Interpolation of solid/liquid partition coefficients,K(d), for iodine in soils

The measurement of K(d) is difficult for most radionuclides: a different value is expected for every different soil. This study explored a modification of the constituent-K(d) approach used to estimate K(d) in geological materials. Here we selected five soils of very different compositions, four were field soils and one was an artificial potting soil. The soils were blended together in ratios of 1:1, 1:3 and 1:1:2 for all possible (60) 2- and 3-soil combinations. The K(d) was measured for each soil and each of the combined soils using additions of stable iodine. Our hypothesis was that the weighted average of the K(d)s of the original, unblended soils, weighted by the blending ratios, would be a reasonable estimate of the measured K(d)s of the blended soils. The ratios of expected/measured K(d) values did not deviate significantly from unity (a geometric mean of 0.91) for the four field soils. This result suggests that K(d) in the combined field soils could be estimated by the weighted average K(d) for the constituent soils. The resulting variation is consistent with other estimation methods. The practical implication of this finding is that, with K(d) data for a few benchmark soils in a region, one could estimate K(d) for other soils. The potting soil did not conform, and there are several possible explanations for this.     

Availability of 99Tc in undisturbed soil cores

Models for safety assessment of radioactive waste repositories need accurate values of the soil-to-plant transfer of radionuclides. In oxidizing environments, (99)Tc is expected to occur as pertechnetate ((99)TcO(4)(-)). Due to its high mobility, leaching of this element in the field might be important, potentially affecting the reliability of estimated transfer parameters of (99)Tc as measured in closed experimental systems such as hydroponics or pot experiments. The aim of this experiment was to measure the leaching of (99)Tc in undisturbed irrigated soil cores under cultivation as well as plant uptake and to study the possible competition between the two transfer pathways. Undisturbed soil cores (50 x 50 cm) were sampled from a Rendzic Leptosol (R), a colluvial Fluvic Cambisol (F) and a Dystric Cambisol (D) using PVC tubes (three cores sampled per soil type). Each core was equipped with a leachate collector at the bottom, allowing the monitoring of (99)Tc leaching through the cores. Cores were placed in a greenhouse and maize (Zea mays L., cv. DEA, Pioneer) was sown. After 135 d, maize was harvested and radioactivity determined in both plant and water samples. Results showed that during the growing period, leaching of (99)Tc was limited, due to the high evapotranspiration rate of maize. After harvest, leaching of (99)Tc went on because of the absence of evapotranspiration. Effective uptake (EU) of (99)Tc in leaves and grains was calculated. EU reached 70% of the input in the leaves and was not significantly different among soils. These results confirmed those obtained from pot experiments, even though leaching was allowed to occur in close-to-reality hydraulical conditions. As a consequence, it was concluded that pot experiments are an adequate surrogate for more complex "close-to-reality" experimental systems for measuring transfer factors.     

Preliminary indoor radon risk assessment at the Poços de Caldas Plateau,MG-Brazil

This paper aims to present an assessment of the environmental radiological exposure at a Brazilian area of high natural radiation and discusses the indoor radon exposure risk. A survey of inhabitant exposures arising from the inhalation of radon progeny and external gamma exposure was conducted in urban and rural areas of the Po?os de Caldas Plateau, which is recognized worldwide as a high natural radiation region. The results of this survey indicated that highest radiation exposure was restricted to the rural area of Po?os de Caldas. The radiation exposure in urban locations was quite similar to the values observed in normal background areas in some Brazilian counties. By the application of a constant relative risk model, an additional 20% in the lifetime risk of lung cancer mortality due to the exposure to radon progeny was estimated at Po?os de Caldas. It was also estimated that 16% of all lung cancer deaths at Po?os de Caldas county could be attributable to radon exposure.     

A kinetic-allometric approach to predicting tissue radionuclide concentrations for biota

Allometry, or the biology of scaling, is the study of size and its consequences. It has become a useful tool for comparative physiology. There are several allometric equations that relate body size to many parameters, including ingestion rate, lifespan, inhalation rate, home range and more. While these equations were originally derived from empirical observations, there is a growing body of evidence that these relationships have their origins in the dynamics of energy transport mechanisms. As part of an ongoing effort by the Department of Energy in developing generic methods for evaluating radiation dose to biota, we have examined the utility of applying allometric techniques to predicting radionuclide tissue concentration across a large range of terrestrial and riparian species of animals. This particular study examined 23 radionuclides. Initial investigations suggest that the allometric approach can provide a useful tool to derive limiting values of uptake and elimination factors for animals.     

Genetic consequences of radioactive contamination by the Chernobyl fallout to agricultural crops

The genetic consequences of radioactive contamination by the fallout to agricultural crops after the accident at the Chernobyl NPP in 1986 have been studied. In the first, acute, period of this accident, when the absorbed dose was primarily due to external beta- and gamma-irradiation, the radiation injury of agricultural crops, according to the basic cytogenetic tests, resembled the effect produced by acute gamma-irradiation at comparable doses. The yield of cytogenetic damage in leaf meristem of plants grown in the 10-km zone of the ChNPP in 1987-1989 (the period of chronic, lower level radiation exposure) was shown to be enhanced and dependent on the level of radioactive contamination. The rate of decline with time in cytogenetic damage induced by chronic exposure lagged considerably behind that of the radiation exposure. Analysis of genetic variability in three sequential generations of rye and wheat revealed increased cytogenetic damage in plants exposed to chronic irradiation during the 2nd and 3rd years.     

Risk assessment and pathway study of arsenic in industrially contaminated sites of Hyderabad: a case study

Different areas in the industrial region of Patancheru near Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (A.P), India are contaminated with high concentration of arsenic, which is attributed to industrial source like veterinary chemicals, pharmaceuticals, pesticide industries, etc. Fourteen villages of this area of Patancheru were assessed for arsenic contamination by collecting samples of water (surface and ground), soil, fodder, milk, and vegetables. The total arsenic content in the whole blood, urine, hair, and nails of the residents showing arsenical skin lesions and other clinical manifestations were also studied. To understand the bioavailability of arsenic in this environment and its possible entry into human food chain, speciation studies of arsenic was carried out and the results are presented in this paper.     

Analysis of microcystins in cyanobacteria blooms and surface water samples from Meiliang Bay,Taihu Lake,China

Taihu Lake is the third largest freshwater lake in China. In recent years, the water pollution of cyanobacteria blooms has become a severe problem in this area. Microcystins (MCs) are an important group of toxic compounds mainly produced by some cyanobacteria species and have both acute and chronic hepatotoxic effects on animals and humans. This paper presents the first data on the identification and detection of MCs in both natural occurring cyanobacteria blooms and surface water samples (0-0.5 m), collected from Meiliang Bay, Taihu Lake, China. A conventional method for extraction and isolation of MCs from cyanobacteria blooms was applied. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis showed that the main toxic component in the cyanobacteria materials was MC-LR. The monoclonal antibody (mAb) against MC-LR produced by hybridoma technique was employed for direct competitive ELISA to detect the concentrations of MCs in bloom and water samples collected in 2001. The results not only revealed the presence of MCs but also temporal variations of MCs levels of three sampling stations in Meiliang Bay in 1 year. It is obvious that the MC contents were relatively higher during warm months and related with the status of eutrophication. Our study indicates the threat associated with MCs in water body of Taihu Lake. To prevent the MCs potential hazard on public health in this area, some necessary measures of monitoring and control of growth of cyanobacteria are urgently needed.     

Zingiberene and curcumene in wild tomato

Composition of ginger oil prepared from fresh ginger rhizomes, Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Zingiberaceae) was determined by gas chromatography (GC) and GC-mass spectrometric techniques. The main sesquiterpene hydrocarbons identified were alpha-zingiberene (27-30%), alpha-curcumene (8-9%), beta-sesquiphellandrene (4.8%). and bisabolene (3.2%). The function of zingiberene and curcumene as insecticides, repellents, and insect feeding deterrents has been previously reported. Other plant species having similar constituents might be found. Leaves of six wild tomato accessions of Lycopersicon hirsutum f. glabratum (Mull); three accessions of L. hirsutum f. typicum (Humb & Bonpl.); two accessions of L. pennellii Corr. (D'Arcy); one accession of L. pimpinellifolium; and one commercial tomato L. esculentumm cv. Fabulous were analyzed. Analysis of L. hirsutum f. typicum (Solanaceae) accessions indicated the presence of zingiberene, curcumene, and other lipophilic secondary metabolites in the leaves of two accessions (PI-127826 and PI-127827). An average three month old wild tomato plant of accessions PI-127826 and PI-127827 provided 1.93 and 1.30 kg fresh leaves (averaging about 38,307 and 28,130 cm2 exposed leaf surface area, respectively) and produced 19.3 and 10.1 g of zingiberene and curcumene (PI-127826) and 17.2 and 1.8 g of zingiberene and curcumene (PI-127827), respectively. Leaf extracts of the wild tomato L. hirsutum f. typicum (accessions PI-127826 and PI-127827) can be used as a biorational source of zingiberene and curcumene.     

Dissipation and mobility of permethrin in the field with repeated applications under tropical conditions

Studies on persistence, mobility and the effect of repeated application of permethrin on its half-life were carried out under field conditions. The half-life of permethrin in the top 20 cm of the soil increased from 11.5 to 23.6 days as the application rates increased from 35 to 140 g ha(-1). Induced by heavier rainfall, more residues moved downward in trial 2 than in trial 1. Repeated applications enhanced degradation rates and mobility of permethrin in the soil. The residue level in the 0-5-cm layer was reduced at day 28 after 17 consecutive applications to a level lower than after 5 applications. The half-life of permethrin was reduced from 15.9 days to 11.2 days after 5 and 17 applications, respectively. The residue reached the 15-20 cm layer much earlier (approximately 3 days after treatment) in soil that received 17 applications as compared to those with two applications.     

Aluminium speciation in effluents and receiving waters

The respective speciation of aluminium in sewage effluent and in river water receiving effluent, has been examined. Results showed that concentrations of reactive aluminium changed over a timescale of hours and were controlled predominantly by pH. A minimum concentration of reactive aluminium occurred at a pH of approximately 6.8, coinciding with the prevalence of non-reactive, insoluble Al(OH)3 species. For receiving waters of low pH value, typically < pH 5, a large proportion of the 'naturally present' aluminium can be present in a reactive form at concentrations higher than the proposed Environmental Quality Standard (EQS). Mixing of waters of this type with effluent of a higher pH value leads to the precipitation of aluminium hydroxide. Mixing of effluent of pH value in the range 7.5-8.0 with river water in the same (or slightly higher) pH range appears to result in no appreciable change in the proportion of reactive aluminium; the change in concentration tends to be related simply to dilution. On the basis of a theoretical knowledge of aluminium speciation, results obtained in this work indicate that it is possible to make predictions about the proportion of reactive aluminium present in a receiving water, based on the pH values of the effluent water mixture and the concentration in the effluent. Reasonable comparisons between measured and predicted values were obtained at higher pH values, but the relationship was less certain at pH values less than 6.5 for which levels of reactive metal tended to be higher than the quality standard value.