Plutonium, americium and radiocaesium in the marine environment close to the Vandellós I nuclear power plant before decommissioning

Sanchez-Cabeza, Joan-Albert; Molero, J.

doi:10.1016/s0265-931x(00)00018-7

Cited by 29 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…The concentrations of 238 U in bivalves from the Baltic Sea (average 0.69 Bq/kg, Skwarzec, 1997), were similar to those in bivalves from Amchitka. However, the concentrations of 238 U from the Mediterranean Sea (mean of 0.0002 Bq/kg, Sanchez-Cabeza & Molero, 2000), and Antarctic (mean of 0.001, Marzano et al, 2000), were well below those found at Amchitka. In sharp contrast, concentrations of 238 U from the eastern Black Sea averaged 35 Bq/kg, wet weight (Topcuoglu, Ergul, Baysal, Olmez, & Kut, 2003).…”

Section: Actinidesmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…Skwarzec (1997) also reported mean concentrations of 239,240 Pu from the Baltic Sea (0.022 ± 0.001) that were very similar to those from Amchitka. However, Shinohara (2004) reported mean 239,240 Pu concentrations for shellfish (0.0036, maximum of 0.008 Bq/kg), which were lower than Amchitka, but similar to concentrations from the Mediterranean (Sanchez-Cabeza & Molero, 2000). Both of the previous papers presented means without listing the species, the number of detects/non-detects, or the MDAs.…”

Section: Actinidesmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…Radionuclides enter the environment from natural geologic sources and from fallout from historic nuclear weapons testing (Aarkrog, 2003;Duran, Povinec, Fowler, Airey, & Hong, 2004), from nuclear facility and submarine accidents (Baeza et al, 1994;Cooper et al, 1998;Livingston & Povinec, 2000;UNSCEAR, 2000;Sanchez-Cabeza & Molero, 2000;Amundsen et al, 2002;Aumento, Donne & Eroe, 2005), and from discarded nuclear wastes (Fisher et al, 1999;IAEA, 1999). Over 500 atmospheric nuclear weapons tests were conducted from 1945-1980, primarily in the Northern Hemisphere (UNSCEAR, 2000.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Other biomonitoring programs have been established to evaluate possible exposure from nuclear facility operations (Poon & Au, 2002;Shinohara, 2004), as well as exposure due to dumping by the Former Soviet Union (Togawa et al, 1999;Yamada, Aono, & Hirano, 1999;Lystsov, Murzin, & Nezhdanov, 1999;Matishov, Matishov, Anisimova, Dzhenyuk, & Zuev, 2001). Some of this biomonitoring is ongoing near decommissioned nuclear power plants and reprocessing plants (e.g., Sellafield in the United Kingdom, Sanchez-Cabeza & Molero, 2000;in Taiwan, Hung, Huang, & Shao, 1998). There is also interest in assessing radionuclide concentrations in organisms near nuclear waste facilities, including nuclear testing sites.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Radionuclide Concentrations in Benthic Invertebrates from Amchitka and Kiska Islands in the Aleutian Chain, Alaska

Burger

Gochfeld

Jewett

2006

Environ Monit Assess

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Concentrations of 13 radionuclides (137Cs, 129I, 60Co, 152Eu, 90Sr, 99Tc, 241Am, 238Pu, 239,249Pu, 234U, 235U, 236U, 238U) were examined in seven species of invertebrates from Amchitka and Kiska Islands, in the Aleutian Chain of Alaska, using gamma spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy, and alpha spectroscopy. Amchitka Island was the site of three underground nuclear test (1965-1971), and we tested the null hypotheses that there were no differences in radionuclide concentrations between Amchitka and the reference site (Kiska) and there were no differences among species. The only radionuclides where composite samples were above the Minimum Detectable Activity (MDA) were 137Cs, 241Am, 239,249Pu, 234U, 235U, 236U, and 238U. Green sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus polyacanthus), giant chiton (Cryptochiton stelleri), plate limpets (Tectura scutum) and giant Pacific octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) were only tested for 137Cs; octopus was the only species with detectable levels of 137Cs (0.262 +/- 0.029 Bq/kg, wet weight). Only rock jingle (Pododesmus macroschisma), blue mussel (Mytilus trossulus) and horse mussel (Modiolus modiolus) were analyzed for the actinides. There were no interspecific differences in 241Am and 239,240Pu, and almost no samples above the MDA for 238Pu and 236U. Horse mussels had significantly higher concentrations of 234U (0.844 +/- 0.804 Bq/kg) and 238U (0.730 +/- 0.646) than the other species (both isotopes are naturally occurring). There were no differences in actinide concentrations between Amchitka and Kiska. In general, radionuclides in invertebrates from Amchitka were similar to those from uncontaminated sites in the Northern Hemisphere, and below those from the contaminated Irish Sea. There is a clear research need for authors to report the concentrations of radionuclides by species, rather than simply as 'shellfish', for comparative purposes in determining geographical patterns, understanding possible effects, and for estimating risk to humans from consuming different biota.

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Section: Actinidesmentioning

confidence: 87%

Section: Actinidesmentioning

confidence: 90%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Radionuclide Concentrations in Benthic Invertebrates from Amchitka and Kiska Islands in the Aleutian Chain, Alaska

Burger

Gochfeld

Jewett

2006

Environ Monit Assess

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“…In particular, in the lower section of the river there is a Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), which comprises two pressurised-water reactor (PWR) units. As a result of the normal operation of this plant, low-level liquid radioactive effluents are discharged, under authority control, into the Ebro River, and they can reach the Mediterranean Sea (Sánchez-Cabeza and Molero, 2000). Also, close to the NPP there is a dicalcium phosphate (DCP) production factory located in Flix (Tarragona).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of industries in the accumulation of radionuclides in the lower part of Ebro river (Catalonia, Spain)

et al. 2010

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Ebro River extends over almost 930 km and is the main Spanish river entering theMediterranean Sea. There are several industries located along this river course including a dicalcium phosphate factory (DCP) and two nuclear power reactors. These installations, together with other factors such as the geology, can contribute to the radiological content of the river. Therefore, this study was performed to determine some natural and also some anthropogenic radionuclide concentrations in the Ebro River ecosystem. We analysed water samples, solid samples (rice field sludge and surface marine sediment samples), and also biota samples (Cladophora glomerata and Cynodon dactylon). For water samples, gross alpha, gross beta, tritium, uranium, thorium and also a group of gamma-emitting isotopes' activities were determined. The main contribution to radioactivity for these samples was due to some isotopes from the uranium and thorium chain. For the solid samples, we quantified some natural and artificial gamma radioisotopes, which may be related to the geological and/or industrial activities located in this zone. In the case of biota, the results indicate that the presence of the DCP has a significant influence, since the highest activity was observed in the surroundings of this industry (

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Anthropogenic radionuclides in the water column and a sediment core from the Alboran Sea: application to radiometric dating and reconstruction of historical water column radionuclide concentrations

et al. 2008

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Global fallout is the main source of anthropogenic radionuclides in the Mediterranean Sea. This work presents 137 Cs, 239+240 Pu and 241 Am concentrations in the water column in the southwest Alboran Sea, which was sampled in December 1999. A sediment core was taken at 800 m depth in the area (35°47 0 N, 04°48 0 W). 210 Pb, 226 Ra, 137 Cs and 239+240 Pu specific activities were measured at multiple depths in the core for dating purposes. 137 Cs and 239+240 Pu profiles did not show defined peaks that could be used as time markers, and they extended up to depths for which the 210 Pbbased constant rate of supply (CRS) dating model provided inconsistent dates. These profiles can be useful to test dating models, understood as particular solutions of a general advection-diffusion problem, if the time series of radionuclide inputs into the sediment is provided. Thus, historical records of depth-averaged 137 Cs and 239+240 Pu concentrations in water, and their corresponding fluxes into the sediment, were reconstructed. A simple water-column model was used for this purpose, involving atmospheric fallout, measured distribution coefficient (k d ) values, and a firstestimate of sedimentation rates. A dating model of constant mixing with constant sedimentation rate was applied successfully to three independent records (unsupported 210 Pb, 137 Cs and 239+240 Pu), and provided the objective determination of mixing parameters and mass sedimentation rate. These results provide some insight into the fate of atmospheric inputs to this marine environment and, particularly, into the contribution from the Chernobyl accident.

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Plutonium, americium and radiocaesium in the marine environment close to the Vandellós I nuclear power plant before decommissioning

Cited by 29 publications

References 14 publications

Radionuclide Concentrations in Benthic Invertebrates from Amchitka and Kiska Islands in the Aleutian Chain, Alaska

Radionuclide Concentrations in Benthic Invertebrates from Amchitka and Kiska Islands in the Aleutian Chain, Alaska

Impact of industries in the accumulation of radionuclides in the lower part of Ebro river (Catalonia, Spain)

Anthropogenic radionuclides in the water column and a sediment core from the Alboran Sea: application to radiometric dating and reconstruction of historical water column radionuclide concentrations

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