Measuring bismuth‐210, its parent, and daughter in aquatic systems

Abstract

210 Bi (t 1/2 : 5.01 d)-the daughter of 210 Pb and parent of 210 Po-has rarely been measured in aquatic systems, and its behavior in the water column is poorly understood. In this article, I present a method for quickly measuring 210 Pb, 210 Bi, and 210 Po in aquatic samples, where (1) 210 Bi and 210 Po are scavenged onto an anion solidphase extraction disk within 15 min of pretreating the sample; (2) beta decay of 210 Bi is counted on the disk immediately thereafter; (3) 210 Po is subsequently removed from the disk and redeposited on a copper plate for α-spectroscopy; and (4) 210 Pb is determined via the ingrowth of 210 Bi. I present decay-corrected calculations for total, dissolved, and particle-bound fractions of each nuclide and conclude with an analysis of 210 Pb, 210 Bi, and 210 Po activities in rain, dreissenid (quagga) mussels, and water samples from the Milwaukee Inner Harbor in Lake 157 WaplesMeasuring 210 Bi, 210 Pb, and 210 Po

Climate and vegetation and their impact on stable C and N isotope ratios in bat guano

“…Measurements of 210 Bi (n = 3) or 210 Po (n = 19) in secular equilibrium with 210 Pb were made following the methodology outlined in Waples (2020). Briefly, 207 Bi or 209 Po yield monitors (Eckert and Ziegler Isotope Products) were added to the weighed samples of bat guano before digestion in concentrated nitric acid.…”

“…The reported activities (±1 SD) include propagated uncertainties in the decay rate, detector efficiencies, and yield. The activity calculations and corrections are fully described by Waples (2020).…”

A New Radiotracer for Particulate Carbon Dynamics: Examination of 210Bi‐210Pb in Seawater

“…Owing to its short half‐life and low activity, 210 Bi has been rarely analyzed in aquatic environments. A few methods have been reported using different protocols and/or instruments (Waples, 2020; Zhong et al., 2020). Only a few seawater samples have been measured in 210 Bi determination research (Tian et al., 2022; Zhong et al., 2020).…”

“…Based on an examination of Bi in snow and ice cores, volcanic emissions are thought to be the main source of Bi in the atmosphere (Candelone et al, 1995), although anthropogenic emissions have been increasing in recent decades (Ferrari et al, 2000). These available studies presented valuable information on the source apportionment of stable Bi; however, very little is known about its actual behavior in aquatic environments (Knight & Turner, 2020;Waples, 2020Waples, , 2022.…”

“…Based on an examination of Bi in snow and ice cores, volcanic emissions are thought to be the main source of Bi in the atmosphere (Candelone et al, 1995), although anthropogenic emissions have been increasing in recent decades (Ferrari et al, 2000). These available studies presented valuable information on the source apportionment of stable Bi; however, very little is known about its actual behavior in aquatic environments (Knight & Turner, 2020;Waples, 2020Waples, , 2022.Radioactive 210 Bi, benefiting from its short half-life, has been utilized to constrain the residence time of aerosols since the 1960s/1970s (Fry & Menon, 1962;Poet et al, 1972) and has been proven to be better than longer half-life nuclides (e.g., 210 Po) (Lozano et al, 2011). In the ocean, it is still a challenge to study the particle dynamics occurring over a timescale of hours to days (Waples, 2022), for example, the typhoon-associated particle cycle and flood-induced material input in coastal seas; especially in shallow marine systems due to the lack of effective approaches.…”