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Jiang K, Zhu J, Su K, Wang X, Li G, Deng M, Zhang C. Tracing the Transport and Residence Times of Atmospheric Microplastics Using Natural Radionuclides. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 39158933 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c02159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/20/2024]
Abstract
While atmospheric microplastics are known to be transported over long distances, their residence times and transport processes lack clarity. This study utilized natural radionuclides 7Be, 210Pb, and 210Po to explore the transport of atmospheric microplastics in Tianjin, a coastal city in Northern China. Microplastic concentrations ranged from 0.03 to 0.13 particles m-3 over the course of a year. The proportion of microplastic fragments in winter was significantly higher than that in other seasons, with median microplastic sizes in autumn and winter being larger than those in spring and summer. The atmospheric microplastic surface was rough, exhibiting irregular pores and multiple depressions and cracks. Microplastics experienced vertical mixing with the upper atmosphere in April and August and were influenced by rainfall in July. The residence time of atmospheric particles ranged from 9.47 to 22.85 days throughout the year, with an average of 14.41 days. The peak residence time of atmospheric particulates in November may be correlated with increased 210Po levels from coal consumption. Their prolonged atmospheric presence and rough surface allow microplastics to act as carriers for various chemical pollutants, underscoring the complexity and potential risks associated with their presence in the atmosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunliang Jiang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Change and Disaster in Beibu Gulf, Ocean College, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou 535011, China
| | - Jingmin Zhu
- School of Fishery, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Change and Disaster in Beibu Gulf, Ocean College, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou 535011, China
| | - Kaijun Su
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Molecular Nuclear Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, Institute of Radiation Medicine, Tianjin Institutes of Health Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - Xilong Wang
- School of Geographic and Environmental Sciences, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Guoliang Li
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Change and Disaster in Beibu Gulf, Ocean College, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou 535011, China
| | - Mingyue Deng
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Change and Disaster in Beibu Gulf, Ocean College, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou 535011, China
| | - Chaowen Zhang
- School of Fishery, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China
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Ren H, Gong X, Zhou L, Wang P, Cao Y. Recent progresses in analytical method development for 210Pb in environmental and biological samples. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:31664-31678. [PMID: 38649600 PMCID: PMC11133052 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33272-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
As a decay product of uranium series, 210Pb spreads widely in the nature and imposes strong radiological and chemical toxicity. It is vital to establish reliable and efficient radioanalytical methods for 210Pb determination to support environment and food radioactivity monitoring programs. This article critically reviews analytical methods developed for determining 210Pb in environmental and biological samples, especially new development in recent years. Techniques applied throughout different analytical steps including sample pretreatment, separation, purification, and detection are summarized and their pros and cons are discussed to provide a holistic overview for 210Pb environmental and biological assay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Ren
- Department of Occupational Health and Radiation Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, 310051, China
| | - Xinyu Gong
- Department of Occupational Health and Radiation Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, 310051, China
- School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Lei Zhou
- Department of Occupational Health and Radiation Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, 310051, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Department of Occupational Health and Radiation Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, 310051, China
| | - Yiyao Cao
- Department of Occupational Health and Radiation Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, 310051, China.
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Zhou L, Wang R, Ren H, Wang P, Cao Y. Detection of Polonium-210 in Environmental, Biological and Food Samples: A Review. Molecules 2023; 28:6268. [PMID: 37687097 PMCID: PMC10488615 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28176268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Ingestion of polonium-210 from environmental media and food can cause serious health hazards (e.g., gastrointestinal symptoms, tumours, etc.) and has been a public health concern worldwide since the 2006 poisoning of Agent Litvinenko 210Po in Russia. With the development of uranium mining and applications of nuclear technology in recent decades, the radioactive hazards posed by 210Po to living organisms and the environment have become increasingly prominent. In order to strengthen the monitoring of environmental 210Po and protect both the environment and human health, a series of explorations on the methods of 210Po determination have been ongoing by researchers across the globe. However, previous reviews have focused on individual sample types and have not provided a comprehensive account of environmental, food, and biological samples that are closely related to human health. In this work, the sources, health hazards, chemical purification, and detection methods of trace 210Po in different sample types are systematically reviewed. In particular, the advantages and disadvantages of various pretreatment methods are compared, and relevant domestic and international standards are integrated, which puts forward a new direction for the subsequent establishment of rapid, simple, and efficient measurement methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhou
- Department of Occupational Health and Radiation Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, China; (L.Z.); (R.W.); (H.R.); (P.W.)
| | - Rui Wang
- Department of Occupational Health and Radiation Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, China; (L.Z.); (R.W.); (H.R.); (P.W.)
- School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Hong Ren
- Department of Occupational Health and Radiation Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, China; (L.Z.); (R.W.); (H.R.); (P.W.)
| | - Peng Wang
- Department of Occupational Health and Radiation Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, China; (L.Z.); (R.W.); (H.R.); (P.W.)
| | - Yiyao Cao
- Department of Occupational Health and Radiation Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, China; (L.Z.); (R.W.); (H.R.); (P.W.)
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Fan F, Liu H, Liang J, Sun H, Zhang J, Pan D, Zou Y. Rapid separation of Po-210 from Pb-210 based on the usage of a commercial Sr-Specific chromatographic resin. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2020; 211:106083. [PMID: 31707256 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.106083] [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: 07/11/2019] [Revised: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/27/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The efficient extraction of small quantities of 210Po is necessary for preparing 210Po standard reference materials. Herein, a commercially available strontrium-specific chromatographic resin (Sr spec resin) was used to rapidly and selectively extract 210Po from a 210Pb-210Bi-210Po mixture, and the distribution ratios of Pb, Bi, and 210Po on Sr spec resin were probed using batch experiments. In contrast to 210Pb and 210Bi, 210Po was retained on the Sr spec cartridge in 8 M HCl and was then effectively eluted by 0.1 M HNO3. The contents of 210Pb and 210Bi in the thus obtained 210Po solution were checked using a high purity germanium gamma-ray detector and the corresponding decay curve, respectively, and were found not to exceed 2%. Moreover, the 210Pb and 210Bi eluates could be used to regenerate 210Po by the same method after a certain time period. Therefore, the extracted 210Po solution was suitable for the preparation of the 210Po standard area source and 210Po standard reference materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuyou Fan
- Division of Ionizing Radiation, National Institute of Metrology, Beijing, 100029, China.
| | - Haoran Liu
- Division of Ionizing Radiation, National Institute of Metrology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Juncheng Liang
- Division of Ionizing Radiation, National Institute of Metrology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Haowen Sun
- Radiochemistry Laboratory, School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- Division of Ionizing Radiation, National Institute of Metrology, Beijing, 100029, China.
| | - Duoqiang Pan
- Radiochemistry Laboratory, School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
| | - Yu Zou
- Division of Ionizing Radiation, National Institute of Metrology, Beijing, 100029, China
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Thakur P, Ward AL. 210Po in the environment: insight into the naturally occurring polonium isotope. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-019-06939-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Maxwell SL, McAlister DR, Sudowe R. Novel rapid oxidizing fusion method to determine Polonium-210 in air filters. Appl Radiat Isot 2019; 153:108833. [PMID: 31415911 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2019.108833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Revised: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
A rapid method for the determination of polonium-210 in air filters has been developed for use following a radiological event and for routine environmental monitoring. Air filter samples, including cellulose and glass fiber, are fused with a sodium or potassium nitrate/sodium hydroxide flux material. The alkaline matrix minimizes polonium volatility during sample digestion steps, while efficiently dissolving the air filter and inorganic matter implanted on the filter. The addition of nitrate to the flux destroys organic material which can decrease Polonium recovery during precipitation, extraction and source preparation steps. Polonium is concentrated and separated from the sample matrix using an iron hydroxide precipitation and extraction chromatography with DGA Resin. Polonium-210 is subsequently measured by alpha spectrometry following rapid microprecipitation with bismuth phosphate. The new method employs extraction chromatographic purification to remove alpha emitting interferences and sample matrix constituents which can interfere with 210Po measurements using alpha spectrometry. The novel blend of sodium hydroxide and alkali metal nitrate digests the air filters quickly and effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherrod L Maxwell
- Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC, Building 735-B, Aiken, SC, 29808, USA.
| | | | - Ralf Sudowe
- Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
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Rapid method to determine Polonium-210 in urban matrices. Appl Radiat Isot 2019; 148:270-276. [PMID: 31030086 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2019.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A rapid method for the determination of polonium-210 in urban matrices has been developed that can be used following a radiological event. Samples such as concrete, soil and granite are fused with sodium hydroxide to minimize polonium volatility during sample digestion and to achieve complete sample dissolution. Complete dissolution of samples is important to ensure method ruggedness. Polonium is concentrated and separated from the sample matrix using an iron hydroxide precipitation and extraction chromatography and subsequently measured by alpha spectrometry following microprecipitation with bismuth phosphate. The chromatographic separation removes alpha emitting interferences and matrix constituents which can adversely impact the measurement via alpha spectrometry.
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