Environmental Radioactivity

Natural and anthropogenic radionuclides in Norwegian farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) Publication date: September 2019 Source: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volumes 205–206 Author(s): Hilde Elise Heldal, Andrey Volynkin, Mari Komperød, Rita Hannisdal, Hilde Skjerdal, Anne Liv Rudjord Abstract Norway is one of the main producers of farmed fish and the world's second-largest exporter of seafood. Farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) represents the most exported species. This is the first comprehensive survey of anthropogenic (137Cs, 90Sr, 238Pu, 239,240Pu and 241Am) and natural (40K, 226Ra, 228Ra, 210Pb, 210Po) radionuclides in farmed salmon and manufactured fish feed from Norway. The only anthropogenic radionuclide detected in salmon and fish feed was 137Cs. The levels were low with arithmetic means in salmon and feed of 0.13 and 0.30 Bq/kg fresh weight (fw), respectively. The natural radionuclide 40K exhibited the highest levels with arithmetic means in salmon and feed of 115 and 239 Bq/kg fw, respectively. The arithmetic means of 210Po and 210Pb in salmon were 0.013 and 0.044 Bq/kg fw, respectively, with a mean 210Po:210Pb activity ratio of 0.32. For fish feed, the situation was reversed: the arithmetic means of 210Po and 210Pb were 3.8 and 0.67 Bq/kg fw, respectively, with a mean 210Po:210Pb activity ratio of 5.7. The radionuclide levels found in farmed salmon in the present study are comparable to or lower than the levels found in other fish species in the North Atlantic Ocean. A highly conservative dose estimate for consumption showed that doses were no higher than 1.2 μSv/year for toddlers and 4.0 μSv/year for adults. This suggests that the risk associated with radioactivity in farmed salmon is very low even when considering individuals with high consumption and the highest radionuclide levels found in this study.

Assessment of Lagrangian particle dispersion model "LAPMOD" through short range field tracer test in complex terrain Publication date: September 2019 Source: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volumes 205–206 Author(s): Amin ul Haq, Qaisar Nadeem, Amjad Farooq, Naseem Irfan, Masroor Ahmad, Muhammad Rizwan Ali Abstract In this paper the mesoscale application of the 3D Lagrangian particle dispersion model LAPMOD has been assessed for a field tracer test performed in a short-range complex terrain. The meteorological input was provided through the diagnostic model CALMET, the meteorological pre-processor of the CALPUFF model. The CALMET/LAPMOD coupled system was used to simulate the hourly averaged ground level concentration at 47 discrete receptors. The LAPMOD model has a general tendency to slightly underestimate the hourly averaged ground-level concentrations. A Q-Q plot shows that the predicted concentration distribution has a good comparison with observed one. The Robust Highest Concentration (RHC) indicates that the LAPMOD model slightly underestimates the simulated peak concentration in short-term release conditions. The Fractional Bias (FB), Normalized Mean Squared Error (NMSE), Factor of Two (FAC2), Factor of Four (FAC4) and Factor of Exceedance (FOEX) statistical indices were calculated. The predicted results by LAPMOD are generally in good agreement with observed ones and the model is justified for the use in complex terrain for short-term near-field applications.

Anthropogenic 236U and Pu at remote sites of the South Pacific Publication date: September 2019 Source: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volumes 205–206 Author(s): M.B. Froehlich, A. Akber, S.D. McNeil, S.G. Tims, L.K. Fifield, A. Wallner Abstract Anthropogenic radionuclides, like 236U and 239,240Pu, are present in the environment as a result of global fallout from nuclear weapons tests conducted in the 1950s and 1960s and can potentially be used as tracers in soil erosion and sediment movement studies. Here, we report data on 236U and 239,240Pu in soil samples from the Motueka Valley (New Zealand) and for the first time from two remote islands Rarotonga and Atiu (Cook Islands) in the South Pacific. 236U and 239,240Pu were measured using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) at the Australian National University. The 236U and 239Pu isotope concentrations versus soil depth and the 240Pu/239Pu and 236U/239Pu isotope ratios are discussed for each site. The radionuclide depth dependence revealed any soil disturbance, whereas the isotopic signatures indicated the source of the radionuclides' origin.

Half a century of Krypton-85 activity concentration measured in air over Central Europe: Trends and relevance for dating young groundwater Publication date: September 2019 Source: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volumes 205–206 Author(s): Andreas Bollhöfer, Clemens Schlosser, Sabine Schmid, Martina Konrad, Roland Purtschert, Roman Krais Abstract For almost half a century weekly samples for the measurement of krypton-85 (85Kr) activity concentrations in surface air have been collected by the Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz (BfS), Germany. Sampling started at Freiburg (230m asl) in 1973, Mt Schauinsland (1205m asl) in 1976 and Mt Jungfraujoch in Switzerland (3454 asl) in 1990. Distinct maxima in the time series of atmospheric 85Kr activity concentration are caused by emissions from nuclear reprocessing plants in Europe, mainly the La Hague, France, and Sellafield, UK, reprocessing plants. Between 1970 and 1990 peak activity concentrations measured in winter along the Rhine Rift in Freiburg are often higher than at Mt Schauinsland, due to emissions from the operating pilot reprocessing plant in Karlsruhe - approximately 130 km to the north - and large-scale inversions that inhibit exchange of air masses within the Rhine Rift with those at higher altitudes. From the early 1990s onwards, after the shut-down of the pilot plant, differences between Freiburg and Schauinsland are much smaller. Activity concentrations measured at Jungfraujoch are generally lower and close to baseline levels, due to its location in the free troposphere. Weekly baseline and average 85Kr activity concentration in the atmosphere in Central Europe were modelled from almost 12,000 individual measurements at 11 stations. The baseline and average have continuously increased, interrupted by a relatively stable period between 2009 and the end of 2014 with a baseline activity concentration of about 1.39 Bq/m3. Depending on the geographical location and hydrological conditions, the modelled baseline or average 85Kr activity concentration time series can be used as input functions for the dating of young groundwater.

Assessment of loss of 210Po from fish and shrimp by cooking and its effect on dose estimates to humans ingesting seafood Publication date: September 2019 Source: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volumes 205–206 Author(s): Saif Uddin, M. Behbehani, Scott W. Fowler, Abdulnabi Al-Ghadban, Sam Dupont Abstract An experimental study was conducted to assess loss of 210Po due to cooking fresh seafood, and provide a more realistic and reliable dose estimate that humans may receive from consuming cooked seafood. Fresh fish and shrimp samples from Northern Gulf waters were grilled and boiled to simulate the effect of different cooking methods. Sixteen different species of fish were compared and significant differences in 210Po concentration in uncooked samples were observed between species (ANOVA I, F15,79 = 362.81, p < 0.0001). The effect of the treatment (uncooked, grilled, boiled and stock) was compared for each species and it was found that cooking led to a significant decrease in 210Po concentration ranging from 14 to 58% compared to the uncooked samples, with no difference between grilled or boiled treatments. The effect of the cooking and shrimp treatment on 210Po concentration was tested using ANOVA II after logarithmic transformation. Cooking led to a significant 38% reduction of 210Po concentration as compared to uncooked treatments with no difference between grilled and boiled samples (ANOVA I: F3,99 = 14.72, p < 0.0001). The two treatments with deveined shrimp led to a 75% decrease in 210Po concentration as compared to all other treatments. As a consequence, cooked deveined shrimp contained an 84% lower 210Po concentration than whole uncooked shrimp. As 210Po is known to be the major contributor to radiation dose in humans consuming seafood, based on the results obtained, it is evident there is a need to re-examine how committed effective doses (CEDs) are best calculated for seafood consuming populations considering that most populations consume fish and shellfish cooked.

Dose calculations in aircrafts after Fukushima nuclear power plant accident – Preliminary study for aviation operations Publication date: September 2019 Source: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volumes 205–206 Author(s): A. Vargas, D. Arnold, M.-A. Duch, N. Evangeliou, K. Sievers, C. Maurer Abstract There is little information to decision support in air traffic management in case of nuclear releases into the atmosphere. In this paper, the dose estimation due to both, external exposure (i.e. cloud immersion, deposition inside and outside the aircraft), and due to internal exposure (i.e, inhalation of radionuclides inside the aircraft) to passengers and crew is calculated for a worst-case emergency scenario. The doses are calculated for different radionuclides and activities. Calculations are mainly considered according to International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommendations and Monte Carlo simulations. In addition, a discussion on potential detectors installed inside the aircraft for monitoring the aerosol concentration and the ambient dose equivalent rate, H*(10), for during-flight monitoring and early warning is provided together with the evaluation of a response of a generic detector. The results show that the probability that a catastrophic nuclear accident would produce significant radiological doses to the passengers and crew of an aircraft is very low. In the worst-case scenarios studied, the maximum estimated effective dose was about 1 mSv during take-off or landing operations, which is the recommended yearly threshold for the public. However, in order to follow the ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) criteria and to avoid aircraft contamination, the installation of radiological detectors is considered. This would, on one hand help the pilot or corresponding decision maker to decide about the potential change of the route and, on the other, allow for gathering of 4D data for future studies.

On the use of MnO2 cartridges for the plutonium determination in seawater Publication date: August 2019 Source: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volume 204 Author(s): Mats Eriksson, Kirsi Ämmälä, Isabelle Levy, Janine Gastaud, Jukka Lehto, Jan Scholten Abstract To analyze plutonium (Pu) in open ocean waters can be challenging due to the low seawater concentrations. In this study we compared two techniques for Pu determination, one in-situ MnO2 cartridge system and the more commonly used MnO2 precipitation technique. During the pre-pilot GEOTRACES cruise ANT XXX-1 (2005) we tested MnO2 cartridges for the pre-concentration of Pu from seawater at 19 sampling stations on a transect in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean between Vigo (Spain) and Cape Town (South Africa). Our in-situ sampling setup consisted of one particle cartridge followed by three MnO2 cartridges in a series. Through the system we pumped between 956 and 2700 l of surface seawater with a flow rate between 1.6 and 5.2 l/min. We found that the adsorption efficiency of a single MnO2 cartridge to adsorb Pu was rather constant and on average a 58 ± 7%. The adsorption efficiency was also found to be independent of seawater: temperature in the range of 18.3–29.2 °C, salinity range 34.2–37.1‰, and conductivity in the range of 46.8–58.4 mS/cm. In parallel with the in-situ sampling, discrete surface water samples between 259 and 281 l were taken and Pu was pre-concentrated using the MnO2 precipitation method. We find a good agreement between the Pu concentrations determined with the two different techniques. The in-situ pre-concentration technique requires more radiochemical work in the laboratory but has the advantage that large seawater volumes can be sampled without the necessity for radiochemical processing on-board the ship. The much larger volumes sampled with the in-situ technique compared with the precipitation technique, enables accurate determination of Pu-isotopic ratios with a low relative standard deviation. We have shown in this study that in-situ MnO2 cartridge technique can be used in a reliable way for the determination of dissolved Pu seawater concentration in open ocean waters.

European decision support modelling of long-term external doses received in inhabited areas contaminated by a nuclear power plant accident – 1: Initial relative dose rate contributions from different contaminated outdoor surfaces Publication date: August 2019 Source: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volume 204 Author(s): Yvonne Hinrichsen, Kasper G. Andersson Abstract Dose prediction tools making use of existing knowledge on the environmental behaviour of radiocontaminants are essential for justification and optimisation of recovery countermeasure strategies for contaminated inhabited areas. In this context, one necessary requirement is to estimate the relative initial contaminant distribution on different types of surfaces in the environment and the resultant initial dose rates to humans staying in the environment. This paper reports on the latest parametric refinements in this context for use in the ERMIN inhabited area dose model, which is an integral part of the European emergency management decision support systems ARGOS and RODOS.

Levels of uranium and thorium in maternal scalp hair and risk of orofacial clefts in offspring Publication date: August 2019 Source: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volume 204 Author(s): Yihui Wei, Lei Jin, Zhiwen Li, Jufen Liu, Linlin Wang, Xin Pi, Shengju Yin, Chengrong Wang, Aiguo Ren Abstract Uranium and thorium are common radioactive elements that exist in the environment. However, few environmental epidemiological studies have focused on their possible effects on congenital malformations. Here, we explored the association between uranium and thorium concentrations in maternal scalp hair grown from 3 months before to 3 months after conception, namely during the periconceptional period and the risk of orofacial clefts (OFCs) in offspring. Our study included 153 women whose pregnancies were affected by OFCs (cases) and 601 women who delivered infants without birth defects (controls) from four provinces in China. Face-to-face interviews were used to collect sociodemographic characteristics with a structured questionnaire. Concentrations of uranium and thorium in maternal scalp hair grown during the periconceptional period were detected using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The risk of OFCs in association with higher concentrations of the two radioactive elements was estimated using odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) while adjusting for potential confounding factors. The levels of uranium and thorium in maternal hair were in agreement with the published literature. After adjusting for several confounders, the ORs of thorium in the highest, upper, and lower quartile versus the lowest quartile were 2.63 (95% CI, 1.41–4.92), 1.98 (95% CI, 1.03–3.79), and 2.73 (95% CI, 1.46–5.12), respectively. No association was found between levels of uranium and the risk of OFCs. Maternal periconceptional exposure to thorium may be a risk factor for OFCs in offspring.

A stilbene - CdZnTe based radioxenon detection system Publication date: August 2019 Source: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volume 204 Author(s): Harish R. Gadey, Abi T. Farsoni, Steven A. Czyz, Kacey D. McGee Abstract Atmospheric monitoring of radioxenon is one of the most widely used methods by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) to detect elevated levels of 131mXe, 133/133mXe, and 135Xe. The ratios of these radionuclides help discriminate between peaceful use of nuclear technology and nuclear weapon explosions. Radioxenon detection systems often use plastic scintillators in the capacity of an electron detector and a gas cell, plastic gas cells are responsible for introducing high memory effect in these systems. This work presents the design of a new detection system for radioxenon monitoring that utilizes silicon photomultipliers, a stilbene gas cell, and a CdZnTe detector. This detector was evaluated using xenon radioisotope samples produced in the TRIGA reactor at Oregon State University. A 48-h background was collected and calculations of the Minimum Detectable Concentration (MDC) were carried out using the Region of Interest (ROI) approach. An MDC of less than 1 mBq/m3 was obtained for 131mXe, 133Xe, and 133mXe in accordance with the sensitivity limits set by the CTBTO and performs respectably when compared to state-of-the-art radioxenon detection systems. Using 131mXe, this study indicates that the stilbene gas cell exhibits a memory effect of 0.045 ± 0.017%, this is almost a two-order magnitude improvement compared to plastic scintillators. The primary purpose of this work is to explore the use of new stilbene detection media for radioxenon application and addressing the problem of memory effect.