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Hunt D, Dewar A, Dal Molin F, Willey N. Does it run in the family? - Improving radiological risk assessment in the coastal environment using taxonomic and phylogenetic perspectives in macroalgae species. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 207:116863. [PMID: 39213886 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2024] [Revised: 07/26/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Marine macroalgae are widely used indicator species for monitoring environmental radioactivity. Empirical studies have demonstrated a range in radionuclide transfer coefficients, or concentration ratios (CRs), between taxonomic groups, however the CR values used for dose estimation assume that macroalgae are a homogenous group, represented by a single CR. This study demonstrates the presence of a taxonomic signal in macroalgae CRs for multiple anthropogenic and naturally occurring radionuclides (137Cs, 241Am, 239+240Pu, 210Po) based on a collation of available data. A Residual Maximum Likelihood (REML) mixed model was applied, producing relative estimate CRs specific to each species within the datasets. The collated data was also analysed for a phylogenetic signal, but only a weak signal was found for one radionuclide in one group (239+240Pu in Phaeophyceae). A theoretical case study using the estimated CRs and the ERICA tool was carried out to demonstrate the implications of these findings in a real-world scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Hunt
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0HT, UK; Centre for Research In Bioscience, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Frenchay, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK.
| | - A Dewar
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0HT, UK
| | - F Dal Molin
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0HT, UK
| | - N Willey
- Centre for Research In Bioscience, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Frenchay, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK
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Brown J, Teien HC, Thørring H, Skipperud L, Hosseini A, Lind OC, Oughton D, Salbu B. Transfer of radionuclides through ecological systems: Lessons learned from 10 years of research within CERAD CoE. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 940:173503. [PMID: 38821276 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Norway's Centre of Excellence for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD) research programme included studies on transfer of radionuclides in various ecosystems within the context of environmental risk assessment. This article provides highlights from 10 years of research within this topic and summarises lessons learnt from the process. The scope has been extensive, involving laboratory-based experiments, field studies and the implementation of transfer models quantifying radionuclide uptake directly from the surrounding environment and via food chains. Field studies have had a global span and have, inter alia, covered sites contaminated with radionuclides associated with particles, ranging from nanoparticles to fragments, due to nuclear accidents (e.g., Chornobyl and Fukushima accidents) along with sites having enhanced levels of naturally occurring radioactive materials (e.g., Fen Complex in Norway and Taboshar in Tajikistan). Focus has been put on speciation and kinetics in determining radionuclide behavior and fate as well as on the influence of environmental factors that are potentially critical for the transfer of radionuclides. In particular, seasonal factors have been shown to greatly affect the dynamics of 137Cs and 90Sr bioaccumulation and loss in freshwater fish. The work has led to the collation of organism-specific (i) parameters important for kinetic models, i.e., uptake and depuration rates, and (ii) steady-state concentration ratios, CRs, where the use of stable analogue CRs as proxies for radionuclides has been brought into question. Dynamic models have been developed and applied for radiocaesium transfer to reindeer, radionuclide transfer in Arctic marine systems, transfer to fish via water and feed and commonly used agricultural food-chain transfer models applied in the context of nuclear emergency preparedness. The CERAD programme should contribute substantially to the scientific community's understanding of radionuclide transfer in environmental systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Brown
- DSA - Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, Grini Næringspark 13, 1361 Østerås, Norway; Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD) CoE, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway.
| | - Hans Christian Teien
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway; Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD) CoE, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Håvard Thørring
- DSA - Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, Grini Næringspark 13, 1361 Østerås, Norway; Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD) CoE, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Lindis Skipperud
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway; Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD) CoE, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Ali Hosseini
- DSA - Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, Grini Næringspark 13, 1361 Østerås, Norway; Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD) CoE, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Ole Christian Lind
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway; Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD) CoE, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Deborah Oughton
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway; Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD) CoE, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Brit Salbu
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway; Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD) CoE, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
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3
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Kashparov V, Pavlenko P, Kashparova O, Levchuk S, Yoschenko V, Teien HC, Wada T, Hrechaniuk M, Khomutinin Y, Salbu B. Uptake from water and depuration of 137Cs and 90Sr by silver Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio). JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2024; 276:107443. [PMID: 38733661 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2024.107443] [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: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
To follow up field observations in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone (ChEZ), a series of controlled model aquarium experiments were conducted to determine the uptake and depuration rates of 137Cs and 90Sr in silver Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio) in fresh water, varying in temperature from 5 to 27 °C, with daily feeding rates of 0-1.5 % fish weight day-1. In the present study, the 137Cs uptake rates in muscle tissues directly from water, 0.05-0.09 day-1 at temperatures of 5-27 °C, were significantly lower than previously reported for fish fed under natural conditions in contaminated lakes within the ChEZ. The rate of 90Sr uptake in bone tissues of silver Prussian carp varied from 0.055 day-1 at a water temperature of 5 °C and feeding rates ≤0.15 % fish weight day-1 to 1.5 ± 0.2 day-1 at a temperature of 27 ± 1 °С and at the highest tested feeding rate of 1.5 % day-1. The rate of decrease of 137Cs concentration in muscle tissues was kb = 0.0028 ± 0.0004 day-1 (T1/2 = 248 ± 35 days) at the lowest water temperature tested (5 °С). At water temperatures between 13 and 26 °С and a feeding rate of 0.15 % day-1, the rate increased to kb = 0.0071-0.0092 day-1 (T1/2 = 75-99 days). The rates of decrease of 90Sr activity concentration in bone tissues at water temperatures between 22 and 25 °С and a feeding rate of 0.5 % day-1 were kb=0.004-0.0014 day-1, and the associated biological half-life T1/2 ranged 50-160 days, respectively. The present work supported conclusions related to the main pathways of 137Cs and 90Sr uptake by silver Prussian carp, and demonstrated the usefulness of combining field and laboratory uptake and depuration experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valery Kashparov
- Ukrainian Institute of Agricultural Radiology (UIAR) of National University of Life and Environment Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine; Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD), Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Polina Pavlenko
- Ukrainian Institute of Agricultural Radiology (UIAR) of National University of Life and Environment Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine; Institute of Environmental Radioactivity at Fukushima University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Olena Kashparova
- Ukrainian Institute of Agricultural Radiology (UIAR) of National University of Life and Environment Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine; Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD), Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Sviatoslav Levchuk
- Ukrainian Institute of Agricultural Radiology (UIAR) of National University of Life and Environment Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Vasyl Yoschenko
- Institute of Environmental Radioactivity at Fukushima University, Fukushima, Japan.
| | - Hans-Christian Teien
- Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD), Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Toshihiro Wada
- Institute of Environmental Radioactivity at Fukushima University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Maksym Hrechaniuk
- Ukrainian Institute of Agricultural Radiology (UIAR) of National University of Life and Environment Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Yuri Khomutinin
- Ukrainian Institute of Agricultural Radiology (UIAR) of National University of Life and Environment Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Brit Salbu
- Ukrainian Institute of Agricultural Radiology (UIAR) of National University of Life and Environment Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine; Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD), Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
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Hunt D, Dewar A, Dal Molin F, Willey N. Enhancing radiological monitoring of 137Cs in coastal environments using taxonomic signals in brown seaweeds. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2023; 268-269:107261. [PMID: 37541061 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
With the rapidly expanding global nuclear industry, more efficient and direct radiological monitoring approaches are needed to ensure the associated environmental health impacts and risk remain fully assessed and undertaken as robustly as possible. Conventionally, radiological monitoring in the environment consists of measuring a wide range of anthropogenically enhanced radionuclides present in selected environmental matrices and using generic transfer values for modelling and prediction that are not necessarily suitable in some situations. Previous studies have found links between taxonomy and radionuclide uptake in terrestrial plants and freshwater fish, but the marine context remains relatively unexplored. This preliminary study was aimed at investigating a similar relationship between brown seaweed, an important indicator in radiological monitoring programmes in the marine environment, and Caesium-137, an important radionuclide discharged to the marine environment. A linear mixed model was fitted using REsidual Maximum Likelihood (REML) to activity concentration data collected from literature published worldwide and other databases. The output from REML modelling was adjusted to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) quoted transfer value for all seaweed taxa in order to produce mean estimate transfer value for each species, which were then analysed by hierarchical ANalysis Of VAriance (ANOVA) based on the taxonomy of brown seaweeds. Transfer value was found to vary between taxa with increasing significance up the taxonomic hierarchy, suggesting a link to evolutionary history. This novel approach enables contextualisation of activity concentration measurements of important marine indicator species in relation to the wider community, allows prediction of unknown transfer values without the need to sample specific species and could, therefore, enhance radiological monitoring by providing accurate, taxon specific transfer values for use in dose assessments and models of radionuclide transfer in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Hunt
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0HT, UK; Centre for Research in Bioscience, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Frenchay, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK.
| | - A Dewar
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0HT, UK
| | - F Dal Molin
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0HT, UK
| | - N Willey
- Centre for Research in Bioscience, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Frenchay, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK
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Skoko B, Kovačić M, Lazarus M, Sekovanić A, Kovačić J, Sergiel A, Zwijacz-Kozica T, Reljić S, Petrinec B, Selva N, Huber Đ. 90Sr and stable element levels in bones of brown bears: long-term trends in bear populations from Croatia and Poland. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:32507-32522. [PMID: 36460888 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-24397-4] [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: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the temporal trends and geographical differences in 90Sr and stable element (Ba, Ca, Mn, Sr, Pb, Zn) levels in the bones of Croatian and Polish brown bear (Ursus arctos) populations. Experimental data suggest that in the decades after nuclear weapon tests and the Chernobyl accident, 90Sr bone activity concentrations decreased from 352 to 11 Bq kg-1 in the Croatian bear population (period 1982-2015) and from 831 to 27 Bq kg-1 in Polish bears (period 1962-2020). Calculated effective and ecological half-lives were 9 and 13 years for Croatian bears, and 15 and 31 years for Polish bears, respectively. Different temporal trends were noted in levels of Ba, Mn, Pb and Zn between the two countries with majority of bones having lower Pb, Sr and Zn in Croatian than in Polish bears. Estimated values for the soil-to-bear transfer of 90Sr were the same order of magnitude in the studied populations. Contrary to this, the estimated transfer of stable Sr was an order of magnitude lower for the Croatian bear population compared to Polish bears. The observed differences in soil-to-bear transfer between stable Sr and 90Sr found for Croatian bears might suggest the need for careful consideration on the use of stable Sr data as an analogue for 90Sr. To our knowledge, this is the first study that analysed 90Sr activity in tissue of brown bears. As such, it provides insight into the fate and behaviour of one of the most relevant anthropogenic radionuclides at the top of the food chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Božena Skoko
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska Cesta 2, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Milica Kovačić
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska Cesta 2, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Maja Lazarus
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska Cesta 2, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Ankica Sekovanić
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska Cesta 2, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Jelena Kovačić
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska Cesta 2, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Agnieszka Sergiel
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Aleja Adama Mickiewicza 33, 31-120, Kraków, Poland
| | | | - Slaven Reljić
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Heinzelova Ulica 55, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Branko Petrinec
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska Cesta 2, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nuria Selva
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Aleja Adama Mickiewicza 33, 31-120, Kraków, Poland
| | - Đuro Huber
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Aleja Adama Mickiewicza 33, 31-120, Kraków, Poland
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Heinzelova Ulica 55, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
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Wada T, Hinata A, Furuta Y, Sasaki K, Konoplev A, Nanba K. Factors affecting 137Cs radioactivity and water-to-body concentration ratios of fish in river and pond environments near the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2023; 258:107103. [PMID: 36599216 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.107103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
To elucidate 137Cs contamination levels and mechanisms of fish inhabiting river and pond environments near the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant, 137Cs activity concentrations in fish (15 species, n = 164) and water collected from Maeda River (3.3-8.9 km from the plant) and Shimofukazawa Pond (2.9 km) in 2017 were analyzed. Also, an 8-week rearing experiment using Japanese dace Pseudaspius hakonensis fed on non-contaminated pellets and the pond water (mean 137Cs concentration of 2.0 Bq/L) was conducted to evaluate 137Cs accumulation from water to fish. The 137Cs concentrations in Japanese dace, the only species collected throughout five sampling sites from estuarine to upstream areas in Maeda River, were found to be correlated with ambient air dose rates and fish size, exhibiting large variations (16.5-2.6×103 Bq/kg-wet). By contrast, dissolved 137Cs in river waters increased from the upper to lower course (0.025-0.28 Bq/L), which caused large variations of the water-to-body concentration ratio (CR) in Japanese dace (60.0-35700 L/kg-wet). These CRs (geometric mean of 3670 L/kg-wet) were much higher than the steady-state CR of reared fish (9.7 L/kg-wet), indicating that river fish uptake 137Cs mainly from prey items from aquatic and riparian zones, rather than from water. Statistically significant negative correlations between K+ concentrations in water and river fish CRs were detected, resulting in the decreasing trend of CRs from upstream to estuarine areas. These results suggest that the large heterogeneity of air dose rates, K+ concentration, and estuarine processes in brackish water habitats, in association with the feeding habit and size effect in fish, can engender wide variation of 137Cs concentrations and CRs of river fish along a river course. In contrast, 137Cs concentrations in pond fish (4.3-14.6 kBq/kg-wet) were higher than in river fish. The CRs of pond fish were constantly high but the range was smaller (1010-3440 L/kg-wet) with larger values in fish of higher trophic levels. These findings suggest that biomagnification within a pond was inferred as the main cause of 137Cs contamination of pond fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshihiro Wada
- Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Fukushima, 960-1296, Japan.
| | - Akinori Hinata
- Faculty of Symbiotic Systems Science, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Fukushima, 960-1296, Japan
| | - Yuma Furuta
- Faculty of Symbiotic Systems Science, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Fukushima, 960-1296, Japan
| | - Keiichi Sasaki
- Fukushima Prefectural Inland Water Fisheries Experiment Station, Inawashiro, Fukushima, 969-3283, Japan
| | - Alexei Konoplev
- Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Fukushima, 960-1296, Japan
| | - Kenji Nanba
- Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Fukushima, 960-1296, Japan; Faculty of Symbiotic Systems Science, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Fukushima, 960-1296, Japan
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Beresford NA, Beaugelin-Seiller K, Barnett CL, Brown J, Doering C, Caffrey E, Johansen MP, Melintescu A, Ruedig E, Vandenhove H, Vives I Batlle J, Wood MD, Yankovich TL, Copplestone D. Ensuring robust radiological risk assessment for wildlife: insights from the International Atomic Energy Agency EMRAS and MODARIA programmes. JOURNAL OF RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION 2022; 42:020512. [PMID: 35502472 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6498/ac6043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In response to changing international recommendations and national requirements, a number of assessment approaches, and associated tools and models, have been developed over the last circa 20 years to assess radiological risk to wildlife. In this paper, we summarise international intercomparison exercises and scenario applications of available radiological assessment models for wildlife to aid future model users and those such as regulators who interpret assessments. Through our studies, we have assessed the fitness for purpose of various models and tools, identified the major sources of uncertainty and made recommendations on how the models and tools can best be applied to suit the purposes of an assessment. We conclude that the commonly used tiered or graded assessment tools are generally fit for purpose for conducting screening-level assessments of radiological impacts to wildlife. Radiological protection of the environment (or wildlife) is still a relatively new development within the overall system of radiation protection and environmental assessment approaches are continuing to develop. Given that some new/developing approaches differ considerably from the more established models/tools and there is an increasing international interest in developing approaches that support the effective regulation of multiple stressors (including radiation), we recommend the continuation of coordinated international programmes for model development, intercomparison and scenario testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- N A Beresford
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, United Kingdom
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Manchester, M5 4WT, United Kingdom
| | - K Beaugelin-Seiller
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, PSE/ENV/SRTE, Centre de Cadarache, Saint-Pual-Les-Durance, BP3 13115, France
| | - C L Barnett
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, United Kingdom
| | - J Brown
- Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA), PO Box 55, No-1332 Østerås, Norway
| | - C Doering
- Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist, Darwin, NT, Australia
| | - E Caffrey
- Radian Scientific, LLC, Huntsville, AL, United States of America
| | - M P Johansen
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Sydney, Australia
| | - A Melintescu
- 'Horia Hulubei' National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering, 30 Reactorului St., POB MG-6, Magurele, Bucharest, RO-077125, Romania
| | - E Ruedig
- BHP, 201 CW Santa Fe Av., Grants, NM 87404, United States of America
| | - H Vandenhove
- Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium
| | - J Vives I Batlle
- Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium
| | - M D Wood
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Manchester, M5 4WT, United Kingdom
| | - T L Yankovich
- International Atomic Energy Agency, Assessment and Management of Environmental Releases Unit, PO Box 100, Vienna, 1400, Austria
| | - D Copplestone
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, United Kingdom
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Guillén J, Beresford NA, Baigazinov Z, Salas A, Kunduzbaeva A. Can stable elements (Cs and Sr) be used as proxies for the estimation of radionuclide soil-plant transfer factors? ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 299:118897. [PMID: 35104562 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.118897] [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: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Transfer parameters are key inputs for modeling radionuclide transfer in the environment and estimating risk to humans and wildlife. However, there are no data for many radionuclide-foodstuff/wildlife species combinations. The use of parameters derived from stable element data when data for radionuclides are lacking is increasingly common. But, do radionuclides and stable elements behave in a sufficiently similar way in the environment? To answer this question, at least for soil to plant transfer, sampling was conducted in four different countries (England, Kazakhstan, Spain and Ukraine) affected by different anthropogenic radionuclide source terms (in chronological order: global fallout, Semipalatinsk Test Site, the 1957 Windscale accident and the 1986 Chernobyl accident) together with a bibliographical review. Soil to grass transfer parameters (ratio between dry matter concentrations in plant and soil), Fv, for 137Cs and 90Sr were significantly higher than those for stable elements, suggesting that the use of the latter could lead to underestimating radionuclide concentrations in plant samples Transfer parameters for 137Cs and stable Cs were linearly correlated, with a slope of 1.54. No such correlation was observed for 90Sr and stable Sr, the mean value of the 90Sr:Sr ratio was 35 ranging (0.33-126); few data were available for the Sr comparison. The use of radionuclide transfer parameters, whenever possible, is recommended over derivation from stable element concentrations. However, we acknowledge that for many radionuclides there will be few or no radionuclide data from environmental studies. From analyses of the data collated there is evidence of a decreasing trend in the Fv(137Cs)/Fv(Cs) ratio with time from the Chernobyl accident.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Guillén
- LARUEX, Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory, Dpt. Applied Physics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Extremadura, Avda. Universidad, S/n, 10003, Cáceres, Spain.
| | - N A Beresford
- UKCEH, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Av. Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, United Kingdom
| | - Zh Baigazinov
- IRSE NNC RK, Institute Radiation Safety and Ecology, National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Beibit Atom St. 2, Building #23, Kurchatov City, 071100, East-Kazakhstan region, Kazakhstan; Institute of Radiochemistry and Radioecology, University of Pannonia, 10 Egyetem Str, Veszprem, H-8200, Hungary
| | - A Salas
- LARUEX, Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory, Dpt. Applied Physics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Extremadura, Avda. Universidad, S/n, 10003, Cáceres, Spain
| | - A Kunduzbaeva
- IRSE NNC RK, Institute Radiation Safety and Ecology, National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Beibit Atom St. 2, Building #23, Kurchatov City, 071100, East-Kazakhstan region, Kazakhstan
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9
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Teien HC, Kashparova O, Salbu B, Levchuk S, Protsak V, Eide DM, Jensen KA, Kashparov V. Seasonal changes in uptake and depuration of 137Cs and 90Sr in silver Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio) and common rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 786:147280. [PMID: 33965823 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147280] [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: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Dynamic transfer of radionuclides to fish was studied in a series of experiments under field condition in two lakes within the Chernobyl exclusion zone during 2016-2020. "Clean" common rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) and silver Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio) were transported to the contaminated Glubokoye Lake and kept in cages during several months of exposure, while contaminated Glubokoye fish were kept in cages in the "clean" Starukha Lake. Radiocaesium (137Cs) and radiostrontium (90Sr) were determined in intestine contents, muscle and bone tissues based on repeated samples during several months of exposure. During summer, the activity concentrations of 137Cs and 90Sr increased with time of exposure in clean fish caged in the contaminated lake. During autumn and winter, however, minor changes in fish uptake occurred during several weeks of exposure to the contaminated water. Furthermore, depuration in the contaminated fish was significant during summer, while insignificant during winter when exposed in the «clean» water. The rate constant of 137Cs uptake in muscle was between 8.0 and 22 day-1 during summer, while 0.2 to 1.0 day-1 during autumn-winter. Similarly, the rate constant of 90Sr uptake in bone was between 1.4 and 1.6 day-1, while 0.08-0.52 day-1 during autumn-winter. Biological half-lives of 137Cs in fish muscle tissue in summer were 77 ± 10 days, while exceeded 230 days during seasons at low water temperature. The results demonstrated that the transfer of 137Cs and 90Sr to fish was highly dependent upon seasons, in particular the water temperature. The transfer data obtained during low water temperature seasons deviated significantly from transfer data in literature and handbooks. Thus, seasonal changes in radionuclide transfer to fish should be taken into account when radiological impact to fish is assessed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans-Christian Teien
- Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD) CoE, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432, Ås, Norway.
| | - Olena Kashparova
- Ukrainian Institute of Agricultural Radiology of National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Brit Salbu
- Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD) CoE, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432, Ås, Norway
| | - Sviatoslav Levchuk
- Ukrainian Institute of Agricultural Radiology of National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Valentyn Protsak
- Ukrainian Institute of Agricultural Radiology of National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Dag Markus Eide
- Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD) CoE, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432, Ås, Norway; Norwegian Institute of Public Health, lousienberggata 8, 0456 Oslo, Norway
| | - Karl Andreas Jensen
- Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD) CoE, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432, Ås, Norway
| | - Valery Kashparov
- Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD) CoE, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432, Ås, Norway; Ukrainian Institute of Agricultural Radiology of National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine
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10
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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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11
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Mamyrbayeva AS, Baigazinov ZA, Lukashenko SN, Panitskiy AV, Karatayev SS, Baigazy SA, Bazarbayeva AB, Zhadyranova AA, Kenzhina LB, Mukhamediyarov N, Salmenbayev S, Rakhimzhanova A, Hegedus M, Kovacs T. The excretion of 241Am and 137Cs from the broilers organs after long-term application. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2021; 229-230:106543. [PMID: 33515923 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2021.106543] [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: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Data, despite being crucial for internal dose assessment, is lacking on the transfer of artificial radionuclides from the environment to the food supply. Expanding the available information on these factors is important for the improvement of dose models for specific scenarios. This paper describes the results of a 70 day field experiment with broiler chickens on the dynamics of excretion of 137Cs and 241Am from the muscle, liver and bone of broilers after a 30 day application of contaminated feed. The radionuclide concentrations in the feed and the thigh muscle, thigh bone and liver of 54 chickens divided between grass meal and soil contaminated feed groups were evaluated by gamma spectrometry for 241Am and 137Cs. The obtained results confirm previous data on the dynamics of the excretion of cesium from organs, which can be described with a fast and a slow exponential curve of excretion. On the 70th day, following the 30-days application, 2-8% of the first-day activity concentrations of 137Cs in organs (muscle, liver, bone) were detected. In the first two days, activity concentration of 241Am decreases twofold in both liver and bone. 35% of the maximum activity concentration of 241Am remained in bone and 15% in liver on the last day of the experiment.
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Affiliation(s)
- A S Mamyrbayeva
- Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology NNC RK, 071100, Beibit Atom 2, Building 23, Kurchatov, Kazakhstan
| | - Zh A Baigazinov
- Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology NNC RK, 071100, Beibit Atom 2, Building 23, Kurchatov, Kazakhstan; Institute of Radiochemistry and Radioecology, University of Pannonia, 8200, Egyetem u. 10, Veszprém, Hungary
| | - S N Lukashenko
- Russian Institute of Radiology and Agroecology, 249032, Kievskoe shosse 109 km, Obninsk, Kaluga Region, Russian Federation
| | - A V Panitskiy
- Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology NNC RK, 071100, Beibit Atom 2, Building 23, Kurchatov, Kazakhstan
| | - S S Karatayev
- Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology NNC RK, 071100, Beibit Atom 2, Building 23, Kurchatov, Kazakhstan
| | - S A Baigazy
- Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology NNC RK, 071100, Beibit Atom 2, Building 23, Kurchatov, Kazakhstan
| | - A B Bazarbayeva
- Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology NNC RK, 071100, Beibit Atom 2, Building 23, Kurchatov, Kazakhstan
| | - A A Zhadyranova
- Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology NNC RK, 071100, Beibit Atom 2, Building 23, Kurchatov, Kazakhstan
| | - L B Kenzhina
- Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology NNC RK, 071100, Beibit Atom 2, Building 23, Kurchatov, Kazakhstan
| | - N Mukhamediyarov
- Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology NNC RK, 071100, Beibit Atom 2, Building 23, Kurchatov, Kazakhstan
| | - S Salmenbayev
- Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology NNC RK, 071100, Beibit Atom 2, Building 23, Kurchatov, Kazakhstan
| | - A Rakhimzhanova
- Kazakh Humanitarian Law Innovative University, Semey, Mangilik el str, 11, Kazakhstan
| | - M Hegedus
- Institute of Radiochemistry and Radioecology, University of Pannonia, 8200, Egyetem u. 10, Veszprém, Hungary
| | - T Kovacs
- Institute of Radiochemistry and Radioecology, University of Pannonia, 8200, Egyetem u. 10, Veszprém, Hungary.
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12
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Beresford NA, Barnett CL, Guillén J. Can models based on phylogeny be used to predict radionuclide activity concentrations in crops? JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2020; 218:106263. [PMID: 32421584 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2020.106263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2020] [Revised: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The modelling of transfer of radionuclides from soils to plants generally relies upon empirical soil-plant concentration ratios. Concentration ratios are often highly uncertain and are not available for many plant-radionuclide combinations. A number of papers published over the last 20 years have suggested that phylogenetic models could be used to make predictions of the radionuclide transfer to plants. Such a modelling approach would have the advantage that site factors (typically related to soils) are taken into account. For the first time we have compared predictions of Cs and Sr transfer to a range of crops grown on different soils. Predictions for both elements were generally acceptable (within an order of magnitude of observed data) but Sr concentrations were over predicted in fruits and tubers. This over prediction of Sr concentrations is likely to be because the phylogenetic models were fitted to data for green shoots. We conclude that phylogenetic models offer a number of advantages, but that they must be validated and, in future, parametrisation datasets need to include data on concentrations in edible plant parts and not just green shoots.
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Affiliation(s)
- N A Beresford
- United Kingdom Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, LA1 4AP, United Kingdom.
| | - C L Barnett
- United Kingdom Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, LA1 4AP, United Kingdom
| | - J Guillén
- LARUEX, Dpt. Applied Physics, University of Extremadura, Avda. Universidad, s/n, 10003, Cáceres, Spain
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13
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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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14
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Ishii Y, Matsuzaki SIS, Hayashi S. Different factors determine 137Cs concentration factors of freshwater fish and aquatic organisms in lake and river ecosystems. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2020; 213:106102. [PMID: 31761685 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.106102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Revised: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Determination of radionuclide concentration factor (CF) allows estimating the transfer of environmental radionuclides and potential risks of consuming fish contaminated with radionuclides. Although it is known that biotic and abiotic factors affect fish CF, only a few studies have examined whether these factors differ among ecosystems. We estimated radiocesium (137Cs) CF of 30 different fish species and other aquatic organisms by monitoring three lakes and five rivers in Fukushima, 2-4 y after the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. The relative effects of biotic and abiotic factors on 137Cs CF in freshwater organisms were compared between river and lake ecosystems using generalized linear models. Our analysis demonstrated the following. (1) The factors critically affecting fish CF differed between rivers and lakes. The negative effects of suspended solid concentration (SS), total organic carbon (TOC), and salinity were significant for rivers, but not for lakes. Biomagnification of 137Cs in piscivore fish was significant only in the lakes. (2) Fish size significantly affected the CF in both rivers and lakes. Nevertheless, the correlation between 137Cs concentration and piscivore fish size was stronger in lakes than in rivers. (3) The SS, TOC, and salinity simultaneously influenced the CF at every trophic level. However, feeding habit was a stronger determinant of 137Cs bioaccumulation than water chemistry in organisms at higher trophic levels, such as aquatic insects, amphibians, and fish. Our findings indicate that 137Cs accumulation in aquatic organisms is ecosystem-dependent due to different environmental factors and food web structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumiko Ishii
- Environmental Impact Assessment Section, Fukushima Branch, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 10-2 Fukasaku, Miharu, Tamura, Fukushima, 963-7700, Japan.
| | - Shin-Ichiro S Matsuzaki
- Center for Environmental Biology and Ecosystem Studies, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan
| | - Seiji Hayashi
- Environmental Impact Assessment Section, Fukushima Branch, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 10-2 Fukasaku, Miharu, Tamura, Fukushima, 963-7700, Japan
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15
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Beresford NA, Horemans N, Copplestone D, Raines KE, Orizaola G, Wood MD, Laanen P, Whitehead HC, Burrows JE, Tinsley MC, Smith JT, Bonzom JM, Gagnaire B, Adam-Guillermin C, Gashchak S, Jha AN, de Menezes A, Willey N, Spurgeon D. Towards solving a scientific controversy - The effects of ionising radiation on the environment. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2020; 211:106033. [PMID: 31451195 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.106033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- N A Beresford
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, CEH Lancaster, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Av., Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, United Kingdom; School of Science, Engineering & Environment, University of Salford, Manchester, M5 4WT, United Kingdom.
| | - N Horemans
- Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK●CEN), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - D Copplestone
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, United Kingdom
| | - K E Raines
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, United Kingdom
| | - G Orizaola
- Universidad de Oviedo - Campus de Mieres, Edificio de Investigación 5a Planta, C/ Gonzalo Gutiérrez Quirós s/n, 33600, Mieres-Asturias, Spain
| | - M D Wood
- School of Science, Engineering & Environment, University of Salford, Manchester, M5 4WT, United Kingdom
| | - P Laanen
- Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK●CEN), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium; University of Hasselt, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - H C Whitehead
- School of Science, Engineering & Environment, University of Salford, Manchester, M5 4WT, United Kingdom
| | - J E Burrows
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, United Kingdom
| | - M C Tinsley
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, United Kingdom
| | - J T Smith
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO1 3QL, United Kingdom
| | - J-M Bonzom
- IRSN, Centre de Cadarache, 13115, St Paul Lez Durance, France
| | - B Gagnaire
- IRSN, Centre de Cadarache, 13115, St Paul Lez Durance, France
| | | | - S Gashchak
- Chornobyl Center for Nuclear Safety, Radioactive Waste & Radioecology, International Radioecology Laboratory, 77th Gvardiiska Dyviiya Str.11, P.O. Box 151, 07100, Slavutych, Kiev Region, Ukraine
| | - A N Jha
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, United Kingdom
| | - A de Menezes
- Ryan Institute, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland
| | - N Willey
- Centre for Research in Bioscience, Dept. of Applied Sciences, University of the West of England, Frenchay, BS16 1QY, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - D Spurgeon
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BB, United Kingdom
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16
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Beresford NA, Willey N. Moving radiation protection on from the limitations of empirical concentration ratios. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2019; 208-209:106020. [PMID: 31336261 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.106020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2018] [Revised: 07/06/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Radionuclide activity concentrations in food crops and wildlife are most often predicted using empirical concentration ratios (CRs). The CR approach is simple to apply and some data exist with which to parameterise models. However, the parameter is highly variable leading to considerable uncertainty in predictions. Furthermore, for both crops and wildlife we have no, or few, data for many radionuclides and realistically, we are never going to have specific data for every radionuclide - wildlife/crop combination. In this paper, we present an alternative approach using residual maximum likelihood (REML) fitting of a linear mixed effects model; the model output is an estimate of the rank-order of relative values. This methodology gives a less uncertain approach than the CR approach, as it takes into account the effect of site; it also gives a scientifically based extrapolation approach. We demonstrate the approach using the examples of Cs for plants and Pb for terrestrial wildlife. This is the first published application of the REML approach to terrestrial wildlife (previous applications being limited to the consideration of plants). The model presented gives reasonable predictions for a blind test dataset.
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Affiliation(s)
- N A Beresford
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK; School of Environment & Life Sciences, Peel Building, University of Salford, Manchester M5 4WT, UK.
| | - N Willey
- Centre for Research in Bioscience, Dept. of Applied Sciences, University of the West of England, Frenchay, Bristol, UK
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17
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Wada T, Konoplev A, Wakiyama Y, Watanabe K, Furuta Y, Morishita D, Kawata G, Nanba K. Strong contrast of cesium radioactivity between marine and freshwater fish in Fukushima. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2019; 204:132-142. [PMID: 31029987 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2019] [Revised: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
A proper understanding of radioactive contamination levels of food resources near the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant is necessary to estimate the potential effects of radionuclide contamination on human health. This study was conducted to present a direct comparison of radiocesium (134Cs and 137Cs) concentrations in marine and freshwater fish inhabiting different water bodies in Fukushima Prefecture (coastal waters, 6.3-54.5 km from the plant; forest rivers and irrigation ponds, 1.4-71.6 km), and to reveal plausible contamination mechanisms for each habitat. In contrast to marine demersal fish (7 species, n = 50), which showed lower and less variable radiocesium concentrations (0.234-3.41 Bq kg-1-wet), freshwater fish (6 species, n = 463) showed higher and more site-specific variations for each species and habitat (4.09 Bq kg-1-wet - 25.6 kBq kg-1-wet) in 2015-2016. The apparent concentration ratio (aCR, L/kg) of 137Cs in fish to water is higher for fish of freshwater habitats (mean 1240-12900 for each site) than in those of coastal waters (mean 200). Radiocesium contamination is more severe and persistent in freshwater fish, especially those distributed within the designated evacuation zone (salmon in rivers and bass in ponds). Continuous radiocesium uptake through the food web in relation to fish feeding habits and size (size effect), and biotic/abiotic characteristics in water and surrounding environments are main factors affecting site/habitat-specific bioaccumulation of radiocesium in freshwater fish. By contrast, uniformly lower radiocesium concentrations in marine demersal fish are mainly attributable to decreased radiocesium transfer intensity from the benthic food web because of lowered radiocesium contamination in sediments, and low physiological ability to retain radiocesium. Our results revealed a strong contrast of radiocesium contamination levels and mechanisms between marine and freshwater fish in natural habitats. Particularly, a close relation between 137Cs accumulation in river salmon and contamination of prey items in forest ecosystems (mainly terrestrial and aquatic insects) is peculiar to the upstream areas affected by the Fukushima accident.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshihiro Wada
- Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Fukushima, 960-1296, Japan.
| | - Alexei Konoplev
- Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Fukushima, 960-1296, Japan
| | - Yoshifumi Wakiyama
- Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Fukushima, 960-1296, Japan
| | - Kenji Watanabe
- Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Fukushima, 960-1296, Japan
| | - Yuma Furuta
- Faculty of Symbiotic Systems Science, Fukushima University, Fukushima, 960-1296, Japan
| | - Daigo Morishita
- Fukushima Prefectural Fisheries and Marine Science Research Centre, Iwaki, Fukushima, 970-0316, Japan
| | - Gyo Kawata
- Fukushima Prefectural Research Institute of Fisheries Resources, Soma, Fukushima, 976-0005, Japan
| | - Kenji Nanba
- Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Fukushima, 960-1296, Japan; Faculty of Symbiotic Systems Science, Fukushima University, Fukushima, 960-1296, Japan
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18
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Brown JE, Beresford NA, Hevrøy TH. Exploring taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships to predict radiocaesium transfer to marine biota. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 649:916-928. [PMID: 30179820 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.08.343] [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: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/25/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
One potentially useful approach to fill data gaps for concentration ratios, CRs, is based upon the hypothesis that an underlying taxonomic and/or phylogenetic relationship exists for radionuclide transfer. The objective of this study was to explore whether these relationships could be used to explain variation in the transfer of radiocaesium to a wide range of marine organisms. CR data for 137Cs were classified in relation to taxonomic family, order, class and phylum. A Residual Maximum Likelihood (REML) mixed-model regression modelling approach was adopted. The existence of any patterns were then explored using phylogenetic trees constructed with mitochondrial COI gene sequences from various biota groups and mapping the REML residual means onto these trees. A comparison of the predictions made using REML with blind datasets allowed the efficacy of the procedure to be tested. The only significant correlation between predicted and measured activity concentrations was revealed at the taxonomic level of order when comparing REML analysis output with data from the Barents Sea Region. For this single case a correlation 0.80 (Spearman rank) was derived which was significant at the 0.01 level (1-tailed test) although this was not the case once a (Bonferroni) correction was applied. The application of the REML approach to marine datasets has met with limited success, and the phylogenetic trees illustrate complications of using predictions based on values from different levels of taxonomic organization, where predicted values for the order level can mask the values at lower taxonomic levels. Any influence of taxonomy and phylogeny on transfer is not immediately conspicuous and categorizing marine organisms in this way is limited in providing a potentially robust prognostic extrapolation tool. Other factors may plausibly affect transfer to a much greater degree in marine systems, such as quite diverse life histories and different diets, which may confound any phylogenetic pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- J E Brown
- Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, Grini næringspark 13, 1361 Østerås, Norway; CERAD Center of Excellence in Environmental Radioactivity, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, Norway.
| | | | - T H Hevrøy
- Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, Grini næringspark 13, 1361 Østerås, Norway; CERAD Center of Excellence in Environmental Radioactivity, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, Norway.
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19
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Tagami K, Uchida S, Wood MD, Beresford NA. Radiocaesium transfer and radiation exposure of frogs in Fukushima Prefecture. Sci Rep 2018; 8:10662. [PMID: 30006621 PMCID: PMC6045648 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-28866-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Accepted: 06/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The International Commission on Radiological Protection has proposed an environmental assessment framework. This includes ionising radiation exposure assessment for different frog life-stages, but radiocaesium transfer parameters are unavailable. We collate data from the Fukushima Prefecture (contaminated by the Fukushima accident) and estimate radiocaesium concentration ratio (CRwo-water) values for tadpoles and adult frogs, presenting the largest available amphibian CRwo-water dataset. In total, 513 adult frogs and 2540 tadpoles were analysed in 62 and 59 composite samples respectively. Results suggest that equilibrium was reached between water and amphibian radiocaesium activity concentrations circa one-year after the accident. Radiocaesium transfer to tadpoles was higher than to adult frogs. Dose rates were estimated for different life-stages and species in both the aquatic and terrestrial environment. Estimated dose rates to adults and tadpoles were typically similar because external exposure dominated for both organisms; frogspawn dose rates were estimated to be orders of magnitude lower than other life-stages. For the two sites assessed, which were outside of the most contaminated areas of the Fukushima Prefecture, estimated dose rates were below those anticipated to present a risk to wildlife populations; it is likely that dose rates in more contaminated areas were in excess of some effects benchmark values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiko Tagami
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Anagawa 4-9-1, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan
| | - Shigeo Uchida
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Anagawa 4-9-1, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan
| | - Michael D Wood
- School of Environment & Life Sciences, University of Salford, Manchester, M4 4WT, UK
| | - Nicholas A Beresford
- School of Environment & Life Sciences, University of Salford, Manchester, M4 4WT, UK.
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Center, Library Av., Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA14AP, UK.
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20
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Guillén J, Beresford NA, Baeza A, Izquierdo M, Wood MD, Salas A, Muñoz-Serrano A, Corrales-Vázquez JM, Muñoz-Muñoz JG. Transfer parameters for ICRP's Reference Animals and Plants in a terrestrial Mediterranean ecosystem. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2018; 186:9-22. [PMID: 28919133 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
A system for the radiological protection of the environment (or wildlife) based on Reference Animals and Plants (RAPs) has been suggested by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). To assess whole-body activity concentrations for RAPs and the resultant internal dose rates, transfer parameters are required. However, transfer values specifically for the taxonomic families defined for the RAPs are often sparse and furthermore can be extremely site dependent. There is also a considerable geographical bias within available transfer data, with few data for Mediterranean ecosystems. In the present work, stable element concentrations (I, Li, Be, B, Na, Mg, Al, P, S, K. Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Mo, Ag, Cd, Cs, Ba, Tl, Pb and U) in terrestrial RAPs, and the corresponding whole-body concentration ratios, CRwo, were determined in two different Mediterranean ecosystems: a Pinewood and a Dehesa (grassland with disperse tree cover). The RAPs considered in the Pinewood ecosystem were Pine Tree and Wild Grass; whereas in the Dehesa ecosystem those considered were Deer, Rat, Earthworm, Bee, Frog, Duck and Wild Grass. The CRwo values estimated from these data are compared to those reported in international compilations and databases.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Guillén
- LARUEX, Dpt. Applied Physics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Extremadura, Avda. Universidad, s/n, 10003, Cáceres, Spain.
| | - N A Beresford
- NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Av. Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, United Kingdom; School of Environment and Life Sciences, Room 323, Peel Building, University of Salford, Manchester, M5 4WT, United Kingdom
| | - A Baeza
- LARUEX, Dpt. Applied Physics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Extremadura, Avda. Universidad, s/n, 10003, Cáceres, Spain
| | - M Izquierdo
- School of Biosciences, Faculty of Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonnington Campus, Leicerstershire, LE12 5RD, United Kingdom
| | - M D Wood
- School of Environment and Life Sciences, Room 323, Peel Building, University of Salford, Manchester, M5 4WT, United Kingdom
| | - A Salas
- LARUEX, Dpt. Applied Physics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Extremadura, Avda. Universidad, s/n, 10003, Cáceres, Spain
| | - A Muñoz-Serrano
- LARUEX, Dpt. Applied Physics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Extremadura, Avda. Universidad, s/n, 10003, Cáceres, Spain
| | - J M Corrales-Vázquez
- Department of Experimental Sciences and Mathematics Teaching, University of Extremadura, Avda. Universidad, s/n, 10003, Cáceres, Spain
| | - J G Muñoz-Muñoz
- LARUEX, Dpt. Applied Physics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Extremadura, Avda. Universidad, s/n, 10003, Cáceres, Spain
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Ishii Y, Hayashi S, Takamura N. Radiocesium Transfer in Forest Insect Communities after the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0171133. [PMID: 28125745 PMCID: PMC5268780 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2016] [Accepted: 01/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
To understand radiocesium transfer in the forest insect food web, we investigated the activity concentrations of radiocesium in forest insects in the Fukushima and Ibaraki Prefectures approximately 1.5–2.5 years after the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant. We analyzed 34 species of insects sampled from 4 orders and 4 feeding functional groups (herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, and detritivore) from three sites in each prefecture. 137Cs activity concentrations were lowest in herbivorous species and were especially high in detritivorous and omnivorous species that feed on forest litter and fungi. Radiocesium activity concentrations in any given species reflected the degree of contamination of that species’ primary food sources since radiocesium activity concentrations were found to be the lowest in leaves and grass and the highest in litter, bark, and fungi. This study confirmed that litter and other highly contaminated forest components such as fungi, decaying wood, bryophytes, and lichens serve as sources of 137Cs transfer into the forest insect community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumiko Ishii
- Environmental Impact Assessment Section, Fukushima Branch, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Miharu Town, Tamura County, Fukushima, Japan
- * E-mail:
| | - Seiji Hayashi
- Environmental Impact Assessment Section, Fukushima Branch, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Miharu Town, Tamura County, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Noriko Takamura
- Center for Environmental Biology and Ecosystem Studies, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
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Konovalenko L, Bradshaw C, Andersson E, Lindqvist D, Kautsky U. Evaluation of factors influencing accumulation of stable Sr and Cs in lake and coastal fish. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2016; 160:64-79. [PMID: 27153476 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2015] [Revised: 04/06/2016] [Accepted: 04/18/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
As a result of nuclear accidents and weapons tests, the radionuclides Cs-137 and Sr-90 are common contaminants in aquatic ecosystems. Concentration ratios (CR) based on concentrations of stable Cs and Sr in biota and media are used for the estimation of transfer of their radioisotopes for radiation dose calculations in environmental and human safety assessments. Available element-specific CRs vary by over an order of magnitude for similar organisms, thus affecting the dose estimates proportionally. The variation could be reduced if they were based on a better understanding of the influence of the underlying data and how that affects accumulation and potential biomagnification of stable Cs and Sr in aquatic organisms. For fish, relationships have been identified between water concentrations of K and CR of Cs-137, and between water concentrations of Ca and CR of Sr-90. This has not been confirmed for stable Cs and Sr in European waters. In this study, we analysed an existing dataset for stable Cs and Sr, as well as K and Ca, in four Swedish lakes and three Baltic Sea coastal areas, in order to understand the behaviour of these elements and their radioisotopes in these ecosystems. We found significant seasonal variations in the water concentrations of Cs, Sr, K and Ca, and in electrical conductivity (EC), especially in the lakes. CR values based on measurements taken at single or few time points may, therefore, be inaccurate or introduce unnecessarily large variation into risk assessments. Instead, we recommend incorporating information about the underlying variation in water concentrations into the CR calculations, for example by using the variation of the mean. The inverse relationships between fish CR(Cs)-[K]water and fish CR(Sr)-[Ca]water, confirmed that stable Cs and Sr follow the same trends as their radioisotopes. Thus, they can be used as proxies when radioisotope data are lacking. EC was also strongly correlated with K and Ca concentrations in the water and could potentially be used as a quick and cost-effective method to estimate water chemistry to obtain less variable CR. We also recommend some simple improvements to data collection that would greatly enhance our ability to understand Cs and Sr uptake by fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Konovalenko
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, (DEEP), Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - C Bradshaw
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, (DEEP), Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - E Andersson
- Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co, (SKB), Box 250, 10124 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - D Lindqvist
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry, (ACES), Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - U Kautsky
- Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co, (SKB), Box 250, 10124 Stockholm, Sweden.
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23
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Beresford NA, Gaschak S, Maksimenko A, Wood MD. The transfer of (137)Cs, Pu isotopes and (90)Sr to bird, bat and ground-dwelling small mammal species within the Chernobyl exclusion zone. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2016; 153:231-236. [PMID: 26808224 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.12.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2015] [Revised: 12/29/2015] [Accepted: 12/30/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Protected species are the focus of many radiological environmental assessments. However, the lack of radioecological data for many protected species presents a significant international challenge. Furthermore, there are legislative restrictions on destructive sampling of protected species to obtain such data. Where data are not available, extrapolations are often made from 'similar' species but there has been little attempt to validate this approach. In this paper we present what, to our knowledge, is the first study purposefully designed to test the hypothesis that radioecological data for unprotected species can be used to estimate conservative radioecolgical parameters for protected species; conservatism being necessary to ensure that there is no significant impact. The study was conducted in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. Consequently, we are able to present data for Pu isotopes in terrestrial wildlife. There has been limited research on Pu transfer to terrestrial wildlife which contrasts with the need to assess radiation exposure of wildlife to Pu isotopes around many nuclear facilities internationally. Our results provide overall support for the hypothesis that data for unprotected species can be used to adequately assess the impacts for ionising radiation on protected species. This is demonstrated for a range of mammalian and avian species. However, we identify one case, the shrew, for which data from other ground-dwelling small mammals would not lead to an appropriately conservative assessment of radiation impact. This indicates the need to further test our hypothesis across a range of species and ecosystems, and/or ensure adequate conservatism within assessments. The data presented are of value to those trying to more accurately estimate the radiation dose to wildlife in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, helping to reduce the considerable uncertainty in studies reporting dose-effect relationships for wildlife. A video abstract for this paper is available from: http://bit.ly/1JesKPc.
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Affiliation(s)
- N A Beresford
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, UK; School of Environment & Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, M5 4WT, UK.
| | - S Gaschak
- Chernobyl Centre for Nuclear Safety, Radioactive Waste & Radioecology, International Radioecology Laboratory, 77th Gvardiiska Dyviiya str.11, P.O. Box 151, 07100 Slavutych, Kiev Region, Ukraine
| | - Andrey Maksimenko
- Chernobyl Centre for Nuclear Safety, Radioactive Waste & Radioecology, International Radioecology Laboratory, 77th Gvardiiska Dyviiya str.11, P.O. Box 151, 07100 Slavutych, Kiev Region, Ukraine
| | - M D Wood
- School of Environment & Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, M5 4WT, UK
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Brown JE, Alfonso B, Avila R, Beresford NA, Copplestone D, Hosseini A. A new version of the ERICA tool to facilitate impact assessments of radioactivity on wild plants and animals. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2016; 153:141-148. [PMID: 26773508 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2015] [Revised: 12/08/2015] [Accepted: 12/08/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
A new version of the ERICA Tool (version 1.2) was released in November 2014; this constitutes the first major update of the Tool since release in 2007. The key features of the update are presented in this article. Of particular note are new transfer databases extracted from an international compilation of concentration ratios (CRwo-media) and the modification of 'extrapolation' approaches used to select transfer data in cases where information is not available. Bayesian updating approaches have been used in some cases to draw on relevant information that would otherwise have been excluded in the process of deriving CRwo-media statistics. All of these efforts have in turn led to the requirement to update Environmental Media Concentration Limits (EMCLs) used in Tier 1 assessments. Some of the significant changes with regard to EMCLs are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- J E Brown
- Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, Department of Emergency Preparedness and Environmental Radioactivity, Grini næringspark 13 Postbox 55, NO-1332, Østerås, Norway.
| | - B Alfonso
- Facilia AB, Gustavslundsvägen 151C, 167 51, Bromma, Sweden
| | - R Avila
- Facilia AB, Gustavslundsvägen 151C, 167 51, Bromma, Sweden
| | - N A Beresford
- NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Center, Library Av., Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA14AP, UK
| | - D Copplestone
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, UK
| | - A Hosseini
- Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, Department of Emergency Preparedness and Environmental Radioactivity, Grini næringspark 13 Postbox 55, NO-1332, Østerås, Norway
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25
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Beresford NA, Wood MD, Vives i Batlle J, Yankovich TL, Bradshaw C, Willey N. Making the most of what we have: application of extrapolation approaches in radioecological wildlife transfer models. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2016; 151 Pt 2:373-386. [PMID: 25850783 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2014] [Revised: 03/04/2015] [Accepted: 03/07/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
We will never have data to populate all of the potential radioecological modelling parameters required for wildlife assessments. Therefore, we need robust extrapolation approaches which allow us to make best use of our available knowledge. This paper reviews and, in some cases, develops, tests and validates some of the suggested extrapolation approaches. The concentration ratio (CRproduct-diet or CRwo-diet) is shown to be a generic (trans-species) parameter which should enable the more abundant data for farm animals to be applied to wild species. An allometric model for predicting the biological half-life of radionuclides in vertebrates is further tested and generally shown to perform acceptably. However, to fully exploit allometry we need to understand why some elements do not scale to expected values. For aquatic ecosystems, the relationship between log10(a) (a parameter from the allometric relationship for the organism-water concentration ratio) and log(Kd) presents a potential opportunity to estimate concentration ratios using Kd values. An alternative approach to the CRwo-media model proposed for estimating the transfer of radionuclides to freshwater fish is used to satisfactorily predict activity concentrations in fish of different species from three lakes. We recommend that this approach (REML modelling) be further investigated and developed for other radionuclides and across a wider range of organisms and ecosystems. Ecological stoichiometry shows potential as an extrapolation method in radioecology, either from one element to another or from one species to another. Although some of the approaches considered require further development and testing, we demonstrate the potential to significantly improve predictions of radionuclide transfer to wildlife by making better use of available data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas A Beresford
- NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Center, Library Av., Bailrigg, Lancaster LA14AP, UK; School of Environment & Life Sciences, University of Salford, Manchester M4 4WT, UK.
| | - Michael D Wood
- School of Environment & Life Sciences, University of Salford, Manchester M4 4WT, UK
| | | | - Tamara L Yankovich
- International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna International Centre, 1400 Vienna, Austria
| | - Clare Bradshaw
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, SE-10691, Sweden
| | - Neil Willey
- Centre for Research in Biosciences, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Frenchay, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK
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Li J, Liu S, Zhang Y, Chen L, Yan Y, Cheng W, Lou H, Zhang Y. Pre-assessment of dose rates of (134)Cs, (137)Cs, and (60)Co for marine biota from discharge of Haiyang Nuclear Power Plant, China. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2015; 147:8-13. [PMID: 26005771 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2014] [Revised: 04/30/2015] [Accepted: 05/03/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Haiyang Nuclear Power Plant to be built in China was selected as a case for the dose pre-assessment for marine biota in this study. The concentrations of Cs and Co in organisms (turbot, yellow croaker, swimming crab, abalone, sea cucumber, and sea lettuce), seawater, and bottom sediment sampled on-site were measured by neutron activation analysis, and the site-specific transfer parameters (concentration ratios and distribution coefficients) of Cs and Co were calculated. (134)Cs, (137)Cs, and (60)Co activity concentrations in the organisms and the sediment at the site were calculated with the site-specific transfer parameters and the anticipated activity concentrations in the liquid effluent of the nuclear power plant. The ERICA tool was used to estimate the dose rates of (134)Cs, (137)Cs, and (60)Co to the selected organisms based on the biological models developed. The total dose rates of (134)Cs, (137)Cs, and (60)Co to the six organisms were all <0.001 μGy h(-1).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Li
- China Institute of Atomic Energy, Beijing, 102413, China
| | - Senlin Liu
- China Institute of Atomic Energy, Beijing, 102413, China.
| | - Yongxing Zhang
- China Institute of Atomic Energy, Beijing, 102413, China
| | - Ling Chen
- China Institute of Atomic Energy, Beijing, 102413, China
| | - Yuan Yan
- China Institute of Atomic Energy, Beijing, 102413, China
| | - Weiya Cheng
- China Institute of Atomic Energy, Beijing, 102413, China
| | - Hailin Lou
- China Institute of Atomic Energy, Beijing, 102413, China
| | - Yongbao Zhang
- China Institute of Atomic Energy, Beijing, 102413, China
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27
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Statistical analysis of discrepant radioecological data using Monte Carlo Bootstrap Method. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-015-4207-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Beresford NA, Wood MD. A new simplified allometric approach for predicting the biological half-life of radionuclides in reptiles. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2014; 138:116-121. [PMID: 25218982 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2014.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2014] [Revised: 08/21/2014] [Accepted: 08/22/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
A major source of uncertainty in the estimation of radiation dose to wildlife is the prediction of internal radionuclide activity concentrations. Allometric (mass-dependent) relationships describing biological half-life (T1/2b) of radionuclides in organisms can be used to predict organism activity concentrations. The establishment of allometric expressions requires experimental data which are often lacking. An approach to predict the T1/2b in homeothermic vertebrates has recently been proposed. In this paper we have adapted this to be applicable to reptiles. For Cs, Ra and Sr, over a mass range of 0.02-1.5 kg, resultant predictions were generally within a factor of 6 of reported values demonstrating that the approach can be used when measured T1/2b data are lacking. However, the effect of mass on reptilian radionuclide T1/2b is minimal. If sufficient measured data are available for a given radionuclide then it is likely that these would give a reasonable estimate of T1/2b in any reptile species.
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Affiliation(s)
- N A Beresford
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, UK; School of Environment & Life Sciences, University of Salford, Manchester M4 4WT, UK.
| | - M D Wood
- School of Environment & Life Sciences, University of Salford, Manchester M4 4WT, UK
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Ashraf MA, Khan AM, Ahmad M, Akib S, Balkhair KS, Bakar NKA. Release, deposition and elimination of radiocesium ((137)Cs) in the terrestrial environment. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2014; 36:1165-1190. [PMID: 24804829 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-014-9620-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2014] [Accepted: 04/25/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Radionuclide contamination in terrestrial ecosystems has reached a dangerous level. The major artificial radionuclide present in the environment is (137)Cs, which is released as a result of weapon production related to atomic projects, accidental explosions of nuclear power plants and other sources, such as reactors, evaporation ponds, liquid storage tanks, and burial grounds. The release of potentially hazardous radionuclides (radiocesium) in recent years has provided the opportunity to conduct multidisciplinary studies on their fate and transport. Radiocesium's high fission yield and ease of detection made it a prime candidate for early radio-ecological investigations. The facility setting provides a diverse background for the improved understanding of various factors that contribute toward the fate and transfer of radionuclides in the terrestrial ecosystem. In this review, we summarize the significant environmental radiocesium transfer factors to determine the damaging effects of radiocesium on terrestrial ecosystem. It has been found that (137)Cs can trace the transport of other radionuclides that have a high affinity for binding to soil particles (silts and clays). Possible remedial methods are also discussed for contaminated terrestrial systems. This review will serve as a guideline for future studies of the fate and transport of (137)Cs in terrestrial environments in the wake of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant disaster in 2011.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Aqeel Ashraf
- Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,
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30
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Pinder JE, Rowan DJ, Rasmussen JB, Smith JT, Hinton TG, Whicker FW. Development and evaluation of a regression-based model to predict cesium concentration ratios for freshwater fish. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2014; 134:89-98. [PMID: 24699402 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2014.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2013] [Revised: 03/05/2014] [Accepted: 03/07/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Data from published studies and World Wide Web sources were combined to produce and test a regression model to predict Cs concentration ratios for freshwater fish species. The accuracies of predicted concentration ratios, which were computed using 1) species trophic levels obtained from random resampling of known food items and 2) K concentrations in the water for 207 fish from 44 species and 43 locations, were tested against independent observations of ratios for 57 fish from 17 species from 25 locations. Accuracy was assessed as the percent of observed to predicted ratios within factors of 2 or 3. Conservatism, expressed as the lack of under prediction, was assessed as the percent of observed to predicted ratios that were less than 2 or less than 3. The model's median observed to predicted ratio was 1.26, which was not significantly different from 1, and 50% of the ratios were between 0.73 and 1.85. The percentages of ratios within factors of 2 or 3 were 67 and 82%, respectively. The percentages of ratios that were <2 or <3 were 79 and 88%, respectively. An example for Perca fluviatilis demonstrated that increased prediction accuracy could be obtained when more detailed knowledge of diet was available to estimate trophic level.
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Affiliation(s)
- John E Pinder
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, 305 W. Magnolia PMB 231, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA.
| | - David J Rowan
- Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), Environmental Technologies Branch, Chalk River Laboratories, Chalk River Ontario K0J 1J0, Canada.
| | - Joseph B Rasmussen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3M4, Canada.
| | - Jim T Smith
- School of Earth and Environmental Science, Science University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth P01 3 QL, UK.
| | - Thomas G Hinton
- Star Network of Excellence in Radioecology, Institute for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance 13115, France.
| | - F W Whicker
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, 305 W. Magnolia PMB 231, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA.
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Barnett CL, Beresford NA, Walker LA, Baxter M, Wells C, Copplestone D. Transfer parameters for ICRP reference animals and plants collected from a forest ecosystem. RADIATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOPHYSICS 2014; 53:125-149. [PMID: 24173444 DOI: 10.1007/s00411-013-0493-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2013] [Accepted: 09/15/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) have suggested the identification of a series of terrestrial, marine and freshwater sites from which samples of each Reference animal and plant (RAP) could be systematically collected and analysed. We describe the first such study in which six of the eight terrestrial RAPs, and associated soil samples, were collected from a site located in a managed coniferous forestry plantation in north-west England. Adult life stages of species representing six of the terrestrial RAPs (Wild grass, Pine tree, Deer, Rat, Earthworm and Bee) were sampled and analysed to determine concentrations of 60 elements and gamma-emitting radionuclides. The resultant data have been used to derive concentration ratios (CR(wo-soil)) relating element/radionuclide concentrations in the RAPs to those in soil. This paper presents the first-reported transfer parameters for a number of the RAP-element combinations. Where possible, the derived CR(wo-soil) values are compared with the ICRPs-recommended values and any appreciable differences discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L Barnett
- NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK,
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Copplestone D, Beresford NA, Brown JE, Yankovich T. An international database of radionuclide concentration ratios for wildlife: development and uses. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2013; 126:288-298. [PMID: 23815858 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2013.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2012] [Revised: 05/12/2013] [Accepted: 05/13/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
A key element of most systems for assessing the impact of radionuclides on the environment is a means to estimate the transfer of radionuclides to organisms. To facilitate this, an international wildlife transfer database has been developed to provide an online, searchable compilation of transfer parameters in the form of equilibrium-based whole-organism to media concentration ratios. This paper describes the derivation of the wildlife transfer database, the key data sources it contains and highlights the applications for the data.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Copplestone
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, United Kingdom.
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Wood MD, Beresford NA, Howard BJ, Copplestone D. Evaluating summarised radionuclide concentration ratio datasets for wildlife. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2013; 126:314-325. [PMID: 24090717 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2013.07.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2013] [Revised: 07/31/2013] [Accepted: 07/31/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Concentration ratios (CR(wo-media)) are used in most radioecological models to predict whole-body radionuclide activity concentrations in wildlife from those in environmental media. This simplistic approach amalgamates the various factors influencing transfer within a single generic value and, as a result, comparisons of model predictions with site-specific measurements can vary by orders of magnitude. To improve model predictions, the development of 'condition-specific' CR(wo-media) values has been proposed (e.g. for a specific habitat). However, the underlying datasets for most CR(wo-media) value databases, such as the wildlife transfer database (WTD) developed within the IAEA EMRAS II programme, include summarised data. This presents challenges for the calculation and subsequent statistical evaluation of condition-specific CR(wo-media) values. A further complication is the common use of arithmetic summary statistics to summarise data in source references, even though CR(wo-media) values generally tend towards a lognormal distribution and should, therefore, be summarised using geometric statistics. In this paper, we propose a statistically-defensible and robust method for reconstructing underlying datasets to calculate condition-specific CR(wo-media) values from summarised data and deriving geometric summary statistics. This method is applied to terrestrial datasets from the WTD. Statistically significant differences in sub-category CR(wo-media) values (e.g. mammals categorised by feeding strategy) were identified, which may justify the use of these CR(wo-media) values for specific assessment contexts. However, biases and limitations within the underlying datasets of the WTD explain some of these differences. Given the uncertainty in the summarised CR(wo-media) values, we suggest that the CR(wo-media) approach to estimating transfer is used with caution above screening-level assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- M D Wood
- School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Manchester M5 4WT, UK.
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