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Sourabie DG, Hebert D, Benedetti L, Vitorge E, Lourino-Cabana B, Guillou V, Maro D. First quantitative constraints on chlorine 36 dry deposition velocities on grassland: Comparing measurements and modelling results. J Environ Radioact 2023; 268-269:107264. [PMID: 37572511 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
Once released into the atmosphere, radionuclide dry deposition represents a major transfer process. It can be accurately characterized by its deposition velocity. However, this parameter is poorly constrained for most radionuclides, including chlorine 36. Chlorine 36 is a radionuclide of cosmogenic and anthropogenic origin. It may be discharged into the environment as gases and/or particles during the decommissioning of nuclear plants and the recycling of nuclear fuels. In this study, chlorine 36 deposition velocities are, for the first time, experimentally determined on grass downwind from the Orano La-Hague plant. The atmospheric chlorine 36 measurements were on average 50 nBq.m-3 for the gaseous fraction and 19 nBq.m3 for the particulate fraction. To measure the chlorine 36 transferred from the atmosphere to the grass, a method was devised for extracting the chlorides contained in solid matrices. With this method, chlorides were extracted with a mean efficiency of 83%. Chlorine 36 concentrations in the grass were on average 4 μBq.g-1, suggesting fast uptake of atmospheric chlorine 36. The yielded 36Cl dry deposition velocities varied with the season and were between 1 × 10-3 and 6 × 10-3 m s-1. The chlorine 36 depositions were modelled by adapting the existing deposition models and based on meteorological and micro-meteorological data. The dry deposition velocities calculated by the model showed less than one order of magnitude of difference with those determined experimentally. The deposition fluxes calculated by the model showed that the atmospheric depositions were predominantly gaseous chlorine 36 (>97%). However, on remote sites, the particulate fraction could be larger and have a greater influence on dry deposition. As chlorine 36 is a highly soluble and bioavailable element, these results will enable a better study of its behaviour in the environment and a more accurate evaluation of its dosimetric impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deo-Gratias Sourabie
- Institute for Radioprotection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LRC, Cherbourg-Octeville, 50130, France; Univ. Aix-Marseille, CNRS, IRD, INRAE, Coll. France, UM 34 CEREGE, Aix-en-Provence, 13545, France.
| | - Didier Hebert
- Institute for Radioprotection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LRC, Cherbourg-Octeville, 50130, France.
| | - Lucilla Benedetti
- Univ. Aix-Marseille, CNRS, IRD, INRAE, Coll. France, UM 34 CEREGE, Aix-en-Provence, 13545, France.
| | - Elsa Vitorge
- EDF - DPNT - DIPDE - DEE - Environment Department, Villeurbanne, 69100, France.
| | - Beatriz Lourino-Cabana
- EDF R&D LNHE - National Laboratory of Hydraulics and Environment, Chatou, 78401, France.
| | - Valery Guillou
- Univ. Aix-Marseille, CNRS, IRD, INRAE, Coll. France, UM 34 CEREGE, Aix-en-Provence, 13545, France.
| | - Denis Maro
- Institute for Radioprotection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LRC, Cherbourg-Octeville, 50130, France.
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2
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Fievet B, Voiseux C, Leblanc C, Maro D, Hebert D, Solier L, Godinot C. Iodine uptake in brown seaweed exposed to radioactive liquid discharges from the reprocessing plant of ORANO La Hague. J Environ Radioact 2023; 256:107045. [PMID: 36308944 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.107045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Iodine-129 is present in controlled liquid radioactive waste routinely released in seawater by the ORANO nuclear fuel reprocessing plant in La Hague (Normandy, France). Brown algae are known for their exceptional ability to concentrate iodine from seawater. They also potentially emit volatile iodine compounds in response to various stresses, such as during emersion at low tide. For these reasons, brown seaweed is routinely collected for radioactivity monitoring in the marine environment (Fucus serratus and Laminaria digitata). Despite the high concentration ratio, the exact mechanism of iodine uptake is still unclear. Chemical imaging by laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry provided evidence that iodine is stored by kelps as I-. In this study we investigate in vivo iodine uptake in kelps (L. digitata) with an emphasis on seawater iodine chemical speciation. Our results showed that kelp plantlets were able to take up iodine in the forms of both IO3- and I-. We also observed transient net efflux of I- back to seawater but no IO3- efflux. Since the seaweed stores I- but takes up both IO3- and I-, IO3- was likely to be converted into I- at some point in the plantlet. One major outcome of our experiments was the direct observation of the kelp-based biogenic conversion of seawater IO3- into I-. On the basis of both IO3- and I- uptakes by the seaweed, we propose new steps in the possible iodine concentration mechanism used by brown algae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Fievet
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg-Octeville, F-50130, Cherbourg-Octeville, France
| | - Claire Voiseux
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg-Octeville, F-50130, Cherbourg-Octeville, France
| | - Catherine Leblanc
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, UMR 8227, Integrative Biology of Marine Models, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
| | - Denis Maro
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg-Octeville, F-50130, Cherbourg-Octeville, France
| | - Didier Hebert
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg-Octeville, F-50130, Cherbourg-Octeville, France
| | - Luc Solier
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg-Octeville, F-50130, Cherbourg-Octeville, France
| | - Claire Godinot
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg-Octeville, F-50130, Cherbourg-Octeville, France.
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3
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Arcanjo C, Maro D, Camilleri V, Cavalié I, Simon O, Beaugelin-Seiller K, Carasco L, Orjollet D, Adam-Guillermin C, Gagnaire B. Assessing tritium internalisation in zebrafish early life stages: Importance of rapid isotopic exchange. J Environ Radioact 2022; 242:106757. [PMID: 34654545 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2021.106757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
"It appeared that OBT content in organisms was low with an OBT/TFWT ratio of about 8% for both stages (24 hpf and 96 hpf)." Should be read as "It appeared that OBT content in organisms was low with an OBT/TFWT ratio of about 8% and 14% at 24 hpf and 96 hphf respectively".
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Arcanjo
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LECO, Cadarache, 13115, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France.
| | - Denis Maro
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LRC, Cherbourg-Octeville, 50130, France
| | - Virginie Camilleri
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LECO, Cadarache, 13115, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France
| | - Isabelle Cavalié
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LECO, Cadarache, 13115, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France
| | - Olivier Simon
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LECO, Cadarache, 13115, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France
| | - Karine Beaugelin-Seiller
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LECO, Cadarache, 13115, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France
| | - Loïc Carasco
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LR2T, Cadarache, 13115, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France
| | - Daniel Orjollet
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LR2T, Cadarache, 13115, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France
| | - Christelle Adam-Guillermin
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LECO, Cadarache, 13115, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France
| | - Béatrice Gagnaire
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LECO, Cadarache, 13115, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France
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4
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Telly Bah O, Hebert D, Connan O, Solier L, Laguionie P, Bourlès D, Maro D. Measurement and modelling of gaseous elemental iodine (I 2) dry deposition velocity on grass in the environment. J Environ Radioact 2020; 219:106253. [PMID: 32452422 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2020.106253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Assessing the impact of radioactive iodine on humans subsequent to a nuclear accident requires a better understanding of its behaviour in the environment. An original approach aimed at developing a model constrained by data collected during experimental campaigns has been developed. These experimental campaigns, named MIOSEC 2 and MIOSEC 3 respectively, were conducted in the middle of grassland. They are based on emissions of gaseous elemental iodine (I2) into the atmosphere above the grassland to determine the dry deposition velocities of iodine on the grass and to model these velocities as a function of the environmental conditions, particularly wind friction velocity, sensible heat flux, and stomatal resistance. The measured dry deposition velocities were between 0.02 and 0.49 cm s-1 during MIOSEC 2, varying by more than one order of magnitude, and between 0.48 and 1.25 cm s-1 during MIOSEC 3. The dry deposition model for iodine developed as a result of these experiments relies on the micrometeorological characteristics of the atmospheric surface layer, the pertinent physical and chemical properties of the iodine and the surface properties of the grass; all these parameters were measured at the time of the experiments. Given the experimental conditions, the modelled dry deposition velocities varied between 0.11 and 0.51 cm s-1 during MIOSEC 2 and between 0.31 and 1.6 cm s-1 during MIOSEC 3. The dry deposition model for iodine indicates that the variations in deposition velocity are induced by the mechanical turbulence, since there is significant correlation between the dry deposition velocities of iodine and the wind friction velocities on grass. The model also shows that the higher deposition velocity values during MIOSEC 3 are due to the fact that the stomata were more open during the experiments. There is also significant correlation between the experimental results and modelled values both for MIOSEC 2 (R2 = 0.61) and for MIOSEC 3 (R2 = 0.71).
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Affiliation(s)
- Oumar Telly Bah
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûrété Nucléaire (IRSN), France.
| | - Didier Hebert
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûrété Nucléaire (IRSN), France.
| | - Olivier Connan
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûrété Nucléaire (IRSN), France
| | - Luc Solier
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûrété Nucléaire (IRSN), France
| | | | | | - Denis Maro
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûrété Nucléaire (IRSN), France.
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5
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Connan O, Maire D, Hébert D, Solier L, Laguionie P, Rozet M, Lamotte M, Maro D. Tritium in precipitation on 5 sites in North-West France during the 2017-2019 period. J Environ Radioact 2020; 212:106129. [PMID: 31885364 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.106129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Between October 2017 and May 2019, measurements of tritium in rainwater were carried out at several sites in north-west France. Tritium is an important tracer for hydroclimatic studies and this work provided up-to-date data that we compared with Global Network for Isotopes in Precipitation (GNIP) measurements. Of the various sites studied, some could potentially be affected by atmospheric gaseous emissions from the nuclear industries in the region (reprocessing plant, nuclear power plant). On our reference site, the activities measured in rainwater are often below the decision threshold (<0.15 Bq.L-1). Two other sites with little impact from nuclear industries have mean activities of less than 0.7 Bq.L-1. At the two Cherbourg sites closer to the nuclear industries, the activities in rainwater are slightly higher on average, though still close to 1 Bq.L-1, but the activities are more variable when the rainfall accompanies an air mass from the Orano La Hague nuclear site. Using existing GNIP data and a simple model to simulate predicted data up to 2019, it is shown that all our measured data are comparable with the predicted activities for GNIP stations with a marine influence, in the case of the reference site and the sites with little impact from nuclear industries, and for GNIP stations with a continental influence, in the case of the other sites. Seasonal variation in activities was detected, with greater activities in the spring-summer period corresponding to the well known 'spring leak' phenomenon. This study also reveals significant differences between the activities measured on the western side of France (influenced by the Atlantic Ocean) and those measured in a continental zone. The mean levels of tritium in rainwater in France, excluding any nuclear influence, can be estimated on average at less than 0.3 Bq.L-1 in the western marine zone, and at around 1 Bq.L-1 in the continental zones.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Connan
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LRC, Radioecology Laboratory, BP10, rue Max Pol Fouchet, 50130, Cherbourg-Octeville, France.
| | - D Maire
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SAME/LMN, Nuclear Metrology Laboratory, BP35, rue de l'écluse, 78116, Le Vésinet, France
| | - D Hébert
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LRC, Radioecology Laboratory, BP10, rue Max Pol Fouchet, 50130, Cherbourg-Octeville, France
| | - L Solier
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LRC, Radioecology Laboratory, BP10, rue Max Pol Fouchet, 50130, Cherbourg-Octeville, France
| | - P Laguionie
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LRC, Radioecology Laboratory, BP10, rue Max Pol Fouchet, 50130, Cherbourg-Octeville, France
| | - M Rozet
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LRC, Radioecology Laboratory, BP10, rue Max Pol Fouchet, 50130, Cherbourg-Octeville, France
| | - M Lamotte
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LRC, Radioecology Laboratory, BP10, rue Max Pol Fouchet, 50130, Cherbourg-Octeville, France
| | - D Maro
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LRC, Radioecology Laboratory, BP10, rue Max Pol Fouchet, 50130, Cherbourg-Octeville, France
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6
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Arcanjo C, Maro D, Camilleri V, Cavalié I, Simon O, Beaugelin-Seiller K, Carasco L, Orjollet D, Adam-Guillermin C, Gagnaire B. Assessing tritium internalisation in zebrafish early life stages: Importance of rapid isotopic exchange. J Environ Radioact 2019; 203:30-38. [PMID: 30849559 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Revised: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Tritium (3H) is mainly released into the environment in the form of tritiated water (HTO) by nuclear power plants and nuclear fuel reprocessing plants. To better understand how organisms may be affected by contamination to 3H it is essential to link observed effects to a correct estimation of absorbed dose rates. Due to quick isotopic exchanges between 3H and hydrogen, 3H measurement is difficult in small organisms such as zebrafish embryo, a model in ecotoxicological assay. This work aimed to optimise tritium measurement protocol to better characterise internalisation by early life stages of zebrafish. Zebrafish eggs were exposed at one HTO activity concentration of 1.22 × 105 Bq/mL. This activity was calculated to correspond to theoretical dose rates of 0.4 mGy/h, where some deleterious effects are expected on young fish. A protocol for the preparation of biological samples was adapted from the method classically used to segregate the different forms of tritium in organisms. To deal with very quick isotopic exchanges of 3H with hydrogen, the impacts of washing by non-tritiated water as well as the bias induced by absorbed tritium around organisms on the measured activity concentration were studied. We managed to develop protocols to perform total tritium and total organically bound tritium (OBT) activity concentrations measurements in zebrafish eggs and larvae. The measurement of these both forms allowed the calculation of tissue-free-water-tritium (TFWT). To better understand total tritium internalisation, a study of total tritium kinetics from 4 hpf (hour post-fertilization) to 168 hpf was performed. OBT and TFWT were also assessed to complete the total tritium internalisation kinetics. The internalisation is a rapid phenomenon reaching a steady-state within 24 h after the beginning of contamination for total tritium and TFWT, with concentration factors and TFWT/HTO close to unity. OBT formation seemed to be slower. It appeared that OBT content in organisms was low with an OBT/TFWT ratio of about 8% for both stages (24 hpf and 96 hpf). To verify absorbed dose rates at key developmental stages (24 hpf eggs and 96 hpf larvae), they were calculated from total tritium activity concentrations after exposure at 1.22 × 105 and 1.22 × 106 Bq/mL, as these two activity concentrations were used to assess effects of tritium in another part of the study. Dose rates calculated from total tritium activity concentrations measured in 24 hpf eggs and 96 hpf larvae were consistent with the nominal ones, which validates the robustness of the protocol developed in the present study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Arcanjo
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LECO, Cadarache, 13115, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France.
| | - Denis Maro
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LRC, Cherbourg-Octeville, 50130, France
| | - Virginie Camilleri
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LECO, Cadarache, 13115, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France
| | - Isabelle Cavalié
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LECO, Cadarache, 13115, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France
| | - Olivier Simon
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LECO, Cadarache, 13115, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France
| | - Karine Beaugelin-Seiller
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LECO, Cadarache, 13115, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France
| | - Loïc Carasco
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LR2T, Cadarache, 13115, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France
| | - Daniel Orjollet
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LR2T, Cadarache, 13115, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France
| | - Christelle Adam-Guillermin
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LECO, Cadarache, 13115, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France
| | - Béatrice Gagnaire
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LECO, Cadarache, 13115, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France
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7
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Renard H, Maro D, Le Dizès S, Escobar-Gutiérrez A, Voiseux C, Solier L, Hébert D, Rozet M, Cossonnet C, Barillot R. Tritium forms discrimination in ryegrass under constant tritium exposure: From seed germination to seedling autotrophy. J Environ Radioact 2017; 177:194-205. [PMID: 28692936 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2017] [Revised: 06/26/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Uncertainties remain regarding the fate of atmospheric tritium after it has been assimilated in grasslands (ryegrass) in the form of TFWT (Tissue Free Water Tritium) or OBT (Organically Bound Tritium). One such uncertainty relates to the tritium forms discrimination during transfer from TFWT to OBT resulting from photosynthesis (OBTphoto), corresponding to the OBTphoto/TFWT ratio. In this study, the OBT/TFWT ratio is determined by experiments in the laboratory using a ryegrass model and hydroponic cultures, with constant activity of tritium in the form of tritiated water (denoted as HTO) in the "water" compartment (liquid HTO) and "air" compartment (HTO vapour in the air). The OBTphoto/TFWT ratio and the exchangeable OBT fraction are measured for three parts of the plant: the leaf, seed and root. Plant growth is modelled using dehydrated biomass measurements taken over time in the laboratory and integrating physiological functions of the plant during the first ten days after germination. The results suggest that there is no measurable discrimination of tritium in the plant organic matter produced by photosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Renard
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg Octeville, Cherbourg-Octeville, 50130, France.
| | - D Maro
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg Octeville, Cherbourg-Octeville, 50130, France
| | - S Le Dizès
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRTE, Laboratoire de Recherche sur les Transferts des radionucléides dans l'Environnement, CEN Cadarache, Saint Paul Lez Durance, 13115, France
| | - A Escobar-Gutiérrez
- INRA (Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique), UR4-URP3F, Lusignan, 86600, France
| | - C Voiseux
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg Octeville, Cherbourg-Octeville, 50130, France
| | - L Solier
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg Octeville, Cherbourg-Octeville, 50130, France
| | - D Hébert
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg Octeville, Cherbourg-Octeville, 50130, France
| | - M Rozet
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg Octeville, Cherbourg-Octeville, 50130, France
| | - C Cossonnet
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/STEME/LMRE, Laboratoire de Mesure de la Radioactivité dans l'Environnement, Bois des Rames, Orsay, 91400, France
| | - R Barillot
- INRA (Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique), UR4-URP3F, Lusignan, 86600, France
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8
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Connan O, Hébert D, Solier L, Maro D, Pellerin G, Voiseux C, Lamotte M, Laguionie P. Atmospheric tritium concentrations under influence of AREVA NC La Hague reprocessing plant (France) and background levels. J Environ Radioact 2017; 177:184-193. [PMID: 28689161 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2017] [Revised: 06/15/2017] [Accepted: 06/18/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
In-air tritium measurements were conducted around the AREVA NC La Hague reprocessing plant, as well as on other sites that are not impacted by the nuclear industry in northwest of France. The results indicate that the dominant tritium form around the AREVA site is HT (86%). HT and HTO levels are lower than 5 and 1 Bq. m-3 for hourly samples taken in the plume. No tritiated organic molecules (TOM) were detected. 26 measurement campaigns were performed and links were established between near-field 85Kr, HT and HTO activities. Environmental measurements are in line with those taken at the discharge stack, and tend to demonstrate that there are no rapid changes in the tritium forms released. Out of the influence of any nuclear activities, the levels measured were below 13 mBq.m-3 for HT and 5 mBq.m-3 for HTO (<0.5 Bq. L-1). HTO level in air seems to be influenced by HTO activities in surrounding seawater.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Connan
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Radioecology Laboratory, BP10, Rue Max Pol Fouchet, 50130 Cherbourg-Octeville, France.
| | - D Hébert
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Radioecology Laboratory, BP10, Rue Max Pol Fouchet, 50130 Cherbourg-Octeville, France
| | - L Solier
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Radioecology Laboratory, BP10, Rue Max Pol Fouchet, 50130 Cherbourg-Octeville, France
| | - D Maro
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Radioecology Laboratory, BP10, Rue Max Pol Fouchet, 50130 Cherbourg-Octeville, France
| | - G Pellerin
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Radioecology Laboratory, BP10, Rue Max Pol Fouchet, 50130 Cherbourg-Octeville, France
| | - C Voiseux
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Radioecology Laboratory, BP10, Rue Max Pol Fouchet, 50130 Cherbourg-Octeville, France
| | - M Lamotte
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Radioecology Laboratory, BP10, Rue Max Pol Fouchet, 50130 Cherbourg-Octeville, France
| | - P Laguionie
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Radioecology Laboratory, BP10, Rue Max Pol Fouchet, 50130 Cherbourg-Octeville, France
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9
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André B, Ducros G, Lévêque JP, Osborne MF, Lorenz RA, Maro D. Fission Product Releases at Severe Light Water Reactor Accident Conditions: ORNL/CEA Measurements Versus Calculations. NUCL TECHNOL 2017. [DOI: 10.13182/nt96-a35221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bernard André
- Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique, CEA Grenoble, DTP/SECC 17, rue des Martyrs, 38054 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
| | - Gérard Ducros
- Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique, CEA Grenoble, DTP/SECC 17, rue des Martyrs, 38054 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
| | - Jean Pierre Lévêque
- Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique, CEA Grenoble, DTP/SECC 17, rue des Martyrs, 38054 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
| | - Morris F. Osborne
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Chemical Technology Division P.O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6221
| | - Richard A. Lorenz
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Chemical Technology Division P.O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6221
| | - Denis Maro
- Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique, CEA Fontenay aux Roses DPEI/SEAC, BP 6, 92265 Fontenay aux Roses, France
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10
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Affiliation(s)
- Brent J. Lewis
- Commissariat à I’Energie Atomique, Centre d’Etudes Nucléaires de Grenoble Departement de Thermohydraulique et de Physique Service d’Etudes du Comportement du Combustible 17 rue des Martyrs, 38054 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
| | - Bernard André
- Commissariat à I’Energie Atomique, Centre d’Etudes Nucléaires de Grenoble Departement de Thermohydraulique et de Physique Service d’Etudes du Comportement du Combustible 17 rue des Martyrs, 38054 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
| | - Gérard Ducros
- Commissariat à I’Energie Atomique, Centre d’Etudes Nucléaires de Grenoble Departement de Thermohydraulique et de Physique Service d’Etudes du Comportement du Combustible 17 rue des Martyrs, 38054 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
| | - Denis Maro
- Commissariat à I’Energie Atomique Centre d’Etudes Nucléaires de Fontenay aux Roses Institut de Protection et de Sûreté Nucléaire Département de Protection de I’Environnement et des Installations Service d’Etudes sur les Accidents, BP6, 92265 Fontenay aux Roses, France
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11
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Le Dizès S, Aulagnier C, Maro D, Rozet M, Vermorel F, Hébert D, Voiseux C, Solier L, Godinot C, Fievet B, Laguionie P, Connan O, Cazimajou O, Morillon M. The VATO project: Development and validation of a dynamic transfer model of tritium in grassland ecosystem. J Environ Radioact 2017; 171:83-92. [PMID: 28199861 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.11.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2016] [Revised: 11/25/2016] [Accepted: 11/25/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, a dynamic compartment model with a high temporal resolution has been investigated to describe tritium transfer in grassland ecosystems exposed to atmospheric 3H releases from nuclear facilities under normal operating or accidental conditions. TOCATTA-χ model belongs to the larger framework of the SYMBIOSE modelling and simulation platform that aims to assess the fate and transport of a wide range of radionuclides in various environmental systems. In this context, the conceptual and mathematical models of TOCATTA-χ have been designed to be relatively simple, minimizing the number of compartments and input parameters required. In the same time, the model achieves a good compromise between easy-to-use (as it is to be used in an operational mode), explicative power and predictive accuracy in various experimental conditions. In the framework of the VATO project, the model has been tested against two-year-long in situ measurements of 3H activity concentration monitored by IRSN in air, groundwater and grass, together with meteorological parameters, on a grass field plot located 2 km downwind of the AREVA NC La Hague nuclear reprocessing plant, as was done in the past for the evaluation of transfer of 14C in grass. By considering fast exchanges at the vegetation-air canopy interface, the model correctly reproduces the observed variability in TFWT activity concentration in grass, which evolves in accordance with spikes in atmospheric HTO activity concentration over the previous 24 h. The average OBT activity concentration in grass is also correctly reproduced. However, the model has to be improved in order to reproduce punctual high concentration of OBT activity, as observed in December 2013. The introduction of another compartment with a fast kinetic (like TFWT) - although outside the model scope - improves the predictions by increasing the correlation coefficient from 0.29 up to 0.56 when it includes this particular point. Further experimental investigation will be undertaken by IRSN and EDF next year to better evaluate (and properly model) other aspects of tritium transfer where knowledge gaps have been identified in both experimental and modelling areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Le Dizès
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRTE, Laboratoire de Recherche sur les Transferts de radionucléides dans l'Environnement, CEN Cadarache, 13115 Saint-Paul-Lez-Durance, France.
| | - C Aulagnier
- Electricité de France, DIPDE, 154 Avenue Thiers, 69458 Lyon, Cedex 06 France
| | - D Maro
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg Octeville, Rue Max-Pol Fouchet B.P.10, 50130 Cherbourg-Octeville, France
| | - M Rozet
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg Octeville, Rue Max-Pol Fouchet B.P.10, 50130 Cherbourg-Octeville, France
| | - F Vermorel
- Electricité de France, DIPDE, 154 Avenue Thiers, 69458 Lyon, Cedex 06 France
| | - D Hébert
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg Octeville, Rue Max-Pol Fouchet B.P.10, 50130 Cherbourg-Octeville, France
| | - C Voiseux
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg Octeville, Rue Max-Pol Fouchet B.P.10, 50130 Cherbourg-Octeville, France
| | - L Solier
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg Octeville, Rue Max-Pol Fouchet B.P.10, 50130 Cherbourg-Octeville, France
| | - C Godinot
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg Octeville, Rue Max-Pol Fouchet B.P.10, 50130 Cherbourg-Octeville, France
| | - B Fievet
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg Octeville, Rue Max-Pol Fouchet B.P.10, 50130 Cherbourg-Octeville, France
| | - P Laguionie
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg Octeville, Rue Max-Pol Fouchet B.P.10, 50130 Cherbourg-Octeville, France
| | - O Connan
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg Octeville, Rue Max-Pol Fouchet B.P.10, 50130 Cherbourg-Octeville, France
| | - O Cazimajou
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg Octeville, Rue Max-Pol Fouchet B.P.10, 50130 Cherbourg-Octeville, France
| | - M Morillon
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg Octeville, Rue Max-Pol Fouchet B.P.10, 50130 Cherbourg-Octeville, France
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12
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Dizès SL, Maro D, Rozet M, Hébert D. Modeling and Validating Tritium Transfer in a Grassland Ecosystem in Response to3h Releases. Fusion Science and Technology 2017. [DOI: 10.13182/fst14-t51] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Séverine Le Dizès
- Institute for Radioprotection and Nuclear Safety, IRSN/PRP-ENV/SERIS/LM2E. CE Cadarache Bât.159. BP3 13115 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance Cedex, France
| | - Denis Maro
- IRSN/PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC. BP 10, F-50130 Cherbourg-Octeville, France
| | - Marianne Rozet
- IRSN/PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC. BP 10, F-50130 Cherbourg-Octeville, France
| | - Didier Hébert
- IRSN/PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC. BP 10, F-50130 Cherbourg-Octeville, France
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13
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Maro D, Vermorel F, Rozet M, Aulagnier C, Hébert D, Le Dizès S, Voiseux C, Solier L, Cossonnet C, Godinot C, Fiévet B, Laguionie P, Connan O, Cazimajou O, Morillon M, Lamotte M. The VATO project: An original methodology to study the transfer of tritium as HT and HTO in grassland ecosystem. J Environ Radioact 2017; 167:235-248. [PMID: 27908461 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2016] [Revised: 10/27/2016] [Accepted: 10/27/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Tritium (3H) is mainly released into the environment by nuclear power plants, military nuclear facilities and nuclear reprocessing plants. The construction of new nuclear facilities in the world as well as the evolution of nuclear fuel management might lead to an increase of 3H discharges from the nuclear industry. The VATO project was set up by IRSN (Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire) and EDF (Electricité de France) to reduce the uncertainties in the knowledge about transfers of 3H from an atmospheric source (currently releasing HT and HTO) to a grassland ecosystem. A fully instrumented technical platform with specifically designed materials was set up downwind of the AREVA NC La Hague reprocessing plant (Northwest of the France). This study, started in 2013, was conducted in four main steps to provide an hourly data set of 3H concentrations in the environment, adequate to develop and/or validate transfer models. It consisted first in characterizing the physico-chemical forms of 3H present in the air around the plant. Then, 3H transfer kinetics to grass were quantified regarding contributions from various compartments of the environment. For this purpose, an original experimental procedure was provided to take account for biases due to rehydration of freeze-dried samples for the determination of OBT activity concentrations in biological samples. In a third step, the 3H concentrations measured in the air and in rainwater were reconstructed at hourly intervals. Finally, a data processing technique was used to determine the biological half-lives of OBT in grass.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Maro
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg Octeville, Cherbourg-Octeville, 50130, France.
| | - F Vermorel
- Electricité de France, DIPDE, Lyon, 69458, France
| | - M Rozet
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg Octeville, Cherbourg-Octeville, 50130, France
| | - C Aulagnier
- Electricité de France, DIPDE, Lyon, 69458, France
| | - D Hébert
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg Octeville, Cherbourg-Octeville, 50130, France
| | - S Le Dizès
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRTE, Laboratoire de Recherche sur les Transferts des Radionucléides dans l'Environnement, CEN Cadarache, Saint Paul Lez Durance, 13115, France
| | - C Voiseux
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg Octeville, Cherbourg-Octeville, 50130, France
| | - L Solier
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg Octeville, Cherbourg-Octeville, 50130, France
| | - C Cossonnet
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/STEME/LMRE, Laboratoire de Mesure de la Radioactivité dans l'Environnement, Bois des Rames, Orsay, 91400, France
| | - C Godinot
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg Octeville, Cherbourg-Octeville, 50130, France
| | - B Fiévet
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg Octeville, Cherbourg-Octeville, 50130, France
| | - P Laguionie
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg Octeville, Cherbourg-Octeville, 50130, France
| | - O Connan
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg Octeville, Cherbourg-Octeville, 50130, France
| | - O Cazimajou
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg Octeville, Cherbourg-Octeville, 50130, France
| | - M Morillon
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg Octeville, Cherbourg-Octeville, 50130, France
| | - M Lamotte
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg Octeville, Cherbourg-Octeville, 50130, France
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14
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Connan O, Maro D, Hébert D, Solier L, Caldeira Ideas P, Laguionie P, St-Amant N. In situ measurements of tritium evapotranspiration (³H-ET) flux over grass and soil using the gradient and eddy covariance experimental methods and the FAO-56 model. J Environ Radioact 2015; 148:1-9. [PMID: 26091609 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Revised: 06/01/2015] [Accepted: 06/06/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The behaviour of tritium in the environment is linked to the water cycle. We compare three methods of calculating the tritium evapotranspiration flux from grassland cover. The gradient and eddy covariance methods, together with a method based on the theoretical Penmann-Monteith model were tested in a study carried out in 2013 in an environment characterised by high levels of tritium activity. The results show that each of the three methods gave similar results. The various constraints applying to each method are discussed. The results show a tritium evapotranspiration flux of around 15 mBq m(-2) s(-1) in this environment. These results will be used to improve the entry parameters for the general models of tritium transfers in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Connan
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg Octeville, Cherbourg-Octeville 50130, France.
| | - D Maro
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg Octeville, Cherbourg-Octeville 50130, France
| | - D Hébert
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg Octeville, Cherbourg-Octeville 50130, France
| | - L Solier
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg Octeville, Cherbourg-Octeville 50130, France
| | - P Caldeira Ideas
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), IPRP-ENV/SESURE/LS3E, Laboratoire de Surveillance et d'Expertise Environnementale par Echantillonnage, Le Vésinet 78116, France
| | - P Laguionie
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV/SERIS/LRC, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg Octeville, Cherbourg-Octeville 50130, France
| | - N St-Amant
- Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Ottawa, Canada
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15
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Limer LMC, Le Dizès-Maurel S, Klos R, Maro D, Nordén M. Impacts of (14)C discharges from a nuclear fuel reprocessing plant on surrounding vegetation: Comparison between grass field measurements and TOCATTA-χ and SSPAM(14)C model computations. J Environ Radioact 2015; 147:115-124. [PMID: 26063400 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2014] [Revised: 05/06/2015] [Accepted: 05/15/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
This article compares and discusses the ability of two different models to reproduce the observed temporal variability in grass (14)C activity in the vicinity of AREVA-NC La Hague nuclear fuel reprocessing plant in France. These two models are the TOCATTA-χ model, which is specifically designed for modelling transfer of (14)C (and tritium) in the terrestrial environment over short to medium timescales (days to years), and SSPAM(14)C, which has been developed to model the transfer of (14)C in the soil-plant-atmosphere with consideration over both short and long timescales (days to thousands of years). The main goal of this article is to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the models studied, and to investigate if modelling could be improved through consideration of a much higher level of detail of plant physiology and/or higher number of plant compartments. These models have been applied here to the La Hague field data as it represents a medium term data set with both short term variation and a sizeable time series of measurements against which to compare the models. The two models have different objectives in terms of the timescales they are intended to be applied over, and thus incorporate biological processes, such as photosynthesis and plant growth, at different levels of complexity. It was found that the inclusion of seasonal dynamics in the models improved predictions of the specific activity in grass for such a source term of atmospheric (14)C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M C Limer
- Quintessa Limited, 633/635 Birchwood Boulevard, WA3 7QU, Warrington, United Kingdom.
| | - Séverine Le Dizès-Maurel
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV, SERIS, LM2E, Cadarache, Saint-Paul Lez Durance, France
| | - Ryk Klos
- Aleksandria Sciences Limited, S7 2DD, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Denis Maro
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV, SERIS, LM2E, Cadarache, Saint-Paul Lez Durance, France
| | - Maria Nordén
- Swedish Radiation Safety Authority, SE-171 16, Stockholm, Sweden
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16
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Connan O, Solier L, Hébert D, Maro D, Lamotte M, Voiseux C, Laguionie P, Cazimajou O, Le Cavelier S, Godinot C, Morillon M, Thomas L, Percot S. Near-field krypton-85 measurements in stable meteorological conditions around the AREVA NC La Hague reprocessing plant: estimation of atmospheric transfer coefficients. J Environ Radioact 2014; 137:142-149. [PMID: 25078471 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2014.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2014] [Revised: 07/04/2014] [Accepted: 07/07/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this work was to study the near-field dispersion of (85)Kr around the nuclear fuel reprocessing plant at La Hague (AREVA NC La Hague - France) under stable meteorological conditions. Twenty-two (85)Kr night-time experimental campaigns were carried out at distances of up to 4 km from the release source. Although the operational Gaussian models predict for these meteorological conditions a distance to plume touchdown of several kilometers, we almost systematically observed a marked ground signal at distances of 0.5-4 km. The calculated atmospheric transfer coefficients (ATC) show values (1) higher than those observed under neutral conditions, (2) much higher than those proposed by the operational models, and (3) higher than those used in the impact assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Connan
- IRSN/PRP-ENV/SERIS, Laboratoire de Radioécologie, Rue Max Pol Fouchet, BP10, Cherbourg-Octeville 50130, France.
| | - L Solier
- IRSN/PRP-ENV/SERIS, Laboratoire de Radioécologie, Rue Max Pol Fouchet, BP10, Cherbourg-Octeville 50130, France
| | - D Hébert
- IRSN/PRP-ENV/SERIS, Laboratoire de Radioécologie, Rue Max Pol Fouchet, BP10, Cherbourg-Octeville 50130, France
| | - D Maro
- IRSN/PRP-ENV/SERIS, Laboratoire de Radioécologie, Rue Max Pol Fouchet, BP10, Cherbourg-Octeville 50130, France
| | - M Lamotte
- IRSN/PRP-ENV/SERIS, Laboratoire de Radioécologie, Rue Max Pol Fouchet, BP10, Cherbourg-Octeville 50130, France
| | - C Voiseux
- IRSN/PRP-ENV/SERIS, Laboratoire de Radioécologie, Rue Max Pol Fouchet, BP10, Cherbourg-Octeville 50130, France
| | - P Laguionie
- IRSN/PRP-ENV/SERIS, Laboratoire de Radioécologie, Rue Max Pol Fouchet, BP10, Cherbourg-Octeville 50130, France
| | - O Cazimajou
- IRSN/PRP-ENV/SERIS, Laboratoire de Radioécologie, Rue Max Pol Fouchet, BP10, Cherbourg-Octeville 50130, France
| | - S Le Cavelier
- IRSN/PRP-ENV/SERIS, Laboratoire de Radioécologie, Rue Max Pol Fouchet, BP10, Cherbourg-Octeville 50130, France
| | - C Godinot
- IRSN/PRP-ENV/SERIS, Laboratoire de Radioécologie, Rue Max Pol Fouchet, BP10, Cherbourg-Octeville 50130, France
| | - M Morillon
- IRSN/PRP-ENV/SERIS, Laboratoire de Radioécologie, Rue Max Pol Fouchet, BP10, Cherbourg-Octeville 50130, France
| | - L Thomas
- IRSN/PRP-ENV/SERIS, Laboratoire de Radioécologie, Rue Max Pol Fouchet, BP10, Cherbourg-Octeville 50130, France
| | - S Percot
- IRSN/PRP-ENV/SERIS, Laboratoire de Radioécologie, Rue Max Pol Fouchet, BP10, Cherbourg-Octeville 50130, France
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17
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Connan O, Smith K, Organo C, Solier L, Maro D, Hébert D. Comparison of RIMPUFF, HYSPLIT, ADMS atmospheric dispersion model outputs, using emergency response procedures, with (85)Kr measurements made in the vicinity of nuclear reprocessing plant. J Environ Radioact 2013; 124:266-277. [PMID: 23850583 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2013.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2012] [Revised: 05/27/2013] [Accepted: 06/03/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The Institut de Radioprotection et de Sureté Nucléaire (IRSN) performed a series of (85)Kr air sampling campaigns at mesoscale distances (18-50 km) from the AREVA NC La Hague nuclear reprocessing plant (North West France) between 2007 and 2009. The samples were collected in order to test and optimise a technique to measure low krypton-85 ((85)Kr) air concentrations and to investigate the performance of three atmospheric dispersion models (RIMPUFF, HYSPLIT, and ADMS), This paper presents the (85)Kr air concentrations measured at three sampling locations which varied from 2 to 8000 Bq m(-3), along with the (85)Kr air concentrations output by the dispersion models. The dispersion models made reasonable estimates of the mean concentrations of (85)Kr field measurements during steady wind conditions. In contrast, the models failed to accurately predict peaks in (85)Kr air concentration during periods of rapid and large changes in wind speed and/or wind direction. At distances where we made the comparisons (18-50 km), in all cases, the models underestimated the air concentration activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Connan
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sureté Nucléaire (IRSN, PRP-ENV/SERIS), Laboratoire de Radioécologie, Rue Max Pol Fouchet, Cherbourg-Octeville 50130, France.
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Aulagnier C, Le Dizès S, Maro D, Hébert D, Lardy R, Martin R. The TOCATTA-χ model for assessing 14C transfers to grass: an evaluation for atmospheric operational releases from nuclear facilities. J Environ Radioact 2013; 120:81-93. [PMID: 23466654 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2012.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2012] [Revised: 12/10/2012] [Accepted: 12/20/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Radioactive (14)C is formed as a by-product of nuclear power generation and from the operation of nuclear fuel reprocessing plants like AREVA-NC La Hague (North France), which releases about 15 TBq per year of (14)C into the atmosphere. This article evaluates a recently improved radioecology model (TOCATTA-χ) to assess (14)C transfers to grassland ecosystems under normal operating conditions. The new version of the TOCATTA model (TOCATTA-χ) includes developments that were derived from PaSiM, a pasture model for simulating grassland carbon and radiocarbon cycling. The TOCATTA-χ model has been tested against observations of (14)C activity concentrations in grass samples collected monthly from six plots which are located around the periphery of the reprocessing plant. Simulated (14)C activities are consistent with observations on both intensively managed and poorly managed grasslands, but an adaptation of the mean turn-over time for (14)C within the plant is necessary in the model to account for different management practices. When atmospheric (14)C activity concentrations are directly inferred from observations, TOCATTA-χ performs better than TOCATTA (the root mean square error is decreased by 45%), but when atmospheric (14)C activity concentrations are not known and must be calculated, the uncertainty associated with the TOCATTA-χ model outcomes is estimated to be larger than the standard deviation of the observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Aulagnier
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV, SERIS, LM2E, 13115 Cadarache, France
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Aulagnier C, Le Dizès S, Maro D, Hébert D, Lardy R, Martin R, Gonze MA. Modelling the transfer of 14C from the atmosphere to grass: a case study in a grass field near AREVA-NC La Hague. J Environ Radioact 2012; 112:52-59. [PMID: 22537618 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2012.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2011] [Revised: 01/30/2012] [Accepted: 03/30/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Radioactive (14)C is formed as a by-product of nuclear power generation and from operation of nuclear fuel reprocessing plants like AREVA-NC La Hague (North France), which releases about 15 TBq per year of (14)C into the atmosphere. Since the autumn of 2006, (14)C activity concentrations in samples from the terrestrial environment (air, grass and soil) have been monitored monthly on grassland 2 km downwind of the reprocessing plant. The monitoring data provides an opportunity to validate radioecology models used to assess (14)C transfer to grassland ecosystems. This article compares and discusses the ability of two different models to reproduce the observed temporal variability in grass (14)C activity in the vicinity of AREVA-NC La Hague. These two models are the TOCATTA model which is specifically designed for modelling transfer of (14)C and tritium in the terrestrial environment, and PaSim, a pasture model for simulating grassland carbon and nitrogen cycling. Both TOCATTA and PaSim tend to under-estimate the magnitude of observed peaks in grass (14)C activity, although they reproduce the general trends. PaSim simulates (14)C activities in substrate and structural pools of the plant. We define a mean turn-over time for (14)C within the plant, which is based on both experimental data and the frequency of cuts. An adapted PaSim result is presented using the 15 and 20 day moving average results for the (14)C activity in the substrate pool, which shows a good match to the observations. This model reduces the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) by nearly 40% in comparison to TOCATTA.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Aulagnier
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV, SERIS, LM2E, Cadarache, Saint-Paul Lez Durance, France.
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Dizès SL, Maro D, Hébert D, Gonze MA, Aulagnier C. TOCATTA: a dynamic transfer model of ¹⁴C from the atmosphere to soil-plant systems. J Environ Radioact 2012; 105:48-59. [PMID: 22230021 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2011.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2011] [Revised: 09/30/2011] [Accepted: 10/13/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Many nuclear facilities release ¹⁴C into the environment, mostly as ¹⁴CO₂, which mixes readily with stable CO₂. This complete isotopic mixing (equilibrium) is often used as the basis for dose assessment models. In this paper, a dynamic compartment model (TOCATTA) has been investigated to describe ¹⁴C transfer in agricultural systems exposed to atmospheric ¹⁴C releases from nuclear facilities under normal operating or accidental conditions. The TOCATTA model belongs to the larger framework of the SYMBIOSE modelling and simulation platform that aims to assess the fate and transport of a wide range of radionuclides in various environmental systems. In this context, the conceptual and mathematical models of TOCATTA have been designed to be relatively simple, minimizing the number of compartments and input parameters required, appropriate to its use in an operational mode. This paper describes in detail ¹⁴C transfer in agricultural plants exposed to time-varying concentrations of atmospheric ¹⁴C, with a consideration also of the transfer pathways of ¹⁴C in soil. The model was tested against in situ data for ¹⁴C activity concentration measured over two years on a grass field plot located 2 km downwind of the AREVA NC La Hague nuclear reprocessing plant. The first results showed that the model roughly reproduced the observed month-to-month variability in grass ¹⁴C activity, but under-estimated (by about 33%) most of the observed peaks in the ¹⁴C activity concentration of grass. This tends to prove that it is not suitable to simulate intra-monthly variability, and a fortiori, the response of vegetation to accidental releases that may occur during the day. The need to increase the temporal resolution of the model has been identified in order to simulate the impact of intermittent ¹⁴C releases occurring either the day or night, such as those recorded by the AREVA NC plant.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Le Dizès
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), DEI, SECRE, LME, CEN Cadarache Bât. 159, 13015 Cadarache, France.
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Marang L, Siclet F, Luck M, Maro D, Tenailleau L, Jean-Baptiste P, Fourré E, Fontugne M. Modelling tritium flux from water to atmosphere: application to the Loire River. J Environ Radioact 2011; 102:244-251. [PMID: 21255883 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2010.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2010] [Revised: 11/17/2010] [Accepted: 11/24/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Tritium (³H or T) is one of the major radionuclides released by nuclear power plants (NPP) into rivers. However, tritiated water (HTO) flux from water to air is seldom considered when assessing health effects of such releases. The aim of this paper is to present the result of a research program, called LORA, conducted on the Loire River (France). To improve our understanding of HTO flux from surface water to air, three field campaigns were organised during the NPP's radioactive releases to measure simultaneously the activity concentrations in air on the riverbank, using an innovative system, and in river water. The measurements showed that during radioactive releases, water vapour was enriched in ³H. These results were used to calibrate exchange velocities. The average of these estimated exchange velocities was more than one order of magnitude higher than those calculated in the literature from indoor experiments. The variability of these values was also larger, showing that outdoor studies cover a wide range of conditions influencing HTO flux. No correlation was observed between exchanges velocities and meteorological conditions. However, there was a significant difference between day and night with a higher value observed during the day. Two approaches used to calculate HTO evaporation from water (i.e. the approach based on water evaporation and the approach considering that HTO follows its own concentration gradient) were included in a hydrodynamic model, which was used to evaluate HTO air activity along the Loire River. In conclusion, only the approach considering that HTO follows its own gradient led to a good agreement between measurements and predictions. A one-year simulation was done to estimate the contribution of this process to the dose. Its contribution can be considered as negligible in this case compared to the other pathways such as ingestion of water or foodstuffs.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Marang
- EDF, Laboratoire National d'Hydraulique et Environnement, 78401 Chatou, France.
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Leroy C, Maro D, Hébert D, Solier L, Rozet M, Le Cavelier S, Connan O. A study of the atmospheric dispersion of a high release of krypton-85 above a complex coastal terrain, comparison with the predictions of Gaussian models (Briggs, Doury, ADMS4). J Environ Radioact 2010; 101:937-944. [PMID: 20638159 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2010.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2010] [Revised: 06/09/2010] [Accepted: 06/18/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Atmospheric releases of krypton-85, from the nuclear fuel reprocessing plant at the AREVA NC facility at La Hague (France), were used to test Gaussian models of dispersion. In 2001-2002, the French Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) studied the atmospheric dispersion of 15 releases, using krypton-85 as a tracer for plumes emitted from two 100-m-high stacks. Krypton-85 is a chemically inert radionuclide. Krypton-85 air concentration measurements were performed on the ground in the downwind direction, at distances between 0.36 and 3.3 km from the release, by neutral or slightly unstable atmospheric conditions. The standard deviation for the horizontal dispersion of the plume and the Atmospheric Transfer Coefficient (ATC) were determined from these measurements. The experimental results were compared with calculations using first generation (Doury, Briggs) and second generation (ADMS 4.0) Gaussian models. The ADMS 4.0 model was used in two configurations; one takes account of the effect of the built-up area, and the other the effect of the roughness of the surface on the plume dispersion. Only the Briggs model correctly reproduced the measured values for the width of the plume, whereas the ADMS 4.0 model overestimated it and the Doury model underestimated it. The agreement of the models with measured values of the ATC varied according to distance from the release point. For distances less than 2 km from the release point, the ADMS 4.0 model achieved the best agreement between model and measurement; beyond this distance, the best agreement was achieved by the Briggs and Doury models.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Leroy
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sureté Nucléaire, Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg-Octeville, Cherbourg-Octeville, France
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Connan O, Tessier E, Maro D, Amouroux D, Hébert D, Rozet M, Voiseux C, Solier L. Water to atmosphere fluxes of 131I in relation with alkyl-iodide compounds from the Seine Estuary (France). J Environ Radioact 2008; 99:1102-1110. [PMID: 18262693 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2008.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2007] [Revised: 12/13/2007] [Accepted: 01/02/2008] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
This study presents an original work on measurements of stable and radioactive iodinated species in the Seine estuary (France), with estimates fluxes of volatile gaseous species from water to the atmosphere. Various iodinated compounds were identified in water and air in particular 131I in water, what is unusual. Concentrations and behaviour of iodinated elements in the Seine estuary seem similar to what has been observed in other European estuaries. MeI (Methyl Iodide) and Total Volatile Iodine (TVI) fluxes from water to air vary between 392 and 13949 pmol m(-2) d(-1) and between 1279 and 16484 pmol m(-2) d(-1), respectively. Water to air flux of TVI for the Seine river was estimated in the range 4-46 kg y(-1). Measurements of (131)I in water varying between 0.4 and 11.9 Bq m(-3). Fluxes of (131)I from water to atmosphere are in the range 2.4 x 10(5)-1.3 x 10(7)Bq y(-1), close to an annual discharge of (131)I by a nuclear reactor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Connan
- Laboratoire de Radioécologie de Cherbourg-Octeville, Institut de Radioprotection et de Sureté Nucléaire, Service d'Etudes et du Comportement des Radionucléides dans l'Environnement, Cherbourg-Octeville, France.
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Gurriaran R, Maro D, Bouisset P, Hebert D, Leclerc G, Mekhlouche D, Rozet M, Solier L. In situ metrology of 85Kr plumes released by the COGEMA La Hague nuclear reprocessing plant. J Environ Radioact 2004; 72:137-144. [PMID: 15162865 DOI: 10.1016/s0265-931x(03)00195-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/01/2003] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The IRSN (Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, France) has started an in situ study of the behaviour of atmospheric releases close-by the COGEMA La Hague nuclear reprocessing plant. The study is designed to improve information on the dispersion of radioactive pollutants very close to the emission point--a 100 m height chimney. In this situation, close to the emission and height of the emission, Gaussian models generally used to predict the behaviour of atmospheric releases are not well adapted. The study is based on the characterisation of the 85Kr emitted during normal operations of the reprocessing process. Temporal and spatial variations of the plume shape were investigated with intensive in situ measurements. Live in situ techniques to measure the electrons and the photons emitted by the 85Kr have been implemented and will be described. Preliminary results showing the interest of the techniques were presented. Variations of the dose rates created by the photon flux of a plume were directly measured and correlated to other quantities.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Gurriaran
- Département de Protection de l'Environnement, Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Service d'études et Recherches Radioécologiques dans les Milieux Naturels, LMRE Bât 501, Bois des Rames, 91400 Orsay Cedex, France.
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