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López-Lora M, Olszewski G, Chamizo E, Törnquist P, Pettersson H, Eriksson M. Plutonium Signatures in a Dated Sediment Core as a Tool to Reveal Nuclear Sources in the Baltic Sea. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:1959-1969. [PMID: 36690010 PMCID: PMC9910043 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c07437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Plutonium distribution was studied in an undisturbed sediment core sampled from the Tvären bay in the vicinity of the Studsvik nuclear facility in Sweden. The complete analysis, including minor isotopes, of the Pu isotope composition (238Pu, 239Pu, 240Pu, 241Pu, 242Pu, and 244Pu) allowed us to establish the Pu origin in this area of the Baltic Sea and to reconstruct the Studsvik aquatic release history. The results show highly enriched 239Pu, probably originating from the Swedish nuclear program in the 1960s and 1970s and the handling of high burn-up nuclear fuel in the later years. In addition, the 244Pu/239Pu atomic ratio for the global fallout period between 1958 and 1965 is suggested to be (7.94 ± 0.31)·10-5. In the bottom layer of the sediment, dated 1953-1957, we detected a higher average 244Pu/239Pu ratio of (1.51 ± 0.11)·10-4, indicating the possible impact of the first US thermonuclear tests (1952-1958).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercedes López-Lora
- Department
of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences (HMV), Linköping University, 58183Linköping, Sweden
| | - Grzegorz Olszewski
- Department
of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences (HMV), Linköping University, 58183Linköping, Sweden
- Faculty
of Chemistry, Department of Environmental Chemistry and Radiochemistry,
Laboratory of Toxicology and Radiation Protection, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Elena Chamizo
- Centro
Nacional de Aceleradores (CNA), Universidad de Sevilla, Junta de Andalucía,
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Parque científico y tecnológico Cartuja, Thomas Alva Edison 7, 41092Sevilla, Spain
| | - Per Törnquist
- Department
of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences (HMV), Linköping University, 58183Linköping, Sweden
| | - Håkan Pettersson
- Department
of Medical Radiation Physics, and Department of Health, Medicine and
Caring Sciences, Linköping University, 58183Linköping, Sweden
| | - Mats Eriksson
- Department
of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences (HMV), Linköping University, 58183Linköping, Sweden
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Cwanek A, Łokas E, Mitchell EAD, Mazei Y, Gaca P, Milton JA. Temporal variability of Pu signatures in a 210Pb-dated Sphagnum peat profile from the Northern Ural, Russian Federation. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 281:130962. [PMID: 34289621 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130962] [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: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The peat archives are one of the stratigraphic records revealing clearly physical, chemical and biological signals of human influence on the Earth System since the 1950s, at least. The presented study was aimed mainly to identify the level and origin of anthropogenic radionuclides such as 238, 239, 240Pu in a 210Pb-dated peat profile derived from the Northern Ural, Russian Federation. As stated, the vertical variability of 240Pu/239Pu isotopic compositions reflects the nuclear weapons testing history with the maximum in the 1960s and small regional impact most likely of high-yielded tests in the 1950s as well as Chinese detonations in the 1970s. Peat accumulations rates were similar to those obtained in adjacent areas, whereas 210Pb flux slightly exceeded the reference level established for adequate latitude belt.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Cwanek
- Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Radzikowskiego 152, 31-342, Krakow, Poland.
| | - Edyta Łokas
- Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Radzikowskiego 152, 31-342, Krakow, Poland
| | - Edward A D Mitchell
- Laboratory of Soil Biodiversity, University of Neuchâtel, Rue Emile-Argand 11, 2000, Neuchâtel, Switzerland; Jardin Botanique de Neuchâtel, Chemin du Pertuis-du-Sault 58, CH-2000, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Yuri Mazei
- Department of General Ecology and Hydrobiology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskiye gory 1, 199991, Moscow, Russia; Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninskiy avenue 33, 119071, Moscow, Russia; Faculty of Biology, Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, International University Park Road 1, Dayun New Town, Longgang District, Shenzhen, 517182, China
| | - Paweł Gaca
- GAU-Radioanalytical Laboratories, Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - James A Milton
- GAU-Radioanalytical Laboratories, Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton, United Kingdom
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Chamizo E, Rääf C, López-Lora M, García-Tenorio R, Holm E, Rabesiranana N, Pédehontaa-Hiaa G. Insights into the Pu isotopic composition ( 239Pu, 240Pu, and 241Pu) and 236U in marshland samples from Madagascar. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 740:139993. [PMID: 32927566 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This work provides new insights into the presence of 239Pu, 240Pu, 241Pu, and 236U in the Southern Hemisphere through the study of peat bog cores from marshlands in Madagascar (19°S). 210Pb, 238Pu and 239+240Pu activities were characterized by alpha spectrometry in previous studies. Here, Pu from alpha-spectrometry discs corresponding to 10 peat-bog cores (85 samples) was reassessed for the aim of completing its isotopic composition (239Pu, 240Pu, and 241Pu) by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry. In addition, 236U was studied in a single core exhibiting unusually low 240Pu/239Pu ratios. Integrated 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios in the single cores ranged above and below the (0-30°S) fallout average ratio, 0.173 ± 0.027, from 0.126 ± 0.003 to 0.206 ± 0.002, without a regional pattern, thereby demonstrating the heterogeneous distribution of the 239Pu and 240Pu signal. However, such a variability was not observed for 241Pu/239Pu, ranging from (6 ± 1) · 10-4 to (11 ± 1) · 10-4 and consistently below the (0-30°S) fallout ratio of (9.7 ± 0.3) · 10-4 (2012). The integrated 236U/239Pu atom ratio in the studied core, 0.147 ± 0.005, was also significantly lower than the values reported for the global fallout in the Northern Hemisphere, in the 0.20-0.23 range. Our results point out to stratospheric fallout as the main source of both 236U and 241Pu at the studied site, whereas 239Pu and 240Pu signals show the influence of tropospheric fallout from the low-yield tests conducted in Australia (1952-1958) by United Kingdom and in French Polynesia (1966-1975) by France despite the long relative distances (i.e. about 15,000 and 8500 km). It was also demonstrated that a representative number of samples is necessary in order to assess Pu contamination and its various origins in a specific region in the Southern Hemisphere due to the heterogeneous distribution, and results based on single sample analysis should be interpreted with caution.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Chamizo
- Centro Nacional de Aceleradores (CNA), Universidad de Sevilla, Junta de Andalucía, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Parque Científico y Tecnológico Cartuja, c/ Thomas Alva Edison, 7, 41092 Seville, Spain.
| | - C Rääf
- Medical Radiation Physics, ITM, Malmö, Lund University, Sweden.
| | - M López-Lora
- Centro Nacional de Aceleradores (CNA), Universidad de Sevilla, Junta de Andalucía, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Parque Científico y Tecnológico Cartuja, c/ Thomas Alva Edison, 7, 41092 Seville, Spain.
| | - R García-Tenorio
- Centro Nacional de Aceleradores (CNA), Universidad de Sevilla, Junta de Andalucía, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Parque Científico y Tecnológico Cartuja, c/ Thomas Alva Edison, 7, 41092 Seville, Spain; Department of Applied Physics II, University of Seville, 41012 Seville, Spain.
| | - E Holm
- Department of Radiation Physics, Sahlgren Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - N Rabesiranana
- Department of Nuclear Analyses and Techniques, Institut National des Sciences et Techniques Nucléaires, INSTN-Madagascar, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
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233U/ 236U signature allows to distinguish environmental emissions of civil nuclear industry from weapons fallout. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1275. [PMID: 32152279 PMCID: PMC7062840 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15008-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Isotopic ratios of radioactive releases into the environment are useful signatures for contamination source assessment. Uranium is known to behave conservatively in sea water so that a ratio of uranium trace isotopes may serve as a superior oceanographic tracer. Here we present data on the atomic [Formula: see text]U/[Formula: see text]U ratio analyzed in representative environmental samples finding ratios of (0.1-3.7)[Formula: see text]10[Formula: see text]. The ratios detected in compartments of the environment affected by releases of nuclear power production or by weapons fallout differ by one order of magnitude. Significant amounts of [Formula: see text]U were only released in nuclear weapons fallout, either produced by fast neutron reactions or directly by [Formula: see text]U-fueled devices. This makes the [Formula: see text]U/[Formula: see text]U ratio a promising new fingerprint for radioactive emissions. Our findings indicate a higher release of [Formula: see text]U by nuclear weapons tests before the maximum of global fallout in 1963, setting constraints on the design of the nuclear weapons employed.
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Scavenged 239Pu, 240Pu, and 241Am from snowfalls in the atmosphere settling on Mt. Zugspitze in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Sci Rep 2017; 7:11848. [PMID: 28928452 PMCID: PMC5605513 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-12079-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Accepted: 09/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Concentrations of 239Pu, 240Pu, and 241Am, and atomic ratio of 240Pu/239Pu in freshly fallen snow on Mt. Zugspitze collected in 2014, 2015 and 2016 were determined by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). For the sub-femtogram (10−15 g) - level of Pu and Am analysis, a chemical separation procedure combined with AMS was improved and an excellent overall efficiency of about 10−4 was achieved. The concentration of 239Pu ranges from 75 ± 13 ag/kg to 2823 ± 84 ag/kg, of 240Pu from 20.6 ± 5.2 to 601 ± 21 ag/kg, and of 241Am was found in the range of 16.7 ± 5.0–218.8 ± 8.9 ag/kg. Atomic ratios of 240Pu/239Pu for most samples are comparable to the fallout in middle Europe. One exceptional sample shows a higher Pu concentration. High airborne dust concentration, wind directions, high Cs concentrations and the activity ratio of 239+240Pu/137Cs lead to the conclusion that the sample was influenced by Pu in Saharan dust transported to Mt. Zugspitze.
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Mróz T, Łokas E, Kocurek J, Gąsiorek M. Atmospheric fallout radionuclides in peatland from Southern Poland. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2017; 175-176:25-33. [PMID: 28431374 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.04.012] [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: 10/28/2016] [Revised: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 04/13/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Two peat profiles were collected in a peat bog located in Southern Poland and their geochronology were determined using 210Pb, 238,239+240Pu and 137Cs radiometric techniques. The 210Pb chronologies were established using the constant rate of supply model (CRS) and are in good agreement with the Pu isotopes and 137Cs time markers. Maximum activities of Pu isotopes were found at a depth corresponding to the early 1960s, which is the period characterized by the maximum nuclear weapon tests. The results showed that the 210Pb method is the most accurate technique for the determination age and accumulation rate of a peat. The next part of this study calculated linear accumulation rates by analyzing 238,239+240Pu and 137Cs vertical distributions in the profiles. Activities of fallout isotopes were also measured in plants covering the peatland. The highest activities of 137Cs and 210Pb were found in Calluna vulgaris samples, and 239+240Pu were found only in two samples (C. vulgaris and leaves of Oxycoccus quadripelatus).
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Mróz
- Pedagogical University of Cracow, Podchorążych 2 30-084 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Edyta Łokas
- Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences, Radzikowskiego 152, 31-342 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Justyna Kocurek
- AGH University of Science and Technology, Al. Mickiewicza 30, 31-120 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Michał Gąsiorek
- Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al. Mickiewicza 21, 31-120 Kraków, Poland.
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Krachler M, Alvarez-Sarandes R, Rasmussen G. High-Resolution Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry for (234)U/(238)Pu Age Dating of Plutonium Materials and Comparison to Sector Field Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. Anal Chem 2016; 88:8862-9. [PMID: 27480522 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.6b02472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Employing a commercial high-resolution inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (HR-ICP-OES) instrument, an innovative analytical procedure for the accurate determination of the production age of various Pu materials (Pu powder, cardiac pacemaker battery, (242)Cm heat source, etc.) was developed and validated. This undertaking was based on the fact that the α decay of (238)Pu present in the investigated samples produced (234)U and both mother and daughter could be identified unequivocally using HR-ICP-OES. Benefiting from the high spectral resolution of the instrument (<5 pm) and the isotope shift of the emission lines of both nuclides, (234)U and (238)Pu were selectively and directly determined in the dissolved samples, i.e., without a chemical separation of the two analytes from each other. Exact emission wavelengths as well as emission spectra of (234)U centered around λ = 411.590 nm and λ = 424.408 nm are reported here for the first time. Emission spectra of the isotopic standard reference material IRMM-199, comprising about one-third each of (233)U, (235)U, and (238)U, confirmed the presence of (234)U in the investigated samples. For the assessment of the (234)U/(238)Pu amount ratio, the emission signals of (234)U and (238)Pu were quantified at λ = 424.408 nm and λ = 402.148 nm, respectively. The age of the investigated samples (range: 26.7-44.4 years) was subsequently calculated using the (234)U/(238)Pu chronometer. HR-ICP-OES results were crossed-validated through sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SF-ICPMS) analysis of the (234)U/(238)Pu amount ratio of all samples applying isotope dilution combined with chromatographic separation of U and Pu. Available information on the assumed ages of the analyzed samples was consistent with the ages obtained via the HR-ICP-OES approach. Being based on a different physical detection principle, HR-ICP-OES provides an alternative strategy to the well-established mass spectrometric approach and thus effectively adds to the quality assurance of (234)U/(238)Pu age dates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Krachler
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Transuranium Elements , P.O. Box 2340, D-76125 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Rafael Alvarez-Sarandes
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Transuranium Elements , P.O. Box 2340, D-76125 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Gert Rasmussen
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Transuranium Elements , P.O. Box 2340, D-76125 Karlsruhe, Germany
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Krachler M, Alvarez-Sarandes R. Capabilities of high resolution ICP-OES for plutonium isotopic analysis. Microchem J 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2015.11.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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9
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Xu C, Zhang S, Kaplan DI, Ho YF, Schwehr KA, Roberts KA, Chen H, DiDonato N, Athon M, Hatcher PG, Santschi PH. Evidence for Hydroxamate Siderophores and Other N-Containing Organic Compounds Controlling (239,240)Pu Immobilization and Remobilization in a Wetland Sediment. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2015; 49:11458-67. [PMID: 26313339 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b02310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Pu concentrations in wetland surface sediments collected downstream of a former nuclear processing facility in F-Area of the Savannah River Site (SRS), USA, were ∼2.5 times greater than those measured in the associated upland aquifer sediments; similarly, the Pu concentration solid/water ratios were orders of magnitude greater in the wetland than in the low-organic matter content aquifer soils. Sediment Pu concentrations were correlated to total organic carbon and total nitrogen contents and even more strongly to hydroxamate siderophore (HS) concentrations. The HS were detected in the particulate or colloidal phases of the sediments but not in the low molecular weight fractions (<1000 Da). Macromolecules which scavenged the majority of the potentially mobile Pu were further separated from the bulk mobile organic matter fraction ("water extract") via an isoelectric focusing experiment (IEF). An electrospray ionization Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry (ESI FTICR-MS) spectral comparison of the IEF extract and a siderophore standard (desferrioxamine; DFO) suggested the presence of HS functionalities in the IEF extract. This study suggests that while HS are a very minor component in the sediment particulate/colloidal fractions, their concentrations greatly exceed those of ambient Pu, and HS may play an especially important role in Pu immobilization/remobilization in wetland sediments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Xu
- Department of Marine Sciences, Texas A&M University , Building 3029, Galveston, Texas 77554, United States
| | - Saijin Zhang
- Department of Marine Sciences, Texas A&M University , Building 3029, Galveston, Texas 77554, United States
| | - Daniel I Kaplan
- Savannah River National Laboratory , Aiken, South Carolina 29808, United States
| | - Yi-Fang Ho
- Department of Marine Sciences, Texas A&M University , Building 3029, Galveston, Texas 77554, United States
| | - Kathleen A Schwehr
- Department of Marine Sciences, Texas A&M University , Building 3029, Galveston, Texas 77554, United States
| | - Kimberly A Roberts
- Savannah River National Laboratory , Aiken, South Carolina 29808, United States
| | - Hongmei Chen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Sciences, Old Dominion University , Norfolk, Virginia 23529, United States
| | - Nicole DiDonato
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Sciences, Old Dominion University , Norfolk, Virginia 23529, United States
| | - Matthew Athon
- Department of Marine Sciences, Texas A&M University , Building 3029, Galveston, Texas 77554, United States
| | - Patrick G Hatcher
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Sciences, Old Dominion University , Norfolk, Virginia 23529, United States
| | - Peter H Santschi
- Department of Marine Sciences, Texas A&M University , Building 3029, Galveston, Texas 77554, United States
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