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Sekudewicz I, Syczewski M, Rohovec J, Matoušková Š, Kowalewska U, Blukis R, Geibert W, Stimac I, Gąsiorowski M. Geochemical behavior of heavy metals and radionuclides in a pit lake affected by acid mine drainage (AMD) in the Muskau Arch (Poland). Sci Total Environ 2024; 908:168245. [PMID: 37918728 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168245] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Pit lakes in the 'anthropogenic lake district' in the Muskau Arch (western Poland; central Europe) are strongly affected by acid mine drainage (AMD). The studied acidic pit lake, ŁK-61 (pH <3), is also exposed to floods due to its location in the flood hazard area, which may significantly influence the geochemical behavior of elements. The elemental compositions of water and lake sediment samples were measured with ICP-OES and ICP-MS. The sediment profile was also examined for 137Cs and 210Po activity concentrations using gamma and alpha spectrometry, respectively. Grain size distribution, mineralogical composition, diatoms, and organic matter content in the collected core were also determined. The key factors responsible for the distribution of selected heavy metals (e.g., Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) and radioisotopes (137Cs and 210Po) in the bottom sediments of Lake ŁK-61 are their coprecipitation/precipitation with Fe and Al secondary minerals and their sorption onto authigenic and allogenic phases. These processes are likely driven by the lake tributary, which is an important source of dissolved elements. The data also showed that the physiochemical parameters of Lake ŁK-61 water changed during an episodic depositional event, i.e., the flood of the Nysa Łużycka River in the summer of 2010. The flood caused an increase in the water pH, as interpreted from the subfossil diatom studies. The down-core profiles of the studied heavy metal and radionuclide (HMRs) contents were probably affected by this depositional event, which prevented a detailed age determination of the collected lake sediments with 137Cs and 210Pb dating methods. Geochemical modeling indicates that the flood-related shift in the physicochemical parameters of the lake water could have caused the scavenging of dissolved elements by the precipitation of fresh secondary minerals. Moreover, particles contaminated with HMRs have also possibly been delivered by the river, along with the nutrients (e.g., phosphorus and nitrogen).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilona Sekudewicz
- Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences, 00818 Warszawa, Twarda 51/55, Poland.
| | - Marcin Syczewski
- Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Jan Rohovec
- Institute of Geology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 16500 Praha, Rozvojová 269, Czech Republic
| | - Šárka Matoušková
- Institute of Geology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 16500 Praha, Rozvojová 269, Czech Republic
| | - Urszula Kowalewska
- Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences, 00818 Warszawa, Twarda 51/55, Poland
| | - Roberts Blukis
- Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany; Leibniz-Institut für Kristallzüchtung, Max-Born-Str. 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Walter Geibert
- Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Ingrid Stimac
- Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Michał Gąsiorowski
- Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences, 00818 Warszawa, Twarda 51/55, Poland
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2
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Semenishchev VS, Ishimbaeva EN, Ermolaeva VD. An isotope generator of Po-210 based on SR resin. Appl Radiat Isot 2024; 203:111104. [PMID: 37939608 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2023.111104] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
The work describes an isotope generator of polonium-210 based on an extraction chromatographic resin SR Resin. It was shown that a high selectivity of 4,4'(5')-di-t-butylcyclohexano-18-crown-6, an active component of SR Resin, for lead allows a clear separation of Pb-210 from impurities, easy elution of Po-210 with 5-7 mL of 0.05 M nitric acid solution as well as good retention of Pb-210 in the generator. The content of alpha emitting impurities in the Po-210 eluate did not exceed 0.65%. The experience of 3-years exploitation of the generator is described. It was shown that the SR Resin was stable against irradiation and complete drying, and Pb-210 loss from the SR Resin column for 3 years (seven elutions) was near to loss due to its radioactive decay within the error limits (less than 7%).
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir S Semenishchev
- Ural Federal University, Department of Radiochemistry and Applied Ecology, 19, Mira Street, Yekaterinburg, 620002, Russia.
| | - Elena N Ishimbaeva
- Ural Federal University, Department of Radiochemistry and Applied Ecology, 19, Mira Street, Yekaterinburg, 620002, Russia
| | - Valeria D Ermolaeva
- Ural Federal University, Department of Radiochemistry and Applied Ecology, 19, Mira Street, Yekaterinburg, 620002, Russia
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3
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Johansen MP, Carpenter JG, Charmasson S, Gwynn JP, Mc Ginnity P, Mori A, Orr B, Simon-Cornu M, Osvath I. Seafood dose parameters: Updating 210Po retention factors for cooking, decay loss and mariculture. J Environ Radioact 2023; 268-269:107243. [PMID: 37515860 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107243] [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: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
210Po has been identified as one of the main contributors to ingestion doses to humans, particularly from the consumption of seafood. The amount of 210Po activity concentration data for various types of seafood has increased greatly in recent times. However, to provide realistic seafood dose assessments, most 210Po data requires correction to account for losses that can occur before the seafood is actually consumed. Here we develop generic correction factors for the main processes associated with reduction of 210Po in seafood - leaching during cooking, radioactive decay between harvest and consumption, and sourcing from mariculture versus wild-caught. When seafood is cooked, the overall mean fraction of 210Po retained is 0.74 for all cooking and seafood types, with the means for various seafood types and cooking categories ranging from 0.56 to 1.03. When considering radioactive decay during the period between harvest and consumption, the overall mean fraction remaining is 0.81 across all seafood preservation/packaging types, with estimates ranging from 0.50 (canned seafood) to 0.98 (fresh seafood). Regarding mariculture influence, the available limited data suggest marine fish and crustaceans raised with processed feed have about one order of magnitude lower (×0.10) 210Po muscle content than wild-caught seafood of the same or similar species, although this ratio varies. Overall, this study concludes that 210Po activity concentrations in seafood at the time of ingestion may be reduced to only about 55% compared to when it was harvested. Therefore, correction factors must be applied to any data derived from environmental monitoring in order to achieve realistic dose estimates. The data also suggest lower 210Po ingestion doses for consumers who routinely favour cooked, long shelf-life and farmed fish/crustaceans. However, more data is needed in some categories, especially for cooking of molluscs and seaweed, and for the 210Po content in all farmed seafood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathew P Johansen
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Locked Bag 2001, Kirrawee DC, 2232 NSW, Australia.
| | - Julia G Carpenter
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), Yallambie, VIC, 3085, Australia.
| | - Sabine Charmasson
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Pôle Santé Environnement, PSE-ENV/SRTE/LRTA, 13115, Saint Paul Lez Durance, France.
| | - Justin P Gwynn
- Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, The Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Paul Mc Ginnity
- IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories, 4 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000 Monaco.
| | - Airi Mori
- Japan Atomic Energy Agency, 2-4 Shirakata, Tokai-mura, Naka-gun, Ibaraki, 319-1195, Japan.
| | - Blake Orr
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), Yallambie, VIC, 3085, Australia.
| | - Marie Simon-Cornu
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Pôle Santé Environnement, PSE-ENV/SEREN, 13115 Saint Paul Lez Durance, France.
| | - Iolanda Osvath
- IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories, 4 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000 Monaco.
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Skwarzec B, Boryło A, Wieczorek J, Lanczewska K. Polonium on the 125th anniversary of its discovery: its chemistry, radiotoxicity and application. J Environ Radioact 2023; 268-269:107259. [PMID: 37523833 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107259] [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: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
The article recounts the discovery of the development of polonium chemistry. The development of its chemistry and the discovery of its properties and uses, both useful and criminal. In addition, it provides biographical details of its discoverers and the scientists who systematically uncovered its secrets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bogdan Skwarzec
- Laboratory of Environmental Analytics and Radiochemistry, Department of Environmental Chemistry and Radiochemistry, Gdańsk, Pomerania, Poland.
| | - Alicja Boryło
- Laboratory of Environmental Analytics and Radiochemistry, Department of Environmental Chemistry and Radiochemistry, Gdańsk, Pomerania, Poland.
| | - Jarosław Wieczorek
- Laboratory of Environmental Analytics and Radiochemistry, Department of Environmental Chemistry and Radiochemistry, Gdańsk, Pomerania, Poland.
| | - Klaudia Lanczewska
- Laboratory of Environmental Analytics and Radiochemistry, Department of Environmental Chemistry and Radiochemistry, Gdańsk, Pomerania, Poland.
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5
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Bustamante P, Guillen-Arruebarruena A, Lacoue-Labarthe T, Chouvelon T, Spitz J, Warnau M, Alonso Hernandez CM. Variation of 210- polonium in the cephalopod community from the Bay of Biscay, North-East Atlantic. J Environ Radioact 2023; 268-269:107265. [PMID: 37562207 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107265] [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: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Among natural radionuclides, 210Po is the major contributor to the radiation dose received by marine organisms. In cephalopods, 210Po is concentrated in the digestive gland, which contains over 90% of the whole-body burden of the nuclide. Although previous studies showed that 210Po was taken up independently of 210Pb, its parent nuclide, very little is known about the factors influencing its levels in cephalopods. To the best of our knowledge, no studies investigated 210Po levels in different species at the same time. In the present study, 210Po was analysed in the digestive gland of 62 individuals from 11 species representing a large range of feeding ecologies and habitats, including squids, cuttlefish and octopus species from coastal to deep-oceanic habitats. Among species, the highest activity was measured in Loligo vulgaris (5720 ± 3606 Bq/kg) and the lowest in T. megalops (188 Bq/kg). However, considering the habitats (benthic vs pelagic and neritic vs oceanic), no significant differences appeared. At the species level, no differences between sexes were found so both sexes were plotted together to test the size effect for species with at least 8 individuals (i.e., Eledone cirrhosa, L. vulgaris, L. forbesi and Sepia officinalis). In the first three species, 210Po levels decreased significantly with increasing size or weight but not in S. officinalis. In squid, this could be related to ontogenetic changes in diet from a high proportion of crustaceans (high Po content) in small individuals to fish (low Po content) in larger individuals, while the high dietary plasticity of S. officinalis at all stages of its life cycle could explain the lack of decrease in 210Po with size. In comparison to the few data from the literature, the levels of 210Po concentrations in the cephalopod community of the Bay of Biscay were overall in the same range than those reported in other cephalopods, varying across 4 orders of magnitude. Further studies are needed to understand the mechanism of retention in the cephalopod digestive gland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paco Bustamante
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France.
| | | | - Thomas Lacoue-Labarthe
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France
| | - Tiphaine Chouvelon
- Observatoire Pelagis, UAR 3462 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 5 allées de l'Océan, 17000, La Rochelle, France; Ifremer, Unité Contamination Chimique des Écosystèmes Marins (CCEM), Centre Atlantique, Rue de l'île d'Yeu, BP 21105, 44311, Nantes, France
| | - Jérôme Spitz
- Observatoire Pelagis, UAR 3462 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 5 allées de l'Océan, 17000, La Rochelle, France; Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 405 Route de Prissé la Charrière, 79360, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Michel Warnau
- International Atomic Energy Agency - Environment Laboratories (IAEA-EL), 4 Quai Antoine 1(er), MC-98000, Monaco
| | - Carlos M Alonso Hernandez
- Centro de Estudios Ambientales de Cienfuegos, AP5, Ciudad Nuclear, Cienfuegos, Cuba; International Atomic Energy Agency - Environment Laboratories (IAEA-EL), 4 Quai Antoine 1(er), MC-98000, Monaco
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6
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Desorgher L, Berthet A, Rossier J, Bochud F, Froidevaux P. Dosimetry in the lungs of α-particles ( 210Po) and β-particles ( 210Pb) present in the tobacco smoke of conventional cigarettes and heated tobacco products. J Environ Radioact 2023; 263:107178. [PMID: 37060833 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107178] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Tobacco products contain radioactive 210Pb and 210Po which can be transferred from the filler to the mainstream smoke. When inhaled, they can contribute to the radioactive dose to the lungs and are suspected to significantly contribute to lung cancer from smoking. Currently, no data are available on the radioactive risk of the heated tobacco products (HTP). However, due to the relatively high heat involved in some of these devices, there are concerns about the volatility of polonium particles. Here we used data on the 210Po and 210Pb content in tobacco smoke along with biokinetic and dosimetric models to compute the effective dose induced by conventional smoking and by using an HTP device (PMI IQOS system). Results show that conventional smoking of one pack per day induces a dose to the lung of about 0.3 mSv/year. This dose decreases by a factor of ten (0.03 mSv/year) for the IQOS system. However, this dose reduction is not obtained by specific countermeasures but by the fact that the IQOS system heats only 15% of the tobacco filler to the target temperature of 330 °C. When heated homogeneously to 300 °C, both conventional and Heets (IQOS) cigarettes release about 80% of the 210Po from the tobacco, leading to similar doses to lungs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Desorgher
- Institute of Radiation Physics, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Aurélie Berthet
- University of Lausanne, Ctr Primary Care & Publ Hlth Unisante, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jérémie Rossier
- Institute of Radiation Physics, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - François Bochud
- Institute of Radiation Physics, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Pascal Froidevaux
- Institute of Radiation Physics, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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Bam W, Swarzenski PW, Maiti K, Vassileva E, Orani AM, Blinova O, McGinnity P, Adhikari PL, Haughton M, Webber M. Scavenging of select radionuclides and trace elements by pelagic Sargassum in the Caribbean Sea. Mar Pollut Bull 2022; 179:113658. [PMID: 35453061 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, the North Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea have experienced unusual and unprecedented pelagic Sargassum blooms, which may adversely affect coastal ecosystems and productive ocean. Sargassum has the potential to scavenge trace elements and radionuclides from seawater, and when bioaccumulated and thus concentrated, can pose a potential threat to higher trophic organisms, including humans that consume impacted seafood. In this study, trace elements and naturally-occurring U/Th-series radionuclides were measured in Sargassum that were collected in the coastal waters of the Caribbean Sea (Antigua/Barbuda, Belize, and Barbados) to better define baseline concentrations and activities, and to assess the scavenging potential for these trace elements and radionuclides. The mean concentration of trace elements observed in Sargassum collected across these three Caribbean Sea are ranked accordingly to the following descending order: Sr > As>Fe > Mn > Zn > Ni > V > C > Cd > Se > Co > Cr > Pb > Ag > Hg. 210-Po and 210Pb activities in Sargassum were observed to be more elevated than previously reported values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wokil Bam
- International Atomic Energy Agency, 4 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000 Monaco, Monaco; Department Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA; Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA.
| | - Peter W Swarzenski
- International Atomic Energy Agency, 4 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000 Monaco, Monaco.
| | - Kanchan Maiti
- Department Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Emiliya Vassileva
- International Atomic Energy Agency, 4 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000 Monaco, Monaco
| | - Anna Maria Orani
- International Atomic Energy Agency, 4 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000 Monaco, Monaco
| | - Oxana Blinova
- International Atomic Energy Agency, 4 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000 Monaco, Monaco
| | - Paul McGinnity
- International Atomic Energy Agency, 4 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000 Monaco, Monaco
| | - Puspa L Adhikari
- Department of Marine and Earth Sciences, The Water School, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL 33965, USA
| | | | - Mona Webber
- Center for Marine Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica
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8
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Giordani M, Meli MA, Roselli C, Betti M, Peruzzi F, Taussi M, Valentini L, Fagiolino I, Mattioli M. Could soluble minerals be hazardous to human health? Evidence from fibrous epsomite. Environ Res 2022; 206:112579. [PMID: 34968437 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
From a toxicological point of view, particulates and fibres with high solubility in water and/or in biological environments have not been considered in detail and the knowledge to date in this area is very scarce. In this study, the water-soluble natural epsomite fibres from Perticara Mine (Italy) were investigated using SEM-EDS, XRPD, ICP-AES and alpha spectrometry measurements which were combined and integrated to characterise the fibres' morphology, crystal chemistry and mineralogy. The morphological and morphometric results showed that most of the fibres are of inhalable size (Dae 5.09 μm) and can be potentially adsorbed from all parts of the respiratory tract. Chemical analysis reveals significant amounts of toxic elements (As, Co, Fe, Mn, Ni, Sr, Ti, Zn) and surprisingly high contents of radioactive isotopes (210Po and 228Th) in epsomite crystals, making the inhalation of these fibres potentially hazardous to human health. Through this study, we want to focus on soluble minerals, such as epsomite, which can be present in both natural and anthropic environments and have never been considered from the point of view of their potential hazard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Giordani
- Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy.
| | - Maria Assunta Meli
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Carla Roselli
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Michele Betti
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Fabio Peruzzi
- Speleological Federation of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco Taussi
- Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Laura Valentini
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | | | - Michele Mattioli
- Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
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Vengosh A, Coyte RM, Podgorski J, Johnson TM. A critical review on the occurrence and distribution of the uranium- and thorium-decay nuclides and their effect on the quality of groundwater. Sci Total Environ 2022; 808:151914. [PMID: 34856287 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [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: 07/03/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This critical review presents the key factors that control the occurrence of natural elements from the uranium- and thorium-decay series, also known as naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM), including uranium, radium, radon, lead, polonium, and their isotopes in groundwater resources. Given their toxicity and radiation, elevated levels of these nuclides in drinking water pose human health risks, and therefore understanding the occurrence, sources, and factors that control the mobilization of these nuclides from aquifer rocks is critical for better groundwater management and human health protection. The concentrations of these nuclides in groundwater are a function of the groundwater residence time relative to the decay rates of the nuclides, as well as the net balance between nuclides mobilization (dissolution, desorption, recoil) and retention (adsorption, precipitation). This paper explores the factors that control this balance, including the relationships between the elemental chemistry (e.g., solubility and speciation), lithological and hydrogeological factors, groundwater geochemistry (e.g., redox state, pH, ionic strength, ion-pairs availability), and their combined effects and interactions. The various chemical properties of each of the nuclides results in different likelihoods for co-occurrence. For example, the primordial 238U, 222Rn, and, in cases of high colloid concentrations also 210Po, are all more likely to be found in oxic groundwater. In contrast, in reducing aquifers, Ra nuclides, 210Pb, and in absence of high colloid concentrations, 210Po, are more mobile and frequently occur in groundwater. In highly permeable sandstone aquifers that lack sufficient adsorption sites, Ra is often enriched, even in low salinity and oxic groundwater. This paper also highlights the isotope distributions, including those of relatively long-lived nuclides (238U/235U) with abundances that depend on geochemical conditions (e.g., fractionation induced from redox processes), as well as shorter-lived nuclides (234U/238U, 228Ra/226Ra, 224Ra/228Ra, 210Pb/222Rn, 210Po/210Pb) that are strongly influenced by physical (recoil), lithological, and geochemical factors. Special attention is paid in evaluating the ability to use these isotope variations to elucidate the sources of these nuclides in groundwater, mechanisms of their mobilization from the rock matrix (e.g., recoil, ion-exchange), and retention into secondary mineral phases and ion-exchange sites.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Joel Podgorski
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
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Karlsson E, Neuhausen J, Aerts A, Danilov II, Eichler R, Türler A, Vögele A. Polonium behavior following a vacuum window rupture in a lead-bismuth eutectic based accelerator driven system. Appl Radiat Isot 2020; 168:109551. [PMID: 33307436 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2020.109551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Accelerator driven fast nuclear reactors cooled by lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) are developed for transmuting long-lived radionuclides in spent nuclear fuel. Due to the nature of the coolant, operating the reactor will result in a production of 210Po by neutron capture. Understanding the behavior of this highly radiotoxic nuclide in the event of a failure of the window separating the evacuated proton beam guide from the reactor core is required for safety assessments. The present work aims at acquiring this knowledge by studying the evaporation of polonium from neutron-irradiated LBE and its deposition in a scaled down model of the beam tube. Experimental results along with Monte Carlo simulations indicate that polonium adsorbs as a single species with an adsorption enthalpy of approximately -156 kJ/mol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Karlsson
- Paul Scherrer Institut, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232, Villigen PSI, Switzerland; University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jörg Neuhausen
- Paul Scherrer Institut, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232, Villigen PSI, Switzerland.
| | | | - Ivan I Danilov
- Paul Scherrer Institut, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232, Villigen PSI, Switzerland; University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Robert Eichler
- Paul Scherrer Institut, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232, Villigen PSI, Switzerland; University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Türler
- University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Alexander Vögele
- Paul Scherrer Institut, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232, Villigen PSI, Switzerland
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11
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Thomas R, Mantero J, Pérez-Moreno SM, Ruiz-Canovas C, Vioque I, Isaksson M, Forssell-Aronsson E, Holm E, García-Tenorio R. 226Ra, 210Po and lead isotopes in a pit lake water profile in Sweden. J Environ Radioact 2020; 223-224:106384. [PMID: 32919820 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2020.106384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [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: 10/29/2019] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
A pit lake arises as a consequence of anthropogenic activities in opencast mining areas. These water bodies may be enriched in hazardous stable contaminants and/or in naturally occurring radionuclides depending on the local geological conditions. Mining legacy in Sweden produced hundreds of these pit lakes and most of them are used for recreational purposes in the southern part of the country. In this paper, one pit lake was selected for having enhanced levels of natural radionuclides. Physico-chemical parameters (temperature, pH, oxidation-reduction potential, dissolved oxygen and depth), elemental composition (via Inductive Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry) and radiometric characterization (via alpha spectrometry of 226Ra, 210Po and 210Pb) were carried along the depth of a 60 m depth pit lake, with the main aim to describe how natural radionuclides and elements behaves with depth in a non-uraniferous pit lake. Based on observed changes in physico-chemical parameters, a thermocline and a chemocline region were identified at around 10 and 30 m depth respectively. Concerning radionuclides, 226Ra ranged from 75 ± 3 up to 360 ± 12 mBq/kg while 210Po ranged from 11 ± 1 up to 71 ± 3 mBq/kg. 210Pb distribution with depth was also determined via secular equilibrium with 210Po after 2 years and also stable Pb was measured. Disequilibrium 226Ra-210Pb was found and the residence time of 210Pb in the water column was assessed. Additionally, different vertical distributions between 210Pb and Pb were found which points out different sources for different lead isotopes in the water body.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Thomas
- Department of Radiation Physics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, 413 45, Sweden
| | - J Mantero
- Department of Radiation Physics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, 413 45, Sweden; Department of Applied Physics II, ETSA, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, 41012 Spain.
| | - S M Pérez-Moreno
- Group of Radiation Physics and Environment, Universidad de Huelva, Huelva, Spain
| | - C Ruiz-Canovas
- Department of Earth Sciences & Research Center on Natural Resources, Health and the Environment. University of Huelva, Huelva, 21071, Spain
| | - I Vioque
- Department of Applied Physics II, ETSA, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, 41012 Spain
| | - M Isaksson
- Department of Radiation Physics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, 413 45, Sweden
| | - E Forssell-Aronsson
- Department of Radiation Physics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, 413 45, Sweden
| | - E Holm
- Department of Radiation Physics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, 413 45, Sweden
| | - R García-Tenorio
- Department of Applied Physics II, ETSA, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, 41012 Spain; Spanish National Accelerator Centre (CNA), US-JA-CSIC, Sevilla, 41092, Spain
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12
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Cankurt S, Görgün AU. Determination and distribution of 210Po in different morphological parts of tobacco plants and radiation dose assessment from cigarettes in Turkey. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2020; 197:110603. [PMID: 32304920 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.110603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [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: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 04/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Both sides of tobacco leaves accumulate 210Po through their sticky hairs (trichomes) by means of diffusive deposition. It is known that tobacco leaves may contain high amounts of 210Po concentrations. However, there is less information about radionuclides in tobacco plants. In the study, the 210Po concentrations were determined monthly in different morphological parts of tobacco plants (leaf, stem, root) and soil samples and soil-to-plant transfer factor for 210Po was determined and the activity concentrations of 210Po radionuclide in 16 different popular brands of cigarettes were investigated in order to estimate the annual effective doses of 210Po to smokers. Besides the study investigated (focused on) the correlation between the amount of rainfall and 210Po concentration of tobacco leaf. The results of the present study indicated that the activity concentration of 210Po in cigarettes distributed in Turkey ranged from 16.1 ± 1.0 to 37.6 ± 2.6 mBq per cigarette and the mean value of their activity concentrations was 22.4 ± 1.5 mBq per cigarette. The mean value of annual effective doses of 210Po to smokers (20 cigarettes smoked by an individual per day) obtained from these activity concentrations was estimated to be 188.5 ± 12.4 μSv y-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Süleyman Cankurt
- Ege University, Institute of Nuclear Sciences, 35100, Bornova, İzmir, Turkey.
| | - Aysun Uğur Görgün
- Ege University, Institute of Nuclear Sciences, 35100, Bornova, İzmir, Turkey
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13
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Hansen V, Mosbech A, Søgaard-Hansen J, Rigét FF, Merkel FR, Linnebjerg JF, Schulz R, Zubrod JP, Eulaers I, Asmund G. 210Po and 210Pb activity concentrations in Greenlandic seabirds and dose assessment. Sci Total Environ 2020; 712:136548. [PMID: 31927443 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 10/18/2019] [Revised: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Naturally occurring radionuclides, in particular, polonium-210 (210Po), have a greater contribution than anthropogenic radionuclides to the annual effective dose received by the general public due to consumption of seafood. Knowledge of potential trophic sources and transfer of 210Po to seabird species and subsequently to the Greenlandic people is, however, still poor. Here, we assess the transfer of 210Po and 210Pb to seabirds sampled during autumn and winter 2017 and 2018 in Greenland and provide a dose assessment. The activity concentrations of 210Po in muscle and liver, respectively, ranged from 0.2 ± 0.1 Bq kg-1 w.w. in glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus) to 21.2 ± 22.6 Bq kg-1 w.w. in thick-billed murre (Uria lomvia) and from 32.0 ± 9.4 Bq kg-1 w.w. in common eider (Somateria mollissima) to 40.5 ± 49.0 Bq kg-1 w.w. in thick-billed murre. 210Po was non-uniformly distributed in the body of thick-billed murre. Kidneys and feathers showed higher 210Po activity concentrations than heart and bone. The 210Po/210Pb activity concentration ratios are higher than unity, indicating that 210Po is preferentially taken up by seabirds compared to its progenitor 210Pb. The derived annual absorbed dose from 210Po to the whole body of thick-billed murre was 6.4 × 102 ± 3.0 × 102 μGy. The annual effective dose to the average adult and representative person in Greenland due to ingestion of 210Po in seabirds was estimated to 13.0 μSv and 57.0 μSv, respectively. This derived dose is low and poses a slight risk, and risk communication is therefore deemed unnecessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Violeta Hansen
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Anders Mosbech
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | | | - Frank Farsø Rigét
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark; Greenland Institute for Natural Resources, Kivioq 2, GL-3900 Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Flemming Ravn Merkel
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark; Greenland Institute for Natural Resources, Kivioq 2, GL-3900 Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Jannie Fries Linnebjerg
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark; Greenland Institute for Natural Resources, Kivioq 2, GL-3900 Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Ralf Schulz
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstrasse 7, DE-76829 Landau in der Pfalz, Germany
| | - Jochen P Zubrod
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstrasse 7, DE-76829 Landau in der Pfalz, Germany
| | - Igor Eulaers
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Gert Asmund
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
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14
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Maxwell SL, McAlister DR, Sudowe R. Novel rapid oxidizing fusion method to determine Polonium-210 in air filters. Appl Radiat Isot 2019; 153:108833. [PMID: 31415911 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2019.108833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Revised: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
A rapid method for the determination of polonium-210 in air filters has been developed for use following a radiological event and for routine environmental monitoring. Air filter samples, including cellulose and glass fiber, are fused with a sodium or potassium nitrate/sodium hydroxide flux material. The alkaline matrix minimizes polonium volatility during sample digestion steps, while efficiently dissolving the air filter and inorganic matter implanted on the filter. The addition of nitrate to the flux destroys organic material which can decrease Polonium recovery during precipitation, extraction and source preparation steps. Polonium is concentrated and separated from the sample matrix using an iron hydroxide precipitation and extraction chromatography with DGA Resin. Polonium-210 is subsequently measured by alpha spectrometry following rapid microprecipitation with bismuth phosphate. The new method employs extraction chromatographic purification to remove alpha emitting interferences and sample matrix constituents which can interfere with 210Po measurements using alpha spectrometry. The novel blend of sodium hydroxide and alkali metal nitrate digests the air filters quickly and effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherrod L Maxwell
- Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC, Building 735-B, Aiken, SC, 29808, USA.
| | | | - Ralf Sudowe
- Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
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15
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Maxwell SL, McAlister DR, Sudowe R. Rapid method to determine Polonium-210 in urban matrices. Appl Radiat Isot 2019; 148:270-6. [PMID: 31030086 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2019.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A rapid method for the determination of polonium-210 in urban matrices has been developed that can be used following a radiological event. Samples such as concrete, soil and granite are fused with sodium hydroxide to minimize polonium volatility during sample digestion and to achieve complete sample dissolution. Complete dissolution of samples is important to ensure method ruggedness. Polonium is concentrated and separated from the sample matrix using an iron hydroxide precipitation and extraction chromatography and subsequently measured by alpha spectrometry following microprecipitation with bismuth phosphate. The chromatographic separation removes alpha emitting interferences and matrix constituents which can adversely impact the measurement via alpha spectrometry.
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16
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Kalnins CAG, Spooner NA, Clarke MJP, Ottaway D. Alpha particle autoradiography for high spatial resolution mapping of radionuclides. J Environ Radioact 2019; 197:9-15. [PMID: 30476811 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [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: 06/19/2018] [Revised: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
An autoradiographic technique capable of determining the spatial location of radioactive isotopes within materials on the scale of micrometers is demonstrated in low-activity mineral samples, where the concentrations of radionuclides with short half lives is small and below the detection limits of current measurement techniques. The location of certain radionuclide species within samples with complex structures on the micron scale can yield valuable information, however current methods do not have the spatial resolution required for this purpose. We demonstrate the use of an autoradiographic emulsion to directly image alpha particle events in samples with low radionuclide concentrations, allowing spatial resolution of radionuclide locations on the order of several microns. Exposure over a long time period allows sufficient integration of decay events enabling analysis of samples with low activity but large area, (less than 1×10-4 Bq/mm2). The use of polarising filters to increase contrast between the alpha particle tracks and the substrate during imaging demonstrates the viability of the technique on samples with a complex structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher A G Kalnins
- Institute for Photonics & Advanced Sensing and School of Physical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, Australia.
| | - Nigel A Spooner
- Institute for Photonics & Advanced Sensing and School of Physical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, Australia; Defence Science and Technology Group, Edinburgh, 5111, Australia
| | - Michael J P Clarke
- Institute for Photonics & Advanced Sensing and School of Physical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, Australia
| | - David Ottaway
- Institute for Photonics & Advanced Sensing and School of Physical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, Australia
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17
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Pearson AJ, Gaw S, Hermanspahn N, Glover CN. Deterministic and Semiprobabilistic Modeling of the Committed Dose from Radionuclides and the Chemical Burden from Uranium in the New Zealand Diet. J Food Prot 2018; 81:1400-1410. [PMID: 30052073 DOI: 10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-18-053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
To support New Zealand's food safety monitoring, estimates of the current population exposure to ionizing radiation through diet are needed. To calculate the committed dose from radionuclide activities in the food chain, dietary modeling was undertaken for different age and gender groupings of the New Zealand population. Based on a published survey of radionuclide activity concentrations in the New Zealand diet, deterministic and semiprobabilistic models were constructed to derive estimates of the effective dose via the diet. Deterministic estimated annual doses across the different age and gender groupings ranged from a minimum of 48 to 66 μSv/year for teenage girls to a maximum of 126 to 152 μSv/year for adult males. Polonium-210 was the main contributor to ingested dose, with anthropogenic radionuclides contributing very little. For adults, seafood represented the most important source of exposure, with the contribution from this source decreasing for younger age groups. Results of the semiprobabilistic model identified a range of possible ingested doses, with 2.5 to 97.5th percentile ranges of 0.01 to 1.44 μSv/day for adults and 0.02 to 1.84 μSv/day for children. Estimated doses to the New Zealand population show similarities to those of other countries and fall within the expected global range. The current level of exposure to ionizing radiation in the diet does not represent an elevated health risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Pearson
- 1 Ministry for Primary Industries, P.O. Box 2536, Wellington, 6011, New Zealand.,2 University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
| | - Sally Gaw
- 2 University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
| | - Nikolaus Hermanspahn
- 3 Institute of Environmental Science & Research Ltd., P.O. Box 29-181, Christchurch 8540, New Zealand
| | - Chris N Glover
- 4 Faculty of Science and Technology and Athabasca River Basin Research Institute, Athabasca University, Athabasca, Alberta, Canada T9S 3A3; and.,5 Department of Biological Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2R3
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18
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Galhardi JA, García-Tenorio R, Bonotto DM, Díaz Francés I, Motta JG. Natural radionuclides in plants, soils and sediments affected by U-rich coal mining activities in Brazil. J Environ Radioact 2017; 177:37-47. [PMID: 28601654 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [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: 01/03/2017] [Revised: 05/01/2017] [Accepted: 06/01/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Mining activities can increase the mobility of metals by accelerating the dissolution and leaching of minerals from the rocks and tailing piles to the environment and, consequently, their availability for plants and subsequent transfer to the food chain. The weathering of minerals and the disposal of coal waste in tailing piles can accelerate the generation of acid mine drainage (AMD), which is responsible for the higher dissolution of metals in mining areas. In this context, the behavior of U, Th and K in soils and sediment, and the transfer factor (TF) of 238U, 234U and 210Po for soybean, wheat, pine and eucalyptus cultivated around a coal mine in southern Brazil was evaluated. Alpha and gamma spectrometry were used for the measurements of the activity concentration of the radioelements. 210Po was the radionuclide that is most accumulated in the plants, especially in the leaves. When comparing the plant species, pine showed the highest TF values for 234U (0.311 ± 0.420) for leaves, while eucalyptus showed the highest TF for 238U (0.344 ± 0.414) for leaves. In general, TF were higher for the leaves of soybean and wheat when compared to the grains, and grains of wheat showed higher TF for 210Po and 238U than grains of soybean. Deviations from the natural U isotopic ratio were recorded at all investigated areas, indicating possible industrial and mining sources of U for the vegetables. A safety assessment of transport routes and accumulation of radionuclides in soils with a potential for cultivation is important, mainly in tropical areas contaminated with solid waste and effluents from mines and industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Aparecida Galhardi
- Departamento de Petrologia e Metalogenia, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Campus de Rio Claro, Av. 24-A No.1515, CEP 13506-900, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Rafael García-Tenorio
- Departamento de Física Aplicada II, Universidad de Sevilla, Av. Reina Mercedes, 2, 41012, Seville, Spain
| | - Daniel Marcos Bonotto
- Departamento de Petrologia e Metalogenia, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Campus de Rio Claro, Av. 24-A No.1515, CEP 13506-900, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Inmaculada Díaz Francés
- Departamento de Física Aplicada II, Universidad de Sevilla, Av. Reina Mercedes, 2, 41012, Seville, Spain
| | - João Gabriel Motta
- Instituto de Geociências, Universidade de Campinas, R. João P. Calógeras, 51, CEP 13083-870, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
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19
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Annamalai SK, Arunachalam KD, Selvaraj R. Natural radionuclide dose and lifetime cancer risk due to ingestion of fish and water from fresh water reservoirs near the proposed uranium mining site. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2017; 24:15427-15443. [PMID: 28508337 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-9111-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [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: 07/25/2016] [Accepted: 04/26/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Ten sampling locations in Nagarjuna Sagar Dam have been selected to assess the suitability of the reservoir water for human consumption. The sediment, water, and fish samples were collected and analyzed for radionuclide (238U, 232Th, 210Po, 226Ra, 210Pb) and physicochemical parameters like pH, TOC, total hardness, alkalinity, DO, cation exchange capacity, and particle size. The spatial variations among the radionuclides (238U, 232Th, 210Po, 226Ra, 210Pb) in water and bottom sediments of Nagarjuna Sagar Dam were determined. The uranium concentration in the sediment and water was in BDL (<0.5 ppb). The maximum permissible limits in water samples of the analyzed radionuclides are 238U-10 Bq/l, 210Po-0.1 Bq/l, 226Ra-1 Bq/l, and 210Pb-0.1 Bq/l. The radionuclides in our water samples were approximately 50 times far below the recommended limit. The ingestion of water and fish would not pose any significant radiological impact on health or cancer risk to the public, implicating that the fishes from Nagarjuna Sagar Dam reservoir are safe for human consumption except the fisherman community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sathesh Kumar Annamalai
- Center for Environmental Nuclear Research, Directorate of Research, SRM University, Kattankulathur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India
| | - Kantha Deivi Arunachalam
- Center for Environmental Nuclear Research, Directorate of Research, SRM University, Kattankulathur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India.
| | - Rajaram Selvaraj
- Environmental Survey Laboratories, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Kalpakkam, 603102, India
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20
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Romańczyk G, Boryło A. 210Po secretion from sweat glands. J Environ Radioact 2017; 167:70-74. [PMID: 27866792 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.11.004] [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: 05/25/2016] [Revised: 11/03/2016] [Accepted: 11/04/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The results of the research indicated that the 210Po activity concentration in sweat samples was between 0.22 ± 0.03 to 2.10 ± 0.15 mBq·g-1 d.w. The obtained results of the studies showed that smoking and eating fish led to higher activity concentrations of 210Po in sweat in comparison to the control group. Statistical analysis of 210Po activity concentrations in sweat samples showed significant differences between control, smoking, fish eating and age groups, while no significant differences was found for 210Po between volunteers as far as gender is concerned.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grzegorz Romańczyk
- Laboratory of Analytical and Environmental Radiochemistry, Department of Environmental Chemistry and Radiochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, 80-308, Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 63, Poland
| | - Alicja Boryło
- Laboratory of Analytical and Environmental Radiochemistry, Department of Environmental Chemistry and Radiochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, 80-308, Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 63, Poland.
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21
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Galhardi JA, García-Tenorio R, Díaz Francés I, Bonotto DM, Marcelli MP. Natural radionuclides in lichens, mosses and ferns in a thermal power plant and in an adjacent coal mine area in southern Brazil. J Environ Radioact 2017; 167:43-53. [PMID: 27876159 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [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: 05/11/2016] [Revised: 11/08/2016] [Accepted: 11/09/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The radio-elements 234U, 235U, 238U, 230Th, 232Th and 210Po were characterized in lichens, mosses and ferns species sampled in an adjacent coal mine area at Figueira City, Paraná State, Brazil, due to their importance for the assessment of human exposure related to the natural radioactivity. The coal is geologically associated with a uranium deposit and has been used as a fossil fuel in a thermal power plant in the city. Samples were initially prepared at LABIDRO (Isotopes and Hydrochemistry Laboratory), UNESP, Rio Claro (SP), Brazil. Then, alpha-spectrometry after several radiochemical steps was used at the Applied Nuclear Physics Laboratories, University of Seville, Seville, Spain, for measuring the activity concentration of the radionuclides. It was 210Po the radionuclide that most bio-accumulates in the organisms, reaching the highest levels in mosses. The ferns species were less sensitive as bio-monitor than the mosses and lichens, considering polonium in relation to other radionuclides. Fruticose lichens exhibited lower polonium content than the foliose lichens sampled in the same site. Besides biological features, environmental characteristics also modify the radio-elements absorption by lichens and mosses like the type of vegetation covering these organisms, their substrate, the prevailing wind direction, elevation and climatic conditions. Only 210Po and 238U correlated in ferns and in soil and rock materials, being particulate emissions from the coal-fired power plant the most probable U-source in the region. Thus, the biomonitors used were able to detect atmospheric contamination by the radionuclides monitored.
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Abstract
In the study the activities of polonium 210Po and uranium 234U, 238U radionuclides in moss and lichen samples were determined using the alpha spectrometry. Different lichens and mosses were collected around the Sobieszewo Island (northern Poland) and investigated for potential use as biomonitors for 210Po and 238U deposition. Mosses and lichens have a high efficiency in capturing 210Po and 238U from atmospheric fallout. The obtained results showed that 210Po, 238U concentrations are changing in analyzed thallophytes samples depending on the type of thallus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicja Boryło
- Department of Analytical and Environment Radiochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Romańczyk
- Department of Analytical and Environment Radiochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Bogdan Skwarzec
- Department of Analytical and Environment Radiochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
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23
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Tiwari M, Sahu SK, Bhangare RC, Pandit GG. Polonium in size fractionated mainstream cigarette smoke, predicted deposition and associated internal radiation dose. J Environ Radioact 2016; 162-163:251-257. [PMID: 27294663 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.06.005] [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: 04/15/2016] [Accepted: 06/05/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
In this study, size fractionated mass and 210Po activity concentrations in mainstream cigarette smoke (MCS) were monitored for three popular cigarette brands. Size segregated collection of MCS was carried out using a cascade type impactor, while mass and 210Po activity concentration were analyzed gravimetrically and alpha spectrometry (following the radiochemical separation) respectively. Multiple-Path Particle Dosimetry (MPPD V2.11) model is used for prediction of deposition fraction calculations for the MCS deposition in different compartment of human respiratory tract. The activity concentration of 210Po is founds 10.56 ± 2.46 mBq per cigarette for the tested cigarette brands. 210Po size distribution indicates most of this associates with fine fraction (Dp < 2.23 μm) of cigarette smoke. The committed annual effective dose to smokers (smoking on an average 20 cigarette a day), considering the 210Po and 210Pb concentrations (assuming it is in secular equilibrium with 210Po) in MCS, was estimated between 0.22 and 0.40 mSv, with mean value of 0.30 mSv for tested cigarette brands. Considering the risk factor of fatal cancer due to radiation exposure of lung (exposure time of 30 years); the average collective estimated fatal cancer risk is estimated as 1.5 × 10-4 due to 210Po and 210Pb exposure to smokers.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Tiwari
- Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Section, Health Safety and Environment Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, 400085, India
| | - S K Sahu
- Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Section, Health Safety and Environment Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, 400085, India
| | - R C Bhangare
- Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Section, Health Safety and Environment Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, 400085, India
| | - G G Pandit
- Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Section, Health Safety and Environment Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, 400085, India.
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24
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Blasco M, Gázquez MJ, Pérez-Moreno SM, Grande JA, Valente T, Santisteban M, de la Torre ML, Bolívar JP. Polonium behaviour in reservoirs potentially affected by acid mine drainage (AMD) in the Iberian Pyrite Belt (SW of Spain). J Environ Radioact 2016; 152:60-69. [PMID: 26650826 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 06/25/2015] [Revised: 10/29/2015] [Accepted: 11/13/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The province of Huelva is one of the areas most affected by acid mine drainage (AMD) in the world, which can produce big enhancements and fractionations in the waters affected by AMD. There are very few studies on this issue, and none on polonium-210. Twenty-two water reservoirs were sampled, and the (210)Po was measured in both dissolution and particulate phases. The (210)Po concentrations in the waters were in the same order of magnitude to those ones for unperturbed systems, although the data published to particulate matter are very scarce. A mean value and standard uncertainty for (210)Po of 0.25 ± 0.03 mBq L(-1) in the dissolved matter, and 62 ± 9 mBq g(-1) in the particulate matter can be established as base line for the reservoirs of the Huelva area. The distribution coefficients (kd) range from 10(4) to 10(6) L kg(-1), in agreement to the found ones by other authors for the case of neutral waters, but being the lowest values for the more acidic reservoirs. It has been also found that (210)Po has a high tendency to be associated to the particulate matter for neutral-alkaline waters, however, under extreme acid conditions (pH < 3), increases the Po tendency to be associated to the dissolved phase. Therefore, the main conclusion obtained in this work is that AMD has no a significant influence on the total activity concentration of (210)Po in the waters of reservoirs, but the acidity has a clear influence on its distribution between both dissolved and the particulate phases.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Blasco
- Departamento de Física Aplicada, Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEIMAR), Universidad de Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain
| | - M J Gázquez
- Departamento de Física Aplicada, Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEIMAR), Universidad de Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain
| | - S M Pérez-Moreno
- Departamento de Física Aplicada, Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEIMAR), Universidad de Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain
| | - J A Grande
- Centro de Investigación para la Ingeniería en Minería Sostenible, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería, Universidad de Huelva, Palos de la Frontera, 21071 Huelva, Spain
| | - T Valente
- Departamento de Física Aplicada, Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEIMAR), Universidad de Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain; Instituto de Ciências da Terra - Polo de Braga, Departamento de Ciências da Terra, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
| | - M Santisteban
- Departamento de Física Aplicada, Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEIMAR), Universidad de Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain; Centro de Investigación para la Ingeniería en Minería Sostenible, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería, Universidad de Huelva, Palos de la Frontera, 21071 Huelva, Spain
| | - M L de la Torre
- Centro de Investigación para la Ingeniería en Minería Sostenible, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería, Universidad de Huelva, Palos de la Frontera, 21071 Huelva, Spain
| | - J P Bolívar
- Centro de Investigación para la Ingeniería en Minería Sostenible, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería, Universidad de Huelva, Palos de la Frontera, 21071 Huelva, Spain.
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25
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Olszewski G, Boryło A, Skwarzec B. The radiological impact of phosphogypsum stockpile in Wiślinka (northern Poland) on the Martwa Wisła river water. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2016; 307:653-660. [PMID: 26792954 PMCID: PMC4705118 DOI: 10.1007/s10967-015-4191-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this work was to determine the concentrations of uranium (234U, 235U, 238U), polonium (210Po) and lead (210Pb) radioisotopes in water samples and to explore the impact of the phosphogypsum stack on the Martwa Wisła waters. The 238U, 210Po and 210Pb concentrations in analyzed water samples reached maximum values of 11.7 ± 0.3, 2.0 ± 0.1 and 3.2 ± 0.1 mBq L-1 and activity ratios were maximally 1.18 ± 0.01 for 234U/238U, 0.041 ± 0.018 for 235U/238U and 0.69 ± 0.10 for 210Po/210Pb. The obtained results suggest that this impact is rather insignificant and does not affect significantly the Martwa Wisła river.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grzegorz Olszewski
- Laboratory of Analytical and Environmental Radiochemistry, Department of Environmental Chemistry and Radiochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Alicja Boryło
- Laboratory of Analytical and Environmental Radiochemistry, Department of Environmental Chemistry and Radiochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Bogdan Skwarzec
- Laboratory of Analytical and Environmental Radiochemistry, Department of Environmental Chemistry and Radiochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
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26
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Pearson AJ, Gaw S, Hermanspahn N, Glover CN. Natural and anthropogenic radionuclide activity concentrations in the New Zealand diet. J Environ Radioact 2016; 151 Pt 3:601-8. [PMID: 26094571 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [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: 02/10/2015] [Revised: 05/15/2015] [Accepted: 05/25/2015] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
To support New Zealand's food safety monitoring regime, a survey was undertaken to establish radionuclide activity concentrations across the New Zealand diet. This survey was undertaken to better understand the radioactivity content of the modern diet and also to assess the suitability of the current use of milk as a sentinel for dietary radionuclide trends. Thirteen radionuclides were analysed in 40 common food commodities, including animal products, fruits, vegetables, cereal grains and seafood. Activity was detected for (137)Caesium, (90)Strontium and (131)Iodine. No other anthropogenic radionuclides were detected. Activity concentrations of the three natural radionuclides of Uranium and the daughter radionuclide (210)Polonium were detected in the majority of food sampled, with a large variation in magnitude. The maximum activity concentrations were detected in shellfish for all these radionuclides. Based on the established activity concentrations and ranges, the New Zealand diet contains activity concentrations of anthropogenic radionuclides far below the Codex Alimentarius guideline levels. Activity concentrations obtained for milk support its continued use as a sentinel for monitoring fallout radionuclides in terrestrial agriculture. The significant levels of natural and anthropogenic radionuclide activity concentrations detected in finfish and molluscs support undertaking further research to identify a suitable sentinel for New Zealand seafood monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Pearson
- Ministry for Primary Industries, PO Box 2526, Wellington, 6140, New Zealand; University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, 8140, New Zealand.
| | - Sally Gaw
- University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, 8140, New Zealand.
| | - Nikolaus Hermanspahn
- Institute of Environmental Science & Research Ltd, PO Box 29-181, Christchurch, 8540, New Zealand.
| | - Chris N Glover
- University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, 8140, New Zealand.
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27
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Pearson AJ, Gaw S, Hermanspahn N, Glover CN. Activity concentrations of (137)Caesium and (210) Polonium in seafood from fishing regions of New Zealand and the dose assessment for seafood consumers. J Environ Radioact 2016; 151 Pt 3:542-550. [PMID: 26272653 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.07.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 02/10/2015] [Revised: 06/26/2015] [Accepted: 07/05/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
A study was undertaken to determine activity concentrations for (134)Caesium, (137)Caesium and (210)Polonium in New Zealand seafood, and establish if activity concentrations varied with respect to species/ecological niche and coastal region. Thirty seafood samples were obtained from six fishing regions of New Zealand along with a further six samples of two commercially important species (hoki and arrow squid) with well-defined fisheries. (134)Caesium was not detected in any sample. (137)Caesium was detected in 47% of samples, predominantly in pelagic fish species, with most activities at a trace level. Detections of (137)Caesium were evenly distributed across all regions. Activity concentrations were consistent with those expected from the oceanic inventory representing residual fallout from global nuclear testing. (210)Polonium was detected above the minimum detectable concentration in 33 (92%) of the analysed samples. Molluscs displayed significantly elevated activity concentrations relative to all other species groups. No significant regional variation in activity concentrations were determined. Two dose assessment models for high seafood consumers were undertaken. Dose contribution from (137)Caesium was minimal and far below the dose exemption limit of 1 mSv/year. Exposure to (210)Polonium was significant in high seafood consumers at 0.44-0.77 mSv/year (5th-95th percentile). (137)Caesium is concluded to be a valuable sentinel radionuclide for monitoring anthropogenic releases, such as global fallout and reactor releases, in the marine environment. (210)Polonium is of importance as a natural radionuclide sentinel due to its high contribution to dietary committed dose in seafood consumers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Pearson
- Ministry for Primary Industries, PO Box 2526, Wellington 6140, New Zealand; University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.
| | - Sally Gaw
- University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.
| | - Nikolaus Hermanspahn
- Institute of Environmental Science & Research Ltd, PO Box 29-181, Christchurch 8540, New Zealand.
| | - Chris N Glover
- University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.
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28
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Abstract
Pommé et al. published a paper claiming that the 209Po half-life is 20 % higher than the erroneous value of 102 (5) a used for 50 years. Collé and Collé published a critique saying that 'this claim cannot withstand critical scrutiny'. In this work, counterarguments are presented to the critique. The experiment has been continued and a new intermediate half-life value of 122.7 (27) a was obtained. A brief review is made of the 209Po half-life value by Collé et al. and a recommended value of 122.9 (23) a is derived from both experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefaan Pommé
- />European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements, Retieseweg 111, 2440 Geel, Belgium
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29
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Uddin S, Aba A, Bebhehani M. Baseline concentration of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb in Sargassum from the northern Gulf. Mar Pollut Bull 2015; 90:330-3. [PMID: 25440188 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.09.029] [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] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2013] [Revised: 09/15/2014] [Accepted: 09/17/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
This baseline study highlights the (210)Po and (210)Pb concentration in two species of the benthic macroalgae Sargassum from northern Gulf, also known as the ROPME Sea Area (RSA). Within the marine environment, (210)Po is initially absorbed from water and concentrated by phytoplankton and macroalgae, and this concentrated (210)Po can then readily be passed along to the higher trophic level of the marine food web. The (210)Po concentration measured in Sargassum boveanum (22.5-25.6 Bq kg(-1)) was higher than that in Sargassum oligocystum (20.2-22.5 Bq kg(-1)), but is not statistically significant (p>0.064), where as the difference between (210)Pb concentrations in Sargassum boveanum (15.3-16.8 Bq kg(-1)) and Sargassum oligocystum (18.4-22.0 Bq kg(-1)) was statistically significant (p>0.019). The measured concentration factor for (210)Po in Sargassum in the northern Gulf varied between 0.55 and 1.2×10(4), values higher to the IAEA recommended value of 1×10(3). The (210)Po enrichment is observed in both the species of Sargassum,(210)Po/(210)Pb ratio was >1 at all the stations for all the samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Uddin
- Environment and Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box. 24885, Safat 13109, Kuwait.
| | - A Aba
- Energy and Building Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box. 24885, Safat 13109, Kuwait
| | - M Bebhehani
- Environment and Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box. 24885, Safat 13109, Kuwait
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30
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Dewar A, Camplin W, Barry J, Kennedy P. A statistical approach to investigating enhancement of polonium-210 in the Eastern Irish Sea arising from discharges from a former phosphate processing plant. J Environ Radioact 2014; 138:289-301. [PMID: 25310834 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2014.08.016] [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: 04/03/2014] [Revised: 08/21/2014] [Accepted: 08/22/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Since the cessation of phosphoric acid production (in 1992) and subsequent closure and decommissioning (2004) of the Rhodia Consumer Specialties Limited plant in Whitehaven, the concentration levels of polonium-210 ((210)Po) in local marine materials have declined towards a level more typical of natural background. However, enhanced concentrations of (210)Po and lead-210 ((210)Pb), due to this historic industrial activity (plant discharges and ingrowth of (210)Po from (210)Pb), have been observed in fish and shellfish samples collected from this area over the last 20 years. The results of this monitoring, and assessments of the dose from these radionuclides, to high-rate aquatic food consumers are published annually in the Radioactivity in Food and the Environment (RIFE) report series. The RIFE assessment uses a simple approach to determine whether and by how much activity is enhanced above the normal background. As a potential tool to improve the assessment of enhanced concentrations of (210)Po in routine dose assessments, a formal statistical test, where the null hypothesis is that the Whitehaven area is contaminated with (210)Po, was applied to sample data. This statistical, modified "green", test has been used in assessments of chemicals by the OSPAR commission. It involves comparison of the reported environmental concentrations of (210)Po in a given aquatic species against its corresponding Background Assessment Concentration (BAC), which is based upon environmental samples collected from regions assumed to be not enhanced by industrial sources of (210)Po, over the period for which regular monitoring data are available (1990-2010). Unlike RIFE, these BAC values take account of the variability of the natural background level. As an example, for 2010 data, crab, lobster, mussels and winkles passed the modified "green" test (i.e. the null hypothesis is rejected) and as such are deemed not to be enhanced. Since the cessation of phosphoric acid production in 1992, the modified "green" test pass rate for crustaceans is ∼53% and ∼64% for molluscs. Results of dose calculations are made (i) using the RIFE approach and (ii) with the application of the modified "green" test, where samples passing the modified "green" test are assumed to have background levels and hence zero enhancement of (210)Po. Applying the modified "green" test reduces the dose on average by 44% over the period of this study (1990-2010).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alastair Dewar
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft NR33 0HT, United Kingdom.
| | - William Camplin
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft NR33 0HT, United Kingdom
| | - Jon Barry
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft NR33 0HT, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Kennedy
- Food Standards Agency, London WC2B 6NH, United Kingdom
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31
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Choi HY, Stewart GM, Lomas MW, Kelly RP, Moran SB. Linking the distribution of (210)Po and (210)Pb with plankton community along Line P, Northeast Subarctic Pacific. J Environ Radioact 2014; 138:390-401. [PMID: 24629375 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2014.02.009] [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] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2013] [Revised: 02/17/2014] [Accepted: 02/17/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Depth profiles of (210)Po and (210)Pb activity and phytoplankton and zooplankton abundance were collected during two cruises along the Canadian time-series Line P in the Northeast Subarctic Pacific (ranging from 48o39 N to 50o00 N and 126o40 W to 145o00 W) in August 2010 and February 2011 to evaluate connections between the planktonic community and distributions of these radionuclides in the upper 500 m of the water column. Statistical analysis indicates that (210)Po is more effectively removed from the surface ocean when large (>0.1 mg ind(-1) dry wt) zooplankton dominate, and is less effectively scavenged when the picoplankton Synechococcus is present at high concentrations (>1 × 10(5) cells ml(-1)). While the zooplankton field data are consistent with previous lab studies and field observations, the phytoplankton results seem to conflict with recent evidence that small cells may contribute significantly to export in other oligotrophic regions. Differences in ecosystem mechanisms between the Subarctic Pacific and other oligotrophic systems that limit the contribution of small cells to sinking flux remain to be identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiu Yan Choi
- Queens College and Graduate Center, City University of New York, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, NY 11367, USA
| | - Gillian M Stewart
- Queens College and Graduate Center, City University of New York, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, NY 11367, USA.
| | - Michael W Lomas
- Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, 17 Biological Station, Ferry Reach, St George's GE 01, Bermuda
| | - Roger P Kelly
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI 02882, USA
| | - S Bradley Moran
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI 02882, USA
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Uddin S, Bebhehani M. Bioaccumulation of 210Po in common gastropod and bivalve species from the northern Gulf. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2014; 104:132-135. [PMID: 24675441 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2014.02.023] [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: 12/28/2013] [Revised: 02/24/2014] [Accepted: 02/26/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
This study sets the baseline for the concentration of the natural-series radionuclide polonium-210 in two species of gastropods and four species of bivalves that are common to the Northern Arabian/Persian Gulf. (210)Po is primarily absorbed from water and via ingestion of detrital material by gastropoda and bivalves. This concentrated (210)Po can then be passed along to the next trophic level of the marine food web. The lowest (210)Po concentration was measured in the gastropod Stomatella auricular (10.36-12.39Bq kg(-1)dry) and the highest in the bivalve Marica marmorata (193.51-215.60Bq kg(-1)dry). The measured concentration factor for these molluscs in the northern Gulf varied between 4.8 and 115×10(3), values very similar to the IAEA recommended value for bivalves and gastropods of 2×10(4).
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Affiliation(s)
- S Uddin
- Environmental Sciences Department, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait.
| | - M Bebhehani
- Environmental Sciences Department, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait
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33
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Landstetter C, Hiegesberger B, Sinojmeri M, Katzlberger C. Determination of (210)Pb and (210)Po in water using the extractive scintillation cocktail Polex™. Appl Radiat Isot 2014; 93:76-81. [PMID: 24816175 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2014.04.014] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2013] [Revised: 04/04/2014] [Accepted: 04/11/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Method validation was performed to achieve the accreditation for our determination method of (210)Pb and (210)Po in water. A Pb(NO3)2 carrier is added to the sample and lead is precipitated with Na2SxH2O. (210)Po is co-precipitated and the extractive scintillation cocktail Polex(™) is used to determine (210)Po and (210)Pb. Uranium is also extracted by Polex(™). It can be removed by washing the precipitate with 1% HNO3. The ingrowth of (210)Pb from (222)Rn during transportation time must be calculated. It has to be subtracted from the original (210)Pb in the sample and taken into account for the calculation of the lower limit of detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Landstetter
- Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Department of Radiation Protection and Radiochemistry, Spargelfeldstrasse 191, 1220 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Bernd Hiegesberger
- Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Department of Radiation Protection and Radiochemistry, Spargelfeldstrasse 191, 1220 Vienna, Austria
| | - Merita Sinojmeri
- Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Department of Radiation Protection and Radiochemistry, Spargelfeldstrasse 191, 1220 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Katzlberger
- Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Department of Radiation Protection and Radiochemistry, Spargelfeldstrasse 191, 1220 Vienna, Austria
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34
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Carvalho FP, Oliveira JM, Malta M. Exposure to radionuclides in smoke from vegetation fires. Sci Total Environ 2014; 472:421-424. [PMID: 24295758 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.11.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [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: 07/30/2013] [Revised: 11/04/2013] [Accepted: 11/13/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Naturally occurring radionuclides of uranium, thorium, radium, lead and polonium were determined in bushes and trees and in the smoke from summer forest fires. Activity concentrations of radionuclides in smoke particles were much enriched when compared to original vegetation. Polonium-210 ((210)Po) in smoke was measured in concentrations much higher than all other radionuclides, reaching 7,255 ± 285 Bq kg(-1), mostly associated with the smaller size smoke particles (<1.0 μm). Depending on smoke particle concentration, (210)Po in surface air near forest fires displayed volume concentrations up to 70 m Bq m(-3), while in smoke-free air (210)Po concentration was about 30 μ Bq m(-3). The estimated absorbed radiation dose to an adult member of the public or a firefighter exposed for 24h to inhalation of smoke near forest fires could exceed 5 μSv per day, i.e, more than 2000 times above the radiation dose from background radioactivity in surface air, and also higher than the radiation dose from (210)Po inhalation in a chronic cigarette smoker. It is concluded that prolonged exposure to smoke allows for enhanced inhalation of radionuclides associated with smoke particles. Due to high radiotoxicity of alpha emitting radionuclides, and in particular of (210)Po, the protection of respiratory tract of fire fighters is strongly recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando P Carvalho
- Instituto Superior Técnico/Instituto Tecnológico e Nuclear, Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada Nacional 10, km 139,7, 2695-066 Bobadela, LRS, Portugal.
| | - João M Oliveira
- Instituto Superior Técnico/Instituto Tecnológico e Nuclear, Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada Nacional 10, km 139,7, 2695-066 Bobadela, LRS, Portugal
| | - Margarida Malta
- Instituto Superior Técnico/Instituto Tecnológico e Nuclear, Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada Nacional 10, km 139,7, 2695-066 Bobadela, LRS, Portugal
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35
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Planinšek P, Benedik L, Smodiš B. Comparison of various dissolution techniques for determination of Po-210 in biological samples. Appl Radiat Isot 2013; 81:53-6. [PMID: 23562435 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2013.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2012] [Accepted: 03/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to compare three wet digestion procedures for dissolution of biological samples in the determination of Po-210. Classical wet ashing over a gas flame with acids in a long-necked Kjeldahl flask, digestion with acids in an Erlenmeyer flask and microwave digestion in a Teflon vessel at temperatures at up to 200°C were investigated. The results obtained showed that the activity concentrations of Po-210 found in the samples analysed were comparable for all the procedures used.
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36
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Boryło A, Skwarzec B, Romańczyk G, Siebert J. Polonium 210Po activities in human blood of patients with ischaemic heart disease from Gdańsk in Poland. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2013; 298:1685-1691. [PMID: 26229215 PMCID: PMC4515782 DOI: 10.1007/s10967-013-2670-0] [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] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2013] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The determination of polonium 210Po in human blood
samples is presented and discussed in this paper. The human blood samples were
collected from patients of Medical University of Gdańsk with ischaemic heart disease
(morbus ischaemicus cordis, MIC). The polonium concentrations in analyzed human blood
samples are very differentiated. 210Po is of particular
interest in public health and although is present in the environment in extremely
low amounts, it is easily bioaccumulated to the human body. The study shows that the
amount of 210Po that is incorporated into the human body
depends on the food habits and some difference in its levels could be observed
between smokers and non-smokers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicja Boryło
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Sobieskiego 18/19, 80-952 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Bogdan Skwarzec
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Sobieskiego 18/19, 80-952 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Romańczyk
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Sobieskiego 18/19, 80-952 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Janusz Siebert
- Department of Family Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Skłodowskiej-Curie 3a, 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland
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