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Guan Y, Fan K, Wang S, Cui L, Wang H, Guo Z, Chen W, He H, Liu Z. Assessment of the depositional characteristics of the Yellow River estuary from 1960s by 239+240Pu and 137Cs. Sci Total Environ 2024; 912:169473. [PMID: 38141998 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
The spatial and vertical distribution of 239+240Pu and 137Cs in the sediments of the Yellow River Delta was studied to evaluate the deposition dynamics in the Yellow River estuary from 1960s. The activity of 239+240Pu and 137Cs in sediment core ranged from 0.001 to 0.212 Bq/kg and 0.52-2.53 Bq/kg, respectively. A maximum accumulation peak and two secondary accumulation peaks appeared in the sediment core YR2. The average deposition rate of 8.3 cm/y for the Yellow River estuary from 1964 to 1976 was obtained. The proportion of Pu from the Yellow River net input and direct deposition to the total inventory of Pu in the estuary was assessed, with a total inventory of Pu in the abandoned estuary of 7.4 × 1010 Bq and a net input of 2.2 × 1010 Bq from the Yellow River. Pu deposited in the estuary only accounts for 18 % of the total Pu transported by the Yellow River, and most of the Pu is injected into the Bohai Sea with the Yellow River.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjing Guan
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Relativistic Astrophysics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China.
| | - Kaidi Fan
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Relativistic Astrophysics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Shenzhen Wang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Relativistic Astrophysics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Liangjia Cui
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Relativistic Astrophysics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Huijuan Wang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Relativistic Astrophysics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Zichen Guo
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Relativistic Astrophysics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Wu Chen
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Relativistic Astrophysics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Hua He
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Relativistic Astrophysics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Zhiyong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X) and Collaborative Innovation Centre of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
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2
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Wei X, Zhang R, Zhu J, Wang S, Guan Y, Li G, Yin Y, Liu Z. Spatial distribution and modelling of 239+240Pu in the sediments and seawater columns of the South China Sea and Indian Ocean. Environ Pollut 2024; 343:123244. [PMID: 38154779 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
In order to investigate the 239+240Pu potential influence in the ocean, and develop a new method for rapidly monitoring radioactive pollution, the 239+240Pu spatial distribution in the South China Sea (SCS) and the Indian Ocean (IND) sediments is analyzed by SF-ICP-MS (ELEMENT 2). The inventory-weighted mean activities of 239+240Pu were 0.413 ± 0.333 mBq/g, 0.128 ± 0.044 mBq/g, and 0.483 ± 0.606 mBq/g in the sediments of the SCS, eastern IND, and Arabian Sea, respectively. The 239+240Pu activity spatial distribution in the SCS sediments was influenced by the current, the vertical distribution of Pu in seawater, and the transport of particulate matter. The 239+240Pu activity spatial distribution in the IND sediments could be impacted by Antarctic Intermediate Water. The average of 240Pu/239Pu atomic ratios were 0.258 ± 0.034, 0.219 ± 0.031, and 0.212 ± 0.028 in the sediments of the SCS, eastern IND, and Arabian Sea, respectively. The 240Pu/239Pu atomic ratios in the SCS and IND indicate that Pu from the Pacific Proving Ground (PPG) is transported to the IND via the SCS internal current and transverse ocean currents within Indonesia. In addition, a seawater advection-dispersion equation (S-ADE) model is established based on the actual physical processes of radionuclides in the seawater column and well fitting results were obtained (R2 = 0.49 to 0.99). The 239+240Pu data and the geographic information from the sample site were used to correct the Pu distribution in the seawater. The calculated 239+240Pu mean concentrations in the surface seawater were 2.465 mBq/m3 and 2.205 mBq/m3 for the SCS and the eastern IND seawater, respectively, and the result is consistent with the previous measurements. Then, the 239+240Pu stored in the study area of SCS and eastern IND was estimated to be approximately 1.0-1.4% of the global ocean based on the model. This study provides a useful model for guiding and designing future monitoring of pollution by anthropogenic Pu and other isotopes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomin Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X) and Collaborative Innovation Centre of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory for Relativistic Astrophysics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Ruihan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X) and Collaborative Innovation Centre of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Jianjun Zhu
- Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China
| | - Shenzhen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X) and Collaborative Innovation Centre of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory for Relativistic Astrophysics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Yongjing Guan
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Relativistic Astrophysics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Gang Li
- Key Laboratory of Ocean and Marginal Sea Geology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510300, China
| | - Yue Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X) and Collaborative Innovation Centre of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Zhiyong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X) and Collaborative Innovation Centre of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
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3
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Peng A, Chen M, Li X, He H. The records of 239+240Pu and 137Cs of global fallout in Lake East Dongting Sediments and Responses to watershed environmental changes. J Environ Radioact 2024; 272:107364. [PMID: 38171109 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Plutonium-239 + 240 and 137Cs in the environment can usually be used to track the impact of nuclear activities on the environment, and have become important tools in environmental geochemical studies. In this study, nine sediment cores (E1-E9) in Lake East Dongting were collected and measured for the activity concentration of 239+240Pu, 137Cs and the atomic ratio of 240Pu/239Pu, and then their vertical distribution characteristics were analyzed. The results show that: the activity concentrations of 137Cs and 239+240Pu in Lake East Dongting ranged from 5.26 ± 0.43 to 28.6 ± 2.23 Bq kg-1 and 0.29 ± 0.02 to 1.37 ± 0.09 Bq kg-1, with an average of 7.48 ± 0.68 Bq kg-1 and 0.39 ± 0.03 Bq kg-1, respectively. The atomic ratios of 240Pu/239Pu are 0.168 ± 0.012-0.211 ± 0.015, which are basically consistent with the global atmospheric deposition. The vertical profiles of 137Cs and 239+240Pu in sediment cores show obvious single-peak distribution in E1-E6 and bimodal distribution in E7-E9. The results of sedimentation rates calculated by 137Cs and 239+240Pu method ranged from 0.59 cm y-1 to 1.99 cm y-1 with a mean of 1.18 cm y-1 and 0.61 cm y-1 to 2.18 cm y-1 with a mean of 1.26 cm y-1. The inventories of 137Cs and 239+240Pu in nine sediment cores are 5.87-10.8 kBq m-2 and 307-545 Bq m-2, which are about 8-14 and 9-15 times the inventory in the global average atmospheric deposition at the same latitude respectively. Comparing the results of the sedimentation rates and the inventories from different sampling points indicates that extreme climatic events and human activities have a significant impact on sediment environment of Lake East Dongting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anguo Peng
- School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China.
| | - Mengting Chen
- School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Xuebin Li
- School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Husheng He
- School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
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4
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Dowell SM, Humphrey OS, Gowing CJB, Barlow TS, Chenery SR, Isaboke J, Blake WH, Osano O, Watts MJ. Suitability of 210Pb ex, 137Cs and 239+240Pu as soil erosion tracers in western Kenya. J Environ Radioact 2024; 271:107327. [PMID: 37951040 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023]
Abstract
Land degradation resulting from soil erosion is a global concern, with the greatest risk in developing countries where food and land resources can be limited. The use of fallout radionuclides (FRNs) is a proven method for determining short and medium-term rates of soil erosion, to help improve our understanding of soil erosion processes. There has been limited use of these methods in tropical Africa due to the analytical challenges associated with 137Cs, where inventories are an order of magnitude lower than in the Europe. This research aimed to demonstrate the usability of 239+240Pu as a soil erosion tracer in western Kenya compared to conventional isotopes 210Pbex and 137Cs through the determination of FRN depth profiles at reference sites. Across six reference sites 239+240Pu showed the greatest potential, with the lowest coefficient of variation and the greatest peak-to-detection limit ratio of 640 compared to 5 and 1 for 210Pbex and 137Cs respectively. Additionally, 239+240Pu was the only radionuclide to meet the 'allowable error' threshold, demonstrating applicability to large scale studies in Western Kenya where the selection of suitable reference sites presents a significant challenge. The depth profile of 239+240Pu followed a polynomial function, with the maximum areal activities found between depths 3 and 12 cm, where thereafter areal activities decreased exponentially. As a result, 239+240Pu is presented as a robust tracer to evaluate soil erosion patterns and amounts in western Kenya, providing a powerful tool to inform and validate mitigation strategies with improved understanding of land degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia M Dowell
- Inorganic Geochemistry, Centre for Environmental Geochemistry, British Geological Survey, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, UK; School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Olivier S Humphrey
- Inorganic Geochemistry, Centre for Environmental Geochemistry, British Geological Survey, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, UK
| | - Charles J B Gowing
- Inorganic Geochemistry, Centre for Environmental Geochemistry, British Geological Survey, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, UK
| | - Thomas S Barlow
- Inorganic Geochemistry, Centre for Environmental Geochemistry, British Geological Survey, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, UK
| | - Simon R Chenery
- Inorganic Geochemistry, Centre for Environmental Geochemistry, British Geological Survey, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, UK
| | - Job Isaboke
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Eldoret, Eldoret, Kenya
| | - William H Blake
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Odipo Osano
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Eldoret, Eldoret, Kenya
| | - Michael J Watts
- Inorganic Geochemistry, Centre for Environmental Geochemistry, British Geological Survey, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, UK.
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5
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Lee J, Yi SC, Ko MJ. Monitoring of 137Cs, 239+240Pu, and 90Sr in the marine environment of South Korea and their impact on marine biota: 10 years after the Fukushima accident. Sci Total Environ 2023; 905:167077. [PMID: 37714345 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
This study conducted an analysis of the behavior of radionuclides and assessment their radioactive risk based on seawater and seabed sediment samples gathered from the East, South, and Yellow Seas of South Korea over the period from 2011 to 2020. The distribution for each radionuclides in seawater obtained from the East, South, and Yellow Seas were similar. However, the concentrations of 137Cs and 239+240Pu in sediments from the East Sea were observed to be higher compared to those from the South and Yellow Seas. This variation can be attributed to differences in the ocean inflow, water column properties, and seabed characteristics among the seas around South Korea. There were no statistically significant differences between the radioactive concentrations of seawater and seabed samples collected before and after the Fukushima accident, and no areas with unusually high radiation levels were detected. Using the distribution coefficient (Kds) and the concentration ratio (CR) calculated from the 2011-to-2020 data, we evaluated the radiological impact on fish. The ERICA tool was utilized to assess these data, and indicated a negligible radiological risk from radioactivity in the seawater, seabed sediments, and marine biota in the South Korean Ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
- JuHyun Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of NORM Analysis, Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Chul Yi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Min Jae Ko
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Battery Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Khodadadi M, Alewell C, Mirzaei M, Ehssan-Malahat E, Asadzadeh F, Strauss P, Meusburger K. Understanding deforestation impacts on soil erosion rates using 137Cs, 239+240Pu, and 210Pb ex and soil physicochemical properties in western Iran. J Environ Radioact 2023; 257:107078. [PMID: 36423536 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.107078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
To investigate the effects of converting forests into vineyards typical to Zarivar Lake watershed, Iran, which occurred mainly in the 1970s and 80s, on soil erosion,137Cs and 210Pbex, being mid-and-long-term soil loss tracers, were applied. In Chernobyl-contaminated areas like those found in some parts of Europe and Asia, the proportion of 137Cs Chernobyl fallout needs to be determined to convert 137Cs inventories into soil erosion rates. To do so, Pu radioisotopes were applied for the first time in Iran. The soil samples were gathered from two adjacent, almost similar hillslopes under natural forest (slope length: 250 m; slope gradient: 20%) and rainfed vineyard (slope length: 200 m; slope gradient: 17%). 137Cs/239+240Pu ratios indicated that 49.8 ± 10.0% of 137Cs originated from Chernobyl. The net soil erosion rates derived by 137Cs, and 210Pbex approaches were 5.0 ± 1.1 and 5.9 ± 2.9 Mg ha-1 yr-1 in the forested hillslope, and 25.9 ± 5.7 and 32.5 ± 14.5 Mg ha-1 yr-1 in the vineyard hillslope, respectively. Both 137Cs and 210Pbex highlighted that deforestation increased soil erosion by around five times. Moreover, the impacts of deforestation on soil physicochemical properties were investigated in surface and subsurface soils. Compared to forested hillslope, soil organic carbon stock in the upper 40 cm of the vineyard reduced by 14 Mg C ha-1 (29%), 8 Mg C ha-1 of which was removed by erosion within 35 years, and the remaining have likely been lost via emissions (6 Mg C ha-1). The vineyard topsoil experienced the most dramatic drops in percolation stability (PS), sealing index, and organic matter by about 55, 51, and 49%, respectively. Among all measured physicochemical properties, PS showed the greatest sensitivity to land-use change. Overall, the present study's findings confirmed that deforestation for agricultural purposes triggered soil loss, deteriorated soil quality and possibly contributed to the reduction of the lake's water quality and climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maral Khodadadi
- Nuclear Agriculture Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute (NSTRI), 31485/1498, Iran; Department of Geology and Environmental Earth Science, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States.
| | - Christine Alewell
- Environmental Geosciences, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 30, CH-4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Mohammad Mirzaei
- Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute (NSTRI), Karaj, 31485/1498, Iran
| | | | - Farrokh Asadzadeh
- Department of Soil Science, Urmia University, Urmia, 5756151818, Iran
| | - Peter Strauss
- Institute for Land and Water Management Research, Federal Agency for Water Management, Pollnbergstrasse 1, A-3252, Petzenkirchen, Austria
| | - Katrin Meusburger
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow, and Landscape Research (WSL), 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
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Huang Y, Sun X, Zhang W. Spatio-temporal distribution of 239+240Pu in sediments of the China sea and adjacent waters. J Environ Radioact 2022; 253-254:107010. [PMID: 36108554 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.107010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Data of 239+240Pu activities and 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios in surface and core sediments of the China Sea and adjacent waters were collected. We examine a dataset of 239+240Pu activities and 240Pu/239Pu ratios determined from surface sediments at 516 sites and 84 core sediment mainly across the China Sea and adjacent waters. For the first time the spatial distributions of the 239+240Pu activities, the 240Pu/239Pu ratios and the Pacific Proving Ground (PPG) fraction in the China Sea and adjacent waters are fully presented at the same time. Four types of typical 239+240Pu distribution with depth are commonly summarized: non-peak, pseudo single peak, single peak and multi peaks, which are based on the comprehensive analysis of the vertical distribution of 239+240Pu in 84 sediment cores that had been studied in the China Sea and adjacent waters. Their occurrence probability are ∼15%, ∼4%, ∼67% and ∼11%, respectively. This is the dominant Pu source in seawater which was transported by the North Equatorial Current and Kuroshio Current and its extension into the China Sea and adjacent waters first from east to west, then from south to north. A sea area to the northeast of Taiwan Island and the Okinawa Trough, shows high 239+240Pu activities and 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios spatial distribution trends, which are related to the intrusion of the Kuroshio Current carrying 239+240Pu from the PPG nuclear weapon tests. The used two end-member mixing model suggests that global fallout and PPG close-in fallout are the main sources of Pu in most of the investigate areas. As the 240Pu/239Pu of global fallout is relatively constant, the change of 240Pu/239Pu ratios in surface sediments of the China Sea and adjacent waters are mainly controlled by the PPG close-in fallout input.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Huang
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519082, PR China; Centre Nacional de Aceleradores (CNA),Sevilla, 41092, Spain.
| | - Xiaoming Sun
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519082, PR China.
| | - Wei Zhang
- Program in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08540-6654, USA
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Huang Y, Sun X, Zhang W, Xiao Z. Spatial distribution and migration of 239+240Pu in Chinese soils. Sci Total Environ 2022; 824:153724. [PMID: 35157857 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The migration of radionuclides is a critical threat to the soil and groundwater environment. This study investigates highly radiological toxic 239+240Pu in 647 surface soils and 66 soil cores in China. First, the spatial distributions of 239+240Pu activities and 240Pu/239Pu ratios are presented in Chinese surface soils. Second, four different types of vertical distribution of 239+240Pu, namely 45.4%, 40.9%, 9.1% and 4.5% of Chinese soil cores proportions are integrated using statistical analysis. Furthermore, different soil types are accompanied by different 239+240Pu vertical distributions, which relate closely to the 239+240Pu migration. Finally, based on the Convection Dispersion Equation (CDE) model, the present work find that the apparent convection velocities of 239+240Pu are ranging from 0.00032 ± 0.00031 cm a-1 to 0.473 ± 0.083 cm a-1. As shown by the four typical vertical activity distribution of 239+240Pu in soil cores, the deepened activity maximum value position of 239+240Pu implies a fast migration rate or apparent convection velocity. This study, for the first time, suggests a significant linear correlation (R2 = 0.847) between the depth of 239+240Pu maximum value (cm) and the apparent convection velocity (v, cm a-1). We hypothesize that v usually does not exceed 0.5 cm a-1 in the CDE model. A significant linear correlation is also identified between apparent dispersion coefficient (D, cm2 a-1) and v2 in Chinese soil cores from the CDE model. It will provide an important reference for harmful heavy metal migration research in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Huang
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Guangzhou 510275, PR China; Centro Nacional de Aceleradores,Sevilla 41092, Spain.
| | - Xiaoming Sun
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Guangzhou 510275, PR China.
| | - Wei Zhang
- Program in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Princeton University,Princeton, NJ 08540-6654, USA
| | - Zhi Xiao
- School of Natural Resource and Surveying, Nanning Normal University, Nanning 530001, PR China
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9
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Men W, Zheng J, Wang H, Ni Y, Kumamoto Y, Yamada M, Uchida S. Pu isotopes in the seawater off Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant site within two months after the severe nuclear accident. Environ Pollut 2019; 246:303-310. [PMID: 30557804 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2018] [Revised: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The marine environment is complex, and it is desirable to have measurements for seawater samples collected at the early stage after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident to determine the impact of Fukushima-derived radionuclides on this environment. Here Pu isotopes in seawater collected 33-163 km from the FDNPP site at the very early stage after the accident were determined (May 2011, within two months after the accident). The distribution and temporal variation of 239Pu and 240Pu were studied. The results indicated that both 239+240Pu activity concentrations (from 0.81 ± 0.16 to 11.18 ± 1.28 mBq/m3) and 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios (from 0.216 ± 0.032 to 0.308 ± 0.036) in these seawater samples were within the corresponding background ranges before the accident, and this suggested that Fukushima-derived Pu isotopes, if any, were in too limited amount to be distinguished from the background level in the seawater. The analysis of Pu isotopic composition indicated that the major sources of Pu in the seawater after the accident were still global fallout and the Pacific Proving Ground close-in fallout. The contribution analysis showed that the contributions of the Pacific Proving Ground close-in fallout in the water column of the study area ranged from 26% to 77% with the average being 48%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wu Men
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, 491 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan; Laboratory of Marine Isotopic Technology and Environmental Risk Assessment, Third Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, 184 Daxue Road, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Jian Zheng
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, 491 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan.
| | - Hai Wang
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, 491 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan; School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Youyi Ni
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, 491 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan
| | - Yuichiro Kumamoto
- Research and Development Center for Global Change, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, 2-15 Natushima-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa, 237-0061, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Yamada
- Department of Radiation Chemistry, Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University, 66-1 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori, 036-8564, Japan
| | - Shigeo Uchida
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, 491 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan
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Villa-Alfageme M, Chamizo E, Santos-Arévalo FJ, López-Gutierrez JM, Gómez-Martínez I, Hurtado-Bermúdez S. Natural and artificial radionuclides in a marine core. First results of 236U in North Atlantic Ocean sediments. J Environ Radioact 2018; 186:152-160. [PMID: 29061309 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Revised: 10/03/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
There are very few data available of 236U in marine sediment cores. In this study we present the results from the first oceanic depth profile of 236U in a sediment core sampled in the North Atlantic Ocean, at the PAP site (4500 m depth, Porcupine Abyssal Plain (PAP) site, 49°0' N, 16°30' W). Additionally, the sediment core was radiologically characterized through the measurement of anthropogenic 137Cs, 239Pu, 240Pu, 129I and 14C and natural 210Pb, 40K and 226Ra. The measured 236U concentrations decrease from about 90·106 at g-1 at the seafloor down to 0.5·106 at g-1 at 6 cm depth. They are several orders of magnitude lower than the reported values for soils from the Northern Hemisphere solely influenced by global fallout (i.e. from 2700·106 to 7500·106 at g-1). 236U/238U atom ratios measured are at least three orders of magnitude above the estimated level for the naturally occurring dissolved uranium. The obtained inventories are 1·1012 at m-2 for 236U, 80 Bq m-2 for 137Cs, 45 Bq m-2 for 239+240Pu and 2.6·1012 at m-2 for 129I. Atomic ratios for 236U/239Pu, 137Cs/236U and 129I/236U, obtained from the inventories are 0.036, 0.11 and 2.5 respectively. Concentration profiles show mobilization probably due to bioturbation from the abundant detritivore holothurian species living at the PAP site sea-floor. The range of 236U, 137Cs, 239+240Pu and 129I values, inventories and ratios of these anthropogenic radionuclides are more similar to the values due to fall-out than values from a contribution from the Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing Plants dispersed to the south-west of the North Atlantic Ocean. However, signs of an additional source are detected and might be associated to the nuclear wastes dumped on the Eastern North Atlantic Ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Villa-Alfageme
- Dpto. Física Aplicada II, Universidad de Sevilla, Av. Reina Mercedes 4A, 41012, Sevilla, Spain.
| | - E Chamizo
- Centro Nacional de Aceleradores, Universidad de Sevilla, C Thomas Alva Edison, 7, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - F J Santos-Arévalo
- Centro Nacional de Aceleradores, Universidad de Sevilla, C Thomas Alva Edison, 7, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - J M López-Gutierrez
- Centro Nacional de Aceleradores, Universidad de Sevilla, C Thomas Alva Edison, 7, 41092, Sevilla, Spain; Dpto. Física Aplicada III, Universidad de Sevilla, Virgen de África, 41011, Sevilla, Spain
| | - I Gómez-Martínez
- Centro Nacional de Aceleradores, Universidad de Sevilla, C Thomas Alva Edison, 7, 41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - S Hurtado-Bermúdez
- Centro de Investigación, Tecnología e Innovación CITIUS, Universidad de Sevilla, Av. Reina Mercedes 4B, 41012, Sevilla, Spain
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11
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Hao Y, Xu Y, Pan S, Song X, Zhang K, Guo H, Gu Z. Sources of plutonium isotopes and 137Cs in coastal seawaters of Liaodong Bay and Bohai Strait, China and its environmental implications. Mar Pollut Bull 2018; 130:240-248. [PMID: 29866553 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.03.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2017] [Revised: 02/21/2018] [Accepted: 03/22/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
In order to investigate the sources of plutonium in seawaters of Liaodong Bay and Bohai Strait, China, surface seawater samples were collected and analyzed for 239+240Pu and 137Cs by radiochemical separation combined with ICP-MS and γ-spectrometry, respectively. A large variation of 239+240Pu activities was observed, ranging from 1.993 to 29.677 mBq/m3 in the Liaodong Bay and from 0.932 to 10.183 mBq/m3 in the Bohai Strait. 137Cs activities showed little variation between the investigated locations, which was attributed to the different behavior characteristics of 239+240Pu and 137Cs in seawaters. The 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios showed a significant variation between the Liaodong Bay (0.185) and Bohai Strait (0.225), indicating that Pu derived from the Pacific Proving Grounds might have been transported to the Bohai Strait but not yet to the Liaodong Bay, which could further provide valuable reference for evaluating the seawater exchange cycle between the Bohai Sea and Yellow Sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongpei Hao
- The Key Laboratory of Coastal and Island Development of Ministry of Education, School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yihong Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Coastal and Island Development of Ministry of Education, School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Shaoming Pan
- The Key Laboratory of Coastal and Island Development of Ministry of Education, School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Xiaowei Song
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control & Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Kexin Zhang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Haiting Guo
- The Key Laboratory of Coastal and Island Development of Ministry of Education, School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Zhi Gu
- The Key Laboratory of Coastal and Island Development of Ministry of Education, School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
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12
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Uddin S, Behbehani M. Concentrations of selected radionuclides and their spatial distribution in marine sediments from the northwestern Gulf, Kuwait. Mar Pollut Bull 2018; 127:73-81. [PMID: 29475717 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.11.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2017] [Revised: 11/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/22/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
This study focuses on creating a baseline for 40K, 210Pb, 137Cs, 90Sr, 226Ra, 228Ra, 238U, 235U, 234U, 239+240Pu and 238Pu in marine sediments in the northwestern Gulf. The respective measured concentration ranges were 386-489, 32.3-48.8, 1.5-2.9, 4.53-5.42, 18.3-23.1, 18.8-23.0, 22.3-30.5, 0.99-1.33, 25.6-34.8, 0.30-0.93, and 0.0008-0.00018Bqkg-1. The levels of these radionuclides are generally comparable to values reported for other marine waters in the northern hemisphere. The 137Cs activity in the Gulf sediments offshore Kuwait is an order of magnitude lower compared to sediments from northeastern Iran. Other than that finding, no hot spots were observed in sediments adjacent to power and desalination plants, oil and gas industrial activities or wastewater treatment facilities. These data will serve as a baseline to gauge possible future inputs of radionuclides in the northern Gulf. The calculated average ratio of 235U/238U activity in the area is in agreement with the reported figure of the natural uranium ratio, suggesting the absence of depleted uranium (DU) at all the stations. The low concentration of 239+240Pu suggests that there is no significant source of plutonium except that from atmospheric fallout from weapon testing and possible dry deposition via long-range dust transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saif Uddin
- Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait.
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13
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Meusburger K, Porto P, Mabit L, La Spada C, Arata L, Alewell C. Excess Lead-210 and Plutonium-239+240: Two suitable radiogenic soil erosion tracers for mountain grassland sites. Environ Res 2018; 160:195-202. [PMID: 28987730 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2017.09.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Revised: 09/18/2017] [Accepted: 09/18/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The expected growing population and challenges associated with globalisation will increase local food and feed demands and enhance the pressure on local and regional upland soil resources. In light of these potential future developments it is necessary to define sustainable land use and tolerable soil loss rates with methods applicable and adapted to mountainous areas. Fallout-radionuclides (FRNs) are proven techniques to increase our knowledge about the status and resilience of agro-ecosystems. However, the use of the Caesium-137 (137Cs) method is complicated in the European Alps due to its heterogeneous input and the timing of the Chernobyl fallout, which occurred during a few single rain events on partly snow covered ground. Other radioisotopic techniques have been proposed to overcome these limitations. The objective of this study is to evaluate the suitability of excess Lead-210 (210Pbex) and Plutonium-239+240 (239+240Pu) as soil erosion tracers for three different grassland management types at the steep slopes (slope angles between 35 and 38°) located in the Central Swiss Alps. All three FRNs identified pastures as having the highest mean (± standard deviation) net soil loss of -6.7 ± 1.1, -9.8 ± 6.8 and -7.0 ± 5.2 Mg ha-1 yr-1 for 137Cs, 210Pbex and 239+240Pu, respectively. A mean soil loss of -5.7 ± 1.5, -5.2 ± 1.5 and-5.6 ± 2.1 was assessed for hayfields and the lowest rates were established for pastures with dwarf-shrubs (-5.2 ± 2.5, -4.5 ± 2.5 and -3.3 ± 2.4 Mg ha-1 yr-1 for 137Cs, 210Pbex and 239+240Pu, respectively). These rates, evaluated at sites with an elevated soil erosion risk exceed the respective soil production rates. Among the three FRN methods used, 239+240Pu appears as the most promising tracer in terms of measurement uncertainty and reduced small scale variability (CV of 13%). Despite a higher level of uncertainty, 210Pbex produced comparable results, with a wide range of erosion rates sensitive to changes in grassland management. 210Pbex can then be as well considered as a suitable soil tracer to investigate alpine agroecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Meusburger
- Environmental Geosciences, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 30, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - P Porto
- Dipartimento di AGRARIA, Università degli Studi Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - L Mabit
- Soil and Water Management and Crop Nutrition Laboratory, FAO/IAEA Agriculture & Biotechnology Laboratory, IAEA Laboratories Seibersdorf, Seibersdorf, Austria.
| | - C La Spada
- Dipartimento di AGRARIA, Università degli Studi Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - L Arata
- Environmental Geosciences, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 30, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - C Alewell
- Environmental Geosciences, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 30, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
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14
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Marčiulionienė D, Lukšienė B, Montvydienė D, Jefanova O, Mažeika J, Taraškevičius R, Stakėnienė R, Petrošius R, Maceika E, Tarasiuk N, Žukauskaitė Z, Kazakevičiūtė L, Volkova M. 137Cs and plutonium isotopes accumulation/retention in bottom sediments and soil in Lithuania: A case study of the activity concentration of anthropogenic radionuclides and their provenance before the start of operation of the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). J Environ Radioact 2017; 178-179:253-264. [PMID: 28917181 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.07.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2017] [Revised: 07/30/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Knowledge of the background activity concentrations of anthropogenic radionuclides before the start of operations of the new nuclear facilities in Belarus is of great value worldwide. Inland water bodies in Lithuania (specifically the Neris River, the Nemunas River and the Curonian Lagoon) are near the site of the Belarusian NPP under construction and, for this reason, sediments and flooded soils from these sensitive areas were analysed for radiocesium and plutonium isotopes (macrophytes were analysed only for 137Cs) in 2011-2012. The 137Cs and 239+240Pu activity concentrations in bottom sediments from the Nemunas River, sampled in 1995-1996 and re-calculated to the year 2016, were compared with those of 2011-2012. The obtained activity of 137Cs in bottom sediments of the Nemunas River and Curonian Lagoon varied from 1 Bq/kg to 47.0 Bq/kg. The activity of 137Cs in the tested soils ranged from 5.3 B g/kg to 32.9 Bq/kg. The 239+240Pu activity in bottom sediments of the studied sampling sites varied between 0.016 and 0.34 Bq/kg and in flooded soils from 0.064 to 0.55 Bq/kg. The 238Pu activity values were very low or lower than the detection limit. The activity of 137Cs in macrophytes varied from values lower than the detection limit to 6 Bq/kg. A strong positive linear correlation for bottom sediments was calculated between: 239+240Pu and total organic carbon (TOC), r = 0.86, p-value 0.01; 239+240Pu and silt, r = 0.80, p-value 0.029; 137Cs and silt, r = 0.78, p-value 0.04; and 137Cs and TOC, r = 0.85, p-value 0.015. The similar peculiarities of 137Cs and 239+240Pu accumulation in bottom sediments and flooded soil allow us to assume that 137Cs can be used as a tracer for 239+240Pu in the initial stage of searching for radionuclide accumulation zones. A remaining impact of the Chernobyl fallout in average comprised: in the Lower Nemunas River and Curonian Lagoon sediments - 51%, in the Middle Nemunas River -90% and in the floodplains of the Nemunas River - 59%, while the provenance of plutonium in studied bottom sediments and flooded soil was the global fallout.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Marčiulionienė
- State Research Institute Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, Vilnius, LT 08412, Lithuania.
| | - B Lukšienė
- State Research Institute Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Savanorių ave. 231, Vilnius, LT 08412, Lithuania
| | - D Montvydienė
- State Research Institute Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, Vilnius, LT 08412, Lithuania
| | - O Jefanova
- State Research Institute Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, Vilnius, LT 08412, Lithuania
| | - J Mažeika
- State Research Institute Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, Vilnius, LT 08412, Lithuania
| | - R Taraškevičius
- State Research Institute Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, Vilnius, LT 08412, Lithuania
| | - R Stakėnienė
- State Research Institute Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, Vilnius, LT 08412, Lithuania
| | - R Petrošius
- State Research Institute Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, Vilnius, LT 08412, Lithuania
| | - E Maceika
- State Research Institute Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Savanorių ave. 231, Vilnius, LT 08412, Lithuania
| | - N Tarasiuk
- State Research Institute Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Savanorių ave. 231, Vilnius, LT 08412, Lithuania
| | - Z Žukauskaitė
- State Research Institute Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Savanorių ave. 231, Vilnius, LT 08412, Lithuania
| | - L Kazakevičiūtė
- State Research Institute Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Savanorių ave. 231, Vilnius, LT 08412, Lithuania
| | - M Volkova
- Klaipėda University, Herkaus Manto str. 84, Klaipėda, LT 92294, Lithuania
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15
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Uddin S, Aba A, Behbehani M, Al-Ghadban AN, Al-Zekri W, Al-Shammari H. Plutonium and cesium baseline concentrations in seawater from northern Arabian Gulf. Mar Pollut Bull 2017; 120:396-400. [PMID: 28487058 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2017] [Revised: 04/25/2017] [Accepted: 05/01/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The Arabian Gulf is a semi-enclosed water body that has witnessed accelerated anthropogenic activity, in terms of commissioning of nuclear power plants, desalination facilities, oil refineries and extensive coastal development. Furthermore, three wars during the past three decades is a potential worry. This study presents the first plutonium baseline in seawater from the Northern Arabian Gulf. The 239+240Pu concentrations in seawater vary, between 2.9 and 4.9mBqm-3, a range that is comparable to other water masses at this latitude. The 238Pu ranged between 0.04 and 0.05mBqm-3 and the 137Cs concentration between 1.04 and 1.18Bqm-3. The ratio of 238Pu/239+240Pu at all eight sampling stations was 0.01, while the ratio of 239+240Pu/137Cs varied between 0.01 and 0.02. The presence of 137Cs and 239+240Pu in seawater from this region can mainly be attributed to the global atmospheric deposition and fluvial transport. The seawater concentration of 239+240Pu is five order of magnitude lower than bottom sediments in the area.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Uddin
- Environment and Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait.
| | - A Aba
- Environment and Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait
| | - M Behbehani
- Environment and Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait
| | - A N Al-Ghadban
- Environment and Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait
| | - W Al-Zekri
- Environment and Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait
| | - H Al-Shammari
- Environment and Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait
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16
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Arata L, Meusburger K, Frenkel E, A'Campo-Neuen A, Iurian AR, Ketterer ME, Mabit L, Alewell C. Modelling Deposition and Erosion rates with RadioNuclides (MODERN) - Part 1: A new conversion model to derive soil redistribution rates from inventories of fallout radionuclides. J Environ Radioact 2016; 162-163:45-55. [PMID: 27214287 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2016] [Revised: 05/12/2016] [Accepted: 05/12/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The measurement of fallout radionuclides (FRN) has become one of the most commonly used tools to quantify sediment erosion or depositional processes. The conversion of FRN inventories into soil erosion and deposition rates is done with a variety of models, which suitability is dependent on the selected FRN, soil cultivation (ploughed or unploughed) and movement (erosion or deposition). The authors propose a new conversion model, which can be easily and comprehensively used for different FRN, land uses and soil redistribution processes. The new model MODERN (Modelling Deposition and Erosion rates with RadioNuclides) considers the precise depth distribution of any FRN at the reference site, and allows adapting it for any specific site conditions. MODERN adaptability and performance in converting different FRN inventories is discussed for a theoretical case as well as for two already published case studies i.e. a 137Cs study in an alpine and unploughed area in the Aosta valley (Italy) and a 210Pbex study on a ploughed area located in the Transylvanian Plain (Romania). The tests highlight a highly significant correspondence (i.e. correlation factor of 0.91) between the results of MODERN and the published results of other models currently used by the FRN scientific community (i.e. the Profile Distribution Model and the Mass Balance Model). The development and the cost free accessibility of MODERN (see modern.umweltgeo.unibas.ch) will ensure the promotion of wider application of FRNs for tracing soil erosion and sedimentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Arata
- Environmental Geosciences, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Katrin Meusburger
- Environmental Geosciences, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Switzerland
| | - Elena Frenkel
- Institute de Recherche Mathématique Avancée (IRMA), University of Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Andra-Rada Iurian
- Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Consolidated Radioisotope Facility, Plymouth University, Plymouth, UK
| | | | - Lionel Mabit
- Soil and Water Management & Crop Nutrition Laboratory, FAO/IAEA Agriculture & Biotechnology Laboratory, Seibersdorf, Austria
| | - Christine Alewell
- Environmental Geosciences, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Switzerland
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Guillén J, Baeza A, Corbacho JA, Muñoz-Muñoz JG. Migration of (137)Cs, (90)Sr, and (239+240)Pu in Mediterranean forests: influence of bioavailability and association with organic acids in soil. J Environ Radioact 2015; 144:96-102. [PMID: 25827576 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2014] [Revised: 02/23/2015] [Accepted: 03/10/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The understanding of downward migration of anthropogenic radionuclides in soil is a key factor in the assessment of their environmental behavior. There are several factors that can affect this process, such as the radionuclide source, their chemical form, soil and environmental characteristics, etc. Two Mediterranean pinewood ecosystems in Spain, which were affected mainly by global fallout, were selected to assess the migration of (137)Cs, (90)Sr, and (239+240)Pu. Using auxiliary modeling (diffusion-convection equation and compartmental model), it followed from field observations that the migration velocities of (90)Sr and (239+240)Pu were similar and higher than that of (137)Cs. The downward migration of radionuclides can be considered a consequence of their association with soil particles. A sequential speciation procedure also confirmed that (90)Sr was the most bioavailable radionuclide followed by (239+240)Pu and (137)Cs. Although this can explain the different velocity of (90)Sr and (137)Cs, bioavailability could not explain by itself the similar velocities of (239+240)Pu and (90)Sr. The presence of organic acids in the soil can also influence the migration of radionuclides attached to them, which decreased in the order: (239+240)Pu > (90)Sr > (137)Cs. Thus, the joint consideration of bioavailable and humic + fulvic acid fractions can explain the observed differences in the downward velocities.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Guillén
- LARUEX, Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory, Dpt. Applied Physics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Avda. Universidad, s/n, 10003 Cáceres, Spain.
| | - A Baeza
- LARUEX, Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory, Dpt. Applied Physics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Avda. Universidad, s/n, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
| | - J A Corbacho
- LARUEX, Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory, Dpt. Applied Physics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Avda. Universidad, s/n, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
| | - J G Muñoz-Muñoz
- LARUEX, Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory, Dpt. Applied Physics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Avda. Universidad, s/n, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
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