Overview of strontium-89,90 deposition measurements in Finland 1963-2005

In Finland the deposition of strontium-89 (⁹⁰Sr) and strontium-90 (⁹⁰Sr) has been monitored since the early 1960s. The measured cumulative ⁹⁰Sr deposition in 1963-2005 is on average 1200 Bq m⁻², of which 150 Bq m⁻² originates from the Chernobyl accident. Adding to this the deposition in 1945-1962 produces a value of 2040 Bq m⁻² for the cumulative deposition in Finland. The nuclear explosion-derived deposition up to 1985 obtained in this study, 1850 Bq m⁻², is in good agreement with the zonal ⁹⁰Sr deposition of 1740 Bq m⁻² in the 60°N-70°N latitude band estimated by UNSCEAR. The regional deposition patterns of ⁸⁹Sr and ⁹⁰Sr following the Chernobyl accident resemble those of the refractory nuclides such as ^239,240Pu and ⁹⁵Zr. The total deposition of Chernobyl-derived ⁹⁰Sr in Finland was about 5.3 × 10¹³ Bq. This activity corresponds to 0.027% of the reactor core inventory and 0.66% of the atmospheric emissions from the accident. The corresponding figures for ⁸⁹Sr are 4.5 × 10¹⁴ Bq, 0.023% and 0.56%, respectively.     

Transfer of Sr into fish in Finnish lakes

The long-term behavior of ⁹⁰Sr was investigated from 1987 to 1997 in fifteen lakes in southern and central Finland following the 1986 Chernobyl accident. Both water and fish samples (perch, pike, vendace) were analyzed. ⁹⁰Sr stays long in the freshwater ecosystem; the observed half-lives during the study period were generally around 10 years in water and even longer in fish. One lake exhibited very different behavior for ⁹⁰Sr, with elevated levels in fish and water and very short observed half-life in fish, less than 2 years. Concentration factors of ⁹⁰Sr in fish (Bqkg⁻¹ f.w. in fish/Bqkg⁻¹ in water) among the studied lakes significantly correlated with both the Ca concentration and electrical conductivity of the water. More ⁹⁰Sr was transferred into fish in lakes with a low electrical conductivity and a low Ca concentration. Among other water parameters evaluated were pH, color, total nitrogen, and phosphorus.     

Effect of liming on the behaviour of (90)Sr and (137)Cs in a lake ecosystem

Liming of lakes is considered one possible remedial action to reduce the accumulation of radionuclides into fish in the case of a radiological accident. These responses were tested in field conditions in a small acidified lake that was divided into two parts: one limed with CaCO₃ and the other half left as an unlimed control. The transfer of ⁹⁰Sr from water into fish decreased on average by 50% during the first year after liming. However, at the same time the ⁹⁰Sr concentration in water increased, reaching a maximum within 6 months after liming. Approximately 50% more ⁹⁰Sr was detected in water in the limed part of the lake than on control side during the first year. ⁹⁰Sr was most probably released from the sediment as the Ca concentration and pH of the water increased. As a result of these two processes, which counterbalanced each other (increased release of ⁹⁰Sr into water from sediment and decreased transfer of ⁹⁰Sr from water into fish), the ⁹⁰Sr concentration in fish did not notably differ between the limed and control sides of the lake. Liming may only be suitable as a remedial action if carried out immediately after a radiological accident, before significant amounts of radionuclides have been deposited in lake sediments. In the case of ¹³⁷Cs, the effect of liming was less pronounced. ¹³⁷Cs activity concentration in water increased in the first year by 20% and uptake by fish decreased by 20%.     

Distribution of 90Sr and 137Cs in Arctic soil profiles polluted by heavy metals

Effects of industrial pollution on the behaviour of radionuclides in spruce forest ecosystems were studied along a gradient from of a copper-nickel smelter in Monchegorsk, NW Russia. A reference site was situated in Lapland, Finland, 152 km west of Monchegorsk. Most of the total 137Cs activity in soil was in mineral (E and B) horizons, except at the reference site where the major part was still in the organic surface layer. Most of the total 90Sr activity still remaining in the soil profile was found in the surface layer, but the relative amount decreased with increasing level of industrial pollution. Pollutants from the smelter clearly affected the chemical speciation of radionuclides. Smaller amounts of exchangeable radionuclides were present in the organic surface layer at the most polluted sites. The decline of 137Cs with decreasing distance from the smelter correlated strongly with a similar depletion in exchangeable K and Mg. Total concentrations of 137Cs and 90Sr showed high correlations with exchangeable cations, particularly in the E and upper B horizon. A sudden change in behaviour of 137Cs in the lower B horizon may be associated with changes in clay mineralogy along the soil profile caused by weathering.     

Levels and transfer of Po and Pb in Nordic terrestrial ecosystems

Recent developments regarding environmental impact assessment methodologies for radioactivity have precipitated the need for information on levels of naturally occurring radionuclides within and transfer to wild flora and fauna. The objectives of this study were therefore to determine activity concentrations of the main dose forming radionuclides ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb in biota from terrestrial ecosystems thus providing insight into the behaviour of these radioisotopes. Samples of soil, plants and animals were collected at Dovrefjell, Central Norway and Olkiluoto, Finland. Soil profiles from Dovrefjell exhibited an approximately exponential fall in ²¹⁰Pb activity concentrations from elevated levels in humus/surface soils to “supported” levels at depth. Activity concentrations of ²¹⁰Po in fauna (invertebrates, mammals, birds) ranged between 2 and 123 Bq kg⁻¹ d.w. and in plants and lichens between 20 and 138 Bq kg⁻¹ d.w. The results showed that soil humus is an important reservoir for ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb and that fauna in close contact with this media may also exhibit elevated levels of ²¹⁰Po. Concentration ratios appear to have limited applicability with regards to prediction of activity concentrations of ²¹⁰Po in invertebrates and vertebrates. Biokinetic models may provide a tool to explore in a more mechanistic way the behaviour of ²¹⁰Po in this system.     

Short- and long-term patterns of ¹³⁷Cs in fish and other aquatic organisms of small forest lakes in southern Finland since the Chernobyl accident

We summarize the patterns of ¹³⁷Cs activity concentrations and transfer into fish and other biota in four small forest lakes in southern Finland during a twenty-year period following the Chernobyl accident in April 1986. The results from summer 1986 showed fastest accumulation of ¹³⁷Cs into planktivorous fishes, i.e. along the shortest food chains. Since 1987, the highest annual mean values of ¹³⁷Cs have been recorded in fish occupying the highest trophic levels, for perch (Perca fluviatilis) 13,600 Bq/kg (ww) and for pike (Esox lucius) 20,700 Bq/kg (ww). At the same time, activity concentrations of ¹³⁷Cs in crustacean zooplankton and Asellus aquaticus have ranged between 1000 and 19,500 Bq/kg (dw). In 2006, 5-28% of the 1987 ¹³⁷Cs activity concentration levels were still present in perch and pike. Since 1989 their ¹³⁷Cs activity concentrations in oligohumic seepage lakes have remained significantly higher than in polyhumic drainage lakes due to the increased transfer of ¹³⁷Cs into fish in the seepage lakes with lower electrolyte concentrations, longer water retention times and lower sedimentation rate.