1
|
Meusburger K, Evrard O, Alewell C, Borrelli P, Cinelli G, Ketterer M, Mabit L, Panagos P, van Oost K, Ballabio C. Plutonium aided reconstruction of caesium atmospheric fallout in European topsoils. Sci Rep 2020; 10:11858. [PMID: 32678221 PMCID: PMC7366645 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-68736-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Global nuclear weapon testing and the Chernobyl accident have released large amounts of radionuclides into the environment. However, to date, the spatial patterns of these fallout sources remain poorly constrained. Fallout radionuclides (137Cs, 239Pu, 240Pu) were measured in soil samples (n = 160) collected at flat, undisturbed grasslands in Western Europe in the framework of a harmonised European soil survey. We show that both fallout sources left a specific radionuclide imprint in European soils. Accordingly, we used plutonium to quantify contributions of global versus Chernobyl fallout to 137Cs found in European soils. Spatial prediction models allowed for a first assessment of the global versus Chernobyl fallout pattern across national boundaries. Understanding the magnitude of these fallout sources is crucial not only to establish a baseline in case of future radionuclide fallout but also to define a baseline for geomorphological reconstructions of soil redistribution due to soil erosion processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Meusburger
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland.
| | - Olivier Evrard
- Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement (LSCE-IPSL), UMR 8212 (CEA-CNRS-UVSQ), Université Paris-Saclay, CEA Saclay, l'Orme des Merisiers, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
| | - Christine Alewell
- Environmental Geosciences, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 30, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Pasquale Borrelli
- Environmental Geosciences, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 30, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027, Ispra, VA, Italy
| | - Giorgia Cinelli
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027, Ispra, VA, Italy
| | - Michael Ketterer
- Chemistry Department, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Lionel Mabit
- Soil and Water Management and Crop Nutrition Laboratory (SWMCNL), Joint FAO, IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Seibersdorf, Austria
| | - Panos Panagos
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027, Ispra, VA, Italy
| | - Kristof van Oost
- TECLIM, George Lemaitre Center for Earth and Climate, Earth and Life Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium
- Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique (FNRS), 1000, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Cristiano Ballabio
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027, Ispra, VA, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Chappell A, Viscarra Rossel RA, Loughran R. Spatial uncertainty of137Cs-derived net (1950s–1990) soil redistribution for Australia. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011. [DOI: 10.1029/2010jf001943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
|