1
|
Girault F, Perrier F, Ourcival JM, Ferry R, Gaudemer Y, Bourges F, Didon-Lescot JF. Substratum influences uptake of radium-226 by plants. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 766:142655. [PMID: 33153746 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Radium-226, an alpha emitter with half-life 1600 years, is ubiquitous in natural environments. Present in rocks and soils, it is also absorbed by vegetation. The efficiency of 226Ra uptake by plants from the soil is important to assess for the study of heavy metals uptake by plants, monitoring of radioactive pollution, and the biogeochemical cycle of radium in the Critical Zone. Using a thoroughly validated measurement method of effective 226Ra concentration (ECRa) in the laboratory, we compare ECRa values of the plant to that of the closest soil, and we infer the 226Ra soil-to-plant transfer ratio, RSP, for a total of 108 plant samples collected in various locations in France. ECRa values of plants range over five orders of magnitude with mean (min-max) of 1.66 ± 0.03 (0.020-113) Bq kg-1. Inferred RSP values range over four orders of magnitude with mean (min-max) of 0.0188 ± 0.0004 (0.00069-0.37). The mean RSP value of plants in granitic and metamorphic context (0.073 ± 0.002; n = 50) is significantly higher (12 ± 1 times) than that of plants in calcareous and sedimentary context (0.0058 ± 0.0002; n = 58). This difference, which cannot be attributed to a systematic difference in emanation coefficient, is likely due to the competition between calcium and radium. In a given substratum context, the compartments of a given plant species show coherent and decreasing RSP values in the following order (acropetal gradient): roots > bark > branches and stems ≈ leaves. Oak trees (Quercus genus) concentrate 226Ra more than other trees and plants in this set. While this study clearly demonstrates the influence of substratum on the 226Ra uptake by plants in non-contaminated areas, our measurement method appears as a promising practical tool to use for (phyto)remediation and its monitoring in uranium- and radium-contaminated areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Girault
- Université de Paris, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, CNRS, F-75005 Paris, France.
| | - Frédéric Perrier
- Université de Paris, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, CNRS, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Jean-Marc Ourcival
- CEFE, Université Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Université Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, F-34000, Montpellier, France
| | - Roxane Ferry
- Université de Paris, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, CNRS, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Yves Gaudemer
- Université de Paris, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, CNRS, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - François Bourges
- Géologie Environnement Conseil, 30 rue de la République, F-09200 Saint-Girons, France
| | - Jean-François Didon-Lescot
- Station de Recherches INRA/CNRS laboratoire ESPACE, 390 chemin des Boissières, F-30380 Saint Christol-lès-Alès, France
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Gil-Pacheco E, Suárez-Navarro JA, Fernández-Salegui AB, Sánchez-González SM, Suarez-Navarro MJ, García-Sánchez A. Factors that influence the absorption of uranium by indigenous plants on the spoil tip of an abandoned mine in western Spain. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 759:143571. [PMID: 33248777 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this work was to study the factors affecting the absorption of U by plants growing on the spoil tip of an abandoned mine in western Spain. The plant species were selected based on how palatable they were to livestock and were sampled for four consecutive years during which, we also recorded rainfall data. The factors related to the plants studied were the leaf size and the percentage and characteristics of the arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) fungi present in their roots. Our results showed a correlation between the annual rainfall and the U concentration in the plants. The percentage of mycorrhization and AM vesicles is a predominant factor in the uptake of U by plants. Spergularia rubra (L.) J.Presl & C.Presl, which is resistant to mycorrhization, contained higher U concentrations relative to the plants that grew with AM mycorrhization. The absorption curves of the different plants studied indicated that these plants were tolerant to 238U from 875 Bq kg-1 (70 mg kg-1), with a hormesis effect below that concentration. The annual U removal was 0.068%, suggesting that AM are responsible for limiting the incorporation of U into the food chain, favouring its retention in the soil and preventing its dispersion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E Gil-Pacheco
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Salamanca (IRNASA-CSIC), CSIC, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, C/Cordel de Merinas, 40, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
| | - J A Suárez-Navarro
- Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), Avd/Complutense, 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - A B Fernández-Salegui
- Universidad de León, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Gestión Ambiental área de Botánica, Campus de Vegazana, 24071 León, Spain
| | - S M Sánchez-González
- Universidad Europea Miguel de Cervantes, C/Padre Julio Chevalier, 2., 47012 Valladolid, Spain
| | - M J Suarez-Navarro
- Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), Departamento de Hidráulica, Energía y Medioambiente, E.T.S.I. Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Profesor Aranguren s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - A García-Sánchez
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Salamanca (IRNASA-CSIC), CSIC, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, C/Cordel de Merinas, 40, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Gupta DK, Chatterjee S, Datta S, Voronina AV, Walther C. Radionuclides: Accumulation and Transport in Plants. REVIEWS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2017; 241:139-160. [PMID: 27300012 DOI: 10.1007/398_2016_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Application of radioactive elements or radionuclides for anthropogenic use is a widespread phenomenon nowadays. Radionuclides undergo radioactive decays releasing ionizing radiation like gamma ray(s) and/or alpha or beta particles that can displace electrons in the living matter (like in DNA) and disturb its function. Radionuclides are highly hazardous pollutants of considerable impact on the environment, food chain and human health. Cleaning up of the contaminated environment through plants is a promising technology where the rhizosphere may play an important role. Plants belonging to the families of Brassicaceae, Papilionaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Poaceae, and Asteraceae are most important in this respect and offer the largest potential for heavy metal phytoremediation. Plants like Lactuca sativa L., Silybum marianum Gaertn., Centaurea cyanus L., Carthamus tinctorius L., Helianthus annuus and H. tuberosus are also important plants for heavy metal phytoremediation. However, transfer factors (TF) of radionuclide from soil/water to plant ([Radionuclide]plant/[Radionuclide]soil) vary widely in different plants. Rhizosphere, rhizobacteria and varied metal transporters like NRAMP, ZIP families CDF, ATPases (HMAs) family like P1B-ATPases, are involved in the radio-phytoremediation processes. This review will discuss recent advancements and potential application of plants for radionuclide removal from the environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D K Gupta
- Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover, Institut für Radioökologie und Strahlenschutz (IRS), Herrenhäuser Str. 2, Gebäude, 4113, 30419, Hannover, Germany.
| | - S Chatterjee
- Defence Research Laboratory, DRDO, Post Bag 2, Tezpur, 784001, Assam, India
| | - S Datta
- Defence Research Laboratory, DRDO, Post Bag 2, Tezpur, 784001, Assam, India
| | - A V Voronina
- Department of Radiochemistry and Applied Ecology, Physical Technology Institute, Ural Federal University, Mira str., 19, Ekaterinburg, Russia
| | - C Walther
- Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover, Institut für Radioökologie und Strahlenschutz (IRS), Herrenhäuser Str. 2, Gebäude, 4113, 30419, Hannover, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Nezami S, Malakouti MJ, Bahrami Samani A, Ghannadi Maragheh M. Effect of low molecular weight organic acids on the uptake of 226Ra by corn (Zea mays L.) in a region of high natural radioactivity in Ramsar-Iran. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2016; 164:145-150. [PMID: 27458869 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2016] [Revised: 07/12/2016] [Accepted: 07/16/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
To study the benefit of including citric and oxalic acid treatments for phytoremediation of 226Ra contaminated soils a greenhouse experiment with corn was conducted. A soil was sampled from a region of high natural 226Ra radioactivity in Ramsar, Iran. After cultivation of corn seed and using organic acid treatments at 1, 10 and 100 mM concentrations, plants (shoots and roots) were harvested, digested and prepared to measure 226Ra activity. Simultaneously, sequential selective extraction were performed to estimate the partitioning of 226Ra among geochemical extraction. Results showed that the maximum uptake of 226Ra in plants was observed in citric acid (6.3%) and then oxalic acid (6%) at 100 mM concentration. These treatments increased radium uptake by a factor of 1.5 than the control. Enhancement of radium uptake by plants was related to soil pH reduction of organic acids in comparison to control. Also, the maximum uptake of this radionuclide in all treatments was obtained in roots compared to shoots. 226Ra fractionations results revealed that 91.8% of radium was in the residual phase of the soil and the available fractions were less than 2%. As the main percent of 226Ra was in the residual phase of the soil in this region, it seems that organic acids had not significant effect on the uptake of 226Ra for phytoremediation by corn in this condition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sareh Nezami
- Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
| | | | - Ali Bahrami Samani
- Nuclear Fuel Cycle Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, Tehran, Iran
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Shaposhnikova LM, Shuktomova II. Consequences of radioactive decontamination by earthfill method in a former radium production site. RUSS J ECOL+ 2015. [DOI: 10.1134/s1067413615030108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
|
6
|
Hu N, Ding D, Li G, Zheng J, Li L, Zhao W, Wang Y. Vegetation composition and ²²⁶Ra uptake by native plant species at a uranium mill tailings impoundment in South China. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2014; 129:100-106. [PMID: 24412774 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2013.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2013] [Revised: 09/16/2013] [Accepted: 12/17/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
A field investigation was conducted for the vegetation composition and (226)Ra uptake by native plant species at a uranium mill tailings impoundment in South China. 80 species belonging to 67 genera in 32 families were recorded in the sampling sites. The Poaceae and Asteraceae were the dominant families colonizing the impoundment. The number of the plant species and vegetation community composition in the sampling sites seemed most closely related to the activities of (226)Ra and the pH value of the uranium tailings. The plant species in the sampling sites with relatively low activities of (226)Ra and relatively high pH value formed a relatively stable vegetation community. The plant species in the sampling sites with medium activities of (226)Ra and medium pH value formed the transitional vegetation community. The plant species in the sampling sites with relatively high activities of (226)Ra and relatively low pH value formed a simple unstable vegetation community that was similar to that on the unused grassland. The activities of (226)Ra and transfer factors (TFs) varied greatly with the plant species. The high activities of (226)Ra and TFs were found in the leaves of Pteris multifida (150.6 Bq/g of AW; 9.131), Pteridium aquilinum (122.2 Bq/g of AW; 7.409), and Dryopteris scottii (105.7 Bq/g of AW; 6.408). They satisfied the criteria for a hyperaccumulator for (226)Ra. They may be the candidates for phytoremediation of (226)Ra in the uranium mill tailings impoundment areas and the contaminated soils around.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nan Hu
- Key Discipline Laboratory for National Defense for Biotechnology in Uranium Mining and Hydrometallurgy, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, PR China
| | - Dexin Ding
- Key Discipline Laboratory for National Defense for Biotechnology in Uranium Mining and Hydrometallurgy, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, PR China.
| | - Guangyue Li
- Key Discipline Laboratory for National Defense for Biotechnology in Uranium Mining and Hydrometallurgy, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, PR China
| | - Jifang Zheng
- Key Discipline Laboratory for National Defense for Biotechnology in Uranium Mining and Hydrometallurgy, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, PR China
| | - Le Li
- Key Discipline Laboratory for National Defense for Biotechnology in Uranium Mining and Hydrometallurgy, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, PR China
| | - Weichao Zhao
- Key Discipline Laboratory for National Defense for Biotechnology in Uranium Mining and Hydrometallurgy, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, PR China
| | - Yongdong Wang
- Key Discipline Laboratory for National Defense for Biotechnology in Uranium Mining and Hydrometallurgy, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, PR China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Blanco Rodríguez P, Vera Tomé F, Lozano J, Pérez Fernández M. Transfer of 238U, 230Th, 226Ra, and 210Pb from soils to tree and shrub species in a Mediterranean area. Appl Radiat Isot 2010; 68:1154-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2010.01.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2009] [Accepted: 01/28/2010] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
|
8
|
Soudek P, Petrová S, Benesová D, Kotyza J, Vágner M, Vanková R, Vanek T. Study of soil-plant transfer of 226Ra under greenhouse conditions. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2010; 101:446-450. [PMID: 18823682 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2008.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2007] [Revised: 07/15/2008] [Accepted: 08/07/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
A soil-plant transfer study was performed using soil from a former uranium ore processing factory in South Bohemia. We present the results from greenhouse experiments which include estimates of the time required for phytoremediation. The accumulation of (226)Ra by different plant species from a mixture of garden soil and contaminated substrate was extremely variable, ranging from 0.03 to 2.20 Bq (226)Ra/g DW. We found differences in accumulation of (226)Ra between plants from the same genus and between cultivars of the same plant species. The results of (226)Ra accumulation showed a linear relation between concentration of (226)Ra in plants and concentration of (226)Ra in soil mixtures. On the basis of these results we estimated the time required for phytoremediation, but this appears to be too long for practical purposes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Petr Soudek
- Laboratory of Plant Biotechnologies, Joint Laboratory of Institute of Experimental Botany AS CR, vvi and Crop Research Institute, vvi, Drnovská 507, 161 06 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Tanase C, Pui A, Oprea A, Popa K. Translocation of radioactivity from substrate to macromycetes in the Crucea (Romania) uranium mining area. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2009. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-009-0035-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
10
|
Michalik B. Is it necessary to raise awareness about technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive materials? ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009; 11:1825-33. [DOI: 10.1039/b904911h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
|
11
|
Popa K, Tykva R, Podracká E, Humelnicu D. 226Ra translocation from soil to selected vegetation in the Crucea (Romania) uranium mining area. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2008. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-007-7171-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
|