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Abe M, Seko N, Hoshina H, Wada S, Yamasaki S, Sueki K, Sakaguchi A. Simple and convenient preconcentration procedure for the isotopic analysis of uranium in seawater. ANALYTICAL METHODS : ADVANCING METHODS AND APPLICATIONS 2024; 16:2478-2488. [PMID: 38606568 DOI: 10.1039/d3ay01381b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
The demand for monitoring anthropogenic U isotopes, 236U and 233U, in seawater will continue to increase due to radioecological issues and the need for tools for environmental dynamics research. In response to this growing demand, herein, a novel and simple method was developed for the collection of U isotopes in seawater, both in the laboratory and field, using a fabric-like amidoxime adsorbent. The results from the adsorption studies showed that the optimum conditions for processing seawater in a glass beaker were as follows: seawater pH 4, amidoxime adsorbent 0.20 mmol per 500 g seawater and an adsorption time of 9 hours. Alternatively, when using a closed polyethylene container in experiments on-board a ship and using the same ratio of adsorbent to seawater as in the beaker experiment in the laboratory, the optimum conditions were as follows: seawater pH 8 and an adsorption time of 24 hours. Under the above-mentioned conditions, more than 95% of the U underwent adsorption in both the beaker and the polyethylene container experiments. In the case of analyte desorption, more than 80% of U in seawater was recovered using 2-3 mol dm-3 HCl or HNO3 as the eluent. Thus, it was concluded that the amidoxime adsorbent can serve as a simple and effective pre-concentration method for the ultra-trace monitoring of U isotopes in seawater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minami Abe
- Institute of Life and Environmental Science, University of Tsukuba, Japan.
| | - Noriaki Seko
- Takasaki Institute for Advanced Quantum Science, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Hoshina
- Takasaki Institute for Advanced Quantum Science, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Japan
| | - Shigeki Wada
- Institute of Life and Environmental Science, University of Tsukuba, Japan.
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Shinya Yamasaki
- Institute of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Keisuke Sueki
- Institute of Life and Environmental Science, University of Tsukuba, Japan.
- Institute of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Aya Sakaguchi
- Institute of Life and Environmental Science, University of Tsukuba, Japan.
- Institute of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Japan
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Takahashi H, Sakaguchi A, Hain K, Wiederin A, Kuwae M, Steier P, Takaku Y, Yamasaki S, Sueki K. Reconstructing the chronology of the natural and anthropogenic uranium isotopic signals in a marin sediment core from beppu bay, Japan. Heliyon 2023; 9:e14153. [PMID: 37025796 PMCID: PMC10070371 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The long-lived U isotopes, 233U and 236U, have been used increasingly in recent years as marine circulation tracers and for identifying sources of uranium contamination in the environment. The sedimentation histories of these two U isotopes in combination with natural 238U were reconstructed for an anoxic sediment core collected from Beppu Bay, Japan, in the western North Pacific Ocean showing good time resolution (less than 2.6 y/sample). The 233U/236U atom ratio showed a prominent peak of (3.20 ± 0.30) × 10-2 around 1957 which can be attributed to the input from atmospheric nuclear weapons tests including thermonuclear tests conducting in the Equatorial Pacific. The integrated 233U/236U ratio of (1.64 ± 0.08) × 10-2 for the sediment was found to be in relatively good agreement with the representative ratio published for global fallout (∼1.4 × 10-2). A prominent increase in the authigenic ratio of 233U/238Ua,s in the leached fraction (1.39 ± 0.11 × 10-11) and the bulk digestion (1.36 ± 0.10 × 10-11) was also observed around 1957. This reflects the input supply of 233U to the seawater which is known to have a relatively constant 238U content. The authigenic 236U/238Ua,s ratio (0.18 ± 0.02 × 10-9) obtained for 1921 increased from the early 1950's to a maximum of (6.59 ± 0.60) × 10-9 around 1962. The variation in this ratio represents well the introduction history of U into the surface environment without site-specific U contamination and the time profile is also consistent with the 137Cs signature. This work thus provides a benchmark for the long-term use of the isotopic U composition as an input parameter for seawater circulation tracers and as a chronological marker for anoxic sediments and sedimentary rocks. Especially the 233U/236U ratio may serve as a key-marker for the new geological age Anthropocene.
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Luo H, Yao H, Li M, Meng F, Zhao H, Yu C, Liang X, Liu H. Fabrication of novel pectin-based adsorbents for extraction of uranium from simulated seawater: synthesis, performance and mechanistic insight. Sep Purif Technol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2023.123283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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4
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Zhang L, Levy I, Vassileva E. Determination of uranium isotopes in marine sediments and seawaters by SF ICP-MS after rapid chemical separation using TK200 resin. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:44671-44683. [PMID: 36696061 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-25513-8] [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: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
This work provided a novel analytical procedure for rapid and precise uranium isotopic determination in marine sediment and seawater, using a new type of extraction resin, TK200 resin, in combination with microwave digestion (for marine sediments), Fe(OH)3 co-precipitation (for seawater), and single collector sector field-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SF ICP-MS) measurement. The removal ability of TK200 extraction chromatography for the interfering elements (IEs) Hg, Pb, Th, Pt, Tl, and the matrix rare earth elements (REEs) was carefully investigated. High decontamination factors (DFs) were obtained for IEs and REEs. Accurate quantification of uranium isotope ratios was accomplished based on a "double-cycle" ICP-MS measurement method. The analytical method was optimized and validated with isotopic standards (IRMM-187), matrix-containing certified reference marine sediments (IAEA-384, IAEA-385, and IAEA-412), and seawater reference material (IAEA-443). A stable chemical recovery of ~ 90% was obtained for both types of marine environmental samples, and the method showed great efficiency with a total analytical time of less than 6 h. The proposed procedure was validated following ISO/IEC 17025 guidelines. The important factors affecting the isotope ratio results (instrument background, procedural blank, memory effects, peak tailing, mass discrimination, dead time, and hydride interferences) were considered in the estimation of combined uncertainties. This work provides an alternative way for the determination of trace uranium isotope ratios and can be applied in the emergency monitoring of nuclear accidents and marine environmental analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Zhang
- International Atomic Energy Agency, Marine Environment Laboratories, 4 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Monaco, Principality of Monaco.
- Institute of Materials, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang, 621900, China.
| | - Isabelle Levy
- International Atomic Energy Agency, Marine Environment Laboratories, 4 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Monaco, Principality of Monaco
| | - Emilia Vassileva
- International Atomic Energy Agency, Marine Environment Laboratories, 4 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Monaco, Principality of Monaco
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Wallner G, Uguz H, Kern M, Jirsa F, Hain K. Retrospective determination of fallout radionuclides and 236U/ 238U, 233U/ 236U and 240Pu/ 239Pu atom ratios on air filters from Vienna and Salzburg, Austria. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2022; 255:107030. [PMID: 36191507 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.107030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
137Cs and 241Pu (via 241Am) concentrations were measured γ-spectrometrically on air filters from the early 1960s (mainly from 1964-66) from Vienna, Austria, and an alpine station in Salzburg, Austria. Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) was used to determine 240Pu/239Pu, 236U/238U and 233U/236U atom ratios as well as 236U, 239Pu and 240Pu atom concentrations. The maximum 236U/238U atom ratio of these unique undisturbed global fallout samples was (1.19 ± 0.31) × 10-5 in spring 1964. The 233U/236U atom ratios were found within (0.15-0.49) × 10-2 and indicate that the weapons tests of the early 1960s can be excluded as 233U source. The 236U/239Pu atom ratios were calculated in the range of 0.22-0.48.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Wallner
- Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 42, A-1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - H Uguz
- Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 42, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - M Kern
- Faculty of Physics, Isotope Physics, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 17, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - F Jirsa
- Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 42, A-1090, Vienna, Austria; University of Johannesburg, Department of Zoology, Auckland Park, 2006, South Africa
| | - K Hain
- Faculty of Physics, Isotope Physics, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 17, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
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Shao Y, Zhang J, Luo M, Xu D, Ma L. A review of anthropogenic radionuclide 236U: Environmental application and analytical advances. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2022; 251-252:106944. [PMID: 35696882 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.106944] [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: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
236U is an anthropogenic radionuclide that is produced from nuclear reactions of 235U(n, γ) and 238U(n, 3n). It has gained extensive attention in the field of environment, geology, nuclear emergency, and nuclear forensics. Due to the unique physical and chemical character and the distinct fingerprint character from different sources, 236U has been successfully applied in the environmental tracer, nuclear material source appointment, and environmental assessment. Until now, few reviews were published about the database, application, and the latest analytical technology development of 236U. In this review, the 236U concentration and 236U/238U isotope ratio were summarized, and the data were classified into four categories, including soil and seawater samples affected by global fallout and nuclear incidents. Furthermore, the development of environmental application and pretreatment methods were also summarized. The advanced pretreatment technology using alkali fusion and flow injection was especially discussed to introduce the development of a rapid analytical method. Finally, the research challenge and direction of 236U were proposed for further research, such as the tracer application combining 236U with other radionuclides in the terrestrial environment and the precise analysis of minor isotopes in ultra-trace uranium samples. We hope this review will help scholars to have a deep research on the analysis and application of 236U.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Shao
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Radiographic Techniques and Equipment, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jilong Zhang
- State Nuclear Security Technology Center, Beijing, 102401, China
| | - Min Luo
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Radiographic Techniques and Equipment, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Diandou Xu
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Radiographic Techniques and Equipment, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Lingling Ma
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Radiographic Techniques and Equipment, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
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7
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Wallner G, Zima P, Moser W, Uguz H, Bartmann MG, Steier P, Hain K. Retrospective determination of U and Pu isotopes and atom ratios in lung samples from Vienna, Austria. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2022; 251-252:106965. [PMID: 35843081 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.106965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Uranium and plutonium isotope concentrations as well as 236U/238U and 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios were measured by AMS in human lung samples from the early 1960s. The 236U concentrations as well as the 236U/238U atom ratios show a maximum in 1964, 239Pu and 240Pu concentrations are increasing continually from 1962 to 1965. 236U/238U atom ratios are lower by two orders of magnitude compared to corresponding aerosol data from Vienna, probably due to older 238U deposited in the lungs, enhanced 238U concentrations in the city air, and activity partition within different particle sizes. The 236U/239Pu atom ratios in lung samples are also lower than expected from the aerosol data, while 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios lie well within the range typical for nuclear bomb fallout.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Wallner
- Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 42, A-1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - P Zima
- Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 42, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - W Moser
- Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 42, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - H Uguz
- Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 42, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - M G Bartmann
- Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 42, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - P Steier
- Faculty of Physics, Isotope Physics, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 17, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - K Hain
- Faculty of Physics, Isotope Physics, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 17, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
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Lin M, Qiao J, Hou X, Dellwig O, Steier P, Hain K, Golser R, Zhu L. 70-Year Anthropogenic Uranium Imprints of Nuclear Activities in Baltic Sea Sediments. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:8918-8927. [PMID: 34105953 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c02136] [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] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
A strongly stratified water structure and a densely populated catchment make the Baltic Sea one of the most polluted seas. Understanding its circulation pattern and time scale is essential to predict the dynamics of hypoxia, eutrophication, and pollutants. Anthropogenic 236U and 233U have been demonstrated as excellent transient tracers in oceanic studies, but unclear input history and inadequate long-term monitoring records limit their application in the Baltic Sea. From two dated Baltic sediment cores, we obtained high-resolution records of anthropogenic uranium imprints originating from three major human nuclear activities throughout the Atomic Era. Using the novel 233U/236U signature, we distinguished and quantified 236U inputs from global fallout (45.4-52.1%), Chernobyl accident (0.3-1.8%), and discharges from civil nuclear industries (46.1-54.3%) to the Baltic Sea. We estimated the total release of 233U (7-15 kg) from the atmospheric nuclear weapon testing and pinpointed the 233U peak signal in the mid-to-late 1950s as a potential time marker for the onset of the Anthropocene Epoch. This work also provides fundamental 236U data on Chernobyl accident and early discharges from civil nuclear facilities, prompting worldwide 233U-236U tracer studies. We anticipate our data to be used in a broader application in model-observation interdisciplinary research on water circulation and pollutant dynamics in the Baltic Sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mu Lin
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Risø Campus, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Jixin Qiao
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Risø Campus, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Xiaolin Hou
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Risø Campus, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Olaf Dellwig
- Department of Marine Geology, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde, IOW, 18119 Rostock, Germany
| | - Peter Steier
- VERA Laboratory, Faculty of Physics, Isotope Physics, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Karin Hain
- VERA Laboratory, Faculty of Physics, Isotope Physics, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Robin Golser
- VERA Laboratory, Faculty of Physics, Isotope Physics, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Liuchao Zhu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Risø Campus, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
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9
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Lin HT, Chiang HW, Yu TL, Christl M, Liu J, DeLong K, Shen CC. 236U/ 238U Analysis of Femtograms of 236U by MC-ICPMS. Anal Chem 2021; 93:8442-8449. [PMID: 34106681 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c00409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A new analytical method has been developed to determine atomic 236U/238U ratios in samples with only femtograms of 236U using a secondary electron multiplier (SEM) on a multicollector high-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICPMS). The abundance sensitivity of the 238U tail at 236 atomic mass unit is reduced from 10-6 to 10-10 with the deployment of a retarding potential quadrupole lens. This method features the reduction of polyatomic interferences from hydride, nitride, lead, and plutonium and the evaluation of nonlinear SEM behavior. The instrument sensitivity is 1-2%, and the estimated methodological detection limit of the 236U/238U atomic ratio is as low as 2 × 10-10. Measurements on reference materials with 236U/238U ratios of 10-7-10-9, including the IRMM-075 series and the ETH Zurich in-house standard ZUTRI, demonstrate the accuracy of our MC-ICPMS technique. The analytical precisions (2σ) are ±4% for 5 fg of 236U at a 236U/238U of 1 × 10-8 and ±8% for 2 fg of 236U at a 236U/238U of 4 × 10-9 level. Compared to state-of-the-art accelerator mass spectrometry techniques and triple quadrupole-based ICPMS, our detection limit is not as low, but the required sample size is 3-40 times lower, and the throughput is as high as 3-4 samples per hour. The new MC-ICPMS-SEM technique is sensitive enough for determining 236U/238U in various small natural samples, such as marine carbonates and seawater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huei-Ting Lin
- Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, No.1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Hong-Wei Chiang
- Department of Geosciences, National Taiwan University, No.1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Tsai-Luen Yu
- High-Precision Mass Spectrometry and Environment Change Laboratory (HISPEC), Department of Geosciences, National Taiwan University, No.1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan, ROC.,Research Center for Future Earth, National Taiwan University, No.1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Marcus Christl
- Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich, Otto-Stern-Weg 5, HPK G23, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Juan Liu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Kristine DeLong
- Department of Geography & Anthropology, Louisiana State University, 227 Howe-Russell-Kniffen Geoscience Complex, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
| | - Chuan-Chou Shen
- High-Precision Mass Spectrometry and Environment Change Laboratory (HISPEC), Department of Geosciences, National Taiwan University, No.1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan, ROC.,Research Center for Future Earth, National Taiwan University, No.1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan, ROC
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Lin M, Qiao J, Hou X, Golser R, Hain K, Steier P. On the Quality Control for the Determination of Ultratrace-Level 236U and 233U in Environmental Samples by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry. Anal Chem 2021; 93:3362-3369. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c03623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mu Lin
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Risø Campus, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Jixin Qiao
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Risø Campus, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Xiaolin Hou
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Risø Campus, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Robin Golser
- VERA Laboratory, Faculty of Physics, Isotope Physics, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Karin Hain
- VERA Laboratory, Faculty of Physics, Isotope Physics, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Steier
- VERA Laboratory, Faculty of Physics, Isotope Physics, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
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Hwang H, Hur SD, Lee J, Han Y, Hong S, Motoyama H. Plutonium fallout reconstructed from an Antarctic Plateau snowpack using inductively coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometry. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 669:505-511. [PMID: 30884272 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Revised: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic plutonium (Pu) in the environment is a result of atmospheric nuclear testing during the second half of the 20th century. In this work, we analyzed a 4-meter deep Antarctic Plateau snowpack characterized by a low snow accumulation rate and negligible snow impurities. These sample conditions enabled us to measure the snowpack Pu fallout by applying inductively coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometry to a few mL of snow melt without purification or preconcentration. Pu concentrations in the reconstructed Pu fallout record for the period after 1956 CE increased and decreased in agreement with past atmospheric nuclear testing. Two peaks and two dips associable with historical events were observed, and the highest peak in 1964(±1) CE approximately coincided with the maximum concentration of non-sea-salt sulfate caused by the Mt. Agung eruption in 1963 CE. Enhanced Pu fallout in the 1970s was attributed the geographical proximity of the Southern Hemispheric nuclear test sites. Our results suggest that by improving the instrumental sensitivity and precision, the potential of the Antarctic ice sheet as an archive of Pu fallout can be further explored and utilized for understanding atmospheric dispersion and for dating ice cores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heejin Hwang
- Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon 21990, Republic of Korea
| | - Soon Do Hur
- Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon 21990, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeonghoon Lee
- Department of Science Education, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeongcheol Han
- Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon 21990, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sungmin Hong
- Department of Ocean Sciences, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - Hideaki Motoyama
- National Institute of Polar Research, Tokyo 190-8518, Japan; SOKENDAI (The Graduate University of Advanced Studies), Tokyo 190-8518, Japan
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12
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García-León M. Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) in Radioecology. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2018; 186:116-123. [PMID: 28882579 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.06.023] [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: 03/12/2017] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) provides with an excellent sensitivity for the determination of radionuclides in the environment. In fact, conventional radiometric techniques can hardly compete with AMS in the solution of many problems involving the measurement of very low levels of radioactivity in Nature. For that reason, during the last years AMS has become a powerful tool for Radioecology studies. In this paper a review is done on the evolution of AMS applications to the measurement of environmental radioactivity and, therefore, its contribution to the understanding of radionuclide behavior in Nature. For that, the advantages of using AMS to determine key nuclides as 129I, 14C, Pu-isotopes and others in different natural compartments will be discussed. The content of the paper is illustrated with the contributions to these studies of the Spanish National Center for Accelerators (CNA) AMS systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- M García-León
- Universidad de Sevilla, Centro Nacional de Aceleradores, Avda. T. A. Edison, 7, 41092 Sevilla, Spain.
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13
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López-Lora M, Chamizo E, Villa-Alfageme M, Hurtado-Bermúdez S, Casacuberta N, García-León M. Isolation of 236U and 239,240Pu from seawater samples and its determination by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry. Talanta 2018; 178:202-210. [DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2017.09.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2017] [Revised: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/10/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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14
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Development and application of mass spectrometric techniques for ultra-trace determination of 236U in environmental samples-A review. Anal Chim Acta 2017; 995:1-20. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2017.09.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Revised: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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15
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Casacuberta N, Christl M, Buesseler KO, Lau Y, Vockenhuber C, Castrillejo M, Synal HA, Masqué P. Potential Releases of 129I, 236U, and Pu Isotopes from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plants to the Ocean from 2013 to 2015. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2017; 51:9826-9835. [PMID: 28726397 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b03057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
After the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear accident, many efforts were put into the determination of the presence of 137Cs, 134Cs, 131I, and other gamma-emitting radionuclides in the ocean, but minor work was done regarding the monitoring of less volatile radionuclides, pure beta-ray emitters or simply radionuclides with very long half-lives. In this study we document the temporal evolution of 129I, 236U, and Pu isotopes (239Pu and 240Pu) in seawater sampled during four different cruises performed 2, 3, and 4 years after the accident, and we compare the results to 137Cs collected at the same stations and depths. Our results show that concentrations of 129I are systematically above the nuclear weapon test levels at stations located close to the FDNPP, with a maximum value of 790 × 107 at·kg-1, that exceeds all previously reported 129I concentrations in the Pacific Ocean. Yet, the total amount of 129I released after the accident in the time 2011-2015 was calculated from the 129I/137Cs ratio of the ongoing 137Cs releases and estimated to be about 100 g (which adds to the 1 kg released during the accident in 2011). No clear evidence of Fukushima-derived 236U and Pu isotopes has been found in this study, although further monitoring is encouraged to elucidate the origin of the highest 240Pu/239Pu atom ratio of 0.293 ± 0.028 we found close to FDNPP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Núria Casacuberta
- Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics, ETH Zürich , CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland
- Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, Environmental Physics, ETH Zürich , CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Marcus Christl
- Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics, ETH Zürich , CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Ken O Buesseler
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution , Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - YikSze Lau
- Lancaster Environmental Center, University of Lancaster , Lancaster LA1 4YQ, England
| | | | - Maxi Castrillejo
- Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals & Departament de Física, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona , 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Hans-Arno Synal
- Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics, ETH Zürich , CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Pere Masqué
- Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals & Departament de Física, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona , 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
- Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, School of Science, Edith Cowan University , Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia
- Oceans Institute & School of Physics, The University of Western Australia , Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
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Castrillejo M, Casacuberta N, Christl M, Garcia-Orellana J, Vockenhuber C, Synal HA, Masqué P. Anthropogenic 236U and 129I in the Mediterranean Sea: First comprehensive distribution and constrain of their sources. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 593-594:745-759. [PMID: 28364609 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.03.201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2017] [Revised: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The first basin-wide distribution of 236U/238U atom ratios and 129I concentrations is presented for the Mediterranean Sea. During the GEOTRACES GA04S-MedSeA expedition in 2013 seawater was collected from 10 vertical profiles covering the principal sub-basins of the Mediterranean Sea. The main objective was to understand the distributions of 236U and 129I in relation to the water masses, and to constrain their sources in this region. The 236U/238U atom ratios and the 129I concentrations ranged from (710±40)×10-12 to (2220±60)×10-12 and from (4.0±0.1)×107 to (13.8±0.3)×107at·kg-1, respectively. The results show that radionuclide-poor Atlantic Water is entering at the surface through the Strait of Gibraltar whereas comparably radionuclide-enriched Levantine Intermediate Water is sinking in the Eastern Basin and flowing westward at intermediate depths. Low radionuclide levels were found in the oldest water masses at about 1000-2000m depth in the Eastern Basin. At greater depths, waters were relatively enriched in 236U and 129I due to dense water formation occurring in both, the Eastern and Western Basins. The inventories of 236U and 129I cannot be explained only by global fallout from atmospheric nuclear bomb testings carried out in the 1950s and 1960s. We estimate that the liquid input of 236U from the nuclear reprocessing facility of Marcoule (France), via the Rhône river, was of the same order of magnitude than the contribution from global fallout, whereas liquid and gaseous releases of 129I from Marcoule were up to two orders of magnitude higher than global fallout. For both radionuclides, the contribution from the Chernobyl accident is found to be minor.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Castrillejo
- Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals & Departament de Física, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain.
| | - N Casacuberta
- Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics, ETH-Zurich, Otto Stern Weg 5, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland; Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, Environmental Physics, ETH-Zurich, Universitätstrasse 16, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - M Christl
- Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics, ETH-Zurich, Otto Stern Weg 5, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - J Garcia-Orellana
- Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals & Departament de Física, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain
| | - C Vockenhuber
- Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics, ETH-Zurich, Otto Stern Weg 5, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - H-A Synal
- Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics, ETH-Zurich, Otto Stern Weg 5, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - P Masqué
- Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals & Departament de Física, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain; School of Science, Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia; Oceans Institute and School of Physics, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
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Qiao J, Steier P, Nielsen S, Hou X, Roos P, Golser R. Anthropogenic 236U in Danish Seawater: Global Fallout versus Reprocessing Discharge. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2017; 51:6867-6876. [PMID: 28505439 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b00504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
This work focuses on the occurrence of 236U in seawater along Danish coasts, which is the sole water-exchange region between the North Sea-Atlantic Ocean and the Baltic Sea. Seawater collected in 2013 and 2014 were analyzed for 236U (as well as 238U and 137Cs). Our results indicate that 236U concentrations in Danish seawater are distributed within a relatively narrow range of (3.6-8.2) × 107 atom/L and, to a certain extent, independent of salinity. 236U/238U atomic ratios in Danish seawater are more than 4 times higher than the estimated global fallout value of 1× 10-9. The levels of 236U/238U atomic ratios obtained are comparable to those reported for the open North Sea and much higher than several other open oceans worldwide. This indicates that besides the global fallout input, the discharges from the two major European nuclear reprocessing plants are dominating sources of 236U in Danish seawater. However, unexpectedly high 236U/238U ratios as well as high 236U concentrations were observed at low-salinity locations of the Baltic Sea. While this feature might be interpreted as a clue for another significant 236U input in the Baltic Sea, it may also be caused by the complexity of water currents or slow turnover rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jixin Qiao
- Center for Nuclear Technologies, Technical University of Denmark , DTU Risø Campus, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Peter Steier
- VERA Laboratory, Faculty of Physics, Isotope Research, University of Vienna , Währinger Straße 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Sven Nielsen
- Center for Nuclear Technologies, Technical University of Denmark , DTU Risø Campus, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Xiaolin Hou
- Center for Nuclear Technologies, Technical University of Denmark , DTU Risø Campus, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Per Roos
- Center for Nuclear Technologies, Technical University of Denmark , DTU Risø Campus, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Robin Golser
- VERA Laboratory, Faculty of Physics, Isotope Research, University of Vienna , Währinger Straße 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
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Eigl R, Steier P, Sakata K, Sakaguchi A. Vertical distribution of 236U in the North Pacific Ocean. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2017; 169-170:70-78. [PMID: 28088697 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The first extensive study on 236U in the North Pacific Ocean has been conducted. The vertical distribution of 236U/238U isotopic ratios and the 236U concentrations were analysed on seven depth profiles, and large variations with depth were found. The range of 236U/238U isotopic ratios was from (0.09 ± 0.03) × 10-10 to (14.1 ± 2.2) × 10-10, which corresponds to 236U concentrations of (0.69 ± 0.24) × 105 atoms/kg and (119 ± 21) × 105 atoms/kg, respectively. The variations in 236U concentrations could mainly be attributed to the different water masses in the North Pacific Ocean and their formation processes. Uranium-236 inventories on the water column of each sampling station were calculated and varied between (3.89 ± 0.08) × 1012 atoms/m2 and (7.03 ± 0.50) × 1012 atoms/m2, which is lower than in former studies on comparable latitudes in the North Atlantic Ocean and the Sea of Japan. The low inventories of 236U found for the North Pacific Ocean in this study can be explained by the lack of additional input sources of artificial radionuclides, apart from global and regional/local fallout. This study expands the use of 236U as oceanographic circulation tracer to yet another ocean basin and shows that this isotope can be used for tracing circulation patterns of water masses in the Pacific Ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Eigl
- Department of Earth and Planetary Systems Science, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan.
| | - P Steier
- VERA-Laboratory, Faculty of Physics - Isotope Research, University of Vienna, Währinger Str. 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - K Sakata
- Department of Earth and Planetary Systems Science, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
| | - A Sakaguchi
- Center for Research in Isotopes and Environmental Dynamics, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan
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Froehlich MB, Chan WY, Tims SG, Fallon SJ, Fifield LK. Time-resolved record of 236U and 239,240Pu isotopes from a coral growing during the nuclear testing program at Enewetak Atoll (Marshall Islands). JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2016; 165:197-205. [PMID: 27764678 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2016] [Revised: 09/20/2016] [Accepted: 09/20/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
A comprehensive series of nuclear tests were carried out by the United States at Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands, especially between 1952 and 1958. A Porites Lutea coral that was growing in the Enewetak lagoon within a few km of all of the high-yield tests contains a continuous record of isotopes, which are of interest (e.g. 14C, 236U, 239,240Pu) through the testing period. Prior to the present work, 14C measurements at ∼2-month resolution had shown pronounced peaks in the Δ14C data that coincided with the times at which tests were conducted. Here we report measurements of 236U and 239,240Pu on the same coral using accelerator mass spectrometry, and again find prominent peaks in the concentrations of these isotopes that closely follow those in 14C. Consistent with the 14C data, the magnitudes of these peaks do not, however, correlate well with the explosive yields of the corresponding tests, indicating that smaller tests probably contributed disproportionately to the debris that fell in the lagoon. Additional information about the different tests can also be obtained from the 236U/239Pu and 240Pu/239Pu ratios, which are found to vary dramatically over the testing period. In particular, the first thermonuclear test, Ivy-Mike, has characteristic 236U/239Pu and 240Pu/239Pu signatures which are diagnostic of the first arrival of nuclear test material in various archives.
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Affiliation(s)
- M B Froehlich
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
| | - W Y Chan
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia; Department of Genetics, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - S G Tims
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - S J Fallon
- Radiocarbon Laboratory, Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - L K Fifield
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
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