Sellafield waste radionuclides in Irish sea intertidal and salt marsh sediments

Low level liquid radioactive waste discharges from the Sellafield nuclear fuel reprocessing plant in north west England had generated environmental inventories of about 3 × 10¹⁶ Bq of¹³⁷Cs, 6.8 × 10¹⁴ Bq of^239,240Pu and 8.9 × 10¹⁴ Bq of²⁴¹Am by 1990. Most of the^239,240Pu and²⁴¹Am and about 10% of the¹³⁷Cs has been retained in a deposit of fine marine sediment close to the discharge point. The quantities of radionuclides discharged annually from Sellafield decreased by two orders of magnitude from the mid-1970s to 1990 but estimated critical group internal and external exposure decreased by less than one order of magnitude over this period. This indicates that during the period of reduced discharges, radionuclides already in the environment from previous releases continued to contribute to the critical group exposure and highlights the need to understand processes controlling the environmental distribution of the radionuclides. Redistribution of the contaminated marine sediment is potentially of major significance in this context, in particular if it results in transport of radionuclides to intertidal areas, where contact with the human population is relatively likely. A review is presented of published work relating to Sellafield waste radionuclides in Irish Sea sediments. Data on temporal and spatial trends in radionuclide concentrations and activity ratios are collated from a number of sources to show that the dominant mechanism of radionuclide supply to intertidal areas is by redistribution of the contaminated marine sediment. The implications of this mechanism of supply for trends in critical group radiation exposure are considered.     

Biokinetics of plutonium,americium and californium in the marine isopod Cirolana borealis,with observations on its feeding and molting behavior

In a series of laboratory experiments carried out during 1982, the biokinetics of ²³⁷Pu (IV), ²³⁷Pu (V), ²⁴¹Am (III), and ²⁵²Cf (III) were studied in the benthic marine isopod Cirolana borealis Lilljeb. Following a 3 wk exposure to labelled seawater, isopods reached non-equilibrium concentration factors of 52±15, 54±12, 176±14, and 185±53 for Pu (IV), Pu (V), Am and Cf, respectively. Uptake of these radionuclides occurred to a great extent by surface adsorption, with the major fraction of the accumulated radionuclides being associated with exoskeleton and lesser percentages located in gut, digestive gland, muscle and haemolymph. The pattern of radiotracer depuration was in all cases biphasic, with the long-lived retention compartment retaining the largest fraction of whole-body radioactivity. Biological half-lives for radionuclide turnover in the long-lived compartment were 60±3 d, 87±5 d, 261±12 d and 288±60 d for Pu (IV), Pu (V), Am and Cf, respectively. Examination of radionuclide distribution among tissues following longterm depuration showed that the radionuclides were eliminated from internal tissues more rapidly than from the exoskeleton. Uptake and depuration studies indicated that the biokinetics of americium and californium were similar to each other, but that they differed significantly from those of oxidized and reduced plutonium. In general, these experimental results support previous reports that americium and californium are more bioavailable than plutonium in the marine waters. The fraction americium and californium assimilated into tissue from food was very low and did not exceed 5%. Unassimilated labelled food was often retained in the gut for more than 2 mo and released only infrequently in a loosely bound condition. In the event of contamination, this particular feeding-digestion strategy in highly mobile, scavenging isopods could act as a potential biological mechanism for the widespread dispersion of radioactive wastes.     

Artificial radionuclides in sediment of the Yenisei River

Releases from the nuclear facility Mining-and-Chemical Combine (MCC) located at Zheleznogorsk have contributed to the radionuclide contamination of the Yenisei River since operations commenced in 1958. The aim of this study was to assess the activity concentrations of artificial radionuclides and the strength of their binding in Yenisei River sediments. Investigation of Yenisei River sediment samples revealed the presence of artificial radionuclides typical of the MCC radioactive discharge: namely, isotopes of europium, caesium, ⁶⁰Co and transuranium elements. The concentrations of artificial radionuclides in the sediment layers remain relatively high as far as 200 km downstream of the MCC. In sediment cores collected upstream of the MCC, γ-spectrometric measurements registered only one artificial radionuclide, ¹³⁷Cs, with a maximal activity of 8 Bq·kg^?1. Sequential extraction performed on samples of the upper layers of the sediment core showed different degrees of potential environmental availability for artificial radionuclides: the highest was recorded for ²⁴¹Am and ¹⁵²Eu (up to 85% of initial activity), followed by ⁶⁰Co (up to 32%), and finally, ¹³⁷Cs (up to 15%). In a few samples, ²⁴¹Am was present in the unextractable form, which may be accounted for by the presence of reactor fuel microparticles.     

Soil characteristics influence the radionuclide uptake of different plant species

The key point of food plant agriculture is how to regulate the harmonious relationship between the soil and the plant environment. This study deals with radionuclide uptake by two food plant and two fruit tree species in relation to the geochemical characteristics of the soil. Uranium and thorium content was determined in coastal black sand and inland cultivated soils. Four commonly cultivated species Eruca sativa, Lycopersicon esculentum, Psidium guajava and Mangifera indica were investigated. Physical and chemical properties of the soil were analysed in relation to uranium and thorium uptake by plants. The results revealed the ability of plants to accumulate uranium and thorium in their edible portions. The absorbed radionuclides were positively correlated with their concentrations in the soil and the geochemical characteristics of the soil. The transfer of radioactive elements from soil to plant is a complex process that can be regulated by controlling the geochemical characteristics of the soil, including pH, clay, silt and organic matter content that reduce the bioavailability of soil radionuclides to plants, and in turn reduce the risks of biota and human exposure to radionuclide contamination.     

Background levels of microelements in soils of Italy

A systematic survey on the distribution of geochemically and texicologically relevant trace elements in the soils of Italy was carried out on 32 soil profiles, developed in different environmental and pedological conditions. The aim of this study was to collect basic information on the background levels of trace elements, their geochemical behaviour and the relationships between weathering and pedogenetic processes. The statistically processed analytical results led to the following conclusions: (i) Trace element distribution in the profiles studied is consistent with pedochemical behaviour and rock lithology. A comparison with the world soil means shows that there are no significant differences, except for those elements largely utilised in agriculture (Cu, Zn) or, because of pollution, (Pd, Cd), or natural accumulation (Ni, Cr); (ii) data processing by cluster analysis shows marked correlations between some elements, for example, Al-V, Ni-Cr, Mn-Co. Groups of geochemically homogeneous samples, which correspond to the great soil families characteristic of each pedological landscape, are also indicated; (iii) evidence of soil contamination is provided by the high levels of some elements, especially in the A horizon. Cu and Zn seem to be concentrated in the Ap horizon of cultivated soils, while Pd and Cd may be derived from the atmosphere.     

基于变化阶段特点的亚热带红壤硝化模式及其影响因素分析

在土壤最大持水量60%和温度30℃的实验室培养条件下,对采自江西的15个第三纪红砂岩母质发育的自然土壤（灌丛和林地）和农业利用土壤（茶园、旱地和水稻）进行了56 d实验室培养,研究了土壤NO3--N含量随时间的变化过程及阶段特点。结果显示,发生净硝化作用的14个土样NO3--N质量分数随时间的变化表现＂J＂型增长和＂S＂型增长2种模式。＂J＂型增长模式的6个土样,67%为自然土壤,其NO3--N质量分数增长具有15~35 d的延滞期,符合指数方程N=N0e kt（P〈0.001）,N0值与有效磷质量分数呈显著的指数关系（P〈0.05）。＂S＂型增长模式的8个土样,88%为农业利用土壤,NO3--N累积无明显延滞期,符合Logistic修正模型N=Np/（1＋e2.e-rt）（延滞期td=0,P〈0.001）,由模型获得的土样最大硝化速率vm与土壤全氮质量分数和全碳质量分数具有极显著的正相关关系（P〈0.001）,达到最大硝化速率所需的时间tm与风干土的NO3--N质量分数呈显著正相关（P〈0.05）。上述结果表明,农业利用措施,特别旱作种植可消除亚热带土壤硝化作用的延滞期,从而使铵态氮肥施入土壤后快速转化成为硝态氮,增大硝态氮淋失的风险。     

Bioavailability,mobility, and toxicity of Cu in soils around the Dexing Cu mine in China

Total concentration is not a reliable indicator of Cu mobility or its bioavailability in soils. The chemical fraction determines the behavior of Cu in soils and hence its toxicity for terrestrial biota. We used the sequential extraction procedure and barley toxicity tests to examine the transfer of Cu in soils around the Dexing Cu mine and to make an ecological risk assessment of Cu in this area. The bioavailable Cu (exchangeable Cu and carbonate-bound Cu) in each soil profile did not change significantly with soil depth, indicating that the Cu itself was vertically mobile and thus potentially a higher risk to the environment. Cu toxicity and bioaccumulation in plants varied with the soil physicochemical characteristics [e.g., pH, clay content, and cation exchange capacity (CEC)] and the level of bioavailable Cu. Multiple regression analysis revealed that bioavailable Cu and CEC could be used to predict Cu toxicity to barley and that other characteristics (such as soil pH, clay content, or total organic carbon) did not predict the risk of toxicity as well as CEC. For the soil to be suitable for agriculture use, treatment of the local soil contamination with guest soil reclamation and phytoremediation with heavy metal-resistant plants would be necessary.     

Environmental fate of pesticides used in Australian viticulture V. Behaviour of atrazine in the soils of the south Australian Riverland

The transport of the s‐triazine herbicide, atrazine, through the red, calcareous earth soils of the South Australian Riverland was investigated. Small, undisturbed soil cores were extracted from the inter‐row topsoil of a vineyard adjacent to the River Murray, approximately 10 km south‐west of Overland Corner, South Australia. The vines were grown in a deep (1–4 m) reddish brown, strongly alkaline, sandy loam with a low organic carbon content (<2%). Atrazine concentrations in the leachate were dependent on application rate and soil type. High application rates on subsoil gave high rates of leaching for a longer time compared to the same application rate on topsoil and/or lower application rates on either topsoil or subsoil. Overall, 37–65% of the applied atrazine was detected in the leachate from subsoil cores, 14–25% in topsoil core leachates. Small amounts of atrazine (< 10% of applied dose) were found only in the top 2 cm of the core profiles. The results suggest that this herbicide is somewhat mobile in such strongly alkaline, sandy loam soils and that the irrigated soils of this region are likely to be prone to leaching of atrazine, and therefore that groundwater supplies in this area may be at risk of contamination through use of triazine herbicides.     

氮肥对旱地土壤甲烷氧化能力的影响

甲烷是重要的温室气体之一，对全球变暖的贡献率是20％。大气中甲烷浓度的迅速增加与甲烷的源和汇的不平衡有关。土壤中存在甲烷氧化菌，在一定条件下可以氧化大气中的甲烷。不过土壤对甲烷的氧化能力受一些农业生产活动的影响。氮肥的施用对土壤甲烷氧化有一定的影响。长期定位施肥实验的结果表明氮肥对土壤甲烷氧化的影响主要来源于铵态氮而不是硝态氮，因为氨对甲烷氧化有着竞争性抑制作用。此外，长期施用氮肥还改变了土壤微生物的区系及其活性，从而降低甲烷的氧化速率。氮肥施用的短期效应则与土壤的耕作管理历史、土壤性质、氮肥施用量等因素有关。有机肥对土壤甲烷氧化的影响比化肥要低得多，其物理化学性质及施用方法的不同都会影响到土壤对甲烷的氧化。     

中低产水稻土障碍类型图编制雏议——以广东博罗县龙溪镇为例

中低产水稻土障碍类型图是通过各种不同形状的图斑与符号,反映区域内中低产水稻土的障碍因素、土壤环境、土壤物理和土壤化学性质的空间分布状况。本文是编制1:5万中低产水稻土障碍类型图的初步偿试。通过对37个具有代表性的中低产水稻土障碍性剖面的实地勘查、119个样品的理化分析结果,以及参考有关的图件资料,运用野外考察及室内分析的方法进行制图。该障碍类型图,可为区域中低产水稻土的改良利用提供科学依据。     

Natal dispersal in two mice species with contrasting social systems

We compared the natal dispersal behaviour of two mice species under laboratory conditions. Natal dispersal is a movement of an animal from its birthplace to its breeding area. This behaviour is known to be influenced by the mating system. In polygamous species, males are more likely to disperse, while in most of the monogamous species, both sexes disperse. Our subjects, the house mouse (Mus musculus) and the mound-building mouse (Mus spicilegus) are two sympatric species of the genus Mus. Both are native in Hungary, but they differ in their habitat type mating system and overwintering strategy. The house mouse is a polygynous species and adapted to human environment, known for mature and reproduce early. On the contrary, the mound-building mice are monogamous, and they inhabit extensively used agricultural fields, where they spend the unfavourable winter period in nest chambers under mounds, which they construct from soil and plant material. Successful overwintering for this species demands delayed maturity and reduced dispersion during the winter. Our results showed that the natal dispersal of these two species differ; both sexes of the mound-building mice dispersed later than the house mice, where a difference between sexes also occurs; house mice males dispersed earlier than females. The mound-building mice showed no sexual dimorphism in this behaviour.     

土壤对甲烷氧化作用的研究进展

综述了８０年代以来土壤对ＣＨ４氧化作用的研究进展，包括土壤氧化甲烷的概况、机理，以及氧的供应、Ｎ的供应、土壤水分状况、土壤温度、土壤ｐＨ、土壤质地等因素对土壤氧化ＣＨ４的影响。     

氮肥对土壤氧化大气甲烷影响的机制

综合评述了氮素对土壤氧化甲烷的抑制机制。包括 :( 1)竞争甲烷单氧化酶的竞争抑制机制 ,( 2 )代谢产物的毒害抑制机制 ,( 3)外源盐引起的微生物生理缺水抑制机制和 ( 4)氮素周转作用引起的抑制机制。提出了氧化菌竞争利用土壤空气有限O2 的竞争抑制机制 ,即氨氧化菌利用更多的土壤有限氧气→产生优势氨氧化菌→形成优势菌群→限制甲烷氧化菌繁殖和功能发挥的氨长期抑制土壤氧化大气甲烷的机制 ,并认为这种抑制作用是不可逆的     

Geochemical Associations of Sellafield-Derived Radionuclides in Saltmarsh Deposits of the Solway Firth

This paper describes a study of the geochemical associations of Sellafield waste radionuclides in saltmarsh sediments from south-west s]Scotland. The contaminant radionuclides are transported to this environment in association with particulate material and ¹³⁷Cs was found to be predominantly (80-98%) non-extractable. In the case of ^239+240Pu there was a redistribution from the oxalate extractable oxide fraction to the pyrophosphate extractable organic fraction as a consequence of on-shore transfer of contaminated sediment. The relatively aggressive nature of the chemical extractants required to remove the radionuclides from the sediments suggests that they were in a form which was unlikely to result in their being released into the aquatic environment or taken up by plants. Plutonium had a greater potential mobility or bioavailability than Cs. Values of K^D for the desorption of ¹³⁷Cs from the sediment by freshwater, groundwater and seawater were all approximately 10⁵ L kg^-1, confirming its immobility in this environment. The desorption K_D values for stable ¹³³Cs were all approximately 10⁶ L kg^-1, so the stable Cs did not have a significant influence on the radiocaesium in this sediment.     

森林土壤氧化（吸收）甲烷研究进展

甲烷是一种重要的温室气体,对全球气候变暖的贡献仅次于CO2,约为25%。大气甲烷可以被土壤中甲烷氧化细菌在有氧条件下吸收利用,陆地生态系统森林土壤氧化吸收甲烷的研究已有大量报道。甲烷氧化菌是以甲烷作为唯一的碳源和能源的一类细菌的总称。但森林土壤在全球甲烷核算中具有一定的不确定性,取决于产甲烷菌和甲烷氧化菌的相对活性。甲烷氧化菌的研究集中在环境对氧化能力的影响和自身氧化能力上。大气甲烷氧化过程为高氧化能力低亲力氧化,受到一些因子,如土壤温度、土壤通气状况、pH、氮肥等的影响,具体机理的研究还有待进一步深入。土壤通气状况受土壤质地与土壤水分影响,土地利用类型可能改变土壤容重、土壤结构和土壤水分,进而影响土壤甲烷氧化。植物可以通过自身对生境的作用或化感作用影响土壤甲烷氧化。土壤动物的研究则相对较少,目前排放清单中仅有白蚁是全球甲烷核算所包括的。从甲烷氧化菌的分类出发,对甲烷氧化菌氧化甲烷的机理、菌的生态分布及甲烷氧化的影响因素、时空异质性、观测方法等作出了综述,为正确认识和准确预测森林土壤在一定气候和土地利用类型条件下的甲烷氧化强度提供理论依据。     

广西涠洲岛沉凝灰岩土壤粘粒矿物的研究

用X射线衍射分析和电子显微镜分析,对涠洲岛沉凝灰岩母质发育土壤的两个典型剖面八个土样的粘粒矿物进行分析研究。结果表明,离火山口距离不同的两个剖面土壤粘粒矿物组成不同,1号剖面以2:1型粘粒矿物为主,2号剖面则以1:1型粘粒矿物为主;结合其它分析结果,讨论了两个剖面土壤粘粒矿物组成不同的原因、对土壤有关特性的影响及其与土壤形成和分类的关系。     

Release of mobile forms of hazardous elements from glassworks fly ash into soils

The release of hazardous elements from the wastes of high-temperature processes represents a risk to the environment. We focused on the alteration of fly ash (FA) from glassworks collected from an electrostatic filter. FA contains elevated concentrations of Zn and Ba, among other elements. Overtime, small amounts of FA have been emitted from the factory and settled into the surrounding environment (soil). In order to assess the possible risks to the environment, samples of FA were placed in small nylon bags and deposited in 11 different soil horizons (containing diverse vegetation cover such as spruce and beech and also unforested areas). Samples of the FA in bags were exposed in the soils for 1 year. Then, the bags were collected, and the exposed soils in the direct vicinity of the FA bags were sampled. The total concentrations of Zn and Ba in the FA, as well as in the soil samples (original and exposed), were determined by ICP MS. The “mobile fraction” was determined as the exchangeable (acid extractable) fraction of the modified BCR sequential extraction procedure (SEP). The SEP results indicate that Zn and Ba may pose a potential environmental risk. Their concentrations in the first, most mobile, and bioavailable fraction increased in all the exposed soils. The most significant increases were observed in the upper soil horizons (litter and A horizon). The risk to the environment was evaluated on the basis of the Risk Assessment Code.     

西南环境移民安置地的生态环境状况研究初报

以桂西北环江县肯福环境移民安置示范区为例,对我国西南喀斯特地区环境移民安置区的气候、地貌、土壤与植被等主要生态因子进行了调查研究和取样分析。研究表明,环境移民安置地由于地处亚热带季风气候区,具有气候温暖,雨量充沛,日照充足,且雨热同季的特点;地貌破碎,土地以坡地为主,但有一定量可开垦利用的土地;土壤主要为红壤,土壤剖面发育良好,土壤质地和结构尚可,有机质和氮含量相对丰富,但磷、钾缺乏,土壤酸度大;植被以先锋植物为主。     

Adsorption von Blei und Cadmium an Tonen

Clay minerals as major components of soils can adsorb heavy metals. The release of toxic heavy metals such as lead and cadmium into soil presents a serious problem. To evaluate the behaviour of these elements in the environment, it is necessary to develop methods which allow precise analysis of heavy metals. This article compares and optimizes AAS methods for lead and cadmium.     

Cadmium contamination in Tianjin agricultural soils and sediments: relative importance of atmospheric deposition from coal combustion

Cadmium (Cd) in coal, fly ash, slag, atmospheric deposition, soils and sediments collected from Tianjin, northern China, were measured to provide baseline information and determine possible Cd sources and potential risk. The concentrations of Cd in coal, fly ash and atmospheric deposition were much higher than the soil background values. Fallout from coal-fired thermal power plants, heating boilers and industrial furnaces has increased the Cd concentration in soils and sediments in Tianjin. The concentrations of Cd in soils of suburban areas were significantly higher than in rural areas, suggesting that coal burning in Tianjin may have an important impact on the local physical environment. Cd from coal combustion is readily mobilized in soils. It is soluble and can form aqueous complexes and permeate river sediments. The high proportion of mobile Cd affects the migration of Cd in soils and sediments, which may pose an environmental threat in Tianjin due to the exposure to Cd and Cd compounds via the food chain. This study may provide a window for understanding and tracing sources of Cd in the local environment and the risk associated with Cd bioaccessibility.