Contamination caused by radium discharged with mine effluents into inland waters

Michalik, B.; Wysocka, M.; Chałupnik, Stanisław; Skubacz, Krystian; Mielnikow, A.; Trząski, Leszek

doi:10.1051/radiopro:2005s1-074

Cited by 11 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 4 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Radium-bearing waters are discharged to settling ponds. Later on, after the suspended matter settles, these are discharged to brooks and rivers [28]. Sometimes enhanced levels of radium concentration in river waters, bottom sediments and vegetation are observed.…”

Section: Presence Of Settling Ponds and Piles Of Wastes Contaminated mentioning

confidence: 99%

Radon problems in mining and post-mining areas in Upper Silesia region, Poland

Wysocka

2016

Nukleonika

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The new basic safety standards (BSS) Directive 2013/59/Euratom [1] puts EU member states under an obligation to establish, amongst others, national radon action plans. In order to address the issue of long-term risks from radon exposures, it is important to identify areas where elevated levels of radon can be expected. One of the types of areas affected by an increased migration of radon and by the penetration of radon into buildings are areas in which industrial activity, for example, the exploitation of mineral resources, causes changes in the geological environment. The Upper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB) in Poland is one of the examples. The results of studies conducted in the past have shown that the levels of indoor concentration of radon, to a large extent, depend on the geological structure of the subsurface layers. One of the main factors influencing the migratory abilities of radon are the mining-induced changes of a rock body. We estimate that in specific radon-prone zones, the levels of radon may exceed 300 Bq/m3 in approximately 2% of the dwellings. Another problem that may appear in post-mining areas is linked to the reclamation of radioactively contaminated areas. The complex geology of the strata in USCB, the mining activity that can be observed in the region and, additionally, the discharge of radium-bearing waters into the environment are the most significant factors affecting radon potential and hazard in dwellings in this region. In this paper, problems linked to the detection of radon in the mining area of USCB are presented.

show abstract

Section: Presence Of Settling Ponds and Piles Of Wastes Contaminated mentioning

confidence: 99%

Radon problems in mining and post-mining areas in Upper Silesia region, Poland

Wysocka

2016

Nukleonika

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…During three seasons of observation the overgrown area has visibly increased. The first observed plant species, occurring as an irregular clusters of vegetation were Atriplex hastatum, Puccinellia distans, Spergularia salina (three species typical for salinated soil), and Chenopodium glaucum and Polygonum aviculare [3]. In 2007 almost all surface of the former bottom of the pond was overgrown by plants.…”

Section: Site Of Investigationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phytotechnology – is there a possibility to use it for land reclamation of areas contaminated by Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials?

2009

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Presently, excavation and shipping to a distant waste disposal site is the most commonly used method for handling waste contaminated with radionuclides. Due to international recommendation waste containing enhanced concentration of natural radioactivity should be treated in the same way. In case of TENORMs, which usually occur in huge quantity, this method would be very expensive and can be disruptive to the environment in which the contamination was found as well as direct effects of this pollutant occurrence. Biological treatment methods, such as phytoextraction or at last phytostabilisation could provide an attractive alternative to the excavation of waste. It is entirely possible that methods successful for heavy metals may be successful for the radioactive elements. Seven-years observation of the a settling pond contaminated with radium isotopes showed that even natural plant transgression into contaminated area can be an effective tool to stabilize pollutants. On the other hand, the assessment of the effectiveness of phytoextraction based on natural plants gave not so promising results.

show abstract

“…In the coal mining industry, radium activity deposited in single tailing ponds may reach 300 GBq. 3 Probably, the biggest ''producer'' of waste with an enhanced concentration of natural radionuclides are phosphate processing plants where radionuclides remain associated to the phosphogypsum particles, being subsequently stored in disposal sites located in the vicinity of the factories at a rate reaching 350 MBq h À1 . 4 As a result of the direct contact with the environment, some transformation processes, such as mobilisation of radionuclide species from solid phases or interactions of mobile and reactive radionuclide species with components in soils and sediments, may be set in motion.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is it necessary to raise awareness about technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive materials?

Michalik

2009

J. Environ. Monit.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Since radiation risks are usually considered to be related to nuclear energy, the majority of research on radiation protection has focused on artificial radionuclides in radioactive wastes, spent nuclear fuel or global fallout caused by A-bomb tests and nuclear power plant failures. Far less attention has been paid to the radiation risk caused by exposure to ionizing radiation originating from natural radioactivity enhanced due to human activity, despite the fact that technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive materials are common in many branches of the non-nuclear industry. They differ significantly from "classical" nuclear materials and usually look like other industrial waste. The derived radiation risk is usually associated with risk caused by other pollutants and can not be controlled by applying rules designed for pure radioactive waste. Existing data have pointed out a strong need to take into account the non-nuclear industry where materials containing enhanced natural radioactivity occur as a special case of radiation risk and enclose them in the frame of the formal control. But up to now there are no reasonable and clear regulations in this matter. As a result, the non-nuclear industries of concern are not aware of problems connected with natural radioactivity or they would expect negative consequences in the case of implementing radiation protection measures. The modification of widely comprehended environmental legislation with requirements taken from radiation protection seems to be the first step to solve this problem and raise awareness about enhanced natural radioactivity for all stakeholders of concern.

show abstract

Contamination caused by radium discharged with mine effluents into inland waters

Cited by 11 publications

References 4 publications

Radon problems in mining and post-mining areas in Upper Silesia region, Poland

Radon problems in mining and post-mining areas in Upper Silesia region, Poland

Phytotechnology – is there a possibility to use it for land reclamation of areas contaminated by Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials?

Is it necessary to raise awareness about technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive materials?

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About