian integrated trajectory (HYSPLIT) model was applied to simulate the dispersion and deposition of artificial radionuclide concentrations. Environmental Risk from Ionising Contaminants: Assessment and Management (ERICA) tools were utilized to assess issues related to sea health and potential hazards in case of an accident. The scenario source term profile was derived from the Fukushima nuclear power accident. Volumetric concentrations and deposition levels of pollutants increased from 1 MBqm-3 to 1 × 103 MBqm-3 and from 1 × 10-1 MBqm-2 to 1 × 10-7 MBqm-2 after 48 h. In terms of dose rates to the various marine biotas, polychaete worms had the greatest overall dose rate and the highest contribution to total dose rates attributable to 137Cs radionuclide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akbar Abbasi
- Department of Physics, Eastern Mediterranean University, Famagusta, 99628 North Cyprus via Mersin 10, Turkey; Faculty of Engineering, Cyprus International University, Lefkosa, Mersin 10, Turkey.
| | - Hesham M H Zakaly
- Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assiut Branch, 71452, Egypt; Istinye University, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Computer Engineering Department, Istanbul 34396, Turkey; Institute of Physics and Technology, Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg, Russia.
| | - Nouf Almousa
- Department of Physics, College of Science, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
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Shishkina EA, Ivanov DV, Biryukhova UD, Pryakhin EA, Tryapitsina GA. Fish otoliths as biological dosimeter: internal dose calculation. RADIATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOPHYSICS 2023; 62:143-150. [PMID: 36436118 DOI: 10.1007/s00411-022-01007-y] [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: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Otoliths are organs used by fish for hearing and keeping balance. They consist of biogenic crystals of hydroxyapatite and do not contain any living cells. Upon exposure to ionizing radiation, otolith hydroxyapatite accumulates radiation-induced stable CO2- radicals whose amount is proportional to absorbed dose. In electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) dosimetry, carbonate ions are registered and, hence, the total accumulated dose in the fish otolith can be quantified. Therefore, otoliths can be used as individual fish dosimeters to support radiobiological and radioecological studies. An important aspect of otolith-based EPR dosimetry on fish from contaminated water bodies is the potential presence of bone-seeking 90Sr. Consequently, cumulative absorbed doses measured with EPR in otoliths may reflect the superposition of internal exposure to 90Sr/90Y and external exposure due to radionuclides circulating in soft tissue of the fish as well as due to environmental contamination. The objective of the present study was to develop a method that allows for an assessment of the contribution of 90Sr to the total dose in otolith. The method has been tested using otoliths from seven fish taken from reservoirs located in the Southern Urals contaminated with radionuclides including 90Sr. It has been shown that dose to otoliths is largely determined by 90Sr in the hydroxyapatite. The internal dose component can be calculated using activity concentration-to-dose conversion factors, which vary slightly in the range of 2.0-2.8 × 10-3 Gy year-1 per Bq g-1 depending on fish species and age. Internal doses to fish from water bodies with different levels of 90Sr contamination were calculated in the range from 2 mGy to ~ 200 Gy. External dose contribution was derived for two fish only to be about 100 and 40 Gy. It is concluded that EPR dosimetry on fish otoliths is a promising tool when external exposure prevails or is comparable to internal exposure due to 90Sr.
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Affiliation(s)
- E A Shishkina
- Chelyabinsk State University, 129, Br. Kashirinykh Str., Chelyabinsk, Russia, 454001
- Urals Research Center for Radiation Medicine, 68A, Vorovsky Str., Chelyabinsk, Russia, 454076
| | - D V Ivanov
- Ural Federal University, 19 Mira Str., Yekaterinburg, Russia, 620002.
- M. N. Mikheev Institute of Metal Physics, Urals Division of Russian Academy of Sciences, 18, S. Kovalevskaya Str., Yekaterinburg, Russia, 620990.
| | - U D Biryukhova
- Chelyabinsk State University, 129, Br. Kashirinykh Str., Chelyabinsk, Russia, 454001
| | - E A Pryakhin
- Urals Research Center for Radiation Medicine, 68A, Vorovsky Str., Chelyabinsk, Russia, 454076
| | - G A Tryapitsina
- Chelyabinsk State University, 129, Br. Kashirinykh Str., Chelyabinsk, Russia, 454001
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Zotina TA, Anishchenko OV, Trofimova EA, Dementiev DV. Comparative Assessment of the Content of Transition Metals (Cu, Zn, Mn, Pb, and Cd) and Radiocesium (137Cs) in Pike (Esox lucius) and Burbot (Lota lota) of the Yenisei River. CONTEMP PROBL ECOL+ 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s1995425522010115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Shishkina EA, Starichenko VI, Valeeva ER, Lyubashevsky NM, Modorov MV. Assessment of herb field mouse (Sylvaemus uralensis) migration in the area of the East Urals Radioactive Trace using measurements of bone-seeking 90Sr. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2021; 234:106628. [PMID: 33992857 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2021.106628] [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: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The dynamics of rodent population in the area of East Urals Radioactive Trace (EURT) is one of the controversial issues, which are of key importance for the radiobiological and radioecological interpretation of the observed radiation effects. The objective of the paper is to evaluate the probability of migration in population of the herb field mouse (Sylvaemus uralensis Pall., 1811) based on 90Sr activity concentrations in the mouse bones. Radiometric data for bones of 768 mice captured at 9 sites in the EURT territory (with different environmental contamination levels) in 2001-2012 were used. The distribution of bone-seeking 90Sr in the juvenile age group of mice is used as a model of the width of radionuclide distribution in the bones of permanent inhabitants. Comparison of the model predictions and observations in different age and functional groups within the population structure allows simulating the probability of migration and evaluating the fraction of migrants. It is shown that the accumulation of 90Sr in bones correlates with soil contamination at the capture sites. Individual variability in the specific activity of 90Sr in the skeleton tends to increase with the age of animals. The rate of herb field mouse migration is estimated as 7 and 15% per year (for underyearlings and wintered individuals, respectively). The animals captured in the EURT area (all animals, including juvenile individuals) are "diluted" with animals from non-contaminated territories by 5-12%. The average half-time of substitution of the exposed population by migrants from non-contaminated territories is 8 years. Today, the fraction of descendants of the animals, that for generations have permanently inhabited the EURT territory since 1957, is negligible (on average-1.2% and not exceeding 17%). The proposed method of probabilistic analysis of 90Sr in the bones could be used to study migration activity of other species of rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- E A Shishkina
- Urals Research Center for Radiation Medicine (URCRM), Chelyabinsk, Russia; Chelyabinsk State University (ChelSU), Chelyabinsk, Russia.
| | - V I Starichenko
- Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Division, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Vos'mogo Marta 202, Yekaterinburg, 620144 Russia
| | - E R Valeeva
- Chelyabinsk State University (ChelSU), Chelyabinsk, Russia
| | - N M Lyubashevsky
- Israel Independent Academy for the Development of Science, Haifa, Israel
| | - M V Modorov
- Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Division, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Vos'mogo Marta 202, Yekaterinburg, 620144 Russia
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Abbasi A, Zakaly HMH, Badawi A. The anthropogenic radiotoxic element of 137Cs accumulate to biota in the Mediterranean Sea. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 164:112043. [PMID: 33524829 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The abundance of 137Cs radionuclide in the Mediterranean Sea has limited study despite its environmental effects in seafood chains. For this purpose, the activity concentration of 137Cs in sediment and seawater have been determined using a high-resolution HPGe gamma-spectrometry system. The average activity concentrations in sediment and water were 14.16 Bq kg-1 and 1.74 mBq L-1, respectively. The results were used as input data of ERICA Tool modelling software to assess marine organisms' accumulation and dose. The highest and lowest accumulate activity concentration values were observed in birds (9.24E-01 Bq kg-1) and the Vascular plant (1.37E-02 Bq kg1), respectively. The total dose rate value was ranged between 1.94E-06 μGy h-1 (Phytoplankton) to 4.70E-03 μGy h-1 (Polychaete worm). The total dose rates of 137Cs to the selected organisms were all <0.001 μGy h-1, and there is no significant risk to marine biota in the study area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akbar Abbasi
- Faculty of Engineering, University of Kyrenia, Kyrenia, TRNC, via Mersin 10, Turkey.
| | - Hesham M H Zakaly
- Institute of Physics and Technology, Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russia; Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, Egypt.
| | - Ali Badawi
- Department of Physics, College of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
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Tagami K, Fukaya Y, Hirayama M, Uchida S. Collation of Strontium Concentration Ratios from Water to Aquatic Biota Species in Freshwater and Marine Environments and Factors Affecting the Ratios. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:1637-1649. [PMID: 33428373 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c05710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The fate of strontium-90 (90Sr) from water to aquatic biota is of concern since the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident because of continuous small 90Sr releases to the seawater from the FDNPP site. The Japanese diet includes many edible marine and freshwater species, and the environmental parameter, that is, the concentration ratio (CR) from water to biota, is useful to estimate the potential 90Sr intake, especially from frequently consumed seafoods. However, widely used CR data for radiation dose assessment only have provided values for biota types such as fish, crustaceans, macroalgae, and so forth, and thus, it is difficult to identify specific data for each species. In this study, therefore, we collated CR data of Sr for aquatic biota by surveying available open data sources from the 1950s to 2019, not only for edible parts but also for whole and inedible parts. In total, we obtained 3800 CR data: 3013 data for marine biota, 28 data for brackish water biota, and 759 data for freshwater biota. The results showed that species-specific CRs may decrease the uncertainties compared to those published in IAEA documents; however, different diets and living areas by species may lead to different uncertainties for different species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiko Tagami
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Yukiko Fukaya
- Safety and Environment Analysis Unit, Japan NUS Co., Ltd., Nishi-Shinjuku Prime Square 5F, 7-5-25 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan
| | - Makoto Hirayama
- Safety and Environment Analysis Unit, Japan NUS Co., Ltd., Nishi-Shinjuku Prime Square 5F, 7-5-25 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan
| | - Shigeo Uchida
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
- Safety and Environment Analysis Unit, Japan NUS Co., Ltd., Nishi-Shinjuku Prime Square 5F, 7-5-25 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan
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Zotina T, Dementyev D, Alexandrova Y. Long-term trends and speciation of artificial radionuclides in two submerged macrophytes of the Yenisei River: A comparative study of Potamogeton lucens and Fontinalis antipyretica. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2021; 227:106461. [PMID: 33227599 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2020.106461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Long-term trends of artificial radionuclides, from 2003 to 2018, in two abundant species of macrophytes, shining pondweed, Potamogeton lucens, and water moss, Fontinalis antipyretica, have been analyzed to estimate the indicative reliability of these two species as biomonitors of radioactive contamination in a river system and to quantify the decrease in the content of artificial radionuclides in the Yenisei River. Time-dependent trends of artificial radionuclides in the biomass of these species were similar, resulting in estimates of effective half-lives for 54Mn, 58Co, 60Co, 65Zn, 137Cs, and 152Eu similar for both species. Concentrations of artificial radionuclides in biomass of shining pondweed and water moss correlated with annual discharges of the radionuclides to the Yenisei at different levels of significance, and the strongest (R2 > 0.7) positive correlation (p < 0.05) was obtained for 60Co, 65Zn, and 152Eu. Concentrations of 60Co, 137Cs, and 152Eu in water moss were 2-7.5 times higher than in shining pondweed, and considerable percentages of those isotopes were recorded in extracellular particulate matter, which was largely represented by epiphytic diatoms. Higher concentrations of artificial radionuclides in the biomass of water moss can be considered as an advantage of water moss as a monitor of radioactive contamination of the Yenisei, while shining pondweed is more useful for estimation of annual deposits of radionuclides in vegetation of the Yenisei and spatial transfer of radionuclides downstream of the discharge site. Despite differences in concentrations of artificial radionuclides, both species can be considered as reliable indicators of radioactive contamination of the river on a long-term scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Zotina
- Institute of Biophysics, Federal Research Center "Krasnoyarsk Science Center" SB RAS, 50/50 Akademgorodok, Krasnoyarsk, 660036, Russia; Institute of Fundamental Biology and Biotechnology, Siberian Federal University, Russian Federation, 79 Svobodny av, Krasnoyarsk, 660041, Russia.
| | - Dmitry Dementyev
- Institute of Biophysics, Federal Research Center "Krasnoyarsk Science Center" SB RAS, 50/50 Akademgorodok, Krasnoyarsk, 660036, Russia.
| | - Yuliyana Alexandrova
- Institute of Biophysics, Federal Research Center "Krasnoyarsk Science Center" SB RAS, 50/50 Akademgorodok, Krasnoyarsk, 660036, Russia.
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Leaphart JC, Korotasz AM, Bryan AL, Beasley JC. Environmental fate of radiocesium in biota inhabiting a contaminated ecosystem on the U.S. Department of Energy's Savannah River Site. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2020; 222:106321. [PMID: 32892897 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2020.106321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Although biomagnification of radiocesium (137Cs) has been reported in food webs, most previous research has been limited to select trophic linkages. Few studies have included a comprehensive survey of fauna associated with aquatic, semi-aquatic, and terrestrial habitats within a single study framework. The objectives of this study were to advance our understanding of the dynamics of 137Cs accumulation within food webs by quantifying 137Cs activity across a wide range of biota found within a contaminated canal, as well as test the hypothesis that life-stage and body size influence 137Cs bioaccumulation in select herpetofauna. With extensive sampling across multiple taxa collected from a contaminated canal system and associated floodplain on the Savannah River Site, we assessed 137Cs activity and stable nitrogen isotopes for both aquatic organisms that were restricted to the contaminated effluent canal, and semi-aquatic organisms able to move freely between the contaminated canal and the adjacent uncontaminated terrestrial habitat. We found 137Cs activity to be highly variable among species, with evidence for and against biomagnification in semi-aquatic and aquatic organisms, respectively. Furthermore, 137Cs activity decreased with life stage and body size in bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus), despite post-metamorphic bullfrogs having a more carnivorous diet compared to tadpoles, while cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) retained similar 137Cs activity regardless of their age and size. Although evidence of biomagnification has been observed in some contaminated systems, results of our study suggest the extent to which 137Cs biomagnifies within food webs is context-dependent and likely influenced by a suite of biotic and abiotic factors. Further, our data indicate sampling of a broad suite of species and environmental attributes are needed to elucidate the fate and dynamics of anthropogenic pollutants within contaminated ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- James C Leaphart
- University of Georgia, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, SC, 29802, USA; University of Georgia, Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
| | - Alexis M Korotasz
- University of Georgia, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, SC, 29802, USA
| | - Albert L Bryan
- University of Georgia, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, SC, 29802, USA
| | - James C Beasley
- University of Georgia, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, SC, 29802, USA; University of Georgia, Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
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Spatial modelling of Cs-137 and Sr-90 fallout after the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant accident. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-019-06713-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Shishkina EA, Pryakhin EA, Sharagin PA, Osipov DI, Tryapitsina GA, Atamanyuk NI, Egoreichenkov EA, Trapeznikov AV, Rudolfsen G, Teien HC, Sneve MK. The radiation exposure of fish in the period of the Techa river peak contamination. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2019; 201:43-55. [PMID: 30753952 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.01.016] [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: 09/26/2018] [Revised: 12/26/2018] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Waterborne radioactive releases into the Techa River from the Mayak Production Association in Russia during 1949-1956 resulted in downstream contamination of the river ecosystem. The discharged liquid waste contained both short-lived isotopes (95Zr, 95Nb, 103,106Ru, 141,144Ce, 91Y, 89Sr and 140Ba with half-life from 3 days to 1.02 years) and the long-lived 90Sr and 137Cs (half-life - 28.79 y and 30.07 y, respectively). Even now, when two half-lives of 90Sr and 137Cs have passed, the contamination in the upper river region (about 70 km from the source of releases) is still relatively high. Current anthropogenic dose rates calculated for the fish of the Techa River depend on the distance along the stream and decrease from 150 to 3 μGy day-1. Radiation exposure of fish is expected to have been much higher at the time of the releases. The aim of the study was to evaluate the dose rates for the most common fish species of the river, viz., roach (Rutilus rutilus), perch (Perca fluviatilis) and pike (Esox lucius), in the period of peak contamination of the upper reaches of the Techa River from 1950 to 1951. To achieve this objective, calculation of both internal and external dose rates was performed. For dose rate calculation, the contamination of the river compartments was modeled, body-size dependent dose coefficients were evaluated, morphometric data were analyzed. Maximum dose rates were obtained for roach; minimum - for pike, it depends on fish lifestyle (time spent at the bottom). In the period before September 1950, fish of the upper reaches are assessed to have been exposed to dose rates exceeding the screening level equal to 240 μGy day-1. From September 1950 up to the end of 1952 the fish dose rates along the Techa River were found to be close to the UNSCEAR threshold equal to 9.6 × 103 μGy day-1 or even much more higher (up to 1.9 × 105 μGy day-1). Extremely high historical dose rates did not lead to the difference in fish size and fish growth rate currently observed in the Techa River and in the comparison waterbody (the Miass River). Discussion includes the description of radiation effects observed currently in the river fish. Today the effects observed in hematopoietic system may be the consequence of radiation exposure of fish over several generations. For example, long term dwelling of fish in the radioactively contaminated environment leads to their adaptation to chronic radiation exposure. At the same time, an increase their sensitivity and decrease their adaptive capacity to respond to other stress factors can be observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- E A Shishkina
- Urals Research Center for Radiation Medicine, 68A, Vorovsky Str., 454076 Chelyabinsk, Russia; Chelyabinsk State University, Chelyabinsk, Russia.
| | - E A Pryakhin
- Urals Research Center for Radiation Medicine, 68A, Vorovsky Str., 454076 Chelyabinsk, Russia
| | - P A Sharagin
- Urals Research Center for Radiation Medicine, 68A, Vorovsky Str., 454076 Chelyabinsk, Russia
| | - D I Osipov
- Urals Research Center for Radiation Medicine, 68A, Vorovsky Str., 454076 Chelyabinsk, Russia
| | - G A Tryapitsina
- Urals Research Center for Radiation Medicine, 68A, Vorovsky Str., 454076 Chelyabinsk, Russia; Chelyabinsk State University, Chelyabinsk, Russia
| | - N I Atamanyuk
- Urals Research Center for Radiation Medicine, 68A, Vorovsky Str., 454076 Chelyabinsk, Russia
| | - E A Egoreichenkov
- Urals Research Center for Radiation Medicine, 68A, Vorovsky Str., 454076 Chelyabinsk, Russia
| | - A V Trapeznikov
- Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IPAE), Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | - G Rudolfsen
- Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, Østerås, Norway; University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway
| | - H C Teien
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Center of Excellence in Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD), Ås, Norway
| | - M K Sneve
- Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, Østerås, Norway
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Nagakawa Y, Uemoto M, Kurosawa T, Shutoh K, Hasegawa H, Sakurai N, Harada E. Comparison of radioactive and stable cesium uptake in aquatic macrophytes affected by the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-018-6304-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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