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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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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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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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Majlesi S, Akkanen J, Roivainen P, Tuovinen TS, Sorvari J, Naarala J, Juutilainen J. Transfer of elements relevant to radioactive waste into chironomids and fish in boreal freshwater bodies. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 791:148218. [PMID: 34119794 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148218] [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: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Information on transfer of elements and their radionuclides is essential for radioecological modeling. In the present study, we investigated the transfer of Cl, Co, Mo, Ni, Se, Sr, U and Zn in a boreal freshwater food chain. These elements were selected on the basis that they have important radionuclides that might be released into the biosphere from various stages of the nuclear fuel cycle. Water, sediment, chironomid larvae (Chironomus sp.), roach (Rutilus rutilus) and perch (Perca fluviatilis) were sampled from two ponds near a former uranium mine and one reference pond located further away from the mining area. Concentrations measured in water, sediment and the three animal species indicated the importance of sediment as a source of uptake for most of the elements (but not Cl). This should be considered in radioecological models, which conventionally predict concentration in aquatic organisms from concentration in water. The results also show that the assumption of linear transfer (constant concentration ratio) may not be valid for elements into fish. The results of this study show that further basic research is needed to understand the fundamental processes involved in transfer of elements into freshwater organisms in order to develop radioecological models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soroush Majlesi
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Jarkko Akkanen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 111, FI-80101 Joensuu, Finland
| | - Päivi Roivainen
- Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, PO Box 14, FI-00811 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tiina S Tuovinen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jouni Sorvari
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland; Department of Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland
| | - Jonne Naarala
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jukka Juutilainen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
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Jeffree RA, Markich SJ, Oberhaensli F, Teyssie JL. Internal distributions of a radio-element array in cartilaginous and bony marine fishes: Different and heterogeneous. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2021; 237:106709. [PMID: 34438258 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2021.106709] [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: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This experimental study determined internal distributions of an array of radio-elements (54Mn, 60Co, 65Zn, 134Cs, 241Am, 109Cd, 110mAg, 75Se and 51Cr) accumulated from seawater by three chondrichthyan fish species (Scyliorhinus canicula (dogfish), Raja undulata (undulate ray) and Torpedo marmorata (spotted torpedo)) and three teleost species (Scophthalmus maximus (turbot), Sparus aurata (seabream) and Dicentrarchus labrax (seabass)). The study tested the hypothesis that the chondrichthyan (cartilaginous) fish taxon and teleost (bony) fish taxon have different patterns of bioaccumulation of these radio-elements in six body components (head, digestive tract, liver, kidneys, skin and muscle), consistent with their long period of evolutionary divergence. Comparisons of body component CFs between the two taxa for each radio-element and the full array of radio-elements showed highly significant differences (p ≤ 0.001) between cartilaginous and bony fishes in each body component, confirming the existence of a strong and pervasive phylogenetic signal; however, the subset of radio-elements most determinant of these differences were unique for each body component. Partitioning between the three individual bony species and the three individual cartilaginous species also occurred repeatedly among their body components, particularly for bony fishes. Distributions of these radio-elements among body components were typically highly heterogeneous for both fish taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross A Jeffree
- Jeffree Conservation & Research, 45 Casuarina Road, Alfords Point, 2234, Australia.
| | - Scott J Markich
- Aquatic Solutions International, "Point Break", North Narrabeen Beach, NSW, 2101, Australia; Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Francois Oberhaensli
- Marine Radioecology Laboratory, IAEA Environment Laboratories, 4 Quai Antoine, MC, 98000, Monaco
| | - Jean-Louis Teyssie
- Marine Radioecology Laboratory, IAEA Environment Laboratories, 4 Quai Antoine, MC, 98000, Monaco
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Stocki TJ, Braune BM. Radiocesium in Canadian game Birds Harvested during 1989-95. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2020; 225:106337. [PMID: 33002833 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2020.106337] [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: 10/25/2019] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
A historic data set containing unpublished measurements of 137Cs (radiocesium) in 238 pooled samples of pectoral muscle from 1892 birds representing 37 species was analyzed in order to determine if (i) birds were contaminated due to global weapons fallout and/or the Chernobyl accident, (ii) to understand baseline 137Cs levels in birds across the country by examining potential effects of trophic position and geophysical region, and (iii) to determine if the harvested birds were safe to eat. Current work is taking advantage of this data set to improve capabilities to assess the impacts of releases of radionuclides on food chains of species harvested as country food. Samples obtained from 173 locations across Canada (including locations in the Arctic), mostly during the fall hunting seasons between 1989 and 1995, were analyzed by gamma spectrometry and decay-corrected for the date of collection. Various methods of correlating measurements with environmental 137Cs levels and species' habits were explored in order to determine environmental radiological transfer factors. All 137Cs measurements in the samples were much lower than the Health Canada (2018) guidance level for 137Cs (1000 Bq kg-1); therefore, there was no evidence of a human health risk with respect to radiocesium. Environmental transfer factors for six different foraging groups were determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- T J Stocki
- Radiation Protection Bureau, Health Canada, 775 Brookfield Road, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 1C1, Canada.
| | - B M Braune
- Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0H3, Canada
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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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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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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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Metian M, Pouil S, Fowler SW. Radiocesium accumulation in aquatic organisms: A global synthesis from an experimentalist's perspective. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2019; 198:147-158. [PMID: 30611082 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Revised: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 11/22/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
A better understanding of the fate of radiocesium in aquatic organisms is essential for making accurate assessments of potential impacts of radiocesium contamination on ecosystems and human health. Studies of the accumulation of 134Cs, 136Cs and 137Cs in diverse biota have been the subject of many field investigations; however, it may often be difficult to understand all the mechanisms underlying the observations reported. To complement field investigations, laboratory experiments allow better understanding the observations and predicting dynamics of Cs within aquatic ecosystems by accurately assessing bioaccumulation of Cs in living organisms. The present review summarizes selected relevant laboratory studies carried out on Cs bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms over a period of more than 60 years. To date, 125 experimental studies have been carried out on 227 species of aquatic organisms since 1957. The present review provides a synthesis of the existing literature by highlighting major findings and identifying gaps of key information that need to be further addressed in future works on this topic. Thus, influences of some environmental parameters such as water chemistry both for marine and freshwater ecosystems, and biotic factors such as the life-stages and size of the organisms on radiocesium bioaccumulation should be examined and become priority topics for future research on Cs accumulation in aquatic organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Metian
- International Atomic Energy Agency, Environment Laboratories, 4a Quai Antoine Ier, MC-98000, Monaco.
| | - Simon Pouil
- International Atomic Energy Agency, Environment Laboratories, 4a Quai Antoine Ier, MC-98000, Monaco
| | - Scott W Fowler
- Institute Bobby, 8 Allée des Orangers, 06320, Cap d'Ail, France
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