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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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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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Skoko B, Babić D, Marović G, Papić S. Environmental radiological risk assessment of a coal ash and slag disposal site with the use of the ERICA Tool. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2019; 208-209:106018. [PMID: 31336259 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.106018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2019] [Revised: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the environmental radiological risk of coal ash and slag to terrestrial wildlife. The research site used in this study was a disposal site of coal ash and slag with enhaced content of uranium decay chain radionuclides. With the use of the ERICA Tool, total dose rates to wildlife and risk of resultant radiobiological effects were estimated. As input data for the assessment, experimental activity concentrations of 238U, 226Ra and 210Pb in coal ash and slag and best estimates of activity concentrations for related daughter radionuclides and 235U decay chain were used. Where possible, the experimental data for activity concentrations of 238U, 226Ra and 210Pb in plants and related concentration ratios were used. Results were compared to background dose rates, also estimated by the Tool. The Tool's assessment data indicated internal exposure as the prevalent exposure pathway with 226Ra and 210Po as the main dose contributors. Also, the contribution of 235U decay chain to the total dose rate was not negligible since for some organisms it represented up to 11% of the total dose rate. The risk of an occurrence of radiobiological effects in plants on the coal ash and slag disposal site can be considered negligible since the estimated total dose rates were below the screening dose of 10 μGyh-1 and near the dose rates estimated for plants in the control area. However, the estimated dose rates for reference animals and Lichen & Bryophytes were above the screening dose rate for most organisms and on average 13 times higher than the estimated background dose rates. At the given dose rates, an occurrence of different radiobiological effects could not be excluded for animals in close contact with coal ash and slag such as earthworms and small burrowing mammals. A separate assessment performed on an example of reference plants showed that the use of activity concentrations in organisms as input data can result in an order of magnitude smaller estimates of dose rates in comparison to activity concentration in coal and ash as input data. Our study highlighted the need for experimental data in radiological risk assessments to mitigate the conservatism of the ERICA Tool and its tendency to overestimate dose rates.
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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.
| | - Gordana Marović
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Sanja Papić
- University of Zagreb, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Marulićev trg 19, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
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Aramrun K, Beresford NA, Skuterud L, Hevrøy TH, Drefvelin J, Bennett K, Yurosko C, Phruksarojanakun P, Esoa J, Yongprawat M, Siegenthaler A, Fawkes R, Tumnoi W, Wood MD. Measuring the radiation exposure of Norwegian reindeer under field conditions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 687:1337-1343. [PMID: 31412467 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Models and approaches have been developed to predict radiation exposure of wildlife under field conditions. However, there have been few attempts to directly measure radiation exposure of wildlife in the field and confirm the doses predicted by models. This is a potential issue for stakeholder acceptance of modelling-based assessments. Here is presented a comprehensive study comparing the results of different dosimeters fitted to free-ranging reindeer inhabiting an area that received comparatively high radiocaesium deposition from the 1986 Chernobyl accident. The external dose of reindeer was measured using the four dosimeter types in aluminium box mounted on the GPS collar. The measurements were compared with two model predictions: (i) external dose to reindeer across the entire range area of the herd; and (ii) external doses of individual reindeer predicted using GPS tracking data to determine locations. It was found that although significant differences between the estimates of the various dosimeters were found these were small with no practical implication. Also, the mean predicted external doses using the GPS tracking data were not significantly different to estimates from two of the four passive dosimeter results. The average external dose predicted across the herd area was significantly lower than doses recorded by the dosimeters and also estimates using GPS data to determine reindeer location (and hence exposure). For 137Cs the average external dose from the GPS tracking data was about twice that predicted across the herd area, because collared animals favoured the more contaminated area of the study site. This suggests that in some circumstances the assumption of averaging contamination over an assumed home range within assessments may be inadequate though this would need to be balanced against other uncertainties. Natural radiation was the greatest contribution to reindeer exposure and a function of the high altitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kitkawin Aramrun
- School of Environment & Life Sciences, Peel Building, University of Salford, Manchester M5 4WT, UK; Office of Atoms for Peace (OAP), 16 Vibravadi Rangsit road, Ladyao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
| | - Nicholas A Beresford
- School of Environment & Life Sciences, Peel Building, University of Salford, Manchester M5 4WT, UK; NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, CEH Lancaster, Lancaster Environment Centre, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, UK
| | - Lavrans Skuterud
- Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA), Grini Næringspark 13, 1361 Østerås, Norway
| | - Tanya H Hevrøy
- Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA), Grini Næringspark 13, 1361 Østerås, Norway
| | - Jon Drefvelin
- Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA), Grini Næringspark 13, 1361 Østerås, Norway
| | - Kip Bennett
- Mirion Technologies, 2652 McGaw Avenue, Irvine, CA 92614, USA
| | - Craig Yurosko
- Mirion Technologies, 2652 McGaw Avenue, Irvine, CA 92614, USA
| | - Phiphat Phruksarojanakun
- Office of Atoms for Peace (OAP), 16 Vibravadi Rangsit road, Ladyao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Jeerawa Esoa
- Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (TINT), 9/9 Moo 7, Sai Moon, Ongkharak, Nakorn Nayok, 26120, Thailand
| | - Monthon Yongprawat
- Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (TINT), 9/9 Moo 7, Sai Moon, Ongkharak, Nakorn Nayok, 26120, Thailand; University of Goettingen, Geoscience Centre of the University of Göttingen, Dept. Applied Geology, Goldschmidtstr. 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Andjin Siegenthaler
- School of Environment & Life Sciences, Peel Building, University of Salford, Manchester M5 4WT, UK
| | - Ross Fawkes
- School of Environment & Life Sciences, Peel Building, University of Salford, Manchester M5 4WT, UK
| | - Wanwiwa Tumnoi
- Faculty of Science, Silpakorn University, Rajamankha Nai, Muang, Nakhon Pathom 73000, Thailand
| | - Michael D Wood
- School of Environment & Life Sciences, Peel Building, University of Salford, Manchester M5 4WT, UK
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Ćujić M, Dragović S. Assessment of dose rate to terrestrial biota in the area around coal fired power plant applying ERICA tool and RESRAD BIOTA code. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2018; 188:108-114. [PMID: 28964597 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2017] [Revised: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
This paper presents the environmental radiation risk assessment based on two software program approaches ERICA Tool (version 1.2) and RESRAD BIOTA (version 1.5) to estimate dose rates to terrestrial biota in the area around the largest coal fired power plant in Serbia. For dose rate assessment software's default reference animals and plants and the best estimated values of activity concentrations of 238U, 234U, 234Th, 232Th, 230Th, 226Ra, 210Pb, 210Po, 137Cs in soil were used. Both approaches revealed the highest contribution to the internal dose rate due to 226Ra and 210Po, while 137Cs contributed the most to the external dose rate. In the investigated area total dose rate to biota derived using ERICA Tool ranged from 0.3 to 14.4 μGy h-1. The natural radionuclides exhibited significantly higher contribution to the total dose rate than the artificial one. In the investigated area, only dose rate for lichens and bryophytes exceeded ERICA Tool screening value of total dose rate of 10 μGy h-1 suggested as confident that environmental risks are negligible. The assessed total dose rates for reference animals and plants using RESRAD BIOTA were found to be 7 and 3 μGy h-1, respectively. In RESRAD BIOTA - Level 3, 10 species (Lumbricus terrestris, Rana lessonae, Sciurus vulgaris, Anas platyrhynchos, Lepus europaeus, Vulpes vulpes, Capreolus capreolus, Suss crofa, Quercu srobur, Tilia spp.) representative for the study area were modeled. Among them the highest total dose rate (4.5 μGy h-1) was obtained for large mammals. Differences in the predicted dose rates to biota using the two software programs are the consequence of the difference in the values of transfer parameters used to calculate activity concentrations in biota. Doses of ionizing radiation estimated in this study will not exhibit deterministic effects at the population level. Thus, the obtained results indicate no significant radiation impact of coal fired power plant operation on terrestrial biota. This paper confirms the use ERICA Tool and RESRAD BIOTA softwares as flexible and effective means of radiation impact assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirjana Ćujić
- University of Belgrade, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, PO Box 522, 11001 Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Snežana Dragović
- University of Belgrade, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, PO Box 522, 11001 Belgrade, Serbia
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Lourenço J, Mendo S, Pereira R. Radioactively contaminated areas: Bioindicator species and biomarkers of effect in an early warning scheme for a preliminary risk assessment. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2016; 317:503-542. [PMID: 27343869 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2016] [Revised: 05/26/2016] [Accepted: 06/08/2016] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Concerns about the impacts on public health and on the natural environment have been raised regarding the full range of operational activities related to uranium mining and the rest of the nuclear fuel cycle (including nuclear accidents), nuclear tests and depleted uranium from military ammunitions. However, the environmental impacts of such activities, as well as their ecotoxicological/toxicological profile, are still poorly studied. Herein, it is discussed if organisms can be used as bioindicators of human health effects, posed by lifetime exposure to radioactively contaminated areas. To do so, information was gathered from several studies performed on vertebrates, invertebrate species and humans, living in these contaminated areas. The retrieved information was compared, to determine which are the most used bioindicators and biomarkers and also the similarities between human and non-human biota responses. The data evaluated are used to support the proposal for an early warning scheme, based on bioindicator species and on the most sensitive and commonly shared biomarkers, to perform a screening evaluation of radioactively contaminated sites. This scheme could be used to support decision-making for a deeper evaluation of risks to human health, making it possible to screen a large number of areas, without disturbing and alarming local populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Lourenço
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Sónia Mendo
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Ruth Pereira
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto & CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research & GreenUP/CITAB-UP, Porto, Portugal
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(210)Bi - from interference to advantage in (210)Pb determination with liquid scintillation counter. Appl Radiat Isot 2016; 109:296-300. [PMID: 26717793 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2015.12.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2015] [Accepted: 12/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
A novel method for determination of (210)Pb activity concentration using a liquid scintillation counter (LSC) in environmental samples is presented. After radiochemical separation of (210)Pb on Eichrom Sr Resin column, the decay product (210)Bi starts to in-grow and interfere with the (210)Pb during measurement with LSC. Instead of eliminating this interference, a novel method utilises (210)Bi in-growth to improve the detection efficiency and subsequently to lower the minimum detectable activity (MDA). This allows for substantial reduction of the MDA compared to conventional methods.
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