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Martinsson J, Pédehontaa-Hiaa G, Malmborg V, Madsen D, Rääf C. Experimental wildfire induced mobility of radiocesium in a boreal forest environment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 792:148310. [PMID: 34146801 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148310] [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: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Wildfires are expected to increase with warmer climate, which can contribute to the mobility and the resuspension of long-lived and potentially hazardous radionuclides. The release of 137Cs during combustion of dried litter, forest floor organic soil, and peat was investigated in a small-scale experimental set-up. Combustion conditions were varied to simulate different wildfire scenarios, and the fuels were dried organic material collected in a boreal environment of Sweden that was contaminated following the Chernobyl accident in 1986. The combustion-related release of 137Cs to the air was on average 29% of the initial fuel content, while 71% of the initial 137Cs remained in the ashes after the combustion. Peat and forest soil had the highest releases (39% and 37%, respectively), although these numbers should be viewed as potential releases since authentic wildfire combustion of these fuels are usually less effective than observed in these experiments. These results indicates that the 137Cs has migrated downwards in the organic material, which imply potentially significantly more 137Cs emissions in severe wildfires with intense combustion of the organic vertical profile in peatbogs and forests. More 137Cs tended to be released during intense and efficient combustion processes, although no significant differences among combustion intensities were observed. The generated experimental data was used in an emission scenario to investigate the possible range in 137Cs emissions from a wildfire. Our study shows that a severe wildfire in a contaminated area of 10,000 ha could potentially release up to 7 TBq of 137Cs. This is the first laboratory study to investigate 137Cs release upon varying combustion conditions using real fallout contaminated organic material obtained from a boreal environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan Martinsson
- Medical Radiation Physics, Lund University, Lund, Box 118, 221 00, Sweden.
| | | | - Vilhelm Malmborg
- Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Lund University, Lund, Box 118, 221 00, Sweden
| | - Dan Madsen
- Division of Fire Safety Engineering, Lund University, Lund, Box 118, 221 00, Sweden
| | - Christopher Rääf
- Medical Radiation Physics, Lund University, Lund, Box 118, 221 00, Sweden
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Segnana M, Oeggl K, Poto L, Gabrieli J, Festi D, Kofler W, Cesco Frare P, Zaccone C, Barbante C. Holocene vegetation history and human impact in the eastern Italian Alps: a multi-proxy study on the Coltrondo peat bog, Comelico Superiore, Italy. VEGETATION HISTORY AND ARCHAEOBOTANY 2019; 29:407-426. [PMID: 32624646 PMCID: PMC7319406 DOI: 10.1007/s00334-019-00749-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The present study aims to reconstruct vegetation development, climate changes and human impact using an ombrotrophic peat core from the Coltrondo bog in the eastern Italian Alps. Evidence from pollen, micro-charcoal, major and trace elements, and lead isotopes from this 7,900 years old peat deposit has been combined, and several climatic oscillations and phases of human impact detected. In particular, human presence was recorded in this area of the Alps from about 650 cal bc, with periods of increased activity at the end of the Middle Ages and also at the end of the 19th century, as evidenced by both human-related pollen and the increase in micro-charcoal particles. The enrichment factor of lead (EFPb) increased since the Roman period and the Middle Ages, suggesting mainly mining activities, whereas the advent of industrialization in the 20th century is marked by the highest EFPb values in the whole core. The EFPb data are strongly supported by the 206Pb/207Pb values and these are in general agreement with the historical information available. Therefore, the multi-proxy approach used here has allowed detection of climatic events and human impact patterns in the Comelico area starting from the Iron Age, giving new insights into the palaeoecology as well as the course of the interaction among humans, climate and ecosystems in this part of the eastern Italian Alps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Segnana
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, via Torino 155, 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy
| | - Klaus Oeggl
- Institute for Botany, University of Innsbruck, Sternwarterstraße 15, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Luisa Poto
- Institute for the Dynamics of Environmental Processes – CNR, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, via Torino 155, 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy
| | - Jacopo Gabrieli
- Institute for the Dynamics of Environmental Processes – CNR, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, via Torino 155, 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy
| | - Daniela Festi
- Institute for Botany, University of Innsbruck, Sternwarterstraße 15, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Werner Kofler
- Institute for Botany, University of Innsbruck, Sternwarterstraße 15, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Claudio Zaccone
- Department of Sciences of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Foggia, via Napoli 25, 71121 Foggia, Italy
| | - Carlo Barbante
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, via Torino 155, 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy
- Institute for the Dynamics of Environmental Processes – CNR, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, via Torino 155, 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy
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Using Peat Records as Natural Archives of Past Atmospheric Metal Deposition. ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINANTS 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/978-94-017-9541-8_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Yan D, Zhao Y, Lu A, Wang S, Xu D, Zhang P. Effects of accompanying anions on cesium retention and translocation via droplets on soybean leaves. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2013; 126:232-8. [PMID: 24063906 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2013.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2012] [Revised: 07/28/2013] [Accepted: 08/27/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Plant foliar uptake and translocation is an important pathway for the migration of radiocesium to the human diet. This study reports the effects of accompanying anions ( [Formula: see text] , [Formula: see text] , [Formula: see text] , and I(-)) on cesium retention and translocation. An experiment to simulate cesium retention and translocation was conducted in a greenhouse by applying droplets of stable cesium solutions to the upper surface of four soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] trifoliate leaves. The average percentages of cesium retention with the accompanying anions [Formula: see text] , [Formula: see text] , [Formula: see text] , and I(-) on the leaves were 7.2, 21.5, 49.3, and 10.2%, respectively. Retention values of the four treatments were stable during the 3-day exposure period, indicating that cesium could be absorbed and penetrate the cuticle quickly once it was dissolved. Scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis showed that particles containing cesium remained on the leaf surfaces after washing. Also, nano-sized particles containing cesium were observed inside the leaf tissues. Cesium concentrations in the uncontaminated leaves, pods, stems, and roots increased during the study period indicating cesium redistribution from the contaminated leaves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, PR China
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Vinichuk M, Rosén K, Dahlberg A. 137Cs in fungal sporocarps in relation to vegetation in a bog, pine swamp and forest along a transect. CHEMOSPHERE 2013; 90:713-720. [PMID: 23102726 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2012.09.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2012] [Revised: 08/21/2012] [Accepted: 09/18/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we estimated the relative importance of vegetation and fungi for radiocesium uptake and biological retention in adjacent bog, pine swamp, and forest. The measurements for (137)Cs activity concentration in sporocarps (i.e. fruitbodies of fungi) and vegetation along a bog to forest transect were combined with complementary published data to calculate estimates. Aboveground vegetation comprised 17.7% of the total fallout-derived radiocesium in the system in bog, 16.5% in pine swamp, and 40.6% in forest. In fungal sporocarps grown along a gradient, (137)Cs activity comprised <0.001% of the total radiocesium for peat bog, <0.02% for pine swamp, and 0.11% for forest. Total (137)Cs activity in sporocarps increased along the gradient due to increased production of sporocarps in the presence of trees from 0.006 (bog), 0.097 (pine swamp) and 0.67 (forest) g dwt m(-2). Based on calculation of the total vegetation biomass and through relationships between fungal biomass in sporocarps and as mycelia in soil, the total (137)Cs activity located in fungi was estimated as 0.1% in bog, 2% in pine swamp, and 11% in forest. An analysis of the time-dependency of (137)Cs in the sporocarps in forest between 1990 and 2011 suggested an ecological half-life for (137)Cs between 8 and 13 years. Although fungi comprised a relatively small fraction of the total radiocesium in the systems, its activity decreased slowly with time, and ecological residence time for (137)Cs in sporocarps of fungi was long, suggesting they will continue to contribute to the accumulation and cycling of this radionuclide in forest.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Vinichuk
- Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU, Box 7014, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden.
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Li P, Zheng G, Chen X, Pemberton R. Potential of monitoring nuclides with the epiphyte Tillandsia usneoides: Uptake and localization of 133Cs. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2012; 86:60-65. [PMID: 23036304 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2012.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2012] [Revised: 07/31/2012] [Accepted: 08/02/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Epiphytic Tillandsia plants are efficient air pollution biomonitors and traditionally used to monitor atmospheric heavy metal pollution, but rarely nuclides monitoring. Here we evaluated the potential of Tillandsia usneoides for monitoring (133)Cs and investigated if Cs was trapped by the plant external surface structures. The results showed that T. usneoides was able to survive relatively high Cs stress. With the increase of Cs solution concentration, the total of Cs in plants increased significantly, which suggests that the plants could accumulate Cs quickly and effectively. Therefore, T. usneoides has considerable potential for monitoring Cs polluted environments. In addition, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) analysis showed that Cs was detected in each type of cells in foliar trichomes, and the ratio of Cs in the internal disc cell was higher than that in ring cell and wing cell, which indicates that the mechanism of adsorption Cs in Tillandsia has an active component.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Li
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, Sichuan, China
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Moogouei R, Borghei M, Arjmandi R. Phytoremediation of stable Cs from solutions by Calendula alata, Amaranthus chlorostachys and Chenopodium album. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2011; 74:2036-2039. [PMID: 21839516 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2011.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2011] [Revised: 07/16/2011] [Accepted: 07/21/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Uptake rate of (133)Cs, at three different concentrations of CsCl, by Calendula alata, Amaranthus chlorostachys and Chenopodium album plants grown outdoors was studied. These plants grow abundantly in semi-arid regions and their varieties exist in many parts of the world. When exposed to lowest Cs concentration 68 percent Cs was remediated by Chenopodium album.(133)Cs accumulation in shoots of Amaranthus chlorostachys reached its highest value of 2146.2 mg kg(-1) at a (133)Cs supply level of 3.95 mg l(-1) of feed solution. The highest concentration ratio value was 4.89 for Amaranthus chlorostachys, whereas for the other tests it ranged from 0.74 to 3.33. Furthermore uptake of (133)Cs by all three species increased with increasing metal concentrations. The results also indicated that hydroponically grown Calendula alata, Amaranthus chlorostachys and Chenopodium album could be used as potential candidate plants for phytoremediation of solutions contaminated with Cs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roxana Moogouei
- Department of Environmental Engineering, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
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Vinichuk M, Rosén K, Johanson KJ, Dahlberg A. Correlations between potassium, rubidium and cesium ((133)Cs and (137)Cs) in sporocarps of Suillus variegatus in a Swedish boreal forest. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2011; 102:386-392. [PMID: 21388727 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2011.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2010] [Revised: 02/01/2011] [Accepted: 02/13/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
An analysis of sporocarps of ectomycorrhizal fungi Suillus variegatus assessed whether cesium ((133)Cs and (137)Cs) uptake was correlated with potassium (K) or rubidium (Rb) uptake. The question was whether intraspecific correlations of Rb, K and (133)Cs mass concentrations with (137)Cs activity concentrations in sporocarps were higher within, rather than among, different fungal species, and if genotypic origin of sporocarps within a population affected uptake and correlation. Sporocarps (n = 51) from a Swedish forest population affected by the fallout after the Chernobyl accident were studied. The concentrations were 31.9 ± 6.79 g kg(-1) for K (mean ± SD, dwt), 0.40 ± 0.09 g kg(-1) for Rb, 8.7 ± 4.36 mg kg(-1) for (133)Cs and 63.7 ± 24.2 kBq kg(-1) for (137)Cs. The mass concentrations of (133)Cs correlated with (137)Cs activity concentrations (r = 0.61). There was correlation between both (133)Cs concentrations (r = 0.75) and (137)Cs activity concentrations (r = 0.44) and Rb, but the (137)Cs/(133)Cs isotopic ratio negatively correlated with Rb concentration. Concentrations of K and Rb were weakly correlated (r = 0.51). The (133)Cs mass concentrations, (137)Cs activity concentrations and (137)Cs/(133)Cs isotopic ratios did not correlate with K concentrations. No differences between, within or, among genotypes in S. variegatus were found. This suggested the relationships between K, Rb, (133)Cs and (137)Cs in sporocarps of S. variegatus is similar to other fungal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Vinichuk
- Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7014, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
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Rosén K, Vinichuk M, Nikolova I, Johanson K. Long-term effects of single potassium fertilization on 137Cs levels in plants and fungi in a boreal forest ecosystem. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2011; 102:178-84. [PMID: 21144627 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2010.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2010] [Revised: 09/24/2010] [Accepted: 11/09/2010] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
We examined the long-term effects of a single application of potassium (K) fertilizer (100 kg K ha(-1)) in 1992 on (137)Cs uptake in a forest ecosystem in central Sweden. (137)Cs activity concentrations were determined in three low-growing perennial shrubs, heather (Calluna vulgaris), lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) and bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), and in four wild fungal species (Cortinarius semisanguineus, Lactarius rufus, Rozites caperata and Suillus variegatus). Uptake of (137)Cs by plants and fungi growing on K-fertilized plots 17 years after application of the K fertilizer was significantly lower than in corresponding species growing in a non-fertilized control area. The (137)Cs activity concentration was 21-58% lower in fungal sporocarps and 40-61% lower in plants in the K-fertilized area compared with the control. Over the study period, this decrease in (137)Cs activity concentration was more consistent in plants than in fungi, although the effect was statistically significant and strongly pronounced in all species. The effect of K fertilization in reducing (137)Cs activity concentration in fungi and plants decreased over time but was still significant in 2009, 17 years after fertilization. This suggests that application of K fertilizer to forests is an appropriate and effective long-term measure to decrease radiocaesium accumulation in plants and fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Rosén
- Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU, Uppsala, Sweden.
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