Cumulative deposition of 137Cs, 238Pu, 239+240Pu and 241Am from global fallout in soils from forest, grassland and arable land in Bavaria (FRG)

doi:10.1016/0265-931X(88)90010-0

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

Volume 8, Issue 1, 1988, Pages 1-14

https://doi.org/10.1016/0265-931X(88)90010-0 Get rights and content

Abstract

The cumulative deposition of ¹³⁷Cs, ²³⁸Pu, ^239+240Pu and ²⁴¹Am from global nuclear weapons fallout to the end of 1984 was determined in soils at 25 sites in southern Bavaria. At each location, soil samples were taken from forest, arable and grassland and these samples were analysed separately. On average, the accumulated deposition of these radionuclides per square metre was significantly higher (30%) in the forest (old spruce) than in the grassland soils. No difference was observable between the deposits on pasture and arable soils. A significant correlation was found between the accumulated depositions of these radionuclides and mean annual precipitation at each site. The regression lines obtained for this association show the same slope for grass and forest soils but are displaced against each other by 800 Bq m⁻². The data indicate that the long-term mean dry deposition velocity of ¹³⁷Cs is higher in the forest by about a factor of 9, relative to that on grassland. A contour map for the spatial distribution of ¹³⁷Cs is presented. The mean observed ratios, relative to ¹³⁷Cs, for the other radionuclides in the cumulative deposition were: $^{238} Pu, 0·000 68 ± 0·000 12;^{239+240} Pu, 0·018 ± 0·0024; and^{241} Am, 0·53 ± 0·0016$ .

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The contamination of the Baltic Sea with radioactive substances occurred due to the global fallout of atmospheric nuclear weapon tests and the Chernobyl disaster. The knowledge of ²⁴¹Am in the sediments of the Baltic Sea is limited. Thus, this study aimed to determine ²⁴¹Am in sediment cores collected from the southern Baltic Sea. Time-based distributions were derived from age-depth profiles using the ²¹⁰Pb dating method and further corroborated by ¹³⁷Cs profiles. The activities of ²⁴¹Am were measured by alpha spectrometry after radiochemical purification. The results show divergences in the concentrations of ²⁴¹Am at the local level, varying from 0.017 ± 0.001 Bq·kg⁻¹ at the Gotland Basin station to 3.19 ± 0.23 Bq·kg⁻¹ in the Gdańsk Basin. These findings enhance our understanding of the radioactive contamination levels in the Baltic Sea and serve as a crucial reference dataset for future assessments and management strategies to mitigate the environmental impact of radionuclides in the region.
Unveiling threats to glacier biota: Bioaccumulation, mobility, and interactions of radioisotopes with key biological components
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Contemporary melting glaciers are considered a secondary source of pollutants including radionuclides. Cryoconite - biogenic sediment on the glacier surface - exhibits high concentrations of natural and anthrophogenic radioisotopes. Understanding the interactions between radioisotopes and organisms is essential for evaluating their potential impact on glacier-related ecosystems. Using a multidimensional approach and intensive sampling (17 glaciers), we investigated the relationships between activity concentrations of ¹³⁷Cs and ²¹⁰Pb and various biotic components of cryoconite such as the amount of organic matter, chlorophyll concentration, the ratio of cyanobacteria to all bacteria, and size of cryoconite granules. Additionally, to better understand the bioavailability and fate of radioisotopes in this ecosystem, we measured the uptake ratio of ¹³⁷Cs, ²¹⁰Pb, ²³⁸Pu, and ^239+240Pu in the top consumers, and examined the mobility of radioisotopes by measuring ¹³⁷Cs and ²¹⁰Pb activity concentrations after a parallel extraction using media with different specific ion exchange capacities. The activity concentrations of both ¹³⁷Cs and ²¹⁰Pb showed a large variability reaching 5.8 kBq kg⁻¹ and 7.2 kBq kg⁻¹, respectively. Their activity concentrations were positively related to the amount of organic matter, however, the ²¹⁰Pb also increased with the chlorophyll concentration. This might be due to the difference in the deposition of both elements: lead, being deposited constantly, binds also to currently developing communities, while caesium deposition peaked in the 1960s. The mobility analysis revealed that the loosely bound fraction of ²¹⁰Pb was more strongly related to organic-metallic complexes than ¹³⁷Cs. Firmly bound radioisotope fractions (anhydrous interlayer sites of minerals) were three times higher for ¹³⁷Cs than for ²¹⁰Pb. The median uptake ratios of radioisotopes were determined as 0.07–0.111 for ¹³⁷Cs, 0.177 for ²¹⁰Pb, 0.07 for ^239+240Pu. Our findings emphasize the importance of organisms in the accumulation of radioisotopes on glaciers and suggest an impact of radionuclides on glacier organisms.
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Water erosion significantly contributes to global soil degradation, inducing detrimental consequences. One of the most adverse impacts is the sedimentation buildup in reservoirs, which results in reduced water storage capacity and damage to the agro-pedological environment. In Morocco's western Rif region, the Raouz watershed faces soil losses annually that disrupt the basin's ecosystems and impede socio-economic progress. These erosional losses manifest in the Moulay El Hassan Ben Mehdi (MHBM) Dam's sedimentation, causing substantial financial repercussions of several million dirhams/year. To comprehensively assess and quantify this soil degradation phenomenon, this study evaluates soil losses employing the revised universal soil loss equations (RUSLE), strategically integrating geographic information system (GIS) layers that encapsulate pertinent environmental variables such as climate, topography, soil composition, and land use. By utilizing these empirical equations, the identification of predominant factors responsible for soil water erosion within the Raouz watershed is achieved. The outcomes of this study methodology demonstrate an average soil loss estimate of 16.53 t/ha/yr through RUSLE application. Furthermore, comparing soil loss values from this study using RUSLE to those derived from prior research using the Caesium-137 method reveals relatively minor disparities.
Effect of soil organic matter on the fate of 137Cs vertical distribution in forest soils
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Understanding the fate of the vertical distribution of radiocesium (¹³⁷Cs) in Japanese forest soils is key to assessing the radioecological consequences of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident. The ¹³⁷Cs behavior in mineral soil is known to be primarily governed by interaction with clay minerals; however, some observations suggest the role of soil organic matter (SOM) in enhancing the mobility of ¹³⁷Cs. Here we hypothesized that soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration profile determines the ultimate vertical pattern of ¹³⁷Cs distribution in Japanese forest soils. In testing this hypothesis, we obtained soil samples that were collected before the FDNPP accident at four forest sites with varying SOC concentration profiles and quantified the detailed vertical profile of ¹³⁷Cs inventory in the soils roughly half a century after global fallout in the early 1960 s. Results showed that the higher the SOC concentration in the soil profile, the deeper the ¹³⁷Cs downward penetration. On the basis of the data for surface soils (0–10 cm), the ¹³⁷Cs retention ratio for each of the 2-cm thick layers was evaluated as the ratio of ¹³⁷Cs inventory in the target soil layer to the total ¹³⁷Cs inventory in and below the soil layer. A negative correlation was found between the ratio and SOC concentration of the layer across all soils and depths. This indicates that the ultimate fate of ¹³⁷Cs vertical distribution can be predicted as a function of SOC concentration for Japanese forest soils, and provides further evidence for SOM effects on the mobility and bioavailability of ¹³⁷Cs in soils.
Identification of the origin of radiocesium released into the environment in areas remote from nuclear accident and military test sites using the 135Cs/137Cs isotopic signature
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The isotopic signature of radionuclides provides a powerful tool for discriminating radioactive contamination sources and estimating their respective contributions in the environment. In this context, the ¹³⁵Cs/¹³⁷Cs ratio has been tested as a very promising isotopic ratio that had not been explored yet in many countries around the world including France. To quantify the levels of radioactivity found in the environment, a new method combining a thorough radiochemical treatment of the sample and an efficient measurement by ICP-MS/MS has been recently developed. This method was successfully applied, for the first time, to soil and sediment samples collected in France in two mountainous regions preferentially impacted either by global fallout from nuclear weapons testing (i.e., the Pyrenees) or by the Chernobyl accident (i.e., the Southern Alps). The ¹³⁵Cs/¹³⁷Cs ratios measured on twenty-one samples ranged from 0.66 ± 0.04 and 4.29 ± 0.21 (decay-corrected to January 1st, 2022) corresponding to the characteristic signatures of the fallout from Chernobyl and global fallout associated with the nuclear weapons testing, respectively. Moreover, large variations of both the ¹³⁷Cs mass activity and the studied isotopic ratio recorded by most samples from the southern Alps suggest varying proportions of these two ¹³⁷Cs sources. For these samples, the contribution of each source was estimated using this new tracer (¹³⁵Cs/¹³⁷Cs) and compared with the mixing contribution given by activity ratio: ^239+240Pu/¹³⁷Cs. This work has successfully demonstrated the applicability of the ¹³⁵Cs/¹³⁷Cs isotopic signature to nuclear forensic studies and could be extended to better evaluate the environmental impact of nuclear facilities (i.e., NPP, waste reprocessing).
The anthropogenic fallout radionuclides in soils of Mount Khuko (the Western Caucasus) and their application for determination of sediment redistribution
2022, Journal of Environmental Radioactivity
The purposes of this study are to determine the content and origin of anthropogenic fallout radionuclides (FRN) in soils of Mount Khuko, located in the western sector of the Caucasus Mountains and to assess the possibility to use them for evaluation of sediment redistribution for the alpine grasslands,.
The field study was carried out in August 2019 near the top of Mount Khuko, located in the western part of the main Caucasus Mountain Ridge. Integral and incremental soil samples were collected from the different morphological units of the studied area. The content of ¹³⁷Cs and ²⁴¹Am in soil samples was evaluated using laboratory gamma-spectrometry. A part of samples was selected for Pu isotopes extraction and then alpha-spectrometric analysis.
It was established that the ¹³⁷Cs contamination of soils in the studied area has at least two sources of origin. The first source is the ¹³⁷Cs bomb-derived fallout after the bomb tests in 1950–60th, which is widespread across the globe. The second source is ¹³⁷Cs Chernobyl-derived fallout High random variability (Cv = 25–42%) was found within reference sites, located at the undisturbed areas on the local flat interfluves due to high variability of soil characteristics (grain size, density, organic matter content etc.). However minimum spatial variability (range 12,2–14,3 kBq/m²) was identified for the mean value of ¹³⁷Cs inventories for all 5 reference sites located in the different parts of the studied area. It is difficult to separate individual peaks of the bomb-derived and Chernobyl-derived ¹³⁷Cs falloutin sediment sinks with low sedimentation rates.
Application ^239,240Pu as an additional chronological marker allows to identify the origin of above mention peaks in the soils of alpine grasslands and of dry lake bottom.

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Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

Abstract

References (21)

Soil to plant transfer of ^239+240Pu, ²³⁸Pu, ²⁴¹Am, ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr from global fallout in flour and bran from wheat, rye, barley and oats, as obtained by field measurements

Sci. Tot. Environm.

Environmental study of fallout plutonium from the Piemonte region (north-west Italy)

J. Environ. Radioactivity

Migration of solutes in a cultivated soil: effects of ploughing

Geoderma

The migration of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr in multilayered soils: results from batch, column, and fallout investigations

Nucl. Technol.

Spatial variability of fallout ¹³⁷Cs in the soil of a cultivated field

Environm. Monitor. and Assessment

Environmental Aspects of Americium

Fallout ^239+240Pu and ²³⁸Pu in human tissues from the Federal Republic of Germany

Health Phys.

Simultaneous determination of plutonium and americium in biological and environmental samples

J. Radioanal. & Nucl. Chem.

Observations on radioactivity from the Chernobyl accident

Nucl. Energy

The accumulation of ¹³⁷Cs and ^239+240Pu in soils of Great Britain, and transfer to vegetation

Cited by (162)

Vertical distribution of <sup>241</sup>Am in the southern Baltic Sea sediment profiles

Unveiling threats to glacier biota: Bioaccumulation, mobility, and interactions of radioisotopes with key biological components

Hydric erosion rates in Raouz watershed, Morocco: RUSLE, GIS, and remote sensing

Effect of soil organic matter on the fate of <sup>137</sup>Cs vertical distribution in forest soils

Identification of the origin of radiocesium released into the environment in areas remote from nuclear accident and military test sites using the <sup>135</sup>Cs/<sup>137</sup>Cs isotopic signature

The anthropogenic fallout radionuclides in soils of Mount Khuko (the Western Caucasus) and their application for determination of sediment redistribution

Cumulative deposition of 137Cs, 238Pu, 239+240Pu and 241Am from global fallout in soils from forest, grassland and arable land in Bavaria (FRG)

Abstract

Sci. Tot. Environm.

J. Environ. Radioactivity

Geoderma

The migration of 137Cs and 90Sr in multilayered soils: results from batch, column, and fallout investigations

Nucl. Technol.

Spatial variability of fallout 137Cs in the soil of a cultivated field

Environm. Monitor. and Assessment

Environmental Aspects of Americium

Fallout 239+240Pu and 238Pu in human tissues from the Federal Republic of Germany

Health Phys.

Simultaneous determination of plutonium and americium in biological and environmental samples

J. Radioanal. & Nucl. Chem.

Observations on radioactivity from the Chernobyl accident

Nucl. Energy

The accumulation of 137Cs and 239+240Pu in soils of Great Britain, and transfer to vegetation

Cumulative deposition of ¹³⁷Cs, ²³⁸Pu, ^239+240Pu and ²⁴¹Am from global fallout in soils from forest, grassland and arable land in Bavaria (FRG)

The migration of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr in multilayered soils: results from batch, column, and fallout investigations

Spatial variability of fallout ¹³⁷Cs in the soil of a cultivated field

Fallout ^239+240Pu and ²³⁸Pu in human tissues from the Federal Republic of Germany

The accumulation of ¹³⁷Cs and ^239+240Pu in soils of Great Britain, and transfer to vegetation