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Lovrenčić Mikelić I, Barišić D. Natural and anthropogenic radionuclides in karstic coastal area (Kaštela Bay, Adriatic Sea, Croatia) exposed to anthropogenic activities: distribution, sources, and influencing factors. RADIOCHIM ACTA 2022. [DOI: 10.1515/ract-2022-0045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
40K, 226Ra, 232Th, 238U, and 137Cs massic activities were determined by gamma-spectrometry in limestones, marls, stream sediments, and soils of Kaštela Bay (Adriatic Sea, Croatia) coastal area. Their distribution, sources and potential influencing factors were studied. The lowest 40K, 226Ra, 232Th, and 238U massic activities were determined in limestones and the highest in soils, with the following median values, respectively: 7.2, 14, 0.8, and 5.3 Bq/kg in limestones and 518, 72, 71, and 31 Bq/kg in soils. All four radionuclides were of natural origin and reflected background values of the karstic area influenced by flysch/marl and terra rossa soil. Local TENORM disposal site did not influence the study area, but it will be needed to study its potential influence on marine sediments. Strong disequilibrium between 226Ra and 238U was found in limestones s.l. and soils, but not in marls and only moderately in stream sediments. This implies that limestones are more susceptible to selective 238U leaching than marls, and soils more than stream sediments. 137Cs was the only radionuclide of anthropogenic origin, with a global source only. It was detected in stream sediments and soils with median values of 5.4 and 31 Bq/kg, respectively. 137Cs distribution was more heterogeneous in stream sediments than in soils, but soils generally presented higher activities. Soil is considered the most important reservoir of 137Cs and its potential source.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivanka Lovrenčić Mikelić
- Laboratory for Low-Level Radioactivities, Division of Experimental Physics, Ruđer Bošković Institute , Bijenička cesta 54, 10 000 Zagreb , Croatia
| | - Delko Barišić
- Laboratory for Radioecology, Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute , Bijenička cesta 54, 10 000 Zagreb , Croatia
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Tarafdar A, Sinha A. Profiling and occupational health risk assessment study on coal ashes in terms of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND HEALTH. PART A, TOXIC/HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING 2022; 57:913-926. [PMID: 36254457 DOI: 10.1080/10934529.2022.2131291] [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: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Profiling and cancer risk assessment on the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) content of coal ashes produced by the major coal combustion plants from the eastern coalfield region in India was conducted. Thirteen PAHs were detected on coal ashes collected from ash deposition sites of major thermal power plants and the profiling of the PAHs was done. Benzo[a]pyrene equivalents (BaPeq) for individual PAHs were calculated and applied to the probabilistic assessment model from US EPA (1989). Monte Carlo simulations were conducted to assess the risk of inhabitants exposed to PAHs through the dust of the coal ash deposition site. In fly ash, the range of total amount of carcinogenic PAHs was from 3.50 to 6.72 µg g-1 and for the bottom ash, the range was 8.49 to 14.91 µg g-1. Bottom ashes were loaded with ample amounts of 5- and 6-ring carcinogenic PAHs, whereas fly ashes were dominated by medium molecular weight PAHs. The simulated mean cancer risks from fly ashes were 2.187 E-06 for children and 3.749 E-06 for adults. For the case of bottom ash, the mean risks were 1.248 E-05 and 2.173 E-05 respectively for children and adults. Among all the three exposure routes, dermal contact was the major and caused 81% of the total cancer risk. The most sensitive parameters were exposure duration and relative skin adherence factor for soil, which contributed the most to total variation. The 90% risks calculated from the bottom ashes (2.617 E-05 for children and 4.803 E-05 for adults) are marginally above the acceptable limit (>1.000 E-06) according to US EPA. In this study, a comprehensive risk assessment on carcinogenic PAHs present in coal ashes was done for the first time that may be helpful to develop potential strategies against occupational cancer risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhrajyoti Tarafdar
- Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, Jharkhand, India
| | - Alok Sinha
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, Jharkhand, India
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Maystrenko T, Rybak A. Radiation exposure and risk assessment to earthworms in areas contaminated with naturally occurring radionuclides. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2022; 194:706. [PMID: 36001168 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-10382-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The assessment of radiation exposure on biota is one of the main parts of environment protection system. Earthworms have been recognized as an important organism group in the terrestrial ecosystems. According to many researchers the potential risks of naturally occurring radionuclides for soil invertebrates were not significant because the exposure doses to the invertebrate populations were low. Our study aimed to assess the radiation exposure and the radiological risks from naturally occurring radionuclides for earthworm populations at four sites. This research was based on three dosimetric approaches simultaneously: ERICA and RESRAD-BIOTA-the commonly used ones, and also on the original method proposed by Thomas and Liber (Environment International, 27, 341-353, 2001) for aquatic organisms. To calculate radiation dose rates to soil invertebrates inhabiting background and contaminated areas, the specific activities of radionuclides in soil, and, depending on the model, the default, or determined in this study, input mass-geometric parameters had been applied. The weighted absorbed dose rates calculated by different models and site-specific data were 0.3-1.4 μGy/h for the background and from 3.4 to 170 μGy/h for the contaminated sites. Analysis of radiation risks for earthworms indicated that 226Ra was the key contributor to the external dose rate; 226Ra and 210Po played a dominant role in formation of internal dose rate for radioecological situations in our study. More conservative radiation risk assessments were derived from RESRAD-BIOTA tool. Dose assessments obtained using various models had shown that there are real environmental situations in which the radiological risks to reference organisms are significantly higher than the lowest benchmark protection level proposed for ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Maystrenko
- Institute of Biology, Komi Scientific Center of Ural Branch of RAS, Syktyvkar, Russia.
| | - Anna Rybak
- Institute of Biology, Komi Scientific Center of Ural Branch of RAS, Syktyvkar, Russia
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Lovrenčić Mikelić I, Barišić D. Radiological risks from 40 K, 226Ra and 232Th in urbanised and industrialised karstic coastal area (Kaštela Bay, Croatia). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:54632-54640. [PMID: 35306647 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-19741-7] [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: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Radiological risks associated with 40 K, 226Ra and 232Th massic activities in limestones, marls, stream sediments and soils of the Kaštela Bay (Croatia) coastal area were assessed by calculating outdoor absorbed dose rates in air (D), annual outdoor effective dose rates (Def), radium equivalent activities (Raeq) and external hazard indices (Hex). Radionuclides relative contributions to D and Hex were determined for all four types of samples as well as their total contribution to Hex in all samples. D, Def, Raeq and Hex were the lowest in limestones and the highest in soils. Maximum Raeq and Hex in soil were below the recommended values of 370 Bq/kg and 1.0. No adverse radiological effects were determined in the researched area. The most important contribution to D and Hex in limestones was almost exclusively from 226Ra, in marls from 40 K, in stream sediments from 226Ra and in soils from 232Th. The most significant total contribution to Hex in all samples came from 226Ra and 232Th, and the lowest came from 40 K. 226Ra showed the largest variability of its total contribution to Hex, with tendency to higher values. Special attention should be given to 226Ra when studying radiological risks in typical karstic areas, irrespectively of other possible influences of geological background.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Delko Barišić
- Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10 000, Zagreb, Croatia
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Lovrenčić Mikelić I, Oreščanin V, Barišić D. 40K, 226Ra, 232Th, 238U and 137Cs relationships and behaviour in sedimentary rocks and sediments of a karstic coastal area (Kaštela Bay, Croatia) and related rocks and sediments' differentiation. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:51497-51510. [PMID: 33987726 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-14240-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Natural (40K, 226Ra, 232Th, 238U) and anthropogenic (137Cs) radionuclides in consolidated sedimentary rocks (limestones s.l. and marls) and unconsolidated sediments (stream sediments and soils) of the Kaštela Bay (Adriatic Sea, Croatia) coastal area were studied. Kaštela Bay is a typical karstic environment and it is under strong anthropogenic influence due to industrialisation and urbanisation. Relationships between radionuclides, their behaviour in different types of samples and possible influencing factors were studied. Radionuclides were also studied in relation to selected metals (Al, K, Ca, Fe, Ti, Mn, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Rb, Sr, Y, Pb and As) and distribution in limestones s.l., marls, stream sediments and soils. Radionuclides' massic activities were determined by gamma-spectrometry and metal mass fractions were measured by EDXRF technique. Relationships were studied using statistical tools (principal component analysis, factor analysis). It was found that stream sediments were more similar to source rocks (limestones s.l. and marl) than to soils in terms of natural radionuclides' activities. 40K and 232Th in consolidated rocks were preferentially bound to alumosilicates and associated with the majority of studied metals. However, this was not the case with 226Ra and 238U, which did not show any preferences regarding binding to mineral components or associating with metals. On the other hand, all four natural radionuclides presented the same behaviour in unconsolidated sediments, i.e. they were all preferentially bound to alumosilicates and associated with the majority of metals. 137Cs did not associate with any of the metals or other radionuclides in sediments. The statistical approach applied in this study revealed differences in radionuclides' relationships and behaviour in a karstic environment and implied possible influencing processes or factors. This approach can be applied in other types of environments as well to study preferential radionuclides' binding to certain mineral components that influences radionuclides' mobility and transport to other environmental compartments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Višnja Oreščanin
- Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10 000, Zagreb, Croatia
- OREŠČANIN Ltd., Ante Jakšića 30, 10 000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Delko Barišić
- Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10 000, Zagreb, Croatia
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Esen AN, Haciyakupoglu S, Erenturk SA. Assessment of different hazard indices around coal-fired power plants in Turkey. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-021-07835-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Skoko B, Babić D, Franić Z, Bituh T, Petrinec B. Distribution and transfer of naturally occurring radionuclides and 137Cs in the freshwater system of the Plitvice Lakes, Croatia, and related dose assessment to wildlife by ERICA Tool. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:23547-23564. [PMID: 33452639 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-12415-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the natural radioactivity of Plitvice Lakes, under the assumption that due to its status as a National Park, the area can be considered an example of a natural freshwater system. Also, considering the transfer parameter data as the largest source of uncertainty in radiological risk assessments, the impact of site-specific data on dose rate assessment, as opposed to currently available data, was investigated. The study included gamma and alpha spectrometric measurements of 238U, 226Ra, 210Pb, 228Ra, and 40K in water, sediment, and fish samples, as well as 137Cs due to the coinciding of the study with the Fukushima accident. The content of naturally occurring radionuclides significantly varied in sediments of different Lakes, probably as a reflection of the different underlying geology of the area. Also, the 210Pb distribution in sediments indicated an up to 312 Bq kg-1 of the allochthonous contribution of this radionuclide at the beginning of the Lake's watercourse, which probably entered into the lake system by the major inlet river with its steady decrease along downstream lakes. Low 40K activity concentrations (27.5 ± 20.1 mBq L-1) in the Lake's waters might be one of the causes of increased 137Cs activity concentrations in fish samples (1.5 ± 0.4 Bq kg-1), which was found to be an order of magnitude higher than average values for different fish species from other Croatian freshwater systems (0.2 ± 0.1 Bq kg-1). A temporary increase of 137Cs activity concentrations was measured in water samples collected immediately after the Fukushima accident. Calculated site-specific sediment/water distribution coefficients and fish/water concentration ratios for radium and caesium were on average lower than generic ones found in the literature. Background dose rate assessments performed by the ERICA Tool indicated a profound impact of different input data on assessment results with water activity concentrations resulting in significantly higher dose rates (0.1-67 μGy h-1) in comparison to sediment activity concentrations (0.03-9 μGy h-1). An incremental dose rate due to 137Cs was found to be in the range of < 0.001-0.023 μGy h-1 which, in comparison to background dose rates, can be considered negligible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Božena Skoko
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Dinko Babić
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Zdenko Franić
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Tomislav Bituh
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Branko Petrinec
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
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Radioactivity of blast-furnace slags from metallurgical enterprises of Ukraine. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-020-07505-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Babić D, Skoko B, Franić Z, Senčar J, Šoštarić M, Petroci L, Avdić M, Kovačić M, Branica G, Petrinec B, Bituh T, Franulović I, Marović G. Baseline radioecological data for the soil and selected bioindicator organisms in the temperate forest of Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:21040-21056. [PMID: 32266621 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-08369-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to provide baseline radioecological data for the temperate forest ecosystem in Plitvice Lakes National Park. Emphasis was placed on the determination of naturally occurring radionuclides since there is an acknowledged lack of data for these radionuclides in non-accident conditions in wildlife, even for bioindicator organisms. Activity concentrations of 238U, 226Ra, 210Pb, 232Th, 40K, 134Cs, and 137Cs were measured by gamma spectrometry in soil and bioindicators: earthworms, conifer needles, mosses, and lichens. From the measured activity concentrations, concentration ratios were calculated to quantify the transfer of these radionuclides from soil to bioindicators. Our results show that soil activity concentrations are biased toward results from other studies conducted within the Dinaric mountain region. However, in moss and lichen samples, we measured higher activity concentrations of 226Ra and lower activity concentrations of 40K and 137Cs in comparison to similar studies. Also, we estimated lower concentration ratios for all radionuclides from soil to these organisms, except for 210Pb, in comparison to generic values. The transfer of 238U was generally low for all of the bioindicator organisms. For conifer needles, a correlation was found between activity concentrations of 226Ra and 137Cs in soil and related concentration ratios. Correlation was also found between the activity concentration of 40K in soil and transfer of 40K and 137Cs to mosses and lichens. A comparison with literature data highlighted the lack of 226Ra related concentration ratios for conifer trees and especially for earthworms. Therefore, the results of this study could supplement the sparse data currently available on radionuclide background data in similar ecosystems and related soil-to-wildlife transfer of radionuclides. Dose rate assessments, performed by the ERICA Tool, estimated that 96% of the overall exposure of wildlife in the Park area is due to the background dose rates, while 0.06 μGy h-1 on average can be attributed as an incremental dose rate from 134Cs and 137Cs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinko Babić
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Božena Skoko
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Zdenko Franić
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Jasminka Senčar
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marko Šoštarić
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ljerka Petroci
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Mak Avdić
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Milica Kovačić
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Gina Branica
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Branko Petrinec
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Tomislav Bituh
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Iva Franulović
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Gordana Marović
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
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