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Manoj S, Thirumurugan M, Elango L. Determination of distribution coefficient of uranium from physical and chemical properties of soil. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 244:125411. [PMID: 32050322 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Revised: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Uranium is a long lived radioactive element which is naturally present in minute concentrations in igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. These rocks when subjected to weathering results in the formation of soil which also has traces of uranium. Distribution coefficient (Kd) is a crucial parameter in environmental assessment which is used to predict the interaction and transport of uranium in groundwater. The objective of the study is to estimate the Kd of uranium in soils and to develop a relation between this and the soil parameters. Seven rock samples and twenty three soil samples were collected during this study. The Kd of rock samples of different grain sizes where determined and the soil samples were analysed for electrical conductivity, pH, grain size, bulk density, particle density, porosity, calcium carbonate, cation exchange capacity and Kd. The Kd of the soil increases with increase in soil pH up to 6, after which it gradually decreases. Multiple regression analysis was performed to quantify the effect of various soil parameters on soil Kd and equations were statistically significant. Thus, soil Kd in a region could be predicted using limited soil properties with such statistically significant equations.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Manoj
- Department of Geology, Anna University, Chennai, 600 025, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - M Thirumurugan
- Department of Geology, Anna University, Chennai, 600 025, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - L Elango
- Department of Geology, Anna University, Chennai, 600 025, Tamil Nadu, India.
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2
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Blanco Rodríguez P, Lozano JC, Vera Tomé F. How the distribution coefficient of 238U in natural soils is affected by the method used to obtain the soil solution and its dependency on structural characteristics. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 242:125169. [PMID: 31675576 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/20/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
A systematic study on desorption of uranium in a natural soil has been carried out to reduce the level of uncertainty associated with the method employed to determine the values of the distribution coefficient (Kd). Generally, the operating method used to extract and analyze the soil solution determines the Kd values. Here, the centrifugation method has been used to obtain soil solution extracts. Several procedural parameters have been considered such as incubation time, the level of soil moisture relative to saturation (saturation degree) and centrifugation speed (equivalent to effective suction). In order to analyze the influence of soil structural characteristics, this study considers three grain-size fractions of soil: loamy coarse sand, loamy fine sand, and loam, all of which are obtained from a natural soil collected in a uranium mineralized area. Our results indicate that neither incubation time nor centrifugation speed influence the determination of Kd for uranium. The results also indicate that the level of soil moisture is the most important factor for determining 238U-Kd. It has been shown that the influence of moisture on Kd also depends on the structural characteristic of the soil. For the loamy coarse sand subsample, the moisture level during the incubation period showed a significant influence on the Kd. In addition, through the use of regression analysis, the pH was identified as the cofactor with the greatest influence on Kd of uranium.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Blanco Rodríguez
- Natural Radioactivity Group, University of Extremadura, 06071, Badajoz, Spain.
| | - J C Lozano
- Laboratory of Ionizing Radiations and Dating, University of Salamanca, 37008, Salamanca, Spain
| | - F Vera Tomé
- Natural Radioactivity Group, University of Extremadura, 06071, Badajoz, Spain
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3
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El-Gamal H, Hussien MT, Saleh EE. Evaluation of natural radioactivity levels in soil and various foodstuffs from Delta Abyan, Yemen. JOURNAL OF RADIATION RESEARCH AND APPLIED SCIENCES 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/16878507.2019.1646523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hany El-Gamal
- Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Maher Taher Hussien
- Physics Department, Faculty of Education yafea, Aden University, Aden, Yemen
| | - Emran Eisa Saleh
- Physics Department, Faculty of Education Toor El-Baha, Aden University, Aden, Yemen
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Teramage MT, Carasco L, Coppin F. Impact of drying and wetting cycles on 137Cs ageing in forest soils contaminated with different input forms. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2019; 203:93-97. [PMID: 30877904 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Revised: 03/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Water and acetate extractable radiocesium (137Cs) concentrations were monitored for >400 days in soils that were amended with aqueous 137Cs or solid organic sources of 137Cs (plant litter or fragmented organic materials) and subjected to a series of wet-dry cycles. The soils were collected from broadleaf and cedar forests in Fukushima, Japan. In soils amended with aqueous 137Cs, the water extractable 137Cs fraction was very low (<1%) and decreased over time while it was below the detection limit in soils amended with solid organic sources of 137Cs. The acetate extractable 137Cs in soil amended with aqueous 137Cs also exhibited an exponential decrease over time (∼55%-30%) but, remained higher than in soils amended by solid organic sources of 137Cs which remained stable (ranging from 2% to 15%). These results collectively indicate that: (1) drying and wetting cycles have little impact on 137Cs availability, possibly due to the relatively short observation period; (2) 137Cs ageing (increased binding to soil) was apparent only when 137Cs was applied in the aqueous form; and (3) both the water and acetate-extractable 137Cs fractions were greater for aqueous amended than for solid organic amended soils. More acetate extractable 137Cs was observed in soils contaminated with broadleaf materials compared to their cedar counterparts, which may be linked to the nature of the organic material itself. For natural conditions, such kind of information is useful to improve our understanding of the evolution of 137Cs availability with time from different contamination sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengistu T Teramage
- Institute of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), PSE-ENV, SRTE, LR2T, CE Cadarache, 13115, Saint Paul les Durance Cedex, France.
| | - Loic Carasco
- Institute of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), PSE-ENV, SRTE, LR2T, CE Cadarache, 13115, Saint Paul les Durance Cedex, France
| | - Frederic Coppin
- Institute of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), PSE-ENV, SRTE, LR2T, CE Cadarache, 13115, Saint Paul les Durance Cedex, France.
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Jensen H, Gaw S, Lehto NJ, Hassall L, Robinson BH. The mobility and plant uptake of gallium and indium, two emerging contaminants associated with electronic waste and other sources. CHEMOSPHERE 2018; 209:675-684. [PMID: 29958163 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.06.111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Revised: 06/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/15/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Gallium (Ga) and indium (In) are increasingly susceptible to soil contamination via disposal of electronic equipment. Chemically similar to aluminium (Al), these elements may be mobile and bioavailable under acidic conditions. We sought to determine extent and nature of Ga and In mobility in the soil - plant system and thus their potential to enter the food chain. Batch sorption experiments on a high fertility silt loam (pH 5.95, CEC 22 meq 100 g-1) showed strong retention of both elements to the soil matrix, with mean distribution coefficient (KD) values of 408 and 2021 L kg-1 for Ga and In respectively. KD increased with concentration, which we attributed to precipitation of excess ions as insoluble hydroxides. KD decreased with increased pH as Ga/In(OH)2+ and Ga/In(OH)2+ transitioned to Ga/In(OH)4-. Movement into the aboveground portions of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) was low, with bioaccumulation factors of 0.0037 for Ga and 0.0002 for In; foliar concentrations peaked at 11.6 mg kg-1 and 0.015 mg kg-1 respectively. The mobility of Ga and In in the soil - plant system is low compared to other common trace element contaminants such as cadmium, copper, and zinc. Therefore, Ga and In are likely to accumulate in soils and soil ingestion, either directly, via inhaled dust, or dust attached to food, will be the largest pathway into the food chain. Future work should focus on the effect of redox conditions on Ga and In, as well as uptake into acidophilic plants such as Camellia spp., which accumulate Al.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayley Jensen
- School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of Canterbury, New Zealand
| | - Sally Gaw
- School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of Canterbury, New Zealand
| | - Niklas J Lehto
- Department of Soil and Physical Sciences, Lincoln University, New Zealand
| | - Leanne Hassall
- Department of Soil and Physical Sciences, Lincoln University, New Zealand
| | - Brett H Robinson
- School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of Canterbury, New Zealand.
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Blanco Rodríguez P, Lozano JC, Vera Tomé F, Prieto C, Medeiros A. Influence of soil conditions on the distribution coefficients of 226Ra in natural soils. CHEMOSPHERE 2018; 205:188-193. [PMID: 29698829 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.04.093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Revised: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
In order to clarify some of the assumptions and approximations about the use of the distribution coefficient Kd for 226Ra in soils, a systematic study has been performed using centrifugation to extract the soil solution. The separated fractions of the soil solution have different kinetics with respect to the sorption process in the soil, which may in turn condition the final chemical composition and even the speciation of the radionuclides in solution. In the experimental design of this study three factors were considered: the moisture level in the incubation process, incubation time and the speed of centrifugation. Also, three levels were chosen for each factor. In order to analyze the influence of the structural characteristics of the soil, this study was performed with three textural fractions: coarse sand, fine sand, and silt and clay, obtained from an only soil. Also, the soil was naturally enriched with radionuclides of the 238U series. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed in order to assess the influence of the factors studied on the distribution coefficient of 226Ra. The results indicate that different behaviors can be observed depending on the structural characteristic of the soil. In the case of particle size, the soil with the largest grain size showed that the incubation process parameters influence the equilibrium level achieved, while in the case of the smallest edaphic particles, radium is not homogeneously distributed in the soil solution and the Kd value is dependent on the speed of centrifugation.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Blanco Rodríguez
- Natural Radioactivity Group, University of Extremadura, 06071 Badajoz, Spain.
| | - J C Lozano
- Laboratory of Ionizing Radiations, University of Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
| | - F Vera Tomé
- Natural Radioactivity Group, University of Extremadura, 06071 Badajoz, Spain
| | - C Prieto
- Laboratory of Ionizing Radiations, University of Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
| | - A Medeiros
- CAPES Foundation, Ministry of Education, Brazil
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Galhardi JA, García-Tenorio R, Bonotto DM, Díaz Francés I, Motta JG. Natural radionuclides in plants, soils and sediments affected by U-rich coal mining activities in Brazil. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2017; 177:37-47. [PMID: 28601654 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2017] [Revised: 05/01/2017] [Accepted: 06/01/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Mining activities can increase the mobility of metals by accelerating the dissolution and leaching of minerals from the rocks and tailing piles to the environment and, consequently, their availability for plants and subsequent transfer to the food chain. The weathering of minerals and the disposal of coal waste in tailing piles can accelerate the generation of acid mine drainage (AMD), which is responsible for the higher dissolution of metals in mining areas. In this context, the behavior of U, Th and K in soils and sediment, and the transfer factor (TF) of 238U, 234U and 210Po for soybean, wheat, pine and eucalyptus cultivated around a coal mine in southern Brazil was evaluated. Alpha and gamma spectrometry were used for the measurements of the activity concentration of the radioelements. 210Po was the radionuclide that is most accumulated in the plants, especially in the leaves. When comparing the plant species, pine showed the highest TF values for 234U (0.311 ± 0.420) for leaves, while eucalyptus showed the highest TF for 238U (0.344 ± 0.414) for leaves. In general, TF were higher for the leaves of soybean and wheat when compared to the grains, and grains of wheat showed higher TF for 210Po and 238U than grains of soybean. Deviations from the natural U isotopic ratio were recorded at all investigated areas, indicating possible industrial and mining sources of U for the vegetables. A safety assessment of transport routes and accumulation of radionuclides in soils with a potential for cultivation is important, mainly in tropical areas contaminated with solid waste and effluents from mines and industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Aparecida Galhardi
- Departamento de Petrologia e Metalogenia, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Campus de Rio Claro, Av. 24-A No.1515, CEP 13506-900, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Rafael García-Tenorio
- Departamento de Física Aplicada II, Universidad de Sevilla, Av. Reina Mercedes, 2, 41012, Seville, Spain
| | - Daniel Marcos Bonotto
- Departamento de Petrologia e Metalogenia, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Campus de Rio Claro, Av. 24-A No.1515, CEP 13506-900, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Inmaculada Díaz Francés
- Departamento de Física Aplicada II, Universidad de Sevilla, Av. Reina Mercedes, 2, 41012, Seville, Spain
| | - João Gabriel Motta
- Instituto de Geociências, Universidade de Campinas, R. João P. Calógeras, 51, CEP 13083-870, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
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Rumynin VG, Nikulenkov AM. Geological and physicochemical controls of the spatial distribution of partition coefficients for radionuclides (Sr-90, Cs-137, Co-60, Pu-239,240 and Am-241) at a site of nuclear reactors and radioactive waste disposal (St. Petersburg region, Russian Federation). JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2016; 162-163:205-218. [PMID: 27267158 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.05.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2016] [Revised: 05/25/2016] [Accepted: 05/28/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The paper presents a study of the sorption properties of sediments of different geological ages and lithological types, governing radionuclide retention in the subsurface (up to 160 m beneath the surface) within the area of potential influence of the Northwestern Center of Atomic Energy (NWCAE), St. Petersburg region, RF. The focus of this work is mostly on the sedimentary rocks of two types, i.e., weakly cemented sandstone and lithified clay formations of Cambrian and Vendian series. The first lithological unit is associated with a groundwater reservoir (Lomonosov aquifer), and the second one, with both a relative aquitard in the upper part of the Vendian formation (Kotlin clay) and a regional aquifer (Gdov aquifer) in the lower part of the formation. The main mechanisms responsible for the variability of the sorption distribution coefficient (Kd, defined as the ratio of the concentration of solute on solid phase to its concentration in solution at equilibrium) was identified for radionuclides such as Sr-90, Cs-137, Co-60, Pu-239,240, and Am-241. It was shown that the main factors contributing to the chemical heterogeneity of the Cambrian sandstone were related to the presence of secondary minerals (iron and magnesium oxides and hydroxides produced by the weathering process) in trace amounts, forming correlated layer structures. The statistical analysis of nonlinear isotherms confirmed this conclusion. For the Vendian formation, a determinate trend was established in the Kd change over depth as a result of temporal trends in the sedimentation process and pore-water chemistry. The geostatistical characteristics and the spatial correlation models for describing linear sorption of different radionuclides are not identical, and the exhibition of chemical heterogeneity of sedimentary rock of a particular lithological type depends on radionuclide chemistry. Moreover, variogram analysis for some Kd data sets (both in Cambrian and Vendian formations) demonstrates the total absence of auto-correlation (pure nugget effect). It can be supposed that sampling distances did not allow the evaluation of small-scale variability in sediment sorption properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vyacheslav G Rumynin
- Institute of Environmental Geology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Sredniy Ave., 41, 199004, Russia.
| | - Anton M Nikulenkov
- Institute of Environmental Geology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Sredniy Ave., 41, 199004, Russia
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9
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Mitrović B, Ajtić J, Lazić M, Andrić V, Krstić N, Vranješ B, Vićentijević M. Natural and anthropogenic radioactivity in the environment of Kopaonik mountain, Serbia. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2016; 215:273-279. [PMID: 27213569 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2016.05.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2015] [Revised: 05/11/2016] [Accepted: 05/13/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
To evaluate the state of the environment in Kopaonik, a mountain in Serbia, the activity concentrations of (4) K, (226)Ra, (232)Th and (137)Cs in five different types of environmental samples are determined by gamma ray spectrometry, and radiological hazard due to terrestrial radionuclides is calculated. The mean activity concentrations of natural radionuclides in the soil are higher than the global average. However, with an exception of two sampling locations, the external radiation hazard index is below one, implying an insignificant radiation hazard. Apart from (40)K, content of the natural radionuclides is predominantly below minimum detectable activities in grass and cow milk, but not in mosses. Although (137)Cs is present in the soil, grass, mosses and herbal plants, its specific activity in cow milk is below minimum detectable activity. Amongst the investigated herbal plants, Vaccinium myrtillus L. shows accumulating properties, as a high content of (137)Cs is detected therein. Therefore, moderation is advised in consuming Vaccinium myrtillus L. tea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Branislava Mitrović
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Oslobođenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Jelena Ajtić
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Oslobođenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Marko Lazić
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Oslobođenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Velibor Andrić
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Oslobođenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Nikola Krstić
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Oslobođenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Borjana Vranješ
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Oslobođenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Mihajlo Vićentijević
- Science Institute of Veterinary Medicine of Serbia, Vojvode Toze 14, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
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Kautsky U, Lindborg T, Valentin J. A biosphere assessment of high-level radioactive waste disposal in Sweden. RADIATION PROTECTION DOSIMETRY 2015; 164:103-107. [PMID: 25431486 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncu336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Licence applications to build a repository for the disposal of Swedish spent nuclear fuel have been lodged, underpinned by myriad reports and several broader reviews. This paper sketches out the technical and administrative aspects and highlights a recent review of the biosphere effects of a potential release from the repository. A comprehensive database and an understanding of major fluxes and pools of water and organic matter in the landscape let one envisage the future by looking at older parts of the site. Thus, today's biosphere is used as a natural analogue of possible future landscapes. It is concluded that the planned repository can meet the safety criteria and will have no detectable radiological impact on plants and animals. This paper also briefly describes biosphere work undertaken after the review. The multidisciplinary approach used is relevant in a much wider context and may prove beneficial across many environmental contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrik Kautsky
- Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co. (SKB), Box 250, Stockholm SE-101 24, Sweden
| | - Tobias Lindborg
- Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co. (SKB), Box 250, Stockholm SE-101 24, Sweden
| | - Jack Valentin
- Jack Valentin Radiological Protection, Öregrundsgatan 15, Stockholm SE-115 59, Sweden
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Becker JK, Lindborg T, Thorne MC. Influence of climate on landscape characteristics in safety assessments of repositories for radioactive wastes. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2014; 138:192-204. [PMID: 25255485 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2014.08.010] [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: 05/19/2014] [Revised: 08/23/2014] [Accepted: 08/24/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
In safety assessments of repositories for radioactive wastes, large spatial and temporal scales have to be considered when developing an approach to risk calculations. A wide range of different types of information may be required. Local to the site of interest, temperature and precipitation data may be used to determine the erosional regime (which may also be conditioned by the vegetation characteristics adopted, based both on climatic and other considerations). However, geomorphological changes may be governed by regional rather than local considerations, e.g. alteration of river base levels, river capture and drainage network reorganisation, or the progression of an ice sheet or valley glacier across the site. The regional climate is in turn governed by the global climate. In this work, a commentary is presented on the types of climate models that can be used to develop projections of climate change for use in post-closure radiological impact assessments of geological repositories for radioactive wastes. These models include both Atmosphere-Ocean General Circulation Models and Earth Models of Intermediate Complexity. The relevant outputs available from these models are identified and consideration is given to how these outputs may be used to inform projections of landscape development. Issues of spatial and temporal downscaling of climate model outputs to meet the requirements of local-scale landscape development modelling are also addressed. An example is given of how climate change and landscape development influence the radiological impact of radionuclides potentially released from the deep geological disposal facility for spent nuclear fuel that SKB (the Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company) proposes to construct at Forsmark, Sweden.
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Affiliation(s)
- J K Becker
- National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste (Nagra), Switzerland
| | - T Lindborg
- Svensk Kärnbränslehantering AB, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - M C Thorne
- Mike Thorne and Associates Limited, Quarry Cottage, Hamsterley, Co. Durham DL13 3NJ, UK.
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12
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Wang S, Chen Z, Tang X, Shi L, Zhang L, Yao M. Rapid determination of partition coefficients of pharmaceuticals by phase distribution and microchip capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductivity detection. J Sep Sci 2013; 36:3615-22. [DOI: 10.1002/jssc.201300720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2013] [Revised: 09/02/2013] [Accepted: 09/02/2013] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sifeng Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Sun Yat-sen University; Guangzhou P. R. China
| | - Zuanguang Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Sun Yat-sen University; Guangzhou P. R. China
| | - Xiuwen Tang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Sun Yat-sen University; Guangzhou P. R. China
| | - Lijuan Shi
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Sun Yat-sen University; Guangzhou P. R. China
| | - Lin Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Sun Yat-sen University; Guangzhou P. R. China
| | - Meicun Yao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Sun Yat-sen University; Guangzhou P. R. China
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13
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Kautsky U, Lindborg T, Valentin J. Humans and ecosystems over the coming millennia: overview of a biosphere assessment of radioactive waste disposal in Sweden. AMBIO 2013; 42:383-92. [PMID: 23619796 PMCID: PMC3636374 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-013-0405-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
This is an overview of the strategy used to describe the effects of a potential release from a radioactive waste repository on human exposure and future environments. It introduces a special issue of AMBIO, in which 13 articles show ways of understanding and characterizing the future. The study relies mainly on research performed in the context of a recent safety report concerning a repository for spent nuclear fuel in Sweden (the so-called SR-Site project). The development of a good understanding of on-site processes and acquisition of site-specific data facilitated the development of new approaches for assessment of surface ecosystems. A systematic and scientifically coherent methodology utilizes the understanding of the current spatial and temporal dynamics as an analog for future conditions. We conclude that future ecosystem can be inferred from a few variables and that this multidisciplinary approach is relevant in a much wider context than radioactive waste.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrik Kautsky
- Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co. (SKB), Box 250, 101 24 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tobias Lindborg
- Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co. (SKB), Box 250, 101 24 Stockholm, Sweden
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14
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Piqué À, Arcos D, Grandia F, Molinero J, Duro L, Berglund S. Conceptual and numerical modeling of radionuclide transport and retention in near-surface systems. AMBIO 2013; 42:476-87. [PMID: 23619805 PMCID: PMC3636378 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-013-0399-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Scenarios of barrier failure and radionuclide release to the near-surface environment are important to consider within performance and safety assessments of repositories for nuclear waste. A geological repository for spent nuclear fuel is planned at Forsmark, Sweden. Conceptual and numerical reactive transport models were developed in order to assess the retention capacity of the Quaternary till and clay deposits for selected radionuclides, in the event of an activity release from the repository. The elements considered were carbon (C), chlorine (Cl), cesium (Cs), iodine (I), molybdenum (Mo), niobium (Nb), nickel (Ni), radium (Ra), selenium (Se), strontium (Sr), technetium (Tc), thorium (Th), and uranium (U). According to the numerical predictions, the repository-derived nuclides that would be most significantly retained are Th, Ni, and Cs, mainly through sorption onto clays, followed by U, C, Sr, and Ra, trapped by sorption and/or incorporation into mineral phases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Àngels Piqué
- CAT ENVIRO Geochemical Consultancy, Pl. Catalunya 4, 08810 Sant Pere de Ribes, Barcelona Spain
| | - David Arcos
- Amphos 21, Passeig de Garcia i Faria 49-51, 08019 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Fidel Grandia
- Amphos 21, Passeig de Garcia i Faria 49-51, 08019 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jorge Molinero
- Amphos 21, Passeig de Garcia i Faria 49-51, 08019 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lara Duro
- Amphos 21, Passeig de Garcia i Faria 49-51, 08019 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sten Berglund
- HydroResearch AB, Stora Marknadsvägen 15S, 12th Floor, 183 34 Täby, Sweden
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