Validation of I ecological transfer models and thyroid dose assessments using Chernobyl fallout data from the Plavsk district, Russia

Within the project “Environmental Modelling for Radiation Safety” (EMRAS) organized by the IAEA in 2003 experimental data of ¹³¹I measurements following the Chernobyl accident in the Plavsk district of Tula region, Russia were used to validate the calculations of some radioecological transfer models. Nine models participated in the inter-comparison. Levels of ¹³⁷Cs soil contamination in all the settlements and ¹³¹I/¹³⁷Cs isotopic ratios in the depositions in some locations were used as the main input information. 370 measurements of ¹³¹I content in thyroid of townspeople and villagers, and 90 measurements of ¹³¹I concentration in milk were used for validation of the model predictions.A remarkable improvement in models performance comparing with previous inter-comparison exercise was demonstrated. Predictions of the various models were within a factor of three relative to the observations, discrepancies between the estimates of average doses to thyroid produced by most participant not exceeded a factor of ten.     

Tissue radionuclide concentrations in water birds and upland birds on the Hanford Site (USA) from 1971-2009

Historical operations at the Hanford Site (Washington State, USA) have released a wide array of non-radionuclide and radionuclide contaminants into the environment. As a result, there is a need to characterize contaminant effects on site biota. Within this framework, the main purpose of our study was to evaluate radionuclide concentrations in bird tissue, obtained from the Hanford Environmental Information System (HEIS). The database was sorted by avian group (water bird vs. upland bird), radionuclide (over 20 analytes), tissue (muscle, bone, liver), location (onsite vs. offsite), and time period (1971-1990 vs. 1991-2009). Onsite median concentrations in water birds were significantly higher (Bonferroni P < 0.05) than those in onsite upland birds for Cs-137 in muscle (1971-1990) and Sr-90 in bone (1991-2009), perhaps due to behavioral, habitat, or trophic species differences. Onsite median concentrations in water birds were higher (borderline significance with Bonferroni P = 0.05) than those in offsite birds for Cs-137 in muscle (1971-1990). Onsite median concentrations in the earlier time period were significantly higher (Bonferroni P < 0.05) than those in the later time period for Co-60, Cs-137, Eu-152, and Sr-90 in water bird muscle and for Cs-137 in upland bird muscle tissue. Median concentrations of Sr-90 in bone were significantly higher (Bonferroni P < 0.05) than those in muscle for both avian groups and both locations. Over the time period, 1971-2009, onsite median internal dose was estimated for each radionuclide in water bird and upland bird tissues. However, a meaningful dose comparison between bird groups was not possible, due to a dissimilar radionuclide inventory, mismatch of time periods for input radionuclides, and lack of an external dose estimate. Despite these limitations, our results contribute toward ongoing efforts to characterize ecological risk at the Hanford Site.     

Interference by the activated sludge matrix on the analysis of soluble microbial products in wastewater

The objective of this study was to demonstrate the effects of complex matrix effects caused by chemical materials on the analysis of key soluble microbial products (SMP) including proteins, humics, carbohydrates, and polysaccharides in activated sludge samples. Emphasis was placed on comparison of the commonly used standard curve technique with standard addition (SA), a technique that differs in that the analytical responses are measured for sample solutions spiked with known quantities of analytes. The results showed that using SA provided a great improvement in compensating for SMP recovery and thus improving measurement accuracy by correcting for matrix effects. Analyte recovery was found to be highly dependent on sample dilution, and changed due to extraction techniques, storage conditions and sample composition. Storage of sample extracts by freezing changed SMP concentrations dramatically, as did storage at 4 °C for as little as 1 d.     

Does the stress tolerance of mixed grassland communities change in a future climate? A test with heavy metal stress (zinc pollution)

Will species that are sensitive/tolerant to Zn pollution still have the same sensitivity/tolerance in a future climate? To answer this question we analysed the response of constructed grassland communities to five levels of zinc (Zn) supply, ranging from 0 to 354 mg Zn kg⁻¹ dry soil, under a current climate and a future climate (elevated CO₂ and warming). Zn concentrations increased in roots and shoots with Zn addition but this increase did not differ between climates. Light-saturated net CO₂ assimilation rate (A_sat) of the species, on the other hand, responded differently to Zn addition depending on climate. Still, current and future climate communities have comparable biomass responses to Zn, i.e., no change in root biomass and a 13% decrease of above-ground biomass. Provided that the different response of A_sat in a future climate will not compromise productivity and survival on the long term, sensitivity is not altered by climate change.     

菇渣作为有机栽培基质好氧改性的实验

研究分别以珍珠岩、菌种、猪粪作为添加料,对菇渣静态垛好氧发酵效果的影响。结果表明,菇渣+猪粪处理50℃以上的高温维持时间更长,挥发性固体(VS)和C/N下降幅度更高,有利于菇渣好氧发酵达到腐熟的状态。堆体内温度出现层次效应,高温发酵阶段下层温度高于中层温度,稳定阶段中层温度高于下层,堆体上层温度始终低于中下层。     

铁铈钛复合氧化物催化剂的制备及其选择性催化还原NO的性能

采用共沉淀法制备了一种新型催化剂——铁铈钛复合氧化物催化剂,研究了Fe掺加量、体积空速以及H2O和SO2的加入对其选择性催化还原NO性能的影响;采用XRD和SEM等手段对催化剂的结构和形貌进行了表征。表征结果显示,Fe的掺加使催化剂表面的颗粒更均匀,提高了催化剂的分散度。实验结果表明：以Ce（NO3）3,Fe（NO3）3?9H2O,TiOSO4?2H2O为原料、按n（Ce）∶n（Fe）∶n（Ti）=0.2∶0.8∶1配比制得的Ce0.2Fe0.8TiOx为催化剂,在反应温度250 ℃、反应时间3 h、体积空速25 000 h-1的条件下,NO去除率为99.8%,N2选择性为100%;Fe的掺加显著提高了Ce0.2Fe0.8TiOx催化剂的抗H2O和SO2的能力。     

Low dose effects and non-monotonic dose responses for endocrine active chemicals: Science to practice workshop: Workshop summary

A workshop was held in Berlin September 12–14th 2012 to assess the state of the science of the data supporting low dose effects and non-monotonic dose responses (“low dose hypothesis”) for chemicals with endocrine activity (endocrine disrupting chemicals or EDCs). This workshop consisted of lectures to present the current state of the science of EDC action and also the risk assessment process. These lectures were followed by breakout sessions to integrate scientists from various backgrounds to discuss in an open and unbiased manner the data supporting the “low dose hypothesis”. While no consensus was reached the robust discussions were helpful to inform both basic scientists and risk assessors on all the issues. There were a number of important ideas developed to help continue the discussion and improve communication over the next few years.     

Radionuclide content of building materials and associated gamma dose rates in Egyptian dwellings

Studies have been carried out to determine the natural radioactivity in some building materials (bricks, tiles, marble and ceramics) and their associated radiation hazard. The radioactivity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K were measured using a gamma spectrometer with a Hp–Ge detector. The activities of ²³⁸U and ²³⁴U were measured using an alpha-spectrometer with a surface barrier detector after applying a radiochemical procedure. The ²³⁴U/²³⁸U isotopic ratios were calculated. The radium equivalent activities and the radiation hazard index associated with the natural radionuclides were calculated. A computer program was developed and applied to calculate the dose rate a person will receive from the walls of a room constructed from the studied building materials.     

室内尘埃中铅的赋存形态与儿童血铅的相关性研究

有关室内尘埃中铅的赋存形态与儿童血铅的相关性研究尚未见报道。在对某地儿童血铅进行调查期间,发现当地儿童血铅浓度与室内尘埃中铅的水溶态、离子交换态、腐殖酸结合态、铁锰氧化态、强有机结合态和残渣态呈正相关,但不显著,无统计学意义。但与总铅浓度呈显著正相关(R=0.447,P=0.032),与铅的碳酸盐结合态呈高显著相关(R=0.537,P=0.008)。在此基础上,将儿童血铅分别与尘埃中铅暴露量、摄入量和潜在剂量进行相关分析,结果表明,儿童血铅与室内尘总铅摄入量和总铅潜在剂量正相关但无统计意义,与尘总铅暴露量显著相关(R=0.431,P=0.040),与碳酸盐态的暴露量(R=0.537,P=0.008)、摄入量(R=0.538,P=0.008)和潜在剂量(R=0.540,P=0.008)高度显著相关。提示在土壤和尘埃中铅的碳酸盐态含量较高的地区,碳酸盐态铅可能是造成儿童血铅超标的主要原因。     

Managing Uncertainty in Risk-Based Corrective Action Design: Global Sensitivity Analysis of Contaminant Fate and Exposure Models Used in the Dose Assessment

A variance-based global sensitivity analysis (GSA) was applied to the dose assessment model used in the risk-based corrective action methodology of environmental risk analysis to identify key sources of variability and uncertainty and quantify the relative contribution of these sources to the variance of estimated dose. GSA was performed applying extended Fourier amplitude sensitivity test technique. The soil-to-air contaminant transport pathway within an inhalation exposure scenario was addressed. Three persistent semi-volatile carcinogenic chemicals, including polychlorinated biphenyls, benzo(a)pyrene, and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, were chosen as contaminants of concern.