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Ruiz MC, Pla C, Fernandez-Cortes A, Benavente D. Responses of underground air and drip water geochemistry to meteorological factors: A multi-parameter approach in the Rull Cave (Spain). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 926:171837. [PMID: 38513849 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Our research aims to assess the complex interactions between the elements that constitute and influence a cave system through the analysis of an extensive dataset of climatic and environmental parameters (222Rn, CO2, drip rates, chemical composition, and environmental isotopes) measured in air, water, and solid in the Rull Cave (southeastern Spain). Of particular importance is understanding the effect of rainfall and temperature on water and gas transport through the epikarst and the involved processes. Our results show that the cave gaseous concentration patterns do not only depend on the temperature-caused movement of air masses, but they can also be affected by abundant rainfall. The δ18O and δD composition of cave water also relies on such precipitations for the effective transfer of the rainfall signal into the cave, which can take between 3 and 7 days. The elemental ratios (Sr/Ca and Mg/Ca) show high responsiveness to the water drip rate, hinting that enhanced prior calcite precipitation (PCP) occurs at slower drip rates. Despite this, and regardless of drip rates, calcite saturation indices follow a seasonal variation pattern inversely proportional to the cave air CO2 concentration, while δ13C-DIC is proportional. Our results show how the interlinkage between these multiple components defines the dynamics of the atmosphere-soil-cave system. Cave monitoring is then essential to understand the karstic vadose zone, which is highly sensitive to climatic influence and its changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Candela Ruiz
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Alicante, C. San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain.
| | - Concepción Pla
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Alicante, C. San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain.
| | - Angel Fernandez-Cortes
- Department of Biology and Geology, University of Almeria, C. Sacramento s/n, 04120 La Cañada de San Urbano, Almería, Spain.
| | - David Benavente
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Alicante, C. San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain.
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Barba-Lobo A, Gutiérrez-Álvarez I, Adame JA, San Miguel EG, Bolívar JP. Behavior of 222Rn, 220Rn and their progenies along a daily cycle for different meteorological situations: Implications on atmospheric aerosol residence times and Rn daughters' equilibrium factors. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 464:132998. [PMID: 37988870 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
The correct assessment of the radiological hazard from radon and daughters, external and internal doses, residence times and equilibrium factors, implies the need to properly determine 222Rn (radon), 220Rn (thoron) and their respective short-lived progenies (214Pb and 214Bi, and 212Pb and 212Bi, respectively), where the precise measurements of both progenies are quite complex due to their very short half-lives. In addition, it is important to study the temporal behavior of all these radionuclides along daily cycles. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the temporal evolution of radon, thoron and their progenies, and of their activity ratios along daily cycles for two different meteorological situations (synoptic and mesoscale processes). Radon and thoron were measured using a radon monitoring system, while their respective progenies were collected onto atmospheric filters using an ASS-500 sampler, and then measured by gamma-ray spectrometry. Furthermore, the different relationships between the concentrations of radionuclides and the different meteorological variables of interest (temperature, ABL height, and speed and direction of the wind) were found. Finally, the atmospheric aerosol residence times and Rn daughters' equilibrium factors were estimated for each sampling carried out along the two daily cycles, finding results consistent with previous studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Barba-Lobo
- Radiation Physics and Environment Group (FRYMA), Center for Natural Resources, Health and Environment (RENSMA), University of Huelva, 21007E Huelva, Spain; Department of Medical Radiation Sciences, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg SE-413 45, Sweden.
| | - I Gutiérrez-Álvarez
- Radiation Physics and Environment Group (FRYMA), Center for Natural Resources, Health and Environment (RENSMA), University of Huelva, 21007E Huelva, Spain
| | - J A Adame
- Atmospheric Sounding Station - El Arenosillo, Atmospheric Research and Instrumentation Branch, National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA), Mazagón, Huelva, Spain
| | - E G San Miguel
- Radiation Physics and Environment Group (FRYMA), Center for Natural Resources, Health and Environment (RENSMA), University of Huelva, 21007E Huelva, Spain
| | - J P Bolívar
- Radiation Physics and Environment Group (FRYMA), Center for Natural Resources, Health and Environment (RENSMA), University of Huelva, 21007E Huelva, Spain
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Salazar‐Carballo PA, López‐Pérez M, Martín‐González ME, Hernández‐Suarez F, Martín‐Luis MC. Radon Dynamics and Effective Dose Estimation in a Touristic Volcanic Cave: La Cueva del Viento, Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain). GEOHEALTH 2023; 7:e2022GH000704. [PMID: 36789206 PMCID: PMC9911345 DOI: 10.1029/2022gh000704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
La Cueva del Viento is a volcanic lava tube located in Tenerife Island (Canary Islands, Spain). Its touristic section, 180 m long, receives more than 28,200 visitants each year. According to the European and Spanish legislation, a radon monitoring program is required to minimize the radon exposition of workers, tourists, and cavers. In this work, we studied the radon concentration dynamics in the touristic section of the cave for ca. 1 year, using both passive and active radon detectors. Pluviometry and external air temperature played an important role in the seasonal and daily variations of indoor radon concentrations. Daily fluctuations during the dry season were analyzed using time series (Box-Jenkins methodology) and frequency analysis (Fourier and Wavelet transforms) methods. The experimental radon time-series was well-fitted using a seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average model: Seasonal Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average (2,0,1) (2,1,0)24, and its value, in a short-time window (ca. 1 week) was conveniently forecasted. Finally, this work revealed that the annual effective doses received, during the observation period (1 year), by the touristic guides and visitors was ca. 2 mSv/yr and 4 μSv/hr, respectively. We concluded that the touristic exploitation of La Cueva del Viento is safe for both tourists and guides. However, based on our results, La Cueva del Viento had to be classified as a "Monitoring zone" and a regular monitoring program should be implemented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro A. Salazar‐Carballo
- Departamento de Medicina Física y FarmacologíaFacultad de Ciencias de la SaludUniversidad de La LagunaSan Cristóbal de La LagunaSpain
- Laboratorio de Física Médica y Radioactividad AmbientalSEGAIUniversidad de La LagunaSan Cristóbal de La LagunaSpain
| | - María López‐Pérez
- Laboratorio de Física Médica y Radioactividad AmbientalSEGAIUniversidad de La LagunaSan Cristóbal de La LagunaSpain
| | | | - Francisco Hernández‐Suarez
- Laboratorio de Física Médica y Radioactividad AmbientalSEGAIUniversidad de La LagunaSan Cristóbal de La LagunaSpain
| | - M. Candelaria Martín‐Luis
- Departamento de Biología Animal, Edafología y GeologíaFacultad de CienciasUniversidad de La LagunaSan Cristóbal de La LagunaSpain
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Temporal and Spatial Variation of Radon Concentrations in Environmental Water from Okinawa Island, Southwestern Part of Japan. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18030998. [PMID: 33498654 PMCID: PMC7908292 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18030998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
In this study, to get a better understanding in characterizing groundwater and ensure its effective management, the radon concentrations in water samples were measured through Ryukyu limestone in southern Okinawa Island, Japan. Water samples were collected from a limestone cave (Gyokusendo cave, dropping water) and two springs (Ukinju and Komesu, spring water), and the radon concentrations were measured by liquid scintillation counters. The radon concentrations in the samples from the Gyokusendo cave, and Ukinju and Komesu springs were 10 ± 1.3 Bq L−1, 3.2 ± 1.0 Bq L−1, and 3.1 ± 1.1 Bq L−1, respectively. The radon concentrations showed a gradually increasing trend from summer to autumn and decreased during winter. The variation of radon concentrations in the dripping water sample from the Gyokusendo cave showed a lagged response to precipitation changes by approximately 2–3 months. The estimated radon concentrations in the dripping water sample were calculated with the measured radon concentrations from the dripping water obtained during the study period. Based on our results, groundwater in the Gyokusendo cave system was estimated to percolate through the Ryukyu limestone in 7–10 days, and the residence time of groundwater in the soil above Gyokusendo cave was estimated to be approximately 50–80 days. This work makes a valuable contribution to the understanding of groundwater processes in limestone aquifers, which is essential for ensuring groundwater sustainability.
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Enyedi NT, Anda D, Borsodi AK, Szabó A, Pál SE, Óvári M, Márialigeti K, Kovács-Bodor P, Mádl-Szőnyi J, Makk J. Radioactive environment adapted bacterial communities constituting the biofilms of hydrothermal spring caves (Budapest, Hungary). JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2019; 203:8-17. [PMID: 30844681 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Revised: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The thermal waters of Gellért Hill discharge area of the Buda Thermal Karst System (Hungary) are characterized by high (up to 1000 Bq/L) 222Rn-activity due to the radium-accumulating biogeochemical layers. Samples were taken from these ferruginous and calcareous layers developed on spring cave walls and water surface. Accumulation of potentially toxic metals (e.g. As, Hg, Pb, Sn, Sr, Zn) in the dense extracellular polymeric substance containing bacterial cells and remains was detected by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The comparison of bacterial phylogenetic diversity of the biofilm samples was performed by high throughput next generation sequencing (NGS). The analysis showed similar sets of mainly unidentified taxa of phyla Chloroflexi, Nitrospirae, Proteobacteria, Planctomycetes; however, large differences were found in their abundance. Cultivation-based method complemented with irradiation assay was performed using 5, 10 and 15 kGy doses of gamma-rays from a 60Co-source to reveal the extreme radiation-resistant bacteria. The phyla Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria (classes Alpha- Beta- and Gammaproteobacteria), Bacteriodetes and Deinococcus-Thermus were represented among the 452 bacterial strains. The applied irradiation treatments promoted the isolation of 100 different species, involving candidate novel species, as well. The vast majority of the isolates belonged to bacterial taxa previously unknown as radiation-resistant microorganisms. Members of the genera Paracoccus, Marmoricola, Dermacoccus and Kytococcus were identified from the 15 kGy dose irradiated samples. The close relatives of several known radiation-tolerant bacteria were also detected from the biofilm samples, alongside with bacteria capable of detoxification by metal accumulation, adsorption and precipitation in the form of calcium-carbonate which possibly maintain the viability of the habitat. The results suggest the establishment of a unique, extremophilic microbiota in the studied hydrothermal spring caves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nóra Tünde Enyedi
- Department of Microbiology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány P. sétány 1/C, H-1117, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Dóra Anda
- Department of Microbiology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány P. sétány 1/C, H-1117, Budapest, Hungary; Danube Research Institute, MTA Centre for Ecological Research, Karolina út 29, H-1113, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Andrea K Borsodi
- Department of Microbiology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány P. sétány 1/C, H-1117, Budapest, Hungary; Danube Research Institute, MTA Centre for Ecological Research, Karolina út 29, H-1113, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Attila Szabó
- Department of Microbiology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány P. sétány 1/C, H-1117, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Sára Eszter Pál
- Department of Microbiology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány P. sétány 1/C, H-1117, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Mihály Óvári
- Danube Research Institute, MTA Centre for Ecological Research, Karolina út 29, H-1113, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Analytical Chemistry, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány P. sétány 1/A, H-1117, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Károly Márialigeti
- Department of Microbiology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány P. sétány 1/C, H-1117, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Petra Kovács-Bodor
- Department of Physical and Applied Geology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány P. sétány 1/C, H-1117, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Judit Mádl-Szőnyi
- Department of Physical and Applied Geology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány P. sétány 1/C, H-1117, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Judit Makk
- Department of Microbiology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány P. sétány 1/C, H-1117, Budapest, Hungary.
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