Radioecology Behaviour of radionuclides in the aquatic environment

This project compared the influence of source-term and ecosystem characterisation on the mobility and biovailability of actinides in terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems. The studies provided information on the mechanisms and key processes influencing actinide transfer and the subsequent implications for dose and impact assessment.

Case study sites were located in Palomares, Mayak, Irish Sea, Semipalatinsk and Chernobyl, sites which represented different source-terms and ecosystem characteristics. State-of-the-art speciation methods and ultra low-level techniques were used to determine source-term characteristics, actinide transfer and bioavailability at each of the sites.

Publications

• Final report.pdf
• Børretzen P. et al. (2005) Pu and U atom ratios and concentration factors in Reservoir 11 and Asanov Swamp, Mayak PA: An application of accelerator mass spectrometry. Environ. Sci. Technol., 39, 92-97.
• Jiménez-Ramos M.C. et al. (2007) On the presence of enriched amounts of 235U in hot particles from the terrestrial area affected by the Palomares accident (Spain). Environ. Poll., 145, 2.
• Lind O.C. et al. (2007) Characterization of U/Pu particles originating from the nuclear weapon accidents at Palomares, Spain, 1966 and Thule, Greenland, 1968. Sci. Tot. Environ., 376, 294-305.
• Mitchell P.I. et al. (2005) Tritium in well waters, streams and atomic lakes in the East Kazakhstan oblast of the semipalatinsk nuclear test site. J. Radiolog. Protect., 25, 141-148.
• Napoles H.J. et al. (2004) Source-term characterisation and solid speciation of plutonium at the Semipalatinsk NTS, Kazakhstan. Appl. Radiat. Isot., 61, 325-331.
• Salbu B. et al. (2003) Oxidation states of uranium in DU particles from Kosovo. J. Environ. Radioact., 64, 167-173.
• Salbu B. et al. (2005) Oxidation states of uranium in depleted uranium particles from Kuwait. J. Environ. Radioact., 78, 125-135.
• Salbu B. et al. (2004) Radionuclide speciation and its relevance in environmental impact assessments. J. Environ. Radioact., 74, 233-242.
• Vintro L.L. et al. (2009) Americium, plutonium and uranium contamination and speciation in well waters, streams and atomic lakes in the Sarzhal region of the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site, Kazakhstan. J. Environ. Radioact., 100, 308-314.

The objectives of this project were to measure gamma and plutonium isotope activity concentrations in biota samples collected from Russian Arctic seas; compare the activity concentrations measured in two salmon populations migrating in the Arctic and Baltic Seas and to calculate the bio-concentration factors for ¹³⁷Cs and ^239,240Pu in benthic organisms, fish, seabirds and seals in Arctic seas. The study also determined the distribution of  Cs and Pu radioisotopes in the organs of seals and obtained information on the consumption of marine products by the local population.

Publications

• Final report.pdf
• Boust D. et al. (1996) A comparative study of the speciation and behaviour of plutonium in the marine environment of two reprocessing plants. Radiochim. Acta, 74, 203-210.
• Dahlgaard H. et al (1997) Technetium-99 and caesium-137 time series at the Norwegian coast monitored by the brown alga Fucus Vesiculosus, in: P Germain, J Guary, P Guéguéniat & H Métivier (eds), Radionuclides in the oceans. RADOC 96-97. Proceedings. Part 1: Inventories, behaviour and processes Radioprotection - Colloques, 32, C2, Les Editions de Physique, Les Ulis Cedex, 353-358.
• Fisher N. et al. (1999) Radionuclide bioconcentration factors and sediment partition coefficients in Arctic seas subject to contamination from dumped nuclear wastes. Environ. Sci. Technol., 33, 1979-1982.
• McMahon C. et al. (2000) Oxidation-state distribution of plutonium in surface and subsurface waters at Thule, northwest Greenland. Appl. Radiat. Isot., 52, 697-703.
• Mitchell P.I. et al. (1995) Recent observations on the physico-chemical speciation of plutonium in the Irish Sea and the western Mediterranean. Appl. Radiat. Isot., 46, 1175-1190.
• Mitchell P.I. et al. (1997) Perturbation in the ^240Pu/239Pu global fallout ratio in local sediments following the nuclear accidents at Thule (Greenland) and Palomares (Spain). Sci. Tot. Environ., 202, 147-153.
• Mitchell P.I. et al. (1998) Determination of the ²⁴³Cm/²⁴⁴Cm ratio alpha spectrometry and spectral deconvolution in environmental samples exposed to discharges from the nuclear fuel cycle. Appl. Radiat. Isot., 49, 1283-1288.
• Nielsen S.P. et al. (1997) Collective doses to man from dumping of radioactive waste in the Arctic Seas. Sci. Tot. Environ., 202, 135-146.
• Salbu B. et al. (1993) Size distribution of radionuclides in nuclear fuel reprocessing liquids after mixing with seawater. Sci. Tot. Environ., 130-131, 61-63.

The aim of this project was to examine the overall impact on the population of EC Member States from natural and man-made radionuclides in the Baltic Sea. The study collected information on the disposal of wastes into the Baltic Sea and activity concentrations measured in marine waters and biota. Data was also collected on the quantities, distribution and utilisation of marine products. This information was then used to calculate the dose to man.

Publications

• Nielsen S.P. (ed.) (2000) The radiological exposure of the population of the European Community to radioactivity in the Baltic Sea. Marina-Balt project. Proceedings of a seminar held at Hasseludden Conference Centre, Stockholm, 9 to 11 June 1998. Radiation Protection 110. EUR 19200. Office for official publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg, 333-347.

The aim of this project was to study remobilisation of radiologically important radionuclides from sediments with different characteristics from European environments. This was necessary as transboundary exposure has to be taken into account in modelling and assessment of committed doses. The study evaluated the long-range transport of radionuclides, their speciation and their uptake by biota. The results provided more precise knowledge of long-term consequences from present and past sources and a more informed debate on waste management  in the marine environment.

Publications

• Final report.pdf
• Brown J.E. et al. (2002) Temporal trends for ⁹⁹Tc in Norwegian Coastal environments and validation of a marine box model. J. Environ. Radioact., 60, 49-60.
• Skipperud L et al. (2004) Plutonium isotope ratios in the Yenisey and Ob estuaries. Appl. Radiat. Isot., 60, 589-593.
• Standring W.J.F. et al. (2002) Potential remobilization of ¹³⁷Cs, ⁶⁰Co, ⁹⁹Tc and ⁹⁰Sr from contaminated Mayak sediments in river and estuary environments. Environ. Sci. Technol., 36, 2330-2337.
• Lindahl P. et al. (2003) Long term study of ⁹⁹Tc in the marine environment at the Swedish west coast. J. Environ. Radioact., 67, 145-156.
• Iosjpe M. et al. (2002) Modified approach for box modelling of radiological consequences from releases into marine environment. J. Environ. Radioact. 60, 91-103.
• Periáñez R. & Elliott A.J. (2002) A particle tracking method for simulating the dispersion of non conservative radionuclides in coastal waters. J. Environ. Radioact., 58, 13-33.
• Børretzen P. & Salbu B. (2002) Fixation of Cs to marine sediments estimated by a stochastic modelling approach. J. Environ. Radioact., 61, 1-20.