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Adeola AO, Iwuozor KO, Akpomie KG, Adegoke KA, Oyedotun KO, Ighalo JO, Amaku JF, Olisah C, Conradie J. Advances in the management of radioactive wastes and radionuclide contamination in environmental compartments: a review. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2023; 45:2663-2689. [PMID: 36097208 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-022-01378-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Several anthropogenic activities produce radioactive materials into the environment. According to reports, exposure to high concentrations of radioactive elements such as potassium (40K), uranium (238U and 235U), and thorium (232Th) poses serious health concerns. The scarcity of reviews addressing the occurrence/sources, distribution, and remedial solutions of radioactive contamination in the ecosystems has fueled data collection for this bibliometric survey. In rivers and potable water, reports show that several parts of Europe and Asia have recorded radionuclide concentrations much higher than the permissible level of 1 Bq/L. According to various investigations, activity concentrations of gamma-emitting radioactive elements discovered in soils are higher than the global average crustal values, especially around mining activities. Adsorption technique is the most prevalent remedial method for decontaminating radiochemically polluted sites. However, there is a need to investigate integrated approaches/combination techniques. Although complete radionuclide decontamination utilizing the various technologies is feasible, future research should focus on cost-effectiveness, waste minimization, sustainability, and rapid radionuclide decontamination. Radioactive materials can be harnessed as fuel for nuclear power generation to meet worldwide energy demand. However, proper infrastructure must be put in place to prevent catastrophic disasters.
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Affiliation(s)
- A O Adeola
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria.
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, 2028, South Africa.
| | - K O Iwuozor
- Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
| | - K G Akpomie
- Department of Chemistry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa
- Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
| | - K A Adegoke
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, 2028, South Africa
| | - K O Oyedotun
- Department of Physics, Institute of Applied Materials, SARChI Chair in Carbon Technology and Materials, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa
| | - J O Ighalo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, P.M.B. 5025, Awka, Nigeria
| | - J F Amaku
- Department of Chemistry, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria
| | - C Olisah
- Department of Botany, Institute for Coastal and Marine Research (CMR), Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
| | - J Conradie
- Department of Chemistry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa
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Maity S, Sandeep P, Mishra S, Dusane CB, Chaudhary DK, Savitri PP, Sudhakar J, Pillai AS, Kumar AV. Sorption behavior studies of Cs and its migration in soil samples around Visakhapatnam, India. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:685. [PMID: 37195376 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11320-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Meeting the requirement of high specific activity of radioisotopes and carrying out comprehensive research and development activities in the nuclear field, different nuclear facilities, including their waste disposal facilities, are going to be operational at Visakhapatnam, India. Due to environmental processes, the engineered disposal modules may lose their structural integrity and may release some radioactivity to the geo-environment. The subsequent migration of radionuclides reaching the geological environment will be governed by the distribution coefficient (Kd). Cs was chosen for the sorption study in two soil samples (soil-29 and 31) and to estimate the Kd in all the 40 soil samples through the laboratory batch method at the new campus of DAE, Visakhapatnam, India. Different soil chemical parameters like pH, organic matter, CaCO3, and cation exchange capacity were determined in 40 soil samples and their effect on Cs sorption was investigated. The effect of solution pH and initial concentration of Cs on sorption was also studied. The results show that the sorption of Cs increases with increasing pH. The Cs sorption was well explained by Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherm models. Site-specific distribution coefficients (Kd) were also estimated and the values were found to vary from 75 ± 1 to 540 ± 12 L kg-1. The observed wide variation in Kd could be due to large variations in the physico-chemical properties of collected soil. The competitive ions effect study suggests that K+ has higher interference for Cs+ sorption as compared to Na+. The present study results will help assess the environmental impact due to Cs release in any unforeseen scenario and in planning effective remediation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukanta Maity
- Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, India.
| | - P Sandeep
- Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, India
| | - S Mishra
- Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400094, India
| | - C B Dusane
- Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, India
| | - D K Chaudhary
- Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, India
| | - P Padma Savitri
- Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, India
| | - J Sudhakar
- Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, India
| | - Anilkumar S Pillai
- Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, India
| | - A Vinod Kumar
- Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400094, India
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Goulet RR, Newsome L, Vandenhove H, Keum DK, Horyna J, Kamboj S, Brown J, Johansen MP, Twining J, Wood MD, Černe M, Beaugelin-Seiller K, Beresford NA. Best practices for predictions of radionuclide activity concentrations and total absorbed dose rates to freshwater organisms exposed to uranium mining/milling. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2022; 244-245:106826. [PMID: 35134696 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.106826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Predictions of radionuclide dose rates to freshwater organisms can be used to evaluate the radiological environmental impacts of releases from uranium mining and milling projects. These predictions help inform decisions on the implementation of mitigation measures. The objective of this study was to identify how dose rate modelling could be improved to reduce uncertainty in predictions to non-human biota. For this purpose, we modelled the activity concentrations of 210Pb, 210Po, 226Ra, 230Th, and 238U downstream of uranium mines and mills in northern Saskatchewan, Canada, together with associated weighted absorbed dose rates for a freshwater food chain using measured activity concentrations in water and sediments. Differences in predictions of radionuclide activity concentrations occurred mainly from the different default partition coefficient and concentration ratio values from one model to another and including all or only some 238U decay daughters in the dose rate assessments. Consequently, we recommend a standardized best-practice approach to calculate weighted absorbed dose rates to freshwater biota whether a facility is at the planning, operating or decommissioned stage. At the initial planning stage, the best-practice approach recommend using conservative site-specific baseline activity concentrations in water, sediments and organisms and predict conservative incremental activity concentrations in these media by selecting concentration ratios based on species similarity and similar water quality conditions to reduce the uncertainty in dose rate calculations. At the operating and decommissioned stages, the best-practice approach recommends relying on measured activity concentrations in water, sediment, fish tissue and whole-body of small organisms to further reduce uncertainty in dose rate estimates. This approach would allow for more realistic but still conservative dose assessments when evaluating impacts from uranium mining projects and making decision on adequate controls of releases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard R Goulet
- CanmetMINING, Natural Resources Canada, Canada; Department of Earth Sciences, University of Ottawa, Canada.
| | - Laura Newsome
- Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter, United Kingdom
| | | | - Dong-Kwon Keum
- Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Republic of Korea
| | - Jan Horyna
- State Office for Nuclear Safety, Czech Republic; Moskevska 74, 10100, Prague 10, Czech Republic
| | | | - Justin Brown
- Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, Norway
| | | | - John Twining
- Australian Nuclear Science & Technology Organization, Australia
| | | | - Marko Černe
- Institute of Agriculture and Tourism, Poreč, Croatia; Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | - Nicholas A Beresford
- University of Salford, United Kingdom; UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, United Kingdom
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Bam W, Teyssié JL, Metian M, Oberhaensli F, Maiti K, Swarzenski PW. An experimental approach to assess the post-depositional mobility of 134Cs. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2021; 240:106753. [PMID: 34619634 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2021.106753] [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: 06/12/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The partitioning coefficient, Kd, which is defined by the reversible sorption processes between a solid and an aqueous phase at equilibrium, is one of the most important parameters to assess environmental transport and risk. In this study, a series of simple laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate sorption properties of 134Cs on a model sediment under two treatments (shaken vs non-shaken) and with three (small: <75 μm, large: > 75 μm and bulk i.e., composite) particle size fractions. Vertical transport of 134Cs across the water-sediment interface and into sediment was also evaluated. As expected, grain size had the strongest influence on 134Cs Kd values, with the small particle size fraction yielding significantly higher Kd values than the large and bulk fractions. The mean Kd values obtained from the various experiments ranged from 89 ± 13-130 ± 5 L kg-1 (small), 44 ± 10-91 ± 13 L kg-1 (large), 73 ± 3-112 ± 11 L kg-1 (bulk, shaken) and 73 ± 5-110 ± 4 L kg-1 (bulk, non-shaken). Most of the 134Cs partitioning processes occurred rapidly (<2 h) into the experiment. Physical mixing (shaken) did not appear to significantly affect the 134Cs Kd values. In complement, a separate experiment on the vertical penetration of 134Cs into a bulk sediment column showed that 134Cs was able to penetrate up to 5 cm into the sediment column after 88 days (∼0.6 mm d-1) and this flux rate is comparable to natural settings. Adsorption and contact time were found to be key for the 134Cs penetration process. Results from these experiments add to the literature on post-event radionuclide transport studies in marine settings and provide an experimental perspective that can be built upon to complement field observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wokil Bam
- International Atomic Energy Agency, Principality of Monaco, 98000, Monaco; Department Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA; Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemisty, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA.
| | - Jean-Louis Teyssié
- International Atomic Energy Agency, Principality of Monaco, 98000, Monaco
| | - Marc Metian
- International Atomic Energy Agency, Principality of Monaco, 98000, Monaco
| | | | - Kanchan Maiti
- Department Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA
| | - Peter W Swarzenski
- International Atomic Energy Agency, Principality of Monaco, 98000, Monaco.
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Ram R, Kalnins C, Pownceby MI, Ehrig K, Etschmann B, Spooner N, Brugger J. Selective radionuclide co-sorption onto natural minerals in environmental and anthropogenic conditions. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 409:124989. [PMID: 33450517 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities can redistribute the constituents of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM), posing potential hazards to populations and ecosystems. In the present study, the co-sorption of several RN from the U decay chain- 238U, 230Th, 226Ra, 210Pb and 210Po, onto common minerals associated with mining activities (chalcopyrite, bornite, pyrite and barite) was investigated, in order to identify the various factors that control long-term NORM mobility and retentivity in environmental acid-mine drainage systems and hydrometallurgical processing. The results show selective RN co-sorption to the various natural minerals, suggesting that mineral-specific mechanisms govern the variability in NORM mobility and retentivity. Both 226Ra and 210Po underwent significant sorption onto the natural minerals investigated in this study. The order of co-sorption in sulfate media for chalcopyrite and bornite was 210Po>226Ra>206Pb>210Pb>238U/230Th. Conversely, both pyrite and barite showed increased affinity for 226Ra; the order of co-sorption in sulfate media was 226Ra>210Po>206Pb/210Pb>238U/230Th for pyrite and 226Ra>206Pb/210Pb>230Th/238U/210Po for barite. Similar orders of co-sorption were observed in the nitrate media: for chalcopyrite and bornite the order was 210Po>226Ra/206Pb/210Pb/238U/230Th compared to 226Ra>210Po/206Pb/210Pb/238U/230Th for pyrite and barite. The behavior of 210Po was found to the anomalous: in both sulfate and nitrate solutions, 210Po had little affinity for barite compared to the sulfides. Thermodynamic modeling indicated the formation of a reduced PoS(s) phase at the surface of sulfide minerals, leading to the suggestion that 210Po likely undergoes reductive precipitation on the surface of sulfide minerals. The high sorption of both 206Pb and 210Pb observed in the sulfate systems were likely as a result of co-precipitation as insoluble anglesite compared to nitrate where they mainly remained in solution. Overall, barite showed the highest affinity for 226Ra, given its propensity to sorb 226Ra (similar ionic size). Both 238U and 230Th were highly mobile in acidic sulfate and nitrate solutions. The results highlighted here identify the various constraints on the natural variability and fractionation of NORM in the environment, as well as the mineral-specific mechanisms that control co-sorption of RN. This information provides a framework for predicting RN transport within soils and ground waters with variable geochemical conditions and in metallurgical extraction processes, in order to develop effective strategies towards NORM mitigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Ram
- School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment, 9 Rainforest Walk, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia.
| | - Chris Kalnins
- Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing and School of Physical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | | | - Kathy Ehrig
- BHP Olympic Dam, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Barbara Etschmann
- School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment, 9 Rainforest Walk, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Nigel Spooner
- Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing and School of Physical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Joël Brugger
- School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment, 9 Rainforest Walk, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia.
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Izquierdo M, Young SD, Bailey EH, Crout NMJ, Lofts S, Chenery SR, Shaw G. Kinetics of uranium(VI) lability and solubility in aerobic soils. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 258:127246. [PMID: 32535442 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127246] [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: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Uranium may pose a hazard to ecosystems and human health due to its chemotoxic and radiotoxic properties. The long half-life of many U isotopes and their ability to migrate raise concerns over disposal of radioactive wastes. This work examines the long-term U bioavailability in aerobic soils following direct deposition or transport to the surface and addresses two questions: (i) to what extent do soil properties control the kinetics of U speciation changes in soils and (ii) over what experimental timescales must U reaction kinetics be measured to reliably predict long-term of impact in the terrestrial environment? Soil microcosms spiked with soluble uranyl were incubated for 1.7 years. Changes in UVI fractionation were periodically monitored by soil extractions and isotopic dilution techniques, shedding light on the binding strength of uranyl onto the solid phase. Uranyl sorption was rapid and strongly buffered by soil Fe oxides, but UVI remained reversibly held and geochemically reactive. The pool of uranyl species able to replenish the soil solution through several equilibrium reactions is substantially larger than might be anticipated from typical chemical extractions and remarkably similar across different soils despite contrasting soil properties. Modelled kinetic parameters indicate that labile UVI declines very slowly, suggesting that the processes and transformations transferring uranyl to an intractable sink progress at a slow rate regardless of soil characteristics. This is of relevance in the context of radioecological assessments, given that soil solution is the key reservoir for plant uptake.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Izquierdo
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, United Kingdom; Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, 18-26 Jordi Girona, Barcelona, 08034, Spain.
| | - S D Young
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, United Kingdom
| | - E H Bailey
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, United Kingdom
| | - N M J Crout
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, United Kingdom
| | - S Lofts
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, United Kingdom
| | - S R Chenery
- British Geological Survey, Environmental Science Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, United Kingdom
| | - G Shaw
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, United Kingdom
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