Radionuclides In Seawater Research Articles

Monte carlo simulation of in situ gamma-spectra recorded by NaI (Tl) detector in the marine environment

To develop a NaI (Tl) detector for in situ radioactivity monitoring in the marine environment and enhance the confidence of the probability of the gamma-spectrum analysis, Monte Carlo simulations using the Monte Carlo N-Particle ( MNCP ) code were performed to provide the response spectra of some interested radionuclides and the background spectra originating from the natural radionuclides in seawater recorded by a NaI (Tl) detector. A newly developed 75 mm × 75 mm NaI (Tl) detector was calibrated using four reference radioactive sources 137Cs, 60Co, 40K and 54Mn in the laboratory before the field measurements in seawater. A simulation model was established for the detector immersed in seawater. The simulated spectra were all broadened with Gaussian pulses to reflect the statistical fluctuations and electrical noise in the real measurement. The simulated spectra show that the single-energy photons into the detector are mostly scattering low-energy photons and the high background in the low energy region mainly originates from the Compton effect of the high energy ?-rays of natural radionuclides in seawater. The simulated background spectrum was compared with the experimental one recorded in field measurement and they seem to be in good agreement. The simulation method and spectra can be used for the accurate analysis of the filed measurement results of low concentration radioactivity in seawater.

Main results of the 2012 joint Norwegian–Russian expedition to the dumping sites of the nuclear submarine K-27 and solid radioactive waste in Stepovogo Fjord, Novaya Zemlya

This paper reports the main results of the 2012 joint Norwegian–Russian expedition to investigate the radioecological situation of the Stepovogo Fjord on the eastern coast of Novaya Zemlya, where the nuclear submarine K-27 and solid radioactive waste was dumped. Based on in situ gamma measurements and the analysis of seawater and sediment samples taken around the submarine, there was no indication of any leakage from the reactor units of K-27. With regard to the radioecological status of Stepovogo Fjord, activity concentrations of all radionuclides in seawater, sediment and biota in 2012 were in general lower than reported from the previous investigations in the 1990s. However in 2012, the activity concentrations of 137Cs and, to a lesser extent, those of 90Sr remained elevated in bottom water from the inner part of Stepovogo Fjord compared with surface water and the outer part of Stepovogo Fjord. Deviations from expected 238Pu/239,240Pu activity ratios and 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios in some sediment samples from the inner part of Stepovogo Fjord observed in this study and earlier studies may indicate the possibility of leakages from dumped waste from different nuclear sources. Although the current environmental levels of radionuclides in Stepovogo Fjord are not of immediate cause for concern, further monitoring of the situation is warranted.

福島第一原子力発電所事故により放出された放射性核種の海水・沈降粒子・海底堆積物における分布の実態

福島第一原子力発電所事故により放出された放射性核種の海水・沈降粒子・海底堆積物における分布の実態

A model of 90Sr distribution in the sea near Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant in China

The impact on the environment of radionuclide release from nuclear power plants has attracted increased attention, especially after the accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan. Based on the mechanisms of adsorption/desorption at solid/liquid interfaces and a surface micromorphology model of sediments, a theoretical expression of the distribution coefficient K d is derived. This coefficient has significant effects on the distribution of radionuclide in seawater, suspended sediment and seabed sediment. K d is then used to simulate 90Sr transport in the sea near the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant. The simulation results are compared with field measurements of tidal level, current velocity, suspended sediment concentration and 90Sr concentrations in the same period. Overall, the simulated results agree well with the field measured data. Thus, the derived expression for K d is capable of interpreting realistic adsorption/desorption processes. What’s more, conclusion is drawn that about 40% 90Sr released by Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant will be adsorbed by suspended sediment and 20% by seabed sediment, only about 40% 90Sr will remain in the sea near Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant in South China Sea.

Distribution of radionuclides in surface seawater obtained by an aerial radiological survey

We investigated the distribution in seawater of anthropogenic radionuclides from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FNPP1) as preliminary attempt using a rapid aerial radiological survey performed by the U.S. Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration on 18 April 2011. We found strong correlations between in-situ activities of 131I, 134Cs, and 137Cs measured in surface seawater samples and gamma-ray peak count rates determined by the aerial survey (correlation coefficients were 0.89 for 131I, 0.96 for134Cs, and 0.92 for137Cs). The offshore area of high radionuclide activity extended south and southeast from the FNPP1. The maximum activities of 131I, 134Cs, and 137Cs were 329, 650, and 599 Bq L−1, respectively. The 131I/137Cs ratio in surface water of the high-activity area ranged from 0.6 to 0.7. Considering the radioactive decay of 131I (half-life 8.02 d), we determined that the radionuclides in this area were directly released from FNPP1 to the ocean. We confirm that aerial radiological surveys can be effective for investigating the surface distribution of anthropogenic radionuclides in seawater. Our model reproduced the distribution pattern of radionuclides derived from the FNPP1, although results simulated by a regional ocean model were underestimated.

Cesium, iodine and tritium in NW Pacific waters – a comparison of the Fukushima impact with global fallout

Abstract. Radionuclide impact of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident on the distribution of radionuclides in seawater of the NW Pacific Ocean is compared with global fallout from atmospheric tests of nuclear weapons. Surface and water column samples collected during the Ka'imikai-o-Kanaloa (KOK) international expedition carried out in June 2011 were analyzed for 134Cs, 137Cs, 129I and 3H. The 137Cs, 129I and 3H levels in surface seawater offshore Fukushima varied between 0.002–3.5 Bq L−1, 0.01–0.8 μBq L−1, and 0.05–0.15 Bq L−1, respectively. At the sampling site about 40 km from the coast, where all three radionuclides were analyzed, the Fukushima impact on the levels of these three radionuclides represents an increase above the global fallout background by factors of about 1000, 50 and 3, respectively. The water column data indicate that the transport of Fukushima-derived radionuclides downward to the depth of 300 m has already occurred. The observed 137Cs levels in surface waters and in the water column are compared with predictions obtained from the ocean general circulation model, which indicates that the Kuroshio Current acts as a southern boundary for the transport of the radionuclides, which have been transported from the Fukushima coast eastward in the NW Pacific Ocean. The 137Cs inventory in the water column is estimated to be about 2.2 PBq, what can be regarded as a lower limit of the direct liquid discharges into the sea as the seawater sampling was carried out only in the area from 34 to 37° N, and from 142 to 147° E. About 4.6 GBq of 129I was deposited in the NW Pacific Ocean, and 2.4–7 GBq of 129I was directly discharged as liquid wastes into the sea offshore Fukushima. The total amount of 3H released and deposited over the NW Pacific Ocean was estimated to be 0.1–0.5 PBq. These estimations depend, however, on the evaluation of the total 137Cs activities released as liquid wastes directly into the sea, which should improve when more data are available. Due to a suitable residence time in the ocean, Fukushima-derived radionuclides will provide useful tracers for isotope oceanography studies on the transport of water masses during the next decades in the NW Pacific Ocean.

Distribution of the Fukushima-derived radionuclides in seawater in the Pacific off the coast of Miyagi, Fukushima, and Ibaraki Prefectures, Japan

Abstract. The activities of artificial radionuclides in seawater samples collected off the coast of Miyagi, Fukushima, and Ibaraki Prefectures were measured as part of a monitoring program initiated by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Sports, Science and Technology immediately after the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. The spatial and temporal distributions of those activities are summarized herein. The activities of strontium-90, iodine-131, cesium-134 and -137 (i.e. 90Sr, 131I, 134Cs, and 137Cs) derived from the accident were detected in seawater samples taken from areas of the coastal ocean adjacent to the power plant. No 131I was detected in surface waters (≤ 5 m depth) or in intermediate and bottom waters after 30 April 2011. Strontium-90 was found in surface waters collected from a few sampling stations in mid-August 2011 to mid-December 2011. Temporal changes of 90Sr activity in surface waters were evident, although the 90Sr activity at a given time varied widely between sampling stations. The activity of 90Sr in surface waters decreased slowly over time, and by the end of December 2011 had reached background levels recorded before the accident. Radiocesium, 134Cs and 137Cs, was found in seawater samples immediately after the accident. There was a remarkable change in radiocesium activities in surface waters during the first 7 months (March through September 2011) after the accident; the activity reached a maximum in the middle of April and thereafter decreased exponentially with time. Qualitatively, the distribution patterns in surface waters suggested that in early May radiocesium-polluted water was advected northward; some of the water then detached and was transported to the south. Two water cores with high 137Cs activity persisted at least until July 2011. In subsurface waters radiocesium activity was first detected in the beginning of April 2011, and the water masses were characterized by σt (an indicator of density) values of 25.5–26.5. From 9–14 May to 5–16 December 2011, the depths of the water masses increased with time, an indication that deepening of the isopycnal surfaces with time can be an important mechanism for the transport of radiocesium downward in coastal waters. During 4–21 February 2012, the water column became vertically homogeneous, probably because of convective mixing during the winter; the result was nearly constant values of radiocesium activity throughout the water column from the surface to the bottom (~200 m depth) at each station.

Estimation of radioactive leakages into the Pacific Ocean due to Fukushima nuclear accident

High concentrations of several radionuclides were reported in the sea near the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) in Japan due to the nuclear accident that occurred on 11 March 2011. The main source of these concentrations was leakage of highly radioactive liquid effluent from a pit in the turbine building near the intake canal of Unit-2 of FDNPS through a crack in the concrete wall. In the immediate vicinity of the plant, seawater concentrations reached 68 MBq m−3 for 134Cs and 137Cs, and exceeded 100 MBq m−3 for 131I in early April 2011. These concentrations began to fall as of 11 April 2011 and, at the end of April, had reached a value close to 0.1 MBq m−3 for 137Cs. Following the nuclear accident, the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) had initiated intense monitoring of the environment including the Pacific Ocean. Seawater samples were collected and the concentrations of few radionuclides were measured on a wide spatial and temporal scale. In this study, the measured concentrations of different radionuclides near the south discharge canal of the FDNPS were used to estimate their leakages into the Pacific Ocean. The method is based on estimating the release rates that reproduce the concentration of radionuclides in seawater at a chosen location using a two-dimensional advection–dispersion model in an iterative manner. The radioactive leakages were estimated as 5.68 PBq for 131I, 2.24 PBq for 134Cs and 2.25 PBq for 137Cs. Leakages were also estimated for 99mTc, 136Cs, 140Ba and 140La and they range between 0.02 PBq (99mTc) and 0.53 PBq (140Ba). It was estimated that about 11.28 PBq of radioactivity in total was leaked into the Pacific Ocean from the damaged FDNPS. Out of this, 131I constitutes 50.3 %; 134Cs 20 %; 137Cs 20 %; 140Ba 4.6 %; 136Cs 2.6 %; 140La 2.3 % and 99mTc 0.2 % of the total radioactive leakage. Such quantitative estimates of radioactive leakages are essential prerequisites for short-term and local-scale as well as long-term and large-scale radiological impact assessment of the nuclear accident.

Radionuclides in the adriatic sea and related dose-rate assessment for marine biota

Artificial and natural radionuclides were determined in the Adriatic Sea in the seawater and sediment samples in the period from 2007 to 2011. The sampling areas were coastal waters of Slovenia, Croatia and Albania, together with the deepest part of the Adriatic in South Adriatic Pit and Otranto strait. Sampling locations were chosen to take into account all major geological and geographical features of this part of the Adriatic Sea and possible coastal influences. After initial sample preparation steps, samples were measured by gamma-ray spectrometry. In the seawater ⁴⁰K activity concentrations were in the range from 6063 to 10519 Bq m⁻³, ¹³⁷Cs from 1.6 to 3.8 Bq m⁻³, ²²⁶Ra from 23 to 31 Bq m⁻³, ²²⁸Ra from 1 to 25 Bq m⁻³ and ²³⁸U from 64 to 490 Bq m⁻³. The results of sediment samples showed that ⁴⁰K was in the range from 87 to 593 Bq kg⁻¹, ¹³⁷Cs from 0.8 to 7.3 Bq kg⁻¹, ²²⁶Ra from 18 to 35 Bq kg⁻¹, ²²⁸Ra from 4 to 29 Bq kg⁻¹ and ²³⁸U from 14 to 120 Bq kg⁻¹. In addition, the ERICA Assessment Tool was used for the assessment of dose rates for reference marine organisms using the activity concentrations of the determined radionuclides in seawater. The assessment showed that for the most of the organisms, the dose rates were within the background levels, indicating that the determined values for seawater does not pose a significant risk for the most of marine biota. In the study, the results are critically discussed and compared with other similar studies worldwide. Generally, the activity concentrations of the examined radionuclides did not differ from those reported for the rest of the Mediterranean Sea.

Fast concentration of dissolved forms of cesium radioisotopes from large seawater samples

The method developed for cesium concentra- tion from large freshwater samples was tested and adapted for analysis of cesium radionuclides in seawater. Concen- tration of dissolved forms of cesium in large seawater samples (about 100 L) was performed using composite absorbers AMP-PAN and KNiFC-PAN with ammonium molybdophosphate and potassium-nickel hexacyanofer- rate(II) as active components, respectively, and polyacry- lonitrile as a binding polymer. A specially designed chromatography column with bed volume (BV) 25 mL allowed fast flow rates of seawater (up to 1,200 BV h -1 ). The recovery yields were determined by ICP-MS analysis of stable cesium added to seawater sample. Both absorbers proved usability for cesium concentration from large sea- water samples. KNiFC-PAN material was slightly more effective in cesium concentration from acidified seawater (recovery yield around 93 % for 700 BV h -1 ). This material showed similar efficiency in cesium concentration also from natural seawater. The activity concentrations of 137 Cs determined in seawater from the central Pacific Ocean were 1.5 ± 0.1 and 1.4 ± 0.1 Bq m -3 for an off- shore (January 2012) and a coastal (February 2012) locality, respectively, 134 Cs activities were below detection limit (\0.2 Bq m -3 ).

Consequences of radioactive releases into the sea resulting from the accident at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant - Evolution of expert investigation according to the data available

The accident at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) in March 2011 led to an unprecedented direct input of artificial radioactivity into the marine environment. The Institute for Radioprotection and Nuclear Safety was requested by the French authorities to investigate the radioecological impact of this input, in particular the potential contamination of products of marine origin used for human consumption. This article describes the close link between the responses provided and the availability of the data, as well as their nature and ability to meet the requirements of expert investigation. These responses were needed: (i) to evaluate the inputs of radionuclides into the marine environment, (ii) to understand their dispersion in seawater, and (iii) to estimate their transfer to the biota and sediments. Three phases can be distinguished which characterise these processes during the accident and post-accident periods. The first phase corresponds to an emergency phase during which no measurements were available on samples from the marine environment. It involved the formulation of hypotheses based solely on the expertise of the Institute for Radioprotection and Nuclear Safety. The second phase started when the Japanese authorities provided measurements of the concentrations of radionuclides in seawater. Although these data were not yet adapted to addressing the problems of radioecology, the scenarios could then be refined and the estimates developed in more detail. During the third phase, the accumulation of data over the course of time made it possible to study the phenomena in an appropriate way. The chronology of the events shows that it is essential to have (i) significant measurements of concentration from samples collected in the various matrices of the marine environment, regularly updated and sufficiently well-documented, (ii) samples of seawater collected at the earliest opportunity as close as possible to the damaged site to characterise the source term, and (iii) a numerical tool allowing rapid modelling of the dispersion of radionuclides in seawater, as well as their transfer to sediments and the biota, ultimately for the purpose of estimating the dose to humans.

Concentration of selected radionuclides in seawater from Kuwait

No baseline existed for the radionuclides in Kuwait territorial water. With changing trend in the region to embrace nuclear energy, the baseline study is imperative to create a reference and to record the influence-functioning of upcoming power plants. The first one in Bushehr, Iran is ready to start and several more are likely to come-up in UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The present baseline concentration of the four considered radionuclide’s show low concentration of tritium, polonium, strontium and cesium; their concentration is comparable to most oceanic waters.

Monte Carlo simulation of in situ LaBr gamma-ray spectrometer for marine environmental monitoring

Monte Carlo simulation of energy-response functions of gamma rays from natural/artificial radionuclides in seawater and simulation of energy spectrum due to self-activity in LaBr crystal were carried out using MCNPX codes and MATLAB programs for the in situ LaBr gamma-ray spectrometer immersed in homogeneous seawater. The effective detection distance, the detection efficiency and the minimum detectable activity concentration (MDAC) for artificial radionuclides (137)Cs were worked out as an instance. Similar researches for NaI detector was also implemented for comparison. The results indicate that the self-activity in LaBr deteriorates the MDAC to merely several times of that of NaI detector. The LaBr detector is possible to be used as in situ gamma-ray spectrometer for monitoring of artificial radionuclides in seawater.

A certified reference material for radionuclides in the water sample from Irish Sea (IAEA-443)

A new certified reference material (CRM) for radionuclides in sea water from the Irish sea (IAEA-443) is described and the results of the certification process are presented. Ten radionuclides (H-3, K-40, Sr-90, Cs-137, U-234, U-235, U-238, Pu-238, Pu239+240 and Am-241) have been certified, and information values on massic activities with 95% confidence intervals are given for four radionuclides (Th-230, Th-232, Pu-239 and Pu-240). Results for less frequently reported radionuclides (Tc-99, Th-228, Np-237 and Pu-241) are also reported. The CRM can be used for quality assurance/quality control of the analysis of radionuclides in water samples, for the development and validation of analytical methods and for training purposes. The material is available in 5 L units from IAEA (http://nucleus.iaea.org/rpst/index.htm).

Method for performing rapid radiation surveys of the water areas at shore bases of the naval fleet using submersible gamma spectrometers

A method of performing radiation surveys of the water areas at shore bases of the naval fleet using underwater scintillation gamma spectrometers is presented as an example of work performed in the waters near the temporary storage site for radwastes and spent fuel in Gremikha. This method makes it possible to record in situ from a surface ship as well as underwater manned or unmanned vehicle the content of radionuclides in sea water. In contrast to conventional methods of monitoring the radiation conditions by means of dosimetric surveys and sampling, submersible spectrometric systems make it possible to detect and identify rapidly the source of radioactive contamination in water and bottom deposits and to determine it size, intensity, and isotopic composition. Appropriate software is used to construct from the survey results cartograms of the contamination in the regions examined, identify pathways for radionuclides to enter the waters, and evaluate the total activity of the bottom deposits.

239,240Pu/ 137Cs ratios in the water column of the North Pacific: a proxy of biogeochemical processes

Anthropogenic radionuclides in seawater have been used as transient tracers of processes in the marine environment. Especially, plutonium in seawater is considered to be a valuable tracer of biogeochemical processes due to its particle-reactive properties. However, its behavior in the ocean is also affected by physical processes such as advection, mixing and diffusion. Here we introduce Pu/ 137Cs ratio as a proxy of biogeochemical processes and discuss its trends in the water column of the North Pacific Ocean. We observed that the 239,240Pu/ 137Cs ratio in seawater exponentially increased with increasing depth (depth range: 100–1000 m). This finding suggests that the profiles of the 239,240Pu/ 137Cs ratios in shallower waters directly reflect biogeochemical processes in the water column. A half-regeneration depth deduced from the curve fitting the observed data, showed latitudinal and longitudinal distributions, also related to biogeochemical processes in the water column.

Short and long-lived radium isotopes in surface waters from Ilha Grande bay, Angra dos Reis, Brazil

The Angra dos Reis nuclear power plant site is located 130 km south from Rio de Janeiro city. Seawater is used as cooling water for both units; the cooling water is pumped from Itaorna Bay and discharged into Piraquara de Fora Bay, together with the liquid effluents from the two NPPs. Piraquara de Fora Bay belongs to a large bay system, Ilha Grande Bay and, therefore, conservative radionuclides in seawater will reach this bay with the tidal movement and, at the end, exported to open sea. Radium isotopes behave conservatively in seawater and can be applied as natural tracers to carry out dispersion studies. Two transets involving eight sampling points each were performed in Ilha Grande bay and 228 Ra, 226 Ra, 224 Ra and 223 Ra determination realized. The results have shown that the conservative radionuclide dispersion is controlled by eddy diffusion with negligible net offshore advection. The calculated eddy diffusion coefficient was 26 km2 ⋅ d-1 and 25 km2 ⋅ d-1 , based on 223 Ra and 224 Ra respectively.

海産物摂取による大気圏内核実験からの実効線量の算出

The worldwide environmental protection is required by the public. A long-term environmental assessment from nuclear fuel cycle facilities to the aquatic environment also becomes more important to understand longterm risk of nuclear energy. Evaluation of long-term risk including not only in Japan but also in neighboring countries is considered to be necessary in order to develop sustainable nuclear power industry. The author successfully simulated the distribution of radionuclides in seawater and seabed sediment produced by atmospheric nuclear tests using LAMER (Long-term Assessment ModEl of Radionuclides in the oceans). A part of the LAMER calculated the advection-diffusion-scavenging processes for radionuclides in the oceans and the Japan Sea in cooperate with Oceanic General Circulation Model (OGCM) and was validated. The author is challenging to calculate probabilistic effective dose suggested by ICRP from intake of marine products due to atmospheric nuclear tests using the Monte Carlo method in the other part of LAMER. Depending on the deviation of each parameter, the 95th percentile of the probabilistic effective dose was from one third to two thirds of the 95th percentile of the deterministic effective dose in proforma calculation. It means that probabilistic assessment can contribute to the design and optimisation of a nuclear fuel cycle facility.

Determination of Organometallics and Radionuclides in Sea Water: A Critical Review of Analytical Procedures, 1995-2004

Article Determination of Organometallics and Radionuclides in Sea Water: A Critical Review of Analytical Procedures, 1995-2004 was published on December 1, 2005 in the journal Reviews in Analytical Chemistry (volume 24, issue 4).

Anthropogenic Radionuclides in Seawater of the Japan Sea

Between 1996 and 2002, a wide-area research project on anthropogenic radionuclides was carried out in an area covering the Japanese and Russian Exclusive Economic Zones of the Japan Sea, through a collaboration of Japanese and Russian institutes. The aim was to investigate the migration behavior of anthropogenic radionuclides (90Sr, 137Cs, and 239+240Pu) in the sea. Four expeditions conducted in the Japan Sea between 2001 and 2002 found that the observed concentrations and distributions of radionuclides were similar to those found in previous investigations. Inventories estimated from the concentration data indicate that larger amounts of these radionuclides accumulate in the Japan Sea seawater (by a factor of 1.5–2.1) than are supplied by global fallout in the same latitude belt. Further, we found that the 90Sr and 137Cs concentrations in the intermediate layer show temporal variations with time scales of 1 to several years. The results of cross-analysis using the data of 137Cs and dissolved oxygen suggest that the distribution and variation of radionuclide concentrations in the intermediate layer may reflect water mass movement in the upper part of the Japan Sea.