Transport of the environmental radionuclides in an alpine watershed

Dominik, Janusz; Burrus, David L.; Vernet, Jean-Pierre

doi:10.1016/0012-821x(87)90083-5

Cited by 119 publications

(76 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…By extrapolation the same may be expected of iodine (41,42,4). To the extent that iodine remains particle-bound during long-term cycling in the soil system, its continued removal from a landscape will follow mechanisms and time scales of soil erosion previously described using 7 Be, 210 Pb, and 137 Cs radionuclide tracers (43,38,44). However, the active focusing of iodine to surface soils, likely mediated by microbial activity, may enhance the susceptibility of iodine to surficial transport relative to other tracers.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 77%

Surficial redistribution of fallout¹³¹iodine in a small temperate catchment

Landis

Hamm²,

Renshaw³

et al. 2012

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Isotopes of iodine play significant environmental roles, including a limiting micronutrient ( 127 I), an acute radiotoxin ( 131 I), and a geochemical tracer ( 129 I). But the cycling of iodine through terrestrial ecosystems is poorly understood, due to its complex environmental chemistry and low natural abundance. To better understand iodine transport and fate in a terrestrial ecosystem, we traced fallout 131 iodine throughout a small temperate catchment following contamination by the 11 March 2011 failure of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power facility. We find that radioiodine fallout is actively and efficiently scavenged by the soil system, where it is continuously focused to surface soils over a period of weeks following deposition. Mobilization of historic (pre-Fukushima) 137 cesium observed concurrently in these soils suggests that the focusing of iodine to surface soils may be biologically mediated. Atmospherically deposited iodine is subsequently redistributed from the soil system via fluvial processes in a manner analogous to that of the particle-reactive tracer 7 beryllium, a consequence of the radionuclides’ shared sorption affinity for fine, particulate organic matter. These processes of surficial redistribution create iodine hotspots in the terrestrial environment where fine, particulate organic matter accumulates, and in this manner regulate the delivery of iodine nutrients and toxins alike from small catchments to larger river systems, lakes and estuaries.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 77%

Surficial redistribution of fallout¹³¹iodine in a small temperate catchment

Landis

Hamm²,

Renshaw³

et al. 2012

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…7 Be and 137 Cs were directly measured on dried and pulverised sediment samples in a fixed-geometry vessel by gamma spectroscopy using a well detector (Dominik et al 1987). 7 Be is produced in the atmosphere and attaches rapidly to particulate material.…”

Section: Laboratory Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Historical record of mercury contamination in sediments from the Babeni Reservoir in the Olt River, Romania

Bravo

Loizeau

Ancey

et al. 2008

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Background, aim and scope Mercury (Hg) is a ubiquitous and hazardous contaminant in the aquatic environment showing a strong biomagnification effect along the food chain. The most common transfer path of Hg to humans is contaminated fish consumption. In severely exposed humans, Hg poisoning may lead to damage in the central nervous system. Thus, it is important to examine current and past contamination levels of Hg in aquatic milieu. The Olt River is the largest Romanian tributary of the Danube River. The use of Hg as an electrode in a chlor-alkali plant contributed to the contamination of the aquatic environment in the Rm Valcea region. The purpose of this study was to compare the current state of Hg contamination with the past contamination using a historical record obtained from a dated sediment core from one of the Olt River reservoirs (Babeni) located downstream from the chlor-alkali plant. To our knowledge, no published data on Hg contamination in this region are available. The Babeni Reservoir was selected for this study because it is situated downstream from the chlor-alkali plant, whilst the other reservoirs only retain the pollutants coming from the upstream part of the watershed. Preliminary analyses (unpublished) showed high Hg concentrations in the surface sediment of the Babeni Reservoir. One core was taken in the upstream Valcea Reservoir to provide a local background level of Hg concentrations in sediments. Results and discussion Sediment texture was uniform in the cores from both reservoirs. Laminated sediment structure, without any obvious discontinuities, was observed. Hg concentrations in the sediment core from the Valcea Reservoir were low and constant (0.01-0.08 mg/kg). In Babeni Reservoir sediments, Hg concentrations were very high in the deeper core section (up to 45 mg/kg in the longest core) and decreased to lower concentrations toward the top of the cores (1.3-2.4 mg/kg). This decrease probably reflects technological progress in control of emissions from the Hg-cell-based chlor-alkali industry. Two strong peaks could be distinguished in older sediments. The mean rate of sedimentation (5.9 cm/year) was calculated from the depth of the 137 Cs Chernobyl peak. This was in good agreement with the sedimentation rate estimated at this site from a bathymetric study. Assuming a constant sedimentation rate, the two Hg peaks would reflect two contamination events in 1987 and 1991, respectively. However, it is also possible that the two peaks belong to the same contamination event in 1987 but were separated by a sediment layer richer in sand and silt. This layer had a low Hg concentration, which can be interpreted as a mass deposition event related to a major flood bringing Hg-free sediments. Conclusions Whilst the chlor-alkali plant partly switched to a cleaner technology in 1999, no obvious decrease of Hg concentrations was observed in recent decade. Results from the sediment core reflected the historical trend of Hg release from the chlor-alkali plant, revealed important contamination e...

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“…The first occurrence in the environment resulted from fallout of atmospheric nuclear weapons tests in the early 1950s, with a maximum input in 1963. More recently, in northern Europe, the Chernobyl accident of 26 April 1986 introduced a new, patchy, 137 Cs input ( [9]; [10]). As a consequence of these distinct input events, it is possible to date a core when peaks in 137 Cs activity, recording the 1963 fallout maximum and/or the Chernobyl event, are found [11].…”

Section: Cs Test Of Sedimentation Ratesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dating of sediments in the Biscay bay: Implication for pollution chronology

et al. 2005

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Abstract. Important historical informations on the temporal changes of anthropogenic pollution in marine environment can be assessed using sediment analysis. Dating is a crucial prerequisite to reconstruct pollution events, to calculate fluxes, and thus to allow comparison between different sites. This work presents estimates of accumulation rates of sediments in the Bay of Biscay. Fives cores were collected during RIKEAU 2002 cruise on board o/v Thalia in order to study temporal changes in PAH and organohalogens compounds content of sediment. We compare chronostratigraphic estimates on cores derived from the natural radionuclide 210 Pb in excess with estimates from the known times of introduction of the artificial radionuclide 137 Cs to the environment. 210 Pb, 226 Ra and 137 Cs were measured directly by non-destructive gamma spectrometry using a well type γ-detector. Total 210 Pb and 226 Ra activities vary from 30 to 150 mBq g -1 , and 20 to 36 mBq g -1 respectively; 137 Cs presents lower levels (< 5 mBq g -1 ). Profiles of 210 Pb xs in three cores present a well mixed layer, from 2-3 to 10 cm, in the uppermost sediments, followed by an exponential decrease of activities, suitable for the determination of sedimentation rates. Under constant flux and sedimentation rate assumptions, vertical accretion rates derived from 210 Pb xs present a large range from nearly 0.1 cm yr -1 up to almost 0.3 cm yr -1 . Differences are mainly due to relative position of studied cores regarding the muddy patch. Although the moderate level of 137 Cs limits the accuracy of this dating method, profiles of 137 Cs with depth strengthen mean rates derived from 210 Pb xs data. The implication of this dating on pollutant inputs in sediments of the Bay of Biscay is briefly discussed.

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Transport of the environmental radionuclides in an alpine watershed

Cited by 119 publications

References 18 publications

Surficial redistribution of fallout¹³¹iodine in a small temperate catchment

Surficial redistribution of fallout¹³¹iodine in a small temperate catchment

Historical record of mercury contamination in sediments from the Babeni Reservoir in the Olt River, Romania

Dating of sediments in the Biscay bay: Implication for pollution chronology

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Transport of the environmental radionuclides in an alpine watershed

Cited by 119 publications

References 18 publications

Surficial redistribution of fallout131iodine in a small temperate catchment

Surficial redistribution of fallout131iodine in a small temperate catchment

Historical record of mercury contamination in sediments from the Babeni Reservoir in the Olt River, Romania

Dating of sediments in the Biscay bay: Implication for pollution chronology

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Surficial redistribution of fallout¹³¹iodine in a small temperate catchment

Surficial redistribution of fallout¹³¹iodine in a small temperate catchment