A simple model to estimate deposition based on a statistical reassessment of global fallout data

Isodose mapping of terrestrial gamma radiation in Sarawak-Borneo: Insights from surface-weathered soil analysis

Presentation of baseline data on terrestrial gamma radiation (TGR) levels is crucial for assessing the annual effective dose received by the public due to natural radiation exposure. Cumulative doses from various sources can become significant, warranting a spatial understanding of TGR distribution. Few countries have comprehensively mapped TGR on a national scale, often facing challenges due to remote or inaccessible regions. This study investigated the influence of weathered soil groups on TGR dose rates in Sarawak-Borneo, Malaysia, to facilitate insights for TGR projection and isodose mapping. A total of 1044 TGR dose rate measurements were collected using NaI (Tl) scintillation detector survey meters, with a mean of 100 nGy h-1 and a range of 8-375 nGy h-1. Non-parametric statistical analyses of variance using Welch's ANOVA, Brown-Forsythe, and Kruskal-Wallis validated (P-sig.=.000) notable dissimilarities among six categories of superficial-weathered soil. Graphical analysis using Sinclair's cumulative plot revealed deviations at intervals of 50, 80, 100, 120, 175, and 205 nGy h-1. These deviations indicate distinct lithological influences. Skeletal soil (entisols) and podzolic soils had high mean dose rates (148 and 113 nGy h-1, respectively) due to limited development, thus preserving abundant uranium (U) and thorium (Th). Meanwhile, gleysols and thionic soils exhibited compatible means (90 and 82 nGy h-1, respectively), while alluvial (or transported soils) and organic soils displayed lower dose rate ranges (mean of 76 and 47 nGy h-1, respectively), reflecting rapid hydrolysis weathering processes. Simple linear regression analysis revealed a strong relationship between TGR dose rate and mean value of weathered soil groups (y = 0.851x + 0.141 nGy h-1), signifying the significance and magnitude of weathered soil groups' impact on TGR dose rates. The obtained R-value is 0.704, indicating a strong linear correlation among soil group variables, and a Durbin-Watson statistic of 1.41, suggesting positive autocorrelation among residuals, thus positive relationships. An isodose map was successfully developed using the Kriging technique, aligning with lithological features of the study area. Semivariogram analysis reveals spatial dependence within a range of 1.47°, supporting the Kriging technique's suitability for spatial inference. In conclusion, this study has successfully revealed the relationship between TGR dose rates and superficial-weathered soil in Sarawak-Borneo. While the linear relationship is applicable to the Sundaland-Borneo tectonic block, it has potential to be used as a valuable tool for spatial inference of TGR dose rates in isodose development with similar lithologial characteristics, aiding in radiation exposure assessment and environmental monitoring.

Reconstructing atmospheric 129I deposition over 170 years with the varved sediment in the Sihailongwan Maar Lake, northeast China

Long-term deposition of atmospheric radioactive iodine-129 (129I) is important for assessing the impact of human nuclear activities (HNAs), but still not well understood in East Asia. In this study, we quantitatively reconstructed the deposition history of airborne 129I using varved sediment from Sihailongwan Maar Lake (SHLW) in northeast China. Our results revealed significant increases in 129I concentrations and 129I/127I atomic ratios since the 1950s, indicating the influence of HNAs on the environment and marking the onset of the Anthropocene. The variation of 129I in the investigated site can be primarily attributed to the global fallout of ANWT as well as nuclear fuel reprocessing in Europe, Russia and the USA. Notably, neither the Chernobyl nor the Fukushima nuclear accidents have had any discernable impact on the SHLW Lake. Over the past 170 years (1846-2021), the reconstructed fluxes indicate a rapid increase in 129I deposition from the early 1950s until the 1970s followed by dramatic changes thereafter. The measured 129I fluxes range between (1.26-349) × 109 atoms m-2 yr-1 in the SHLW Lake, which are consistent with similar latitude zones across East Asia, but differ significantly from those observed in high-elevation glaciers within the Northern Hemisphere due to prevailing atmospheric circulation patterns. The total 129I inventory was calculated to be 11.9 × 1012 atoms m-2, with natural and anthropogenic 129I accounting for 2.86 % and 97.1 %, respectively, suggesting an overwhelming artificial contribution. The reconstructed fluxes and inventory of atmospheric 129I deposition quantitatively distinguish the natural and artificial contributions, and provide a novel insight into the historical environmental impact of HNAs in East Asia and the characteristics of the Anthropocene.

Quantitative estimation of dust transport in the desert region of northwest China by plutonium isotopes

Dust is an important source of atmospheric pollution, and quantitative estimation of desert dust transport is crucial for air pollution control. In this study, five typical sandy soil profiles in the Tengger Desert were collected and analyzed for 239,240Pu concentration and 240Pu/239Pu atomic ratios in order to identify the source of 239,240Pu in this area and explore the sedimentary characteristics of dust in different profiles. The results revealed that the concentrations of 239,240Pu in the soil profiles were between 0.002 and 0.443 mBq/g with an exception of the deep layer soil at one site. The measured atomic ratios of 240Pu/239Pu are at the global atmospheric fallout level with a mean of 0.184 ± 0.020, indicating that global fallout is the dominant source of plutonium in this region. The total inventories of 239,240Pu in the reference sites in this area were estimated to be 39.2-44.6 Bq/m2, this is in agreement with the value from the global fallout of atmospheric nuclear weapon tests at the similar latitude (30-40 °N: 42 Bq/m2). The estimated erosion rate in the erosion profile utilizing soil erosion intensity mode is 2491 t/km2/yr and the soil erosion depth is 9.86 cm, While, the stacking rate of the accumulation profile is 1383 t/km2/yr, and the depth of accumulation is estimated to be 5.48 cm. The difference between the erosion and accumulation profiles indicated that approximately 1107 t/km2/yr of dust was exported from the Gobi landform area of the Tengger Desert, which might be transported long distance in the downwind direction.

Distribution of plutonium isotopes in soils between two nuclear test sites: Semipalatinsk and Lop Nor

Plutonium (Pu) has attracted attention as an environmental tracer due to its radiotoxicity and the possibility of sources linked with nuclear accidents in recent years. Plutonium isotopes (^239,240Pu) were detected at trace levels in soils collected from the Xinjiang region located between the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site and China's Lop Nor nuclear test site. Little is known regarding the spatial variation of ^239,240Pu in soils from this region. This study reports the use of Sector Field Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (SF-ICP-MS) methods to distinguish between Pu isotopes derived from global fallout and nuclear weapon tests. We found that the ^239,240Pu activity concentrations ranged from 0.035 to 1.338 mBq/g; the ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu atomic ratios were 0.157-0.223 with a weighted average of 0.180 ± 0.002, corresponding with the expected average global fallout ratio of 0.180 ± 0.014. This indicated that global fallout is the major source of Pu in the study region. The ^239,240Pu inventories in these soils ranged from 23.67 to 222.7 Bq/m², corresponding with those from other areas in China and other countries within the latitude range. Our Pu isotope data was supplemented with other published Pu data for soils collected in the vicinity of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site and Lop Nor nuclear test site. Results indicate that ^239,240Pu inventories and ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu atomic ratios in soils exhibit large variations with distance from the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site. High deposition and accumulation of Pu, and low ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu ratios were observed in close-in fallout and downwind regions of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site and China's Lop Nor nuclear test site.

Tabulation of organ dose conversion factors for terrestrial radioactivity monitoring program

Terrestrial radioactivity monitoring of ²³⁸U and ²³²Th series, and ⁴⁰K in soil is an essential practice for radioactivity and radiation measurement of a place. In conventional practice, only basic data can be in-situ measured using a survey instrument, for example radioactivity concentration in soil and ambient dose equivalent rate. For other physical quantities, for example organ absorbed dose and organ equivalent dose, the measurement is impossible to be performed and can only be computed using Monte Carlo radiation transport simulations. In the past, most of the works only focused on calculating air-kerma-to-effective dose conversion factors. However, the information on organ dose conversion factors is scarcely documented and reported. This study was conducted to calculate organ absorbed and tissue-weighted equivalent dose conversion factors as a result of exposure from terrestrial gamma radiation. Series of organ dose conversion factors is produced based on computations from Monte Carlo MCNP5 simulations using modelled gamma irradiation geometry and established adult MIRD phantom. The study found out that most of the radiation exposed organs absorb energy at comparable rates, except for dense and superficial tissues i.e., skeleton and skin, which indicated slightly higher values. The good agreement between this work and previous studies demonstrated that our gamma irradiation geometry and modelling of gamma radiation sources are adequate. Therefore, the proposed organ dose conversion factors from this study are reasonably acceptable for dose estimation in environmental radioactivity monitoring practices.

Vertical distribution of Pu in forest soil in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The ^239+240Pu and ¹³⁷Cs activities and ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu atom ratios in surface soil and soil core collected from Qinghai-Tibet Plateau were investigated. The maximum of ^239+240Pu and ¹³⁷Cs activity concentrations in five soil cores were found in upper layers and have a same trend: the maximum followed by exponential decline. The ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu atom ratio ranged from 0.160 ± 0.009 to 0.212 ± 0.012, clarified that the plutonium mainly came from the global fallout and the contribution of Lop Nor test sites was negligible. In addition, the vertical profiles of radionuclides (²¹⁰Pb, ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, ²²⁶Ra, ⁴⁰K) have been studied and a high correlation has been found between them. The correlations of Pu between organic matter (OM) and heavy metals were also studied. Person Correlation Coefficients revealed Pu had significant positive correlations with organic matter and Cd, Cu, Co, Zn, but negative correlation with Tl. The results have important implication for further understanding of the sources, records and environmental impacts of global and regional nuclear activities, which expanded the database of Pu activity level and atom ratio in Chinese soil and established a foundation for future environmental risk assessment.

Plutonium, 137Cs and uranium isotopes in Mongolian surface soils

Plutonium (²³⁸Pu and ^239,240Pu), ¹³⁷Cs and plutonium activity ratios (²³⁸Pu/^239,240Pu) as did uranium isotope ratio (²³⁵U/²³⁸U) were measured in surface soil samples collected in southeast Mongolia. The ^239,240Pu and ¹³⁷Cs concentrations in Mongolian surface soils (<53 μm of particle size) ranged from 0.42 ± 0.03 to 3.53 ± 0.09 mBq g^-1 and from 11.6 ± 0.7 to 102 ± 1 mBq g^-1, respectively. The ²³⁸Pu/^239,240Pu activity ratios in the surface soils (0.013-0.06) coincided with that of global fallout. The ²³⁵U/²³⁸U atom ratios in the surface soil show the natural one. There was a good correlation between the ^239,240Pu and ¹³⁷Cs concentrations in the surface soils. We introduce the migration depth to have better understanding of migration behaviors of anthropogenic radionuclides in surface soil. We found a difference of the migration behavior between ^239,240Pu and ¹³⁷Cs from ¹³⁷Cs/^239,240Pu - ¹³⁷Cs plots for the Mongolian and Tsukuba surface soils; plutonium in surface soil is migrated easier than ¹³⁷Cs.

Derivation and validation of a novel Semi Empirical Deposition Estimation Model (SEDEM)

Predictive models are necessary in order to minimize potential damages in the event of a nuclear or radiological release. For this reason, a novel model for the calculation of both wet and dry deposition from airborne radioactivity is proposed. Full derivation of the model and the estimation of uncertainty are presented, and the validity of the model is evaluated by calculating deposition based on several measured airborne activities in different countries. The results are compared with the corresponding measured deposition activities and the predictive power of the model is found to be good, i.e. calculated depositions being within the limits of measurement uncertainty. Additionally, limitations of the model and possible sources of error in the calculations are discussed.

Pu isotopes in soils collected downwind from Lop Nor: regional fallout vs. global fallout

For the first time, soil core samples from the Jiuquan region have been analyzed for Pu isotopes for radioactive source identification and radiological assessment. The Jiuquan region is in downwind from the Lop Nor Chinese nuclear test (CNT) site. The high Pu inventories (13 to 546 Bq/m²) in most of the sampling locations revealed that this region was heterogeneously contaminated by the regional fallout Pu from the CNTs. The contributions of the CNTs to the total Pu in soils were estimated to be more than 40% in most cases. The ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu atom ratios in the soils ranged from 0.059 to 0.186 with an inventory-weighted average of 0.158, slightly lower than that of global fallout. This atom ratio could be considered as a mixed fingerprint of Pu from the CNTs. In addition, Pu in soils of Jiuquan region had a faster downward migration rate compared with other investigated places in China.

Vertical distribution and migration of global fallout Pu in forest soils in southwestern China

Soil samples collected in southwestern China were analyzed for Pu isotopes. The (240)Pu/(239)Pu atom ratios were around 0.18, which indicated the dominant source of global fallout. Consistent sub-surface maximums followed by exponential decline of (239+240)Pu activities in the soil cores were observed. Most of the Pu has still remained in the 0-10 cm layers since its deposition. Convection velocities and dispersion coefficients for Pu migration in the soils were estimated by the convection-dispersion equation (CDE) model. The effective convection velocities and effective dispersion coefficients ranged from 0.05 to 0.11 cm/y and from 0.06 to 0.29 cm(2)/y, respectively. Other factors that control the vertical migration of Pu in soil besides precipitation, soil particle size distribution and organic matter were suggested. Long-term migration behaviors of Pu in the soils were simulated. The results provide the Pu background baseline for further environmental monitoring and source identification of non-global fallout Pu inputs in the future.

Chronology of Pu isotopes and 236U in an Arctic ice core

In the present work, state of the art isotopic fingerprinting techniques are applied to an Arctic ice core in order to quantify deposition of U and Pu, and to identify possible tropospheric transport of debris from former Soviet Union test sites Semipalatinsk (Central Asia) and Novaya Zemlya (Arctic Ocean). An ice core chronology of (236)U, (239)Pu, and (240)Pu concentrations, and atom ratios, measured by accelerator mass spectrometry in a 28.6m deep ice core from the Austfonna glacier at Nordaustlandet, Svalbard is presented. The ice core chronology corresponds to the period 1949 to 1999. The main sources of Pu and (236)U contamination in the Arctic were the atmospheric nuclear detonations in the period 1945 to 1980, as global fallout, and tropospheric fallout from the former Soviet Union test sites Novaya Zemlya and Semipalatinsk. Activity concentrations of (239+240)Pu ranged from 0.008 to 0.254 mBq cm(-2) and (236)U from 0.0039 to 0.053 μBq cm(-2). Concentrations varied in concordance with (137)Cs concentrations in the same ice core. In contrast to previous published results, the concentrations of Pu and (236)U were found to be higher at depths corresponding to the pre-moratorium period (1949 to 1959) than to the post-moratorium period (1961 and 1962). The (240)Pu/(239)Pu ratio ranged from 0.15 to 0.19, and (236)U/(239)Pu ranged from 0.18 to 1.4. The Pu atom ratios ranged within the limits of global fallout in the most intensive period of nuclear atmospheric testing (1952 to 1962). To the best knowledge of the authors the present work is the first publication on biogeochemical cycles with respect to (236)U concentrations and (236)U/(239)Pu atom ratios in the Arctic and in ice cores.

Various consequences regarding hypothetical dispersion of airborne radioactivity in a city center

In case of dispersion of airborne radioactive material in a city center a number of questions will prompt for an answer. While many questions can get their answers in due course of time based on results of tests and sampling, a good understanding of the quantitative effect of dispersion will be very helpful to rescue staff, in particular in the early stage. In the following dose and dose rate estimates are presented for three scenarios including dispersion of radioactivity in a city center. In one case the activity is released in an open place, in another from a roof and in the third case from a source on a street where the wind is blowing along the street. In each case, at specific positions, estimates are made of dose from inhalation, and dose rates for contamination on skin as well as from radioactive particles deposited onto ground, walls and roofs (external exposure) in the city center. It should be noted that the deposition pattern in urban areas varies greatly which means that the consequences are difficult to predict. The dispersion is influenced by recirculation behind tall buildings and diverted flow close to street-ends, which have significant effects on the deposit pattern. Regarding the relative importance of contributions to total dose it is found that inhalation could play a major role for long term effects while dose to skin might dominate acute effects.