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Brown J, Teien HC, Thørring H, Skipperud L, Hosseini A, Lind OC, Oughton D, Salbu B. Transfer of radionuclides through ecological systems: Lessons learned from 10 years of research within CERAD CoE. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 940:173503. [PMID: 38821276 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Norway's Centre of Excellence for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD) research programme included studies on transfer of radionuclides in various ecosystems within the context of environmental risk assessment. This article provides highlights from 10 years of research within this topic and summarises lessons learnt from the process. The scope has been extensive, involving laboratory-based experiments, field studies and the implementation of transfer models quantifying radionuclide uptake directly from the surrounding environment and via food chains. Field studies have had a global span and have, inter alia, covered sites contaminated with radionuclides associated with particles, ranging from nanoparticles to fragments, due to nuclear accidents (e.g., Chornobyl and Fukushima accidents) along with sites having enhanced levels of naturally occurring radioactive materials (e.g., Fen Complex in Norway and Taboshar in Tajikistan). Focus has been put on speciation and kinetics in determining radionuclide behavior and fate as well as on the influence of environmental factors that are potentially critical for the transfer of radionuclides. In particular, seasonal factors have been shown to greatly affect the dynamics of 137Cs and 90Sr bioaccumulation and loss in freshwater fish. The work has led to the collation of organism-specific (i) parameters important for kinetic models, i.e., uptake and depuration rates, and (ii) steady-state concentration ratios, CRs, where the use of stable analogue CRs as proxies for radionuclides has been brought into question. Dynamic models have been developed and applied for radiocaesium transfer to reindeer, radionuclide transfer in Arctic marine systems, transfer to fish via water and feed and commonly used agricultural food-chain transfer models applied in the context of nuclear emergency preparedness. The CERAD programme should contribute substantially to the scientific community's understanding of radionuclide transfer in environmental systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Brown
- DSA - Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, Grini Næringspark 13, 1361 Østerås, Norway; Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD) CoE, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway.
| | - Hans Christian Teien
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway; Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD) CoE, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Håvard Thørring
- DSA - Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, Grini Næringspark 13, 1361 Østerås, Norway; Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD) CoE, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Lindis Skipperud
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway; Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD) CoE, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Ali Hosseini
- DSA - Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, Grini Næringspark 13, 1361 Østerås, Norway; Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD) CoE, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Ole Christian Lind
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway; Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD) CoE, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Deborah Oughton
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway; Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD) CoE, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Brit Salbu
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway; Center for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD) CoE, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
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Figueredo JL, Guillén J, Salas A, Tejado JJ, Muñoz-Muñoz JG, Caballero JM. Assessment of environmental radiological impact in former metallic mines in Extremadura (Spain): A case study. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2024; 275:107412. [PMID: 38498959 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2024.107412] [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: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Metal mining in the Extremadura region was very important in the 19th and 20th centuries. However, due to different reasons the great majority of mines ceased operations, leading to plenty of abandoned mining sites, most of them with on-site waste dumps. Although metal extraction is not radioactive per se, it is considered a NORM activity. In this study, three former mining sites, in which Pb-V-Zn-Ag, Pb-Ag, and Pb-Zn were extracted, were selected to assess the radiological impact on the population and the environment. The external γ exposure was estimated by determining the effective dose and elaborating isodose maps of the sites. The presence of the mining sites increased up to 0.41 mSv/y the effective dose over the surrounding background, which is below the reference value of 1 mSv/y. In only one mining site, the uranium and radium activity concentration of waste dumps were higher than the surrounding soil. The soil to plant (wild grass) transfer factors were similar to other reported values without the influence of NORM activities. So, no enhanced transfer of radionuclides was observed. The radiological impact on the environment was assessed by the risk to non-human biota using the tiered approach developed in ERICA Tool. The sum of the risk quotients of all considered radionuclides in the most conservative Tier 1 was below 1. Total dose rates for several terrestrial Reference Animal and Plants (RAPs) were estimated using Tier 3, obtaining values below 40 µGy/h. Therefore, the impact on non-human biota can be considered as negligible.
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Affiliation(s)
- J L Figueredo
- LARUEX, Dpt. Applied Physics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Extremadura, Avda. Universidad, s/n, 10003, Cáceres, Spain
| | - J Guillén
- LARUEX, Dpt. Applied Physics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Extremadura, Avda. Universidad, s/n, 10003, Cáceres, Spain.
| | - A Salas
- LARUEX, Dpt. Applied Physics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Extremadura, Avda. Universidad, s/n, 10003, Cáceres, Spain
| | - J J Tejado
- INTROMAC, Avda. Universidad, s/n, 10003, Cáceres, Spain
| | - J G Muñoz-Muñoz
- LARUEX, Dpt. Applied Physics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Extremadura, Avda. Universidad, s/n, 10003, Cáceres, Spain
| | - J M Caballero
- LARUEX, Dpt. Applied Physics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Extremadura, Avda. Universidad, s/n, 10003, Cáceres, Spain
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Corbacho JÁ, Guillén J. Long-term radiological assessment of a Mediterranean freshwater ecosystem surrounding a nuclear power plant. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:29669-29683. [PMID: 38589586 PMCID: PMC11058964 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33140-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
The radionuclide concentration of man-made radionuclides on non-human biota in freshwater ecosystems has been extensively studied in environments affected by the Chernobyl and Fukushima accidents, in both humid continental and subtropical climates, respectively. However, there are very few studies that assess the long-term effects of operating nuclear facilities in Mediterranean environments. In the present study, a temporal analysis of the impact on carp, cattail, and bulrushes in the cooling pond of the currently operating Almaraz nuclear power plant was investigated for the period 2000-2020. The results do not show a general trend in man-made radionuclide concentrations. Instead, depending on their availability and the type of organism, trends decrease over time. This is also reflected in the effective half-lives obtained, which are lower than the physical half-life for some radionuclides. Transfer coefficients for the main man-made radionuclides detected were obtained, and it was found that these were significantly lower than the typical ranges found for benthic fish and vascular plants in freshwater ecosystems. Finally, the internal and external doses received by the carp have been evaluated using ERICA tool, and it has been observed that the main contribution to the total dose is due to the internal dose (0.65-7.04) × 10-4 µGy/h.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Ángel Corbacho
- Departamento de Física Aplicada, Centro Universitario de Mérida. Universidad de Extremadura, 06800, Mérida, Badajoz, Spain.
| | - Javier Guillén
- LARUEX, Laboratorio de Radiactividad Ambiental, Departamento de Física Aplicada, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Extremadura, Avda. Universidad, S/N 10003, Cáceres, Spain
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Smith J, Anderson T, Kliaus V. Assessment of dose rates to non-human biota from radioactive discharges from Sellafield Ltd. using PC-CREAM. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2023; 270:107266. [PMID: 37659175 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
PC-CREAM is a tool for assessing the radiological impact of routine discharges of radionuclides to the environment. It can be used for prospective assessments, to calculate doses to members of the public for authorisation of proposed discharges, or for retrospective assessments of previous discharges where doses are compared with dose limits. These types of assessment are a fundamental requirement of regulations governing the control of radioactive discharges. However, the latest publications of the basic safety standards for radiation protection, EU (Council of the European Union, 2014) and the IAEA (IAEA, 2014), now include the requirement to demonstrate protection of the environment as well as members of the public. To this end, a module has been added to PC-CREAM for calculating dose rates to non-human biota (Anderson et al., 2022). The methodology used for this calculation is based on the recommendations contained in ICRP Publication 108 (ICRP, 2008), which provides a general framework for protection of the environment. The additional module means that PC-CREAM can be used to assess doses to humans and dose rates to biota in an integrated way, for the same set of discharges and using the same dispersion models. This paper describes an assessment of dose rates to biota living in the vicinity of the Sellafield nuclear site, carried out using the new biota module of PC-CREAM. Historical discharges from Sellafield to the sea and atmosphere were considered for the period 1951 to 2017, excluding those from the Windscale fire in 1957. Dose rates calculated for marine biota (flatfish, crabs and brown seaweed) are less than 1 mGy d-1 and are below the lower derived consideration reference level (DCRL) for the ICRP marine reference animals and plants (RAPs). Dose rates for terrestrial biota (bees, deer, earthworms, frogs, wild grass, pine trees and rats) are less than the relevant lower DCRL for terrestrial RAPs, ie 0.1 mGy d-1. Dose rates were also calculated for a user defined organism 'seabird' to represent birds which inhabit both marine and terrestrial environments near Sellafield. For seabird, the lower DCRL of 0.1 mGy d-1 is exceeded throughout the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, when the discharges were at their highest, due to exposures from the marine environment. Since the mid-1980s, no dose rates were calculated that exceeded the lower DCRLs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Smith
- Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards Directorate (RCE), UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RQ, UK.
| | - Tracey Anderson
- Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards Directorate (RCE), UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RQ, UK
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Hunt D, Dewar A, Dal Molin F, Willey N. Enhancing radiological monitoring of 137Cs in coastal environments using taxonomic signals in brown seaweeds. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2023; 268-269:107261. [PMID: 37541061 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107261] [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: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
With the rapidly expanding global nuclear industry, more efficient and direct radiological monitoring approaches are needed to ensure the associated environmental health impacts and risk remain fully assessed and undertaken as robustly as possible. Conventionally, radiological monitoring in the environment consists of measuring a wide range of anthropogenically enhanced radionuclides present in selected environmental matrices and using generic transfer values for modelling and prediction that are not necessarily suitable in some situations. Previous studies have found links between taxonomy and radionuclide uptake in terrestrial plants and freshwater fish, but the marine context remains relatively unexplored. This preliminary study was aimed at investigating a similar relationship between brown seaweed, an important indicator in radiological monitoring programmes in the marine environment, and Caesium-137, an important radionuclide discharged to the marine environment. A linear mixed model was fitted using REsidual Maximum Likelihood (REML) to activity concentration data collected from literature published worldwide and other databases. The output from REML modelling was adjusted to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) quoted transfer value for all seaweed taxa in order to produce mean estimate transfer value for each species, which were then analysed by hierarchical ANalysis Of VAriance (ANOVA) based on the taxonomy of brown seaweeds. Transfer value was found to vary between taxa with increasing significance up the taxonomic hierarchy, suggesting a link to evolutionary history. This novel approach enables contextualisation of activity concentration measurements of important marine indicator species in relation to the wider community, allows prediction of unknown transfer values without the need to sample specific species and could, therefore, enhance radiological monitoring by providing accurate, taxon specific transfer values for use in dose assessments and models of radionuclide transfer in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Hunt
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0HT, UK; Centre for Research in Bioscience, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Frenchay, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK.
| | - A Dewar
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0HT, UK
| | - F Dal Molin
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0HT, UK
| | - N Willey
- Centre for Research in Bioscience, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Frenchay, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK
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Abbasi A. Radiation risk assessment of coastal biota from a quasi-Fukushima hypothetical accident in the Mediterranean Sea. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 194:115363. [PMID: 37586269 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
The occurrence of the February 6, 2023, earthquake in Turkey was the idea of this research to define a Fukushima-like accident scenario in the Akkuyu nuclear reactor and investigate its radiation effects on the coastal organisms of the Mediterranean Sea. The concentration rate (CR), activity concentration in organisms, internal dose, external dose, and total dose rate were estimated using the ERICA Tool from 137Cs, 134Cs and 131I radionuclides. The minimum and maximum radiocesium CR were calculated at 0.063 Bq kg-1 fresh weight (f.w)/Bq kg-1 soil and 4.042 Bq kg-1 (f.w)/Bq kg-1 soil dry weight (d.w). Where this value for 131I ranged from 0.005 to 0.295 Bq kg-1 (f.w)/Bq kg-1 soil. For mammals-large and arthropods, we calculated the significant internal and external dose rates. All of the estimated dose rates were higher than the ICRP's derived consideration reference levels (10 μGy h-1).
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Affiliation(s)
- Akbar Abbasi
- Faculty of Art and Science, University of Kyrenia, Kyrenia, North Cyprus via Mersin 10, Turkey; Physics Department, Eastern Mediterranean University, Famagusta, 99628 North Cyprus via Mersin 10, Turkey.
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Ali Y, Thomas R, Holgersson S, Isaksson M, Insulander Björk K. Experimental determination of concentration factors of Ni, Ru and Sb in the model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13575. [PMID: 37604893 PMCID: PMC10442315 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38795-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
This paper describes the experimental determination of concentration factors (CF) for nickel, ruthenium and antimony in the model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin (Bacillariophyceae), which was chosen as a representative of marine phytoplankton. Better determinations of these CF are needed to improve the modelling of marine ecosystems at release points, where radioactive pollutants enter the ecosystem, for more accurate predictions of radiation dose to humans caused by these pollutants. A literature study revealed that the currently implemented values of these CF are based on very scarce data, and a computational sensitivity study showed that the radiation dose caused by radioisotopes of these elements depend strongly on the phytoplankton CF. Nutrient-enriched water samples from Swedish coastal waters were used as a medium for growing of the diatom species P. tricornutum and radioactive isotopes of the studied elements were added to the cultures during the exponential growth phase. The radioactivity in the P. tricornutum and in the culture medium were measured separately and used for determination of CF. Conservative estimates of the CF based on this phytoplankton proxy on the present data are 6400 L/kg for nickel, 20,000 L/kg for ruthenium and 890 L/kg for antimony, with P. tricornutum biomass masses referring to dry weight. The estimates for nickel and ruthenium are similar to previously published values, which underpins the credibility of radiation dose calculations based on these values. The estimate for antimony is uncertain, but also, to our knowledge, represents the first published experimentally based data on this CF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Ali
- Department of Medical Radiation Sciences, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - R Thomas
- Department of Medical Radiation Sciences, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - S Holgersson
- Division of Energy and Materials, Department of Chemistry, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - M Isaksson
- Department of Medical Radiation Sciences, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - K Insulander Björk
- Department of Medical Radiation Sciences, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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Insulander Björk K, Thomas R, Holgersson S, Isaksson M. Experimental determination of concentration factors of Mn, Zn and I in the phytoplankton species Phaeodactylum Tricornutum. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2023; 261:107134. [PMID: 36805951 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic radionuclides released into the environment cause a radiation dose to wildlife and humans which must be quantified, both to assess the effect of normal releases, and to predict the consequences of a larger, unplanned release. To estimate the spread of the radioactive elements, the ecosystem around release points is modelled, and element uptake is usually quantified by concentration factors (CF), which relates the concentration of an element in an organism to the concentration of the same element in a medium under equilibrium conditions. In this work, we experimentally determine some phytoplankton CF that are needed for improved modelling of the marine ecosystems around nuclear facilities and release points. CFs that require better determination have been identified through literature search. Sensitivity studies, using the currently used ecosystem modelling software PREDO, show that for most studied groups, the dose committed by the respective radionuclides is almost proportional to the corresponding phytoplankton CFs. In the present work, CFs are determined through laboratory experiments with cultured phytoplankton and radionuclides of the concerned elements, assessing the element uptake by the phytoplankton through detection of the emitted radiation. The three CF assessed in this work were those for manganese, zinc and iodine in phytoplankton. Conservative estimates of these CF based on the present data are 40 000 L/kg for manganese, 50 000 L/kg for zinc and 180 L/kg for iodine with the phytoplankton masses referring to their dry weight.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Insulander Björk
- Department of Medical Radiation Sciences, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - R Thomas
- Department of Medical Radiation Sciences, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - S Holgersson
- Division of Energy and Materials, Department of Chemistry, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
| | - M Isaksson
- Department of Medical Radiation Sciences, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
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Majlesi S, Roivainen P, Kasurinen A, Tuovinen T, Juutilainen J. Transfer of elements from soil to earthworms and ground beetles in boreal forest. RADIATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOPHYSICS 2023:10.1007/s00411-023-01027-2. [PMID: 37067570 DOI: 10.1007/s00411-023-01027-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Data on the transfer of elements (such as heavy metals) and their radionuclides into organisms is needed for assessing environmental risks. The current data on many elements, species and environments is limited, but more information can be obtained both from field studies and experimental laboratory studies. However, it is essential to evaluate whether experimental studies adequately predict transfer in natural conditions. Moreover, because of the sparsity of species-specific empirical data, it is a common practice in current radioecological modelling to use data available for related species under the assumption that transfer into organisms is similar within broader taxonomic groups. Earthworms and ground beetles are examples of important invertebrates living near soil surface in terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, the transfer of 34 elements from soil to these organisms was studied in a field study conducted in boreal forest. The earthworm concentrations were compared to the values obtained in an experimental mesocosm study using soil from the field site and were found to be highly correlated. This indicates that the results of mesocosm studies can be used for predicting the transfer of elements from soil to fauna in natural conditions. Furthermore, concentrations in individual earthworm and beetle species were found to be similar to those observed in broader groups of related species, indicating that the generic approach used in current radioecological models may be useful for predicting uptake of elements into single species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soroush Majlesi
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Päivi Roivainen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Anne Kasurinen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Tiina Tuovinen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jukka Juutilainen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland
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Koppel DJ, Cresswell T, MacIntosh A, von Hellfeld R, Hastings A, Higgins S. Threshold values for the protection of marine ecosystems from NORM in subsea oil and gas infrastructure. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2023; 258:107093. [PMID: 36621180 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.107093] [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: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This modelling study uses the ERICA Tool and Bateman's equation to derive sediment threshold values for radiation protection of the marine environment relevant to NORM-contaminated products (radium-contaminated scales, 210Pb films and 210Po films) found in subsea oil and gas infrastructure. Threshold values are calculated as the activity concentration of the NORM-contaminated products' head of chain radionuclide (i.e., 226Ra + 228Ra, 210Pb, or 210Po) that will increase radiation dose rates in sediments by 10 μGy/h to the most exposed organism at a given release time. The minimum threshold value (corresponding to peak radiation dose rates from the ingrowth of progeny) were for radium-contaminated scales, 0.009 Bq/g of 226Ra, 0.029 Bq/g of 228Ra (in the absence of 226Ra) or 0.14 Bq/g of 228Ra (in the presence of 226Ra), followed by 0.015 Bq/g for 210Pb films, and 1.6 Bq/g for 210Po films. These may be used as default threshold values. Added activity concentrations of the NORM-contaminated products to marine sediments below these threshold values implies a low radiological risk to organisms while exceedances imply that further investigation is necessary. Using contaminated product specific parameterisations, such as Kd values derived for Ra from a BaSO4 matrix in seawater, could greatly affect threshold values. Strong consideration should be given to deriving such data as part of specific radiological risk assessments for these products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren J Koppel
- Curtin University Oil and Gas Innovation Centre, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia; Australian Institute of Marine Science, Crawley, WA, Australia.
| | - Tom Cresswell
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Amy MacIntosh
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW, Australia; Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Rebecca von Hellfeld
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK; National Decommissioning Centre, Ellon, Scotland, UK
| | - Astley Hastings
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK; National Decommissioning Centre, Ellon, Scotland, UK
| | - Stuart Higgins
- Curtin University Oil and Gas Innovation Centre, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
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MacIntosh A, Koppel DJ, Johansen MP, Beresford NA, Copplestone D, Penrose B, Cresswell T. Radiological risk assessment to marine biota from exposure to NORM from a decommissioned offshore oil and gas pipeline. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2022; 251-252:106979. [PMID: 35963215 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.106979] [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: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Scale residues can accumulate on the interior surfaces of subsea petroleum pipes and may incorporate naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM). The persistent nature of 'NORM scale' may result in a radiological dose to the organisms living on or near intact pipelines. Following a scenario of in-situ decommissioning of a subsea pipeline, marine organisms occupying the exteriors or interiors of petroleum structures may have close contact with the scale or other NORM-associated contaminated substances and suffer subsequent radiological effects. This case study used radiological dose modelling software, including the ERICA Tool (v2.0), MicroShield® Pro and mathematical equations, to estimate the likely radiological doses and risks of effects from NORM-contaminated scale to marine biota from a decommissioned offshore oil and gas pipeline. Using activity concentrations of NORM (226Ra, 210Po, 210Pb, 228Ra, 228Th) from a subsea pipeline from Australia, environmental realistic exposure scenarios including radiological exposures from both an intact pipe (external only; accounting for radiation shielding by a cylindrical carbon steel pipe) and a decommissioned pipeline with corrosive breakthrough (resulting in both internal and external radiological exposure) were simulated to estimate doses to model marine organisms. Predicted dose rates for both the external only exposure (ranging from 26 μGy/h to 33 μGy/h) and a corroded pipeline (ranging from 300 μGy/h to 16,000 μGy/h) exceeded screening levels for radiological doses to environmental receptors. The study highlighted the importance of using scale-specific solubility data (i.e., Kd) values for individual NORM radionuclides for ERICA assessments. This study provides an approach for conducting marine organism dose assessments for NORM-contaminated subsea pipelines and highlights scientific gaps required to undertake risk assessments necessary to inform infrastructure decommissioning planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy MacIntosh
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW, Australia; School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Darren J Koppel
- Curtin University Oil and Gas Innovation Centre, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Mathew P Johansen
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW, Australia
| | | | - David Copplestone
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, United Kingdom
| | - Beth Penrose
- Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Tom Cresswell
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW, Australia
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12
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S B, Garba NN, Muhammad BG, J S. Application of RESRAD and ERICA tools to estimate dose and cancer risk for artisanal gold mining in Nigeria. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2022; 251-252:106932. [PMID: 35675747 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.106932] [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: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Despite the fact that disruption of the environment through mining of minerals poses severe radiological hazards, there is a dearth of radiological information from gold mining sites in Nigeria. In this study, state-of- the-art computational tools - RESRAD ONSITE, RESRAD OFFSITE and ERICA were applied to a typical representative artisanal goldmining area for a more comprehensive evaluation of radiological risks associated with artisanal gold mining in Nigeria. The estimated doses received by an offsite receptor is within the radiation basic safety limit, while for onsite receptor it is greater than the basic radiation safety limit. It was observed that onsite dwellers of the artisanal goldmining areas may suffer high cancer burden when compared with the US EPA acceptable levels. For non-human biota, the hazard quotient was greater than unity and the total dose rate per organism was greater than the screening dose rate of 10μGy h-1. It was observed that 232Th and 226Ra were the main contributors to the total dose and the pathways that contributed most to the dose were; external exposure (via direct and airborne radiation from soil and Radon) as well as water independent plant, meat and milk consumption. Therefore, monitoring food production will lead to an informed decision making and risk communication towards sustainable mining will contribute in minimizing the level of the anticipated risks as low as reasonably achievable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bello S
- Department of Physics, Umaru Musa Yar'adua University, Katsina, Nigeria.
| | - N N Garba
- Department of Physics, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
| | - B G Muhammad
- Department of Physics, Umaru Musa Yar'adua University, Katsina, Nigeria
| | - Simon J
- Department of Physics, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
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13
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Roivainen P, Muurinen SM, Sorvari J, Juutilainen J, Naarala J, Salomaa S. Transfer of elements into boreal forest ants at a former uranium mining site. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 304:119231. [PMID: 35358630 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119231] [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: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Ants can influence ecological processes, such as the transfer of elements or radionuclides, in several ways. For example, they redistribute materials while foraging and maintaining their nests and have an important role in terrestrial food webs. Quantitative data of the transfer of elements into ants is needed, e.g., for developing improved radioecological models. In this study, samples of red wood ants (genus Formica), nest material, litter and soil were collected from a former uranium mining site in Eastern Finland. Concentrations of 33 elements were analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectroscopy/Optical Emission Spectroscopy. Estimated element concentrations in spruce needles were used as a proxy for studying the transfer of elements into ants via aphids because spruces host the most important aphid farms in boreal forests. Empirically determined organism/medium concentration ratios (CRs) are commonly used in radioecological models. Ant/soil CRs were calculated and the validity of the fundamental assumption behind the of use of CRs (linear transfer) was evaluated. Elements that accumulated in ants in comparison to other compartments were cadmium, potassium, phosphorus, sulfur, and zinc. Ant uranium concentrations were low in comparison to soil, litter, or nest material but slightly elevated in comparison to spruce needles. Ant element concentrations were quite constant regardless of the soil concentrations. Non-linear transfer models could therefore describe the soil-to-ant transfer better than conventional CRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Päivi Roivainen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland; Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK), P.O. Box 14, 00811 Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Saara-Maria Muurinen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland; Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK), P.O. Box 14, 00811 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jouni Sorvari
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland
| | - Jukka Juutilainen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jonne Naarala
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Sisko Salomaa
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland; Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK), P.O. Box 14, 00811 Helsinki, Finland
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14
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Beresford NA, Beaugelin-Seiller K, Barnett CL, Brown J, Doering C, Caffrey E, Johansen MP, Melintescu A, Ruedig E, Vandenhove H, Vives I Batlle J, Wood MD, Yankovich TL, Copplestone D. Ensuring robust radiological risk assessment for wildlife: insights from the International Atomic Energy Agency EMRAS and MODARIA programmes. JOURNAL OF RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION 2022; 42:020512. [PMID: 35502472 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6498/ac6043] [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: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In response to changing international recommendations and national requirements, a number of assessment approaches, and associated tools and models, have been developed over the last circa 20 years to assess radiological risk to wildlife. In this paper, we summarise international intercomparison exercises and scenario applications of available radiological assessment models for wildlife to aid future model users and those such as regulators who interpret assessments. Through our studies, we have assessed the fitness for purpose of various models and tools, identified the major sources of uncertainty and made recommendations on how the models and tools can best be applied to suit the purposes of an assessment. We conclude that the commonly used tiered or graded assessment tools are generally fit for purpose for conducting screening-level assessments of radiological impacts to wildlife. Radiological protection of the environment (or wildlife) is still a relatively new development within the overall system of radiation protection and environmental assessment approaches are continuing to develop. Given that some new/developing approaches differ considerably from the more established models/tools and there is an increasing international interest in developing approaches that support the effective regulation of multiple stressors (including radiation), we recommend the continuation of coordinated international programmes for model development, intercomparison and scenario testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- N A Beresford
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, United Kingdom
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Manchester, M5 4WT, United Kingdom
| | - K Beaugelin-Seiller
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, PSE/ENV/SRTE, Centre de Cadarache, Saint-Pual-Les-Durance, BP3 13115, France
| | - C L Barnett
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, United Kingdom
| | - J Brown
- Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA), PO Box 55, No-1332 Østerås, Norway
| | - C Doering
- Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist, Darwin, NT, Australia
| | - E Caffrey
- Radian Scientific, LLC, Huntsville, AL, United States of America
| | - M P Johansen
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Sydney, Australia
| | - A Melintescu
- 'Horia Hulubei' National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering, 30 Reactorului St., POB MG-6, Magurele, Bucharest, RO-077125, Romania
| | - E Ruedig
- BHP, 201 CW Santa Fe Av., Grants, NM 87404, United States of America
| | - H Vandenhove
- Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium
| | - J Vives I Batlle
- Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium
| | - M D Wood
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Manchester, M5 4WT, United Kingdom
| | - T L Yankovich
- International Atomic Energy Agency, Assessment and Management of Environmental Releases Unit, PO Box 100, Vienna, 1400, Austria
| | - D Copplestone
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, United Kingdom
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15
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Guillén J, Beresford NA, Baigazinov Z, Salas A, Kunduzbaeva A. Can stable elements (Cs and Sr) be used as proxies for the estimation of radionuclide soil-plant transfer factors? ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 299:118897. [PMID: 35104562 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.118897] [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: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Transfer parameters are key inputs for modeling radionuclide transfer in the environment and estimating risk to humans and wildlife. However, there are no data for many radionuclide-foodstuff/wildlife species combinations. The use of parameters derived from stable element data when data for radionuclides are lacking is increasingly common. But, do radionuclides and stable elements behave in a sufficiently similar way in the environment? To answer this question, at least for soil to plant transfer, sampling was conducted in four different countries (England, Kazakhstan, Spain and Ukraine) affected by different anthropogenic radionuclide source terms (in chronological order: global fallout, Semipalatinsk Test Site, the 1957 Windscale accident and the 1986 Chernobyl accident) together with a bibliographical review. Soil to grass transfer parameters (ratio between dry matter concentrations in plant and soil), Fv, for 137Cs and 90Sr were significantly higher than those for stable elements, suggesting that the use of the latter could lead to underestimating radionuclide concentrations in plant samples Transfer parameters for 137Cs and stable Cs were linearly correlated, with a slope of 1.54. No such correlation was observed for 90Sr and stable Sr, the mean value of the 90Sr:Sr ratio was 35 ranging (0.33-126); few data were available for the Sr comparison. The use of radionuclide transfer parameters, whenever possible, is recommended over derivation from stable element concentrations. However, we acknowledge that for many radionuclides there will be few or no radionuclide data from environmental studies. From analyses of the data collated there is evidence of a decreasing trend in the Fv(137Cs)/Fv(Cs) ratio with time from the Chernobyl accident.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Guillén
- LARUEX, Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory, Dpt. Applied Physics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Extremadura, Avda. Universidad, S/n, 10003, Cáceres, Spain.
| | - N A Beresford
- UKCEH, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Av. Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, United Kingdom
| | - Zh Baigazinov
- IRSE NNC RK, Institute Radiation Safety and Ecology, National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Beibit Atom St. 2, Building #23, Kurchatov City, 071100, East-Kazakhstan region, Kazakhstan; Institute of Radiochemistry and Radioecology, University of Pannonia, 10 Egyetem Str, Veszprem, H-8200, Hungary
| | - A Salas
- LARUEX, Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory, Dpt. Applied Physics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Extremadura, Avda. Universidad, S/n, 10003, Cáceres, Spain
| | - A Kunduzbaeva
- IRSE NNC RK, Institute Radiation Safety and Ecology, National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Beibit Atom St. 2, Building #23, Kurchatov City, 071100, East-Kazakhstan region, Kazakhstan
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16
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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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17
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Charrasse B, Mora JC, Anderson T, Bonchuk Y, Telleria D. Bounding uncertainties around the conceptual representation of species in radiological assessment in the context of routine atmospheric release. JOURNAL OF RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION 2022; 42:020506. [PMID: 35347087 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6498/ac5dd1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Wildlife protection has become of regulatory interest since the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) developed an approach to assess the level of radiological protection specifically for animals and plants. For the purpose of demonstrating compliance with regulation to protect the environment against routine authorised discharges from nuclear facilities, the wide variety of biota inhabiting an ecosystem needs to be condensed to a limited set of representative organisms, as proposed by the ICRP with a set of 'reference animals and plants' which can be considered representative of many other species. It is now recommended in the International Atomic Energy Agency Safety Standards, and internationally accepted, that the use of such a limited number of organisms to represent a pool of species is adequate for radiation protection purposes, particularly in planned exposure situations. Adding site-specific species to that set of surrogate species can respond to various interests, such as ensuring a site-specific context to the assessment that addresses stakeholder interests and can aid in stakeholder consultation and risk communication. Moreover, there is a need to question whether the use of the set of surrogate organisms is conservative enough to cover a wider range of biodiversity. Previous studies partially answered this question and this paper adds a range of test cases. A selection of hypothetical representations of possible site-specific species are assessed on the basis of possible variations in size (mass) and occupancy habits. Dose rates are evaluated to determine the greatest difference between hypothetical organisms and those for reference organisms (ROs), considering radionuclides (RNs) potentially discharged in atmospheric routine release from different nuclear facilities. Differences observed in the results between hypothetical organisms and ROs were less than one order of magnitude in all cases, the difference being dependent on the RNs considered. These findings do not preclude the inclusion of site-specific species in environmental radiological assessments if it is considered necessary, but they provide reassurance that using ROs for radiological impact assessments in the case of routine atmospheric discharges is sufficient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benoit Charrasse
- CEA, DES, IRESNE, DTN, Cadarache, F-13108 Saint-Paul-Lez-Durance, France
| | - Juan C Mora
- Environment Department, CIEMAT, Avda. Complutense, 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Tracey Anderson
- Radiation Assessments Department, Public Health England-Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Chilton, Didcot, OX11 0RQ Oxon, United Kingdom
| | - Yuri Bonchuk
- Ukrainian Radiation Protection Institute, 53, Melnykova str., 04050 Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Diego Telleria
- IAEA Assessment and Management of Environmental Releases Unit, Wagramer Str. 5, PO Box 100, 1400 Vienna, Austria
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18
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Koppel DJ, Kho F, Hastings A, Crouch D, MacIntosh A, Cresswell T, Higgins S. Current understanding and research needs for ecological risk assessments of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) in subsea oil and gas pipelines. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2022; 241:106774. [PMID: 34823203 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2021.106774] [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: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Thousands of offshore oil and gas facilities are coming to the end of their life in jurisdictions worldwide and will require decommissioning. In-situ decommissioning, where the subsea components of that infrastructure are left in the marine environment following the end of its productive life, has been proposed as an option that delivers net benefits, including from: ecological benefits from the establishment of artificial reefs, economic benefits from associated fisheries, reduced costs and improved human safety outcomes for operators. However, potential negative impacts, such as the ecological risk of residual contaminants, are not well understood. Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) are a class of contaminants found in some oil and gas infrastructure (e.g. pipelines) and includes radionuclides of uranium, thorium, radium, radon, lead, and polonium. NORM are ubiquitous in oil and gas reservoirs around the world and may form contamination products including scales and sludges in subsea infrastructure due to their chemistries and the physical processes of oil and gas extraction. The risk that NORM from these sources pose to marine ecosystems is not yet understood meaning that decisions made about decommissioning may not deliver the best outcomes for environments. In this review, we consider the life of NORM-contamination products in oil and gas systems, their expected exposure pathways in the marine environment, and possible ecological impacts following release. These are accompanied by the key research priorities that need to better describe risk associated with decommissioning options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren J Koppel
- Curtin University Oil and Gas Innovation Centre, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia; CSIRO Land and Water, Lucas Heights, NSW, Australia.
| | - Fenny Kho
- Curtin University Oil and Gas Innovation Centre, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia; Curtin Corrosion Center, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | | | - Dean Crouch
- Curtin University Oil and Gas Innovation Centre, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Amy MacIntosh
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW, Australia; Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Tom Cresswell
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Stuart Higgins
- Curtin University Oil and Gas Innovation Centre, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
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19
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Majlesi S, Akkanen J, Roivainen P, Tuovinen TS, Sorvari J, Naarala J, Juutilainen J. Transfer of elements relevant to radioactive waste into chironomids and fish in boreal freshwater bodies. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 791:148218. [PMID: 34119794 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148218] [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: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Information on transfer of elements and their radionuclides is essential for radioecological modeling. In the present study, we investigated the transfer of Cl, Co, Mo, Ni, Se, Sr, U and Zn in a boreal freshwater food chain. These elements were selected on the basis that they have important radionuclides that might be released into the biosphere from various stages of the nuclear fuel cycle. Water, sediment, chironomid larvae (Chironomus sp.), roach (Rutilus rutilus) and perch (Perca fluviatilis) were sampled from two ponds near a former uranium mine and one reference pond located further away from the mining area. Concentrations measured in water, sediment and the three animal species indicated the importance of sediment as a source of uptake for most of the elements (but not Cl). This should be considered in radioecological models, which conventionally predict concentration in aquatic organisms from concentration in water. The results also show that the assumption of linear transfer (constant concentration ratio) may not be valid for elements into fish. The results of this study show that further basic research is needed to understand the fundamental processes involved in transfer of elements into freshwater organisms in order to develop radioecological models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soroush Majlesi
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Jarkko Akkanen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 111, FI-80101 Joensuu, Finland
| | - Päivi Roivainen
- Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, PO Box 14, FI-00811 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tiina S Tuovinen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jouni Sorvari
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland; Department of Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland
| | - Jonne Naarala
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jukka Juutilainen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
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20
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Sotiropoulou M, Florou H. Measurement and calculation of radionuclide concentration ratios from soil to grass in semi-natural terrestrial habitats in Greece. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2021; 237:106666. [PMID: 34157575 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2021.106666] [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: 11/07/2020] [Revised: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The results of the measurements of radionuclide transfer from soil to vegetation (Poaceae spp.) that conducted during 2010-2014, in free-ranged grazing regions in Greece, are presented in this work. The specific activities of 137Cs, 226Ra, 228Ra and 228Th radionuclides were measured and the activity concentrations were calculated in samples of soil and grass obtained from several studied regions in Greece. The respective soil-to-plant radionuclide transfer parameters (as Concentration Ratio) were calculated and the results were analyzed in terms of spatial deviation caused by the different climate type among the studied regions, provided that the same plant and soil types are studied. The Concentration Ratios ranged from 0.02 to 2.5 for 137Cs, 0.01 to 0.7 for 226Ra, from 0.07 to 1.1 for 228Ra, and, from 0.08 to 0.17 for 228Th. Although, the concentration ratios of the primordial radionuclides show some consistency among the different regions, significant differences are observed for 137Cs, which may be particularly attributed to the different climatic types (according to the Koppen-Geiger climate classification) that govern these regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Sotiropoulou
- Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory, I.N.RA.S.T.E.S, National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos', Agia Paraskevi, 15310, Attiki, Greece.
| | - Heleny Florou
- Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory, I.N.RA.S.T.E.S, National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos', Agia Paraskevi, 15310, Attiki, Greece
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21
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Rea MAD, Johansen MP, Payne TE, Hirth G, Hondros J, Pandelus S, Tucker W, Duff T, Stopic A, Green L, Pring A, Lenehan CE, Popelka-Filcoff RS. Radionuclides and stable elements in vegetation in Australian arid environments: Concentration ratios and seasonal variation. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2021; 234:106627. [PMID: 33964669 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2021.106627] [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: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Data on the uptake of elements and radionuclides by flora from soils in arid environments are underrepresented in international databases, especially when comparing across seasons. This study improved the understanding on the uptake of natural uranium-series radionuclides, as well as more than 30 elements, in a range of Australian native flora species that are internationally representative of an arid/semi-arid zone (e.g. Acacia, Astrebla, Atriplex, and Dodonea). Results indicate that the soil-to-plant uptake ratios were generally higher when compared with international data for grasses and shrubs from more temperate environments. The majority of the elemental concentrations in grasses were higher in winter than in summer and the opposite trend was found in shrubs, which suggests that the season of collection potentially introduces variability in the reported concentration ratios. The data also suggest that grasses, being dominant and widespread species in arid zones, may be effective as a reference organism to ensure comparative assessment across sites of interest. The results of this study will improve the confidence of environmental assessments in arid zones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Angelica D Rea
- Flinders University, College of Science and Engineering, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia.
| | - Mathew P Johansen
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW, 2234, Australia.
| | - Timothy E Payne
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW, 2234, Australia.
| | - Gillian Hirth
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), 619 Lower Plenty Road, Yallambie, VIC, 3085, Australia.
| | - Jim Hondros
- JRHC Enterprises Pty. Ltd., Stirling, SA, 5152, Australia.
| | - Samantha Pandelus
- Flinders University, College of Science and Engineering, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia.
| | - William Tucker
- Flinders University, College of Science and Engineering, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia
| | - Tim Duff
- National Energy Resources Australia, Kensington, WA, 6151, Australia.
| | - Attila Stopic
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW, 2234, Australia.
| | - Liesel Green
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), 619 Lower Plenty Road, Yallambie, VIC, 3085, Australia.
| | - Allan Pring
- Flinders University, College of Science and Engineering, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia.
| | - Claire E Lenehan
- Flinders University, College of Science and Engineering, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia.
| | - Rachel S Popelka-Filcoff
- Flinders University, College of Science and Engineering, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia; University of Melbourne, School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia.
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Ragaišis V, Poškas P, Kilda R, Bartkus G. A review of uncertainties in the assessment of the radiological impact of liquid releases to the Ignalina NPP cooling pond lake Drūkšiai. ANN NUCL ENERGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anucene.2021.108228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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23
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Skoko B, Babić D, Franić Z, Bituh T, Petrinec B. Distribution and transfer of naturally occurring radionuclides and 137Cs in the freshwater system of the Plitvice Lakes, Croatia, and related dose assessment to wildlife by ERICA Tool. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:23547-23564. [PMID: 33452639 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-12415-w] [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: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the natural radioactivity of Plitvice Lakes, under the assumption that due to its status as a National Park, the area can be considered an example of a natural freshwater system. Also, considering the transfer parameter data as the largest source of uncertainty in radiological risk assessments, the impact of site-specific data on dose rate assessment, as opposed to currently available data, was investigated. The study included gamma and alpha spectrometric measurements of 238U, 226Ra, 210Pb, 228Ra, and 40K in water, sediment, and fish samples, as well as 137Cs due to the coinciding of the study with the Fukushima accident. The content of naturally occurring radionuclides significantly varied in sediments of different Lakes, probably as a reflection of the different underlying geology of the area. Also, the 210Pb distribution in sediments indicated an up to 312 Bq kg-1 of the allochthonous contribution of this radionuclide at the beginning of the Lake's watercourse, which probably entered into the lake system by the major inlet river with its steady decrease along downstream lakes. Low 40K activity concentrations (27.5 ± 20.1 mBq L-1) in the Lake's waters might be one of the causes of increased 137Cs activity concentrations in fish samples (1.5 ± 0.4 Bq kg-1), which was found to be an order of magnitude higher than average values for different fish species from other Croatian freshwater systems (0.2 ± 0.1 Bq kg-1). A temporary increase of 137Cs activity concentrations was measured in water samples collected immediately after the Fukushima accident. Calculated site-specific sediment/water distribution coefficients and fish/water concentration ratios for radium and caesium were on average lower than generic ones found in the literature. Background dose rate assessments performed by the ERICA Tool indicated a profound impact of different input data on assessment results with water activity concentrations resulting in significantly higher dose rates (0.1-67 μGy h-1) in comparison to sediment activity concentrations (0.03-9 μGy h-1). An incremental dose rate due to 137Cs was found to be in the range of < 0.001-0.023 μGy h-1 which, in comparison to background dose rates, can be considered negligible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Božena Skoko
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Dinko Babić
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Zdenko Franić
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Tomislav Bituh
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Branko Petrinec
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
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24
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Anderson D, Beresford NA, Ishiniwa H, Onuma M, Nanba K, Hinton TG. Radiocesium concentration ratios and radiation dose to wild rodents in Fukushima Prefecture. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2021; 226:106457. [PMID: 33227677 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2020.106457] [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: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 10/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Radiocesium was dispersed from the Fukushima Dai-ichi disaster in March 2011, causing comparatively high radioactive contamination in nearby environments. Radionuclide concentrations in wild rodents (Apodemus argenteus, and Apodemus speciosus) within these areas were monitored from 2012 to 2016. However, whole-organism to soil transfer parameters (i.e., concentration ratio, CRwo-soil) for wild rodents at Fukushima were not determined and hence were lacking from the international transfer databases. We augmented the 2012-2016 data by collecting soil activity concentrations (Bq kg-1, dry mass) from five rodent sampling sites in Fukushima Prefecture, and developed corresponding CRwo-soil values for radiocesium (134Cs and 137Cs) based on rodent radioactivity concentrations (Bq kg-1, fresh mass). The CRwo-soil were added to the Wildlife Transfer Database (WTD; http://www.wildlifetransferdatabase.org/), supporting the development of the International Commission on Radiological Protection's (ICRP) environmental protection framework, and increasing the WTD from 84 to 477 entries for cesium and Muridae ('Reference Rat'). Significant variation occurred in CRwo-soil values between study sites within Fukushima Prefecture. The geometric mean CRwo-soil, in this paper, was higher than that reported for Muridae species for Chernobyl. Radiocaesium absorbed dose rates were also estimated for wild rodents inhabiting the five Fukushima study sites and ranged from 1.3 to 33 μGy h-1. Absorbed dose rates decreased by a factor of two from 2012 to 2016. Dose rates in highly contaminated areas were within the ICRP derived consideration reference level for Reference Rat (0.1-1 mGy d-1), suggesting the possible occurrence of deleterious effects and need for radiological effect studies in the Fukushima area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donovan Anderson
- Symbiotic Systems Science and Technology, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Fukushima City, Kanayagawa, 960-1248, Japan.
| | - Nicholas A Beresford
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Center, Library Av., Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
| | - Hiroko Ishiniwa
- Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Fukushima City, Kanayagawa, 960-1248, Japan
| | - Manabu Onuma
- Ecological Risk Assessment and Control Section, Center for Environmental Biology and Ecosystem Studies, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0053, Japan
| | - Kenji Nanba
- Symbiotic Systems Science and Technology, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Fukushima City, Kanayagawa, 960-1248, Japan; Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Fukushima City, Kanayagawa, 960-1248, Japan
| | - Thomas G Hinton
- Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Fukushima City, Kanayagawa, 960-1248, Japan; Centre for Environmental Radioactivity, CoE, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty for Environmental Sciences and Nature Research Management, 1430, Åas, Norway
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25
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Nushtaeva VE, Spiridonov SI, Mikailova RA, Karpenko EI, Nushtaev SN, Nygymanova AS. Radiation Dose Assessment for Representative Biota Organisms in the Locale of NPP with VVER-1200. ATOM ENERGY+ 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10512-020-00684-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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26
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Abstract
The International Commission on Radiological Protection's (ICRP) system to protect the living components of the environment is designed to provide a broad and practical framework across different exposure situations. The framework recognises the need to be able to demonstrate an adequate level of protection in relation to planned exposure situations, whilst also providing an ability to manage existing and emergency situations in an appropriate way. In all three exposure situations, the release of radionuclides into the natural environment leads to exposures of non-human biota (wildlife), as well as having the potential for exposures of the public. How the key principles of the ICRP system of radiological protection apply in each of these exposure situations will be discussed. Using examples, we will demonstrate how the overall approach provides a mechanism for industry to assess and demonstrate compliance with the environmental protection objectives of relevant (national) legislation, and to meet stakeholder expectations that radiological protection of the environment is taken into consideration in accordance with international best practice. However, several challenges remain, and these will be discussed in the context of the need for additional guidance on the protection of the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Copplestone
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
| | - G A Hirth
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, 619 Lower Plenty Rd, Yallambie, 3085 Victoria, Australia
| | - T Cresswell
- ANSTO, New Illawarra Road, Lucas Heights, NSW 2234, Australia
| | - M P Johansen
- ANSTO, New Illawarra Road, Lucas Heights, NSW 2234, Australia
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27
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Sotiropoulou M, Florou H. Radiological risk assessment in the terrestrial ecosystem: comparative study of two software tools used for dose rate calculations. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:18488-18497. [PMID: 32193736 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-08186-5] [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: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In this study, two software tools, namely the ERICA Assessment Tool and the RESRAD-BIOTA code, are used for the calculation of the radiological exposure of non-human organisms. For the purposes of the analysis, data retrieved from field studies are used. The site-specific measurements were performed on organisms (mammals-sheep and goats of Bovidae spp.) collected from free-ranged grazing regions in Greece. Plants (grass) of Poaceae spp. and soil samples were also collected from these regions. Natural radionuclides (226Ra, 228Ra, and 228Th) of lithogenic origin and 137Cs, resulted from human activities (Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear power plant accidents and global fallout), were detected in all samples. The measured activity concentrations were used as input to the two software tools, the ERICA Assessment Tool and the RESRAD-BIOTA code. The results of the simulations provided the external, internal, and total dose rates received by the organisms due to the exposure to the radionuclides. The assessments indicated that out of all detected radionuclides, 228Th is the main contributor to the external dose and 226Ra and 228Ra are the main contributors to the internal dose. The comparative analysis of the two tools revealed significant differences in the calculated doses. In fact, external and internal doses calculated by RESRAD-BIOTA are higher than the values calculated by the ERICA Tool, due to the dose conversion coefficients (DCCs) used for the dose calculation. RESRAD-BIOTA provides more conservative values, but ERICA Tool provides lower uncertainty due to the higher flexibility in the design of the phantom organism. On a risk assessment basis, there is no significant impact, due to organisms' exposure to radioactivity. However, further consideration of the exposure levels is required due to the potential effects of protracted low-level ionizing radiation on the various levels of life's organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Sotiropoulou
- Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory (ERL), I.N.RA.S.T.E.S, National Centre for Scientific Research 'Demokritos' (NCSR'D'), Agia Paraskevi, Greece.
| | - Heleny Florou
- Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory (ERL), I.N.RA.S.T.E.S, National Centre for Scientific Research 'Demokritos' (NCSR'D'), Agia Paraskevi, Greece
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28
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Liland A, Lind OC, Bartnicki J, Brown JE, Dyve JE, Iosjpe M, Klein H, Lin Y, Simonsen M, Strand P, Thørring H, Ytre-Eide MA, Salbu B. Using a chain of models to predict health and environmental impacts in Norway from a hypothetical nuclear accident at the Sellafield site. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2020; 214-215:106159. [PMID: 32063286 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2020.106159] [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: 08/16/2019] [Revised: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
When a nuclear accident occurs, decision makers in the affected country/countries would need to act promptly to protect people, the environment and societal interests from harmful impacts of radioactive fallout. The decisions are usually based on a combination of model prognoses, measurements, and expert judgements within in an emergency decision support system (DSS). Large scale nuclear accidents would need predictive models for the atmospheric, terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems, for the connections between these in terms of radionuclide fluxes, and for the various exposure pathways to both humans and biota. Our study showed that eight different models and DSS modules could be linked to assess the total human and environmental consequences in Norway from a hypothetical nuclear accident, here chosen to be the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant. Activity concentrations and dose rates from 137Cs for both humans and the environment via various exposure routes were successfully modelled. The study showed that a release of 1% of the total inventory of 137Cs in the Highly Active Liquor Tanks at Sellafield Ltd is predicted to severely impact humans and the environment in Norway if strong winds are blowing towards the country at the time of an accidental atmospheric release. Furthermore, since the models did not have built-in uncertainty ranges when this Sellafield study was performed, investigations were conducted to identify the key factors contributing to uncertainty in various models and prioritise the ones to focus on in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Liland
- Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA), P.O. BOX 55, No-1332, Østerås, Norway; Centre of Excellence for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD), P.O. BOX 5003 NMBU, No-1432, Ås, Norway.
| | - O C Lind
- Faculty for Environmental Sciences and Nature resource management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), P.O. BOX 5003 NMBU, No-1432, Ås, Norway; Centre of Excellence for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD), P.O. BOX 5003 NMBU, No-1432, Ås, Norway
| | - J Bartnicki
- Norwegian Meteorological Institute (MET Norway), P.O. BOX 43 Blindern, No-0313, Oslo, Norway; Centre of Excellence for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD), P.O. BOX 5003 NMBU, No-1432, Ås, Norway
| | - J E Brown
- Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA), P.O. BOX 55, No-1332, Østerås, Norway; Centre of Excellence for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD), P.O. BOX 5003 NMBU, No-1432, Ås, Norway
| | - J E Dyve
- Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA), P.O. BOX 55, No-1332, Østerås, Norway; Centre of Excellence for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD), P.O. BOX 5003 NMBU, No-1432, Ås, Norway
| | - M Iosjpe
- Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA), P.O. BOX 55, No-1332, Østerås, Norway; Centre of Excellence for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD), P.O. BOX 5003 NMBU, No-1432, Ås, Norway
| | - H Klein
- Norwegian Meteorological Institute (MET Norway), P.O. BOX 43 Blindern, No-0313, Oslo, Norway; Centre of Excellence for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD), P.O. BOX 5003 NMBU, No-1432, Ås, Norway
| | - Y Lin
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalléen 21, No-0349, Oslo, Norway; Centre of Excellence for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD), P.O. BOX 5003 NMBU, No-1432, Ås, Norway
| | - M Simonsen
- Norwegian Meteorological Institute (MET Norway), P.O. BOX 43 Blindern, No-0313, Oslo, Norway; Centre of Excellence for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD), P.O. BOX 5003 NMBU, No-1432, Ås, Norway
| | - P Strand
- Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA), P.O. BOX 55, No-1332, Østerås, Norway; Centre of Excellence for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD), P.O. BOX 5003 NMBU, No-1432, Ås, Norway
| | - H Thørring
- Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA), P.O. BOX 55, No-1332, Østerås, Norway; Centre of Excellence for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD), P.O. BOX 5003 NMBU, No-1432, Ås, Norway
| | - M A Ytre-Eide
- Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA), P.O. BOX 55, No-1332, Østerås, Norway; Centre of Excellence for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD), P.O. BOX 5003 NMBU, No-1432, Ås, Norway
| | - B Salbu
- Faculty for Environmental Sciences and Nature resource management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), P.O. BOX 5003 NMBU, No-1432, Ås, Norway; Centre of Excellence for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD), P.O. BOX 5003 NMBU, No-1432, Ås, Norway
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29
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Beaugelin-Seiller K, Garnier-Laplace J, Beresford NA. Estimating radiological exposure of wildlife in the field. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2020; 211:105830. [PMID: 30385053 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2017] [Revised: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The assessment of the ecological impact due to radionuclides at contaminated sites requires estimation of the exposure of wildlife, in order to correlate radiation dose with known radiological effects. The robust interpretation of field data requires consideration of possible confounding effects (e.g., from the tsunami at Fukushima) and an accurate and relevant quantification of radiation doses to biota. Generally, in field studies the exposure of fauna and flora has often been characterised as measurements of the ambient dose rate or activity concentrations in some components of the environment. The use of such data does not allow the establishment of a robust dose-effect relationship for wildlife exposed to ionising radiation in the field. Effects of exposure to radioactivity depend on the total amount of energy deposited into exposed organisms, which is estimated by adding doses (or dose rates) for all radionuclides and exposure pathways. Realistic dose estimation needs to reflect the entire story of the organisms of interest during their whole exposure period. The process of identifying and collecting all the related information should allow the "W" questions (Which organisms are exposed, Where, When and hoW) to be answered. Some parameters are well known to influence dose (rate): the organism life stage, its ecological characteristics (e.g. habitat, behaviour), the source term properties (e.g. discharging facility, nature of radiation), etc. The closer the collated data are to the ideal data set, the more accurate and realistic the dose (rate) assessment will be. This means characterising each exposure pathway (internal and external), the activity concentration in each exposure source, the time each organism spends in a given place, as well as the associated dose. In this paper the process of data collation in view of dose reconstruction is illustrated for Japanese birds exposed to radioactive deposition following the Fukushima accident. With respect to the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone we will also consider variability under field conditions, availability of relevant datasets and options for better estimating internal and external doses received by wildlife.
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30
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Beresford NA, Barnett CL, Gashchak S, Maksimenko A, Guliaichenko E, Wood MD, Izquierdo M. Radionuclide transfer to wildlife at a 'Reference site' in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone and resultant radiation exposures. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2020; 211:105661. [PMID: 29499973 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Revised: 02/11/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
This study addresses a significant data deficiency in the developing environmental protection framework of the International Commission on Radiological Protection, namely a lack of radionuclide transfer data for some of the Reference Animals and Plants (RAPs). It is also the first study that has sampled such a wide range of species (invertebrates, plants, amphibians and small mammals) from a single terrestrial site in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ). Samples were collected in 2014 from the 0.4 km2 sampling site, located 5 km west of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power complex. We report radionuclide (137Cs, 90Sr, 241Am and Pu-isotopes) and stable element concentrations in wildlife and soil samples and use these to determine whole organism-soil concentration ratios and absorbed dose rates. Increasingly, stable element analyses are used to provide transfer parameters for radiological models. The study described here found that for both Cs and Sr the transfer of the stable element tended to be lower than that of the radionuclide; this is the first time that this has been demonstrated for Sr, though it is in agreement with limited evidence previously reported for Cs. Studies reporting radiation effects on wildlife in the CEZ generally relate observations to ambient dose rates determined using handheld dose meters. For the first time, we demonstrate that ambient dose rates may underestimate the actual dose rate for some organisms by more than an order of magnitude. When reporting effects studies from the CEZ, it has previously been suggested that the area has comparatively low natural background dose rates. However, on the basis of data reported here, dose rates to wildlife from natural background radionuclides within the CEZ are similar to those in many areas of Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- N A Beresford
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, UK; School of Environment & Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford M5 4WT, UK.
| | - C L Barnett
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, UK
| | - S Gashchak
- Chernobyl Centre for Nuclear Safety, Radioactive Waste & Radioecology, International Radioecology Laboratory, 77th Gvardiiska Dyviiya Str.11, P.O. Box 151, 07100 Slavutych, Kiev Region, Ukraine
| | - A Maksimenko
- Chernobyl Centre for Nuclear Safety, Radioactive Waste & Radioecology, International Radioecology Laboratory, 77th Gvardiiska Dyviiya Str.11, P.O. Box 151, 07100 Slavutych, Kiev Region, Ukraine
| | - E Guliaichenko
- Chernobyl Centre for Nuclear Safety, Radioactive Waste & Radioecology, International Radioecology Laboratory, 77th Gvardiiska Dyviiya Str.11, P.O. Box 151, 07100 Slavutych, Kiev Region, Ukraine
| | - M D Wood
- School of Environment & Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford M5 4WT, UK
| | - M Izquierdo
- University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Sutton Bonington, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, UK
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31
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Beresford NA, Willey N. Moving radiation protection on from the limitations of empirical concentration ratios. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2019; 208-209:106020. [PMID: 31336261 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.106020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2018] [Revised: 07/06/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Radionuclide activity concentrations in food crops and wildlife are most often predicted using empirical concentration ratios (CRs). The CR approach is simple to apply and some data exist with which to parameterise models. However, the parameter is highly variable leading to considerable uncertainty in predictions. Furthermore, for both crops and wildlife we have no, or few, data for many radionuclides and realistically, we are never going to have specific data for every radionuclide - wildlife/crop combination. In this paper, we present an alternative approach using residual maximum likelihood (REML) fitting of a linear mixed effects model; the model output is an estimate of the rank-order of relative values. This methodology gives a less uncertain approach than the CR approach, as it takes into account the effect of site; it also gives a scientifically based extrapolation approach. We demonstrate the approach using the examples of Cs for plants and Pb for terrestrial wildlife. This is the first published application of the REML approach to terrestrial wildlife (previous applications being limited to the consideration of plants). The model presented gives reasonable predictions for a blind test dataset.
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Affiliation(s)
- N A Beresford
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK; School of Environment & Life Sciences, Peel Building, University of Salford, Manchester M5 4WT, UK.
| | - N Willey
- Centre for Research in Bioscience, Dept. of Applied Sciences, University of the West of England, Frenchay, Bristol, UK
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32
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Doering C. Whole organism concentration ratios of radionuclides and metals in terrestrial vertebrates of an Australian tropical savanna environment. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2019; 207:7-14. [PMID: 31151051 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.05.016] [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: 01/24/2019] [Revised: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Preliminary values of whole organism concentration ratio (CRwo-soil) were derived for terrestrial vertebrates of an Australian tropical savanna environment. Wildlife groups included bird, bat, ground-dwelling mammal and reptile. Sample data for some of the wildlife groups (bird and bat in particular) were limited. The bird and bat CRwo-soil values were generally lower than the ground-dwelling mammal and reptile CRwo-soil values based on the available data. Arithmetic mean CRwo-soil values for two species of native marsupial and two species of non-native placental were not significantly different (p < 0.05) when tested using a one-way analysis of variance. The results hinted at possible sampling efficiencies for terrestrial vertebrates. However, verification with additional data was recommended. Used cautiously, the CRwo-soil values may assist in environmental assessments of Australian uranium mining sites. They also enhance the available data on radionuclide transfer to wildlife for use internationally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Che Doering
- Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist (ERISS), GPO Box 461, Darwin, NT, 0801, Australia.
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Kırıs E, Baltas H. Sediment distribution coefficients (Kd) and bioaccumulation factors (BAF) in biota for natural radionuclides in eastern Black Sea coast of Turkey. Microchem J 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2019.104044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Takata H, Johansen MP, Kusakabe M, Ikenoue T, Yokota M, Takaku H. A 30-year record reveals re-equilibration rates of 137Cs in marine biota after the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident: Concentration ratios in pre- and post-event conditions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 675:694-704. [PMID: 31042622 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Revised: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/01/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Concentration ratios (CRs), expressed by dividing 137Cs activity in seawater by that in marine biota (mainly fish), were obtained from the monitoring of 137Cs in coastal areas around Japan between 1984 and 2016. Before the TEPCO Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident (1984-2010), mean CRs of 137Cs, mainly from global fallout (i.e. CRGF), were almost constant for each species throughout the monitoring period, but were different among species, while the values for several species were dependent on their length (i.e. CRGF-SIZE). Thus, CRGF and CRGF-SIZE values for 29 of marketable species are given here as references for conditions where marine biota are in approximate equilibrium (or steady state) with their host water with respect to 137Cs activities in the marine environment. After the FDNPP accident (2011-2016), the impact of the accident has been sustained in eastern Japan waters as indicated by apparent CRs (CRas) which are being used here as indicators of disequilibrium between organisms and their host water. The recession rates of this disequilibrium (the effective CRa half-lives) ranged from 100 to 1100 days. The identified distinct variation was due to the sample locations, even for the same species, because of the change in 137Cs activity concentrations in their host water and diet preference differences. Variation among species, even those captured from the same area, was mainly due to diet differences as well as metabolic-physiological differences in 137Cs retention. Thus, our results from >30 years of systematically monitoring have helped quantify the recession rates of post-FDNPP disequilibrium of 137Cs in biota for assessment of how long term is required from contaminated condition by underlying spatial, inter- and intra-species factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyoe Takata
- Central Laboratory, Marine Ecology Research Institute, 300 Iwawada, Onjuku-machi, Isumi-gun, Chiba 299-5105, Japan.
| | - Mathew P Johansen
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Kirrawee DC, NSW, Australia
| | - Masashi Kusakabe
- Central Laboratory, Marine Ecology Research Institute, 300 Iwawada, Onjuku-machi, Isumi-gun, Chiba 299-5105, Japan
| | - Takahito Ikenoue
- Central Laboratory, Marine Ecology Research Institute, 300 Iwawada, Onjuku-machi, Isumi-gun, Chiba 299-5105, Japan
| | - Mizuro Yokota
- Central Laboratory, Marine Ecology Research Institute, 300 Iwawada, Onjuku-machi, Isumi-gun, Chiba 299-5105, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Takaku
- Central Laboratory, Marine Ecology Research Institute, 300 Iwawada, Onjuku-machi, Isumi-gun, Chiba 299-5105, Japan
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Shuryak I. Enhancing low-dose risk assessment using mechanistic mathematical models of radiation effects. JOURNAL OF RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION 2019; 39:S1-S13. [PMID: 31292290 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6498/ab3101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Mechanistic mathematical modeling of ionizing radiation (IR) effects has a long history spanning several decades. Models that mathematically represent current knowledge and hypotheses about how radiation damages cells and organs, leading to deleterious outcomes such as carcinogenesis, are particularly useful for estimating radiation risks at doses that are relevant for radiation protection, but are too low to provide a strong 'signal-to-noise ratio' in epidemiological or experimental studies with realistic sample sizes. Here, I discuss examples of models in several relevant areas, including radionuclide biokinetics, non-targeted IR effects, DNA double-strand break (DSB) rejoining and radiation carcinogenesis. I do not provide a detailed review of the vast modeling literature in these fields, but focus on concepts that we have implemented, such as using continuous probability distributions of exponential rates to model radionuclide biokinetics and DSB rejoining, and combining short and long time scales in carcinogenesis models. Improvements in models, including the ability to generate new hypotheses based on model predictions, may come from the introduction of additional novel concepts and from integrating multiple data types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor Shuryak
- Center for Radiological Research, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States of America
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Schofield PN, Kulka U, Tapio S, Grosche B. Big data in radiation biology and epidemiology; an overview of the historical and contemporary landscape of data and biomaterial archives. Int J Radiat Biol 2019; 95:861-878. [DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2019.1589026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Paul N. Schofield
- Department of Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ulrike Kulka
- Bundesamt fuer Strahlenschutz, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Soile Tapio
- Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health GmbH, Institute of Radiation Biology, Neuherberg, Germany
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Doering C, Carpenter J, Orr B, Urban D. Whole organism concentration ratios in freshwater wildlife from an Australian tropical U mining environment and the derivation of a water radiological quality guideline value. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2019; 198:27-35. [PMID: 30579144 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.12.011] [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: 08/05/2018] [Revised: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
More than 10,000 whole organism concentration ratio (CRwo-water) values for freshwater wildlife were derived from radionuclide and stable element data representing an Australian tropical U mining environment. The CRwo-water values were summarised into five wildlife groups (bird, fish, mollusc, reptile and vascular plant). The summarised CRwo-water values represented 77 organism-element combinations. The CRwo-water values for U decay series elements were used in a tier 3 ERICA assessment. The assessment results were used to derive a water radiological quality guideline value (GV) for radiation protection of freshwater ecosystems in the context of the planned remediation of the Ranger U mine. The GV was an above-background water 226Ra activity concentration of 14 mBq L-1 (filtered fraction) or approximately 22 mBq L-1 (total fraction). The GV was based on the results of mollusc-bivalve as the limiting organism for the freshwater ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Che Doering
- Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist (ERISS), GPO Box 461, Darwin, NT, 0801, Australia.
| | - Julia Carpenter
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), 619 Lower Plenty Road, Yallambie, VIC, 3085, Australia
| | - Blake Orr
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), 619 Lower Plenty Road, Yallambie, VIC, 3085, Australia
| | - David Urban
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), 619 Lower Plenty Road, Yallambie, VIC, 3085, Australia
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38
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Brown JE, Beresford NA, Hevrøy TH. Exploring taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships to predict radiocaesium transfer to marine biota. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 649:916-928. [PMID: 30179820 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.08.343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/25/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
One potentially useful approach to fill data gaps for concentration ratios, CRs, is based upon the hypothesis that an underlying taxonomic and/or phylogenetic relationship exists for radionuclide transfer. The objective of this study was to explore whether these relationships could be used to explain variation in the transfer of radiocaesium to a wide range of marine organisms. CR data for 137Cs were classified in relation to taxonomic family, order, class and phylum. A Residual Maximum Likelihood (REML) mixed-model regression modelling approach was adopted. The existence of any patterns were then explored using phylogenetic trees constructed with mitochondrial COI gene sequences from various biota groups and mapping the REML residual means onto these trees. A comparison of the predictions made using REML with blind datasets allowed the efficacy of the procedure to be tested. The only significant correlation between predicted and measured activity concentrations was revealed at the taxonomic level of order when comparing REML analysis output with data from the Barents Sea Region. For this single case a correlation 0.80 (Spearman rank) was derived which was significant at the 0.01 level (1-tailed test) although this was not the case once a (Bonferroni) correction was applied. The application of the REML approach to marine datasets has met with limited success, and the phylogenetic trees illustrate complications of using predictions based on values from different levels of taxonomic organization, where predicted values for the order level can mask the values at lower taxonomic levels. Any influence of taxonomy and phylogeny on transfer is not immediately conspicuous and categorizing marine organisms in this way is limited in providing a potentially robust prognostic extrapolation tool. Other factors may plausibly affect transfer to a much greater degree in marine systems, such as quite diverse life histories and different diets, which may confound any phylogenetic pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- J E Brown
- Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, Grini næringspark 13, 1361 Østerås, Norway; CERAD Center of Excellence in Environmental Radioactivity, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, Norway.
| | | | - T H Hevrøy
- Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, Grini næringspark 13, 1361 Østerås, Norway; CERAD Center of Excellence in Environmental Radioactivity, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, Norway.
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Szymańska K, Falandysz J, Skwarzec B, Strumińska-Parulska D. 210Po and 210Pb in forest mushrooms of genus Leccinum and topsoil from northern Poland and its contribution to the radiation dose. CHEMOSPHERE 2018; 213:133-140. [PMID: 30216813 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2018] [Revised: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Wild growing mushrooms are traditional food items for man and also an important source of nutrients for small and big wildlife. Nevertheless, they can be species - specifically vulnerable for contamination with heavy metals and radionuclides. We studied a less known phenomenon of accumulation of highly toxic, the alpha-radiation emitter such as 210Po and the beta emitter 210Pb by three Leccinum mushrooms: orange oak bolete L. aurantiacum (Bull.) Gray (previous name Leccinum aurantiacum var. quercinum Pilát), foxy bolete L. vulpinum Watling and slate bolete L. duriusculum (Schulzer ex Kalchbr.) Singer. Fungal and soil materials were collected from areas of a different geochemical composition in the northern regions of Poland. In parallel evaluated was the risk to human consumer due to possible intake of 210Po and 210Pb with a mushroom meal. Results showed a heterogeneous distribution of 210Po and 210Pb activity concentrations within caps and stipes of fruiting bodies. Overall activity concentration for whole dried fungi material ranged from 0.59 ± 0.38 to 3.2 ± 0.2 Bq 210Po kg-1 and from 0.45 ± 0.04 to 3.1 ± 0.2 Bq 210Pb kg-1. Evaluation showed that Leccinum mushrooms consumed by locals in typical quantity of 0.5 kg (dry biomass) can contribute into annual effective radiation dose at 0.90-3.81 μSv from 210Po decay and 0.31-2.14 μSv from 210Pb decay, which is a small portion of the annual effective radiation dose of 210Po and 210Pb for human inhabiting the northern regions of Poland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Szymańska
- Laboratory of Environmental Analytics and Radiochemistry, Environmental Chemistry and Radiochemistry Department, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Jerzy Falandysz
- Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Environmental Chemistry and Radiochemistry Department, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Bogdan Skwarzec
- Laboratory of Environmental Analytics and Radiochemistry, Environmental Chemistry and Radiochemistry Department, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Dagmara Strumińska-Parulska
- Laboratory of Environmental Analytics and Radiochemistry, Environmental Chemistry and Radiochemistry Department, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland.
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40
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Doering C, Medley P, Orr B, Urban D. Whole organism to tissue concentration ratios derived from an Australian tropical dataset. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2018; 189:31-39. [PMID: 29573589 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Revised: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Whole organism to tissue concentration ratios (CRwo-tissue) were derived for six wildlife groups (freshwater birds, freshwater bivalves, freshwater fishes, freshwater reptiles, freshwater vascular plants and terrestrial mammals). The wildlife groups and data represented species common to tropical northern Australia. Values of CRwo-tissue were derived for between 6 and 34 elements, depending upon wildlife group. The values were generally similar to international reference values. However, differences for some element-tissue combinations could affect radiation dose estimates for wildlife in certain environmental exposure situations, including uranium mining, where these data are intended to be applied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Che Doering
- Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist (ERISS), GPO Box 461, Darwin, NT, 0801, Australia.
| | - Peter Medley
- Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist (ERISS), GPO Box 461, Darwin, NT, 0801, Australia
| | - Blake Orr
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), 619 Lower Plenty Road, Yallambie, VIC, 3085, Australia
| | - David Urban
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), 619 Lower Plenty Road, Yallambie, VIC, 3085, Australia
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41
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Tagami K, Uchida S, Wood MD, Beresford NA. Radiocaesium transfer and radiation exposure of frogs in Fukushima Prefecture. Sci Rep 2018; 8:10662. [PMID: 30006621 PMCID: PMC6045648 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-28866-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Accepted: 06/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The International Commission on Radiological Protection has proposed an environmental assessment framework. This includes ionising radiation exposure assessment for different frog life-stages, but radiocaesium transfer parameters are unavailable. We collate data from the Fukushima Prefecture (contaminated by the Fukushima accident) and estimate radiocaesium concentration ratio (CRwo-water) values for tadpoles and adult frogs, presenting the largest available amphibian CRwo-water dataset. In total, 513 adult frogs and 2540 tadpoles were analysed in 62 and 59 composite samples respectively. Results suggest that equilibrium was reached between water and amphibian radiocaesium activity concentrations circa one-year after the accident. Radiocaesium transfer to tadpoles was higher than to adult frogs. Dose rates were estimated for different life-stages and species in both the aquatic and terrestrial environment. Estimated dose rates to adults and tadpoles were typically similar because external exposure dominated for both organisms; frogspawn dose rates were estimated to be orders of magnitude lower than other life-stages. For the two sites assessed, which were outside of the most contaminated areas of the Fukushima Prefecture, estimated dose rates were below those anticipated to present a risk to wildlife populations; it is likely that dose rates in more contaminated areas were in excess of some effects benchmark values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiko Tagami
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Anagawa 4-9-1, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan
| | - Shigeo Uchida
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Anagawa 4-9-1, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan
| | - Michael D Wood
- School of Environment & Life Sciences, University of Salford, Manchester, M4 4WT, UK
| | - Nicholas A Beresford
- School of Environment & Life Sciences, University of Salford, Manchester, M4 4WT, UK.
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Center, Library Av., Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA14AP, UK.
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Guillén J, Beresford NA, Baeza A, Izquierdo M, Wood MD, Salas A, Muñoz-Serrano A, Corrales-Vázquez JM, Muñoz-Muñoz JG. Transfer parameters for ICRP's Reference Animals and Plants in a terrestrial Mediterranean ecosystem. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2018; 186:9-22. [PMID: 28919133 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
A system for the radiological protection of the environment (or wildlife) based on Reference Animals and Plants (RAPs) has been suggested by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). To assess whole-body activity concentrations for RAPs and the resultant internal dose rates, transfer parameters are required. However, transfer values specifically for the taxonomic families defined for the RAPs are often sparse and furthermore can be extremely site dependent. There is also a considerable geographical bias within available transfer data, with few data for Mediterranean ecosystems. In the present work, stable element concentrations (I, Li, Be, B, Na, Mg, Al, P, S, K. Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Mo, Ag, Cd, Cs, Ba, Tl, Pb and U) in terrestrial RAPs, and the corresponding whole-body concentration ratios, CRwo, were determined in two different Mediterranean ecosystems: a Pinewood and a Dehesa (grassland with disperse tree cover). The RAPs considered in the Pinewood ecosystem were Pine Tree and Wild Grass; whereas in the Dehesa ecosystem those considered were Deer, Rat, Earthworm, Bee, Frog, Duck and Wild Grass. The CRwo values estimated from these data are compared to those reported in international compilations and databases.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Guillén
- LARUEX, Dpt. Applied Physics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Extremadura, Avda. Universidad, s/n, 10003, Cáceres, Spain.
| | - N A Beresford
- NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Av. Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, United Kingdom; School of Environment and Life Sciences, Room 323, Peel Building, University of Salford, Manchester, M5 4WT, United Kingdom
| | - A Baeza
- LARUEX, Dpt. Applied Physics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Extremadura, Avda. Universidad, s/n, 10003, Cáceres, Spain
| | - M Izquierdo
- School of Biosciences, Faculty of Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonnington Campus, Leicerstershire, LE12 5RD, United Kingdom
| | - M D Wood
- School of Environment and Life Sciences, Room 323, Peel Building, University of Salford, Manchester, M5 4WT, United Kingdom
| | - A Salas
- LARUEX, Dpt. Applied Physics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Extremadura, Avda. Universidad, s/n, 10003, Cáceres, Spain
| | - A Muñoz-Serrano
- LARUEX, Dpt. Applied Physics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Extremadura, Avda. Universidad, s/n, 10003, Cáceres, Spain
| | - J M Corrales-Vázquez
- Department of Experimental Sciences and Mathematics Teaching, University of Extremadura, Avda. Universidad, s/n, 10003, Cáceres, Spain
| | - J G Muñoz-Muñoz
- LARUEX, Dpt. Applied Physics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Extremadura, Avda. Universidad, s/n, 10003, Cáceres, Spain
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Hirth GA, Johansen MP, Carpenter JG, Bollhöfer A, Beresford NA. Whole-organism concentration ratios in wildlife inhabiting Australian uranium mining environments. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2017; 178-179:385-393. [PMID: 28457640 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2017] [Revised: 03/12/2017] [Accepted: 04/10/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Wildlife concentration ratios for 226Ra, 210Pb, 210Po and isotopes of Th and U from soil, water, and sediments were evaluated for a range of Australian uranium mining environments. Whole-organism concentration ratios (CRwo-media) were developed for 271 radionuclide-organism pairs within the terrestrial and freshwater wildlife groups. Australian wildlife often has distinct physiological attributes, such as the lower metabolic rates of macropod marsupials as compared with placental mammals. In addition, the Australian CRswo-media originate from tropical and semi-arid climates, rather than from the temperate-dominated climates of Europe and North America from which most (>90%) of internationally available CRwo-media values originate. When compared, the Australian and non-Australian CRs are significantly different for some wildlife categories (e.g. grasses, mammals) but not others (e.g. shrubs). Where differences exist, the Australian values were higher, suggesting that site-, or region-specific CRswo-media should be used in detailed Australian assessments. However, in screening studies, use of the international mean values in the Wildlife Transfer Database (WTD) appears to be appropriate, as long as the values used encompass the Australian 95th percentile values. Gaps in the Australian datasets include a lack of marine parameters, and no CR data are available for freshwater phytoplankton, zooplankton, insects, insect larvae or amphibians; for terrestrial environments, there are no data for amphibians, annelids, ferns, fungi or lichens & bryophytes. The new Australian specific parameters will aide in evaluating remediation plans and ongoing operations at mining and waste sites within Australia. They have also substantially bolstered the body of U- and Th-series CRwo-media data for use internationally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gillian A Hirth
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), 619 Lower Plenty Rd, Yallambie, 3085, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Mathew P Johansen
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Locked Bag 2001, Kirrawee, DC, NSW 2232, Australia
| | - Julia G Carpenter
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), 619 Lower Plenty Rd, Yallambie, 3085, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andreas Bollhöfer
- Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist, GPO Box 461, Darwin, 0801 Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Nicholas A Beresford
- Natural Environment Research Council - Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, United Kingdom
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Sotiropoulou M, Florou H, Kitis G. Calculating the radiological parameters used in non-human biota dose assessment tools using ERICA Tool and site-specific data. RADIATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOPHYSICS 2017; 56:443-451. [PMID: 28776193 DOI: 10.1007/s00411-017-0703-8] [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: 11/12/2016] [Accepted: 07/15/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The substantial complexity in ecosystem-radionuclide interactions is difficult to be represented in terms of radiological doses. Thus, radiological dose assessment tools use typical exposure situations for generalized organisms and ecosystems. In the present study, site-specific data and radioactivity measurements of terrestrial organisms (grass and herbivore mammals) and abiotic components (soil) are provided. The retrieved data are used in combination with the ERICA Assessment Tool for calculation of radiological parameters. The process of radionuclide transfer within ecosystem components is represented using concentration ratios (CRs), while for the calculation of dose rates the dose conversion coefficient (DCC) methodology is applied. Comparative assessments are performed between the generic and assessment-specific radiological parameters and between the resulting dose rates. Significant differences were observed between CRs calculated in this study and those reported in the literature for cesium and thorium, which can easily be explained. On the other hand, CRs calculated for radium are in very good agreement with those reported in the literature. The DCCs exhibited some small differences between the reference and the assessment-specific organism due to mass differences. The differences were observed for internal and external dose rates, but they were less pronounced for total dose rates which are typically used in the assessment of radiological impact. The results of the current work can serve as a basis for further studies of the radiological parameters in environments that have not been studied yet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Sotiropoulou
- Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory, INRASTES, NCSR "Demokritos", Agia Paraskevi, 15310, Athens, Greece.
- Atomic and Nuclear Physics Laboratory, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Heleny Florou
- Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory, INRASTES, NCSR "Demokritos", Agia Paraskevi, 15310, Athens, Greece
| | - Georgios Kitis
- Atomic and Nuclear Physics Laboratory, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
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45
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Konovalenko L, Bradshaw C, Andersson E, Kautsky U. Application of an ecosystem model to evaluate the importance of different processes and food web structure for transfer of 13 elements in a shallow lake. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2017; 169-170:85-97. [PMID: 28110115 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.12.016] [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: 05/25/2016] [Revised: 12/25/2016] [Accepted: 12/29/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
In environmental risk assessments of nuclear waste, there is need to estimate the potential risks of a large number of radionuclides over a long time period during which the environment is likely to change. Usually concentration ratios (CRs) are used to calculate the activity concentrations in organisms. However, CRs are not available for all radionuclides and they are not easily scalable to the varying environment. Here, an ecosystem transport model of elements, which estimates concentrations in organisms using carbon flows and food transfer instead of CR is presented. It is a stochastic compartment model developed for Lake Eckarfjärden at Forsmark in Sweden. The model was based on available data on carbon circulation, physical and biological processes from the site and identifies 11 functional groups of organisms. The ecosystem model was used to estimate the environmental transfer of 13 elements (Al, Ca, Cd, Cl, Cs, I, Ni, Nb, Pb, Se, Sr, Th, U) to various aquatic organisms, using element-specific distribution coefficients for suspended particles (Kd PM) and upper sediment (Kd sed), and subsequent transfer in the foodweb. The modelled CRs for different organism groups were compared with measured CRs from the lake and literature data, and showed good agreement for many elements and organisms, particularly for lower trophic levels. The model is, therefore, proposed as an alternative to measured CR, though it is suggested to further explore active uptake, assimilation and elimination processes to get better correspondence for some of the elements. The benthic organisms (i.e. bacteria, microphytobenthos and macroalgae) were identified as more important than pelagic organisms for transfer of elements to top predators. The element transfer model revealed that most of the radionuclides were channelled through the microbial loop, despite the fact that macroalgae dominated the carbon fluxes in this lake. Thus, element-specific adsorption of elements to the surface of aquatic species, that may be food sources for organisms at higher trophic levels, needs to be considered in combination with generic processes described by carbon fluxes.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Konovalenko
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, (DEEP), Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - C Bradshaw
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, (DEEP), Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - E Andersson
- Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co, (SKB), Box 250, 10124 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - U Kautsky
- Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co, (SKB), Box 250, 10124 Stockholm, Sweden.
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46
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Song JB, Kuai LP. Effects of Irradiation on Microbial Community Structure in the Yangtze River and Selection of Representative Microorganisms. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/51/1/012024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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47
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Doering C, Bollhöfer A. A tool for calculating concentration ratios from large environmental datasets. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2016; 165:32-34. [PMID: 27579895 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.08.017] [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: 07/04/2016] [Revised: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 08/19/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
This paper presents a tool for calculating concentration ratios from a large and structured environmental dataset of radionuclide activity and metal concentrations. The tool has been developed in MS Excel™ and includes a simple user interface for setting up queries. The tool is capable of matching environmental media samples to biota samples based on user-defined spatial and temporal criteria to derive a representative estimate of the environmental exposure conditions of an organism and its accumulation. Some potential benefits and uses of the tool are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Che Doering
- Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist (ERISS), GPO Box 461, Darwin, NT, 0801, Australia.
| | - Andreas Bollhöfer
- Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist (ERISS), GPO Box 461, Darwin, NT, 0801, Australia; Federal Office for Radiation Protection (Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz, BfS), 79098, Freiburg, Germany
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48
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Lourenço J, Mendo S, Pereira R. Radioactively contaminated areas: Bioindicator species and biomarkers of effect in an early warning scheme for a preliminary risk assessment. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2016; 317:503-542. [PMID: 27343869 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2016] [Revised: 05/26/2016] [Accepted: 06/08/2016] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Concerns about the impacts on public health and on the natural environment have been raised regarding the full range of operational activities related to uranium mining and the rest of the nuclear fuel cycle (including nuclear accidents), nuclear tests and depleted uranium from military ammunitions. However, the environmental impacts of such activities, as well as their ecotoxicological/toxicological profile, are still poorly studied. Herein, it is discussed if organisms can be used as bioindicators of human health effects, posed by lifetime exposure to radioactively contaminated areas. To do so, information was gathered from several studies performed on vertebrates, invertebrate species and humans, living in these contaminated areas. The retrieved information was compared, to determine which are the most used bioindicators and biomarkers and also the similarities between human and non-human biota responses. The data evaluated are used to support the proposal for an early warning scheme, based on bioindicator species and on the most sensitive and commonly shared biomarkers, to perform a screening evaluation of radioactively contaminated sites. This scheme could be used to support decision-making for a deeper evaluation of risks to human health, making it possible to screen a large number of areas, without disturbing and alarming local populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Lourenço
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Sónia Mendo
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Ruth Pereira
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto & CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research & GreenUP/CITAB-UP, Porto, Portugal
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49
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Doering C, Bollhöfer A. A database of radionuclide activity and metal concentrations for the Alligator Rivers Region uranium province. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2016; 162-163:154-159. [PMID: 27259193 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.05.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2016] [Revised: 05/26/2016] [Accepted: 05/27/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
This paper presents a database of radionuclide activity and metal concentrations for the Alligator Rivers Region (ARR) uranium province in the Australian wet-dry tropics. The database contains 5060 sample records and 57,473 concentration values. The data are for animal, plant, soil, sediment and water samples collected by the Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist (ERISS) as part of its statutory role to undertake research and monitoring into the impacts of uranium mining on the environment of the ARR. Concentration values are provided in the database for 11 radionuclides (227Ac, 40K, 210Pb, 210Po, 226Ra, 228Ra, 228Th, 230Th, 232Th, 234U, 238U) and 26 metals (Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, S, Sb, Se, Sr, Th, U, V, Zn). Potential uses of the database are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Che Doering
- Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist (ERISS), GPO Box 461, Darwin, NT 0801, Australia.
| | - Andreas Bollhöfer
- Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist (ERISS), GPO Box 461, Darwin, NT 0801, Australia; Federal Office for Radiation Protection (Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz, BfS), 79098, Freiburg, Germany
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50
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Dallas LJ, Devos A, Fievet B, Turner A, Lyons BP, Jha AN. Radiation dose estimation for marine mussels following exposure to tritium: Best practice for use of the ERICA tool in ecotoxicological studies. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2016; 155-156:1-6. [PMID: 26874225 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.01.019] [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: 11/05/2015] [Revised: 01/26/2016] [Accepted: 01/27/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Accurate dosimetry is critically important for ecotoxicological and radioecological studies on the potential effects of environmentally relevant radionuclides, such as tritium ((3)H). Previous studies have used basic dosimetric equations to estimate dose from (3)H exposure in ecologically important organisms, such as marine mussels. This study compares four different methods of estimating dose to adult mussels exposed to 1 or 15 MBq L(-1) tritiated water (HTO) under laboratory conditions. These methods were (1) an equation converting seawater activity concentrations to dose rate with fixed parameters; (2) input into the ERICA tool of seawater activity concentrations only; (3) input into the ERICA tool of estimated whole organism concentrations (woTACs), comprising dry activity plus estimated tissue free water tritium (TFWT) activity (TFWT volume × seawater activity concentration); and (4) input into the ERICA tool of measured whole organism activity concentrations, comprising dry activity plus measured TFWT activity (TFWT volume × TFWT activity concentration). Methods 3 and 4 are recommended for future ecotoxicological experiments as they produce values for individual animals and are not reliant on transfer predictions (estimation of concentration ratio). Method 1 may be suitable if measured whole organism concentrations are not available, as it produced results between 3 and 4. As there are technical complications to accurately measuring TFWT, we recommend that future radiotoxicological studies on mussels or other aquatic invertebrates measure whole organism activity in non-dried tissues (i.e. incorporating TFWT and dry activity as one, rather than as separate fractions) and input this data into the ERICA tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorna J Dallas
- School of Biological Sciences, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Alexandre Devos
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Surete Nucleaire, PRP-ENV/SERIS/Laboratoire de Radioecologie de Cherbourg-Octeville, Rue Max Pol Fouchet, BP 10, 50130 Cherbourg Octeville, France
| | - Bruno Fievet
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Surete Nucleaire, PRP-ENV/SERIS/Laboratoire de Radioecologie de Cherbourg-Octeville, Rue Max Pol Fouchet, BP 10, 50130 Cherbourg Octeville, France
| | - Andrew Turner
- School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Brett P Lyons
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, The Nothe, Barrack Road, Weymouth, DT4 8UB, UK
| | - Awadhesh N Jha
- School of Biological Sciences, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK.
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