{"title":"In memoriam: Dr. Keith Alan Hobson, a pioneer of stable isotope ecology.","authors":"Leonard I Wassenaar","doi":"10.1080/10256016.2024.2434511","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10256016.2024.2434511","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":14597,"journal":{"name":"Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies","volume":" ","pages":"1-2"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142768968","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Matthias Pilecky, Martin J Kainz, Leonard I Wassenaar
{"title":"Exploring hydrogen isotope fractionation in lipid biomolecules of freshwater algae: implications for ecological and paleoenvironmental studies.","authors":"Matthias Pilecky, Martin J Kainz, Leonard I Wassenaar","doi":"10.1080/10256016.2024.2419880","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10256016.2024.2419880","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Understanding the stable hydrogen isotope (<i>δ</i><sup>2</sup>H) composition and fractionation in lipid biomolecules of primary producers, such as terrestrial and aquatic plants, is crucial for deciphering past environmental conditions, as well as applying compound-specific stable isotope analysis for the study of metabolic and ecological processes. We conducted a new tracer experiment to explore the <i>δ</i><sup>2</sup>H composition of algal fatty acid biomarkers, focusing on freshwater algae, which form the base of aquatic food webs. We selected a range of algal species widely found in freshwater ecosystems and cultivated them under controlled conditions. First, we added <sup>2</sup>H<sub>2</sub>O to ambient water as a tracer to investigate the net hydrogen isotope fractionation during algal lipid synthesis at isotopic equilibrium, which is particularly informative for paleo-geochemical studies. Then, we conducted kinetic experiments to quantify the time needed for algal fatty acids to achieve isotopic steady-state conditions in response to the change in ambient water <i>δ</i><sup>2</sup>H values. Our findings revealed substantial variability in hydrogen isotope fractionation among different algal taxa and various fatty acids. Based on taxa, different fatty acids exhibited faster integration of water hydrogen than others, but they were not necessarily in the order of the biosynthetic pathway. This experiment underscores the complexity of hydrogen isotope fractionation and the requirement for controlled laboratory studies to properly apply compound-specific stable H isotope analysis techniques in ecological and paleo-environmental studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":14597,"journal":{"name":"Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies","volume":" ","pages":"585-595"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142521954","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hannan Younis, Mian Mateen Ullah, Muhammad Adil Khan, Farooq Ahmad, Umair Azeem, Muhammad Waseem, Khurram Mehboob, Muhammad Ajaz, Wazir Muhammad
{"title":"Assessment of natural radioactivity levels in rice samples and their implications for radiological protection.","authors":"Hannan Younis, Mian Mateen Ullah, Muhammad Adil Khan, Farooq Ahmad, Umair Azeem, Muhammad Waseem, Khurram Mehboob, Muhammad Ajaz, Wazir Muhammad","doi":"10.1080/10256016.2024.2412707","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10256016.2024.2412707","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study investigates the levels of natural and artificial radioactivity in rice samples collected from various local markets in Islamabad, Pakistan. The <sup>226</sup>Ra, <sup>232</sup>Th, and <sup>40</sup>K activity concentrations were measured through gamma-ray spectrometry with a NaI(Tl) detector. The average activity concentrations were 1.67 ± 1.19 Bq kg<sup>-1</sup> for <sup>226</sup>Ra, 3.31 ± 1.83 Bq kg<sup>-1</sup> for <sup>232</sup>Th, and 88.51 ± 11.65 Bq kg<sup>-1</sup> for <sup>40</sup>K. Calculated radium equivalent (Ra<sub>eq</sub>) values ranged from 7.35 to 18.08 Bq kg<sup>-1</sup>, with a mean value of 11.11 Bq kg<sup>-1</sup>, all below the permissible maximum of 370 Bq kg<sup>-1</sup>. The absorbed dose rates ranged from 6.85 to 16.39 nGy h<sup>-1</sup>, with an average of 10.64 nGy h<sup>-1</sup>, falling below the acceptable limit of 51 nGy h<sup>-1</sup>. The outdoor and indoor radiation hazard indices (H<sub>ex</sub> and H<sub>in</sub>) had mean values of 0.03, both below the threshold value of one. The external and internal hazard indices (<i>I<sub>γ</sub></i> and <i>I<sub>α</sub></i>) were both 0.088, also below the critical value of one. The excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) ranged from 0.28 to 0.11, with a mean value of 0.18, which is less than the critical value of one. Overall, the radioactivity levels in the analyzed rice samples are within the acceptable limits set by the International Commission on Radiological Protection and are below global averages. These results offer important insights into the radiological safety of rice consumption in the study area.</p>","PeriodicalId":14597,"journal":{"name":"Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies","volume":" ","pages":"615-627"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142500600","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Copper and its isotopes: a brief overview of its implications in geology, environmental system, and human health.","authors":"Tanya Srivastava, Nishchal Wanjari","doi":"10.1080/10256016.2024.2410290","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10256016.2024.2410290","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Copper, a malleable and ductile transition metal, possesses two stable isotopes. These copper isotopic composition data have recently found diverse applications in various fields and disciplines. In geology, copper isotopes serve as tracers that aid in investigating ore formation processes and the mechanisms of copper deposits Likewise, it has emerged as a valuable tracer in polluted environments. In plant biology, copper acts as an essential micronutrient crucial for photosynthesis, respiration, and growth. Copper isotopes contribute to understanding how plants uptake and dispense copper from the soil within their tissues. Similarly, in animals, copper serves as an essential trace element, playing a vital role in growth, white blood cell function, and enzyme activity. In humans, copper acts as an antioxidant, neutralising harmful free radicals within the body. It also helps in maintaining the nervous and immune system. Furthermore, copper isotopes find medical applications, particularly in cancer diagnostics, neurodegenerative diseases, and targeted radiotherapy. However, excessive copper can have detrimental effects in humans such as it can cause liver damage, nausea, and abdominal pain, whilst in plants it can affect the growth of plants, photosynthesis, and membrane permeability. This review emphasises the significance of copper and its isotopes in geology, the environment, and human health.</p>","PeriodicalId":14597,"journal":{"name":"Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies","volume":" ","pages":"642-667"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142375468","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"In memoriam: Dr. Keith Alan Hobson, a pioneer of stable isotope ecology.","authors":"Leonard I Wassenaar","doi":"10.1080/10256016.2024.2434511","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10256016.2024.2434511","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":14597,"journal":{"name":"Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies","volume":"60 6","pages":"555-556"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142836422","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Vanessa Fichtner, Ferdinand Kirchner, Martin Kutzschbach, Harald Strauss, Mikael Tillberg, Martin Whitehouse, Henrik Drake
{"title":"Microscale δ<sup>34</sup>S and δ<sup>18</sup>O variations of barite as an archive for fluid mixing and microbial sulphur metabolisms in igneous rock aquifers.","authors":"Vanessa Fichtner, Ferdinand Kirchner, Martin Kutzschbach, Harald Strauss, Mikael Tillberg, Martin Whitehouse, Henrik Drake","doi":"10.1080/10256016.2024.2410293","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10256016.2024.2410293","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The stable isotope compositions of sulphur (δ<sup>34</sup>S) and oxygen (δ<sup>18</sup>O) in barite are frequently used as proxies for microbial sulphate reduction (MSR) in diverse environments, such as in relation to anaerobic oxidation of methane in marine cold seeps. There, isotopically heavy barite is used as a marker for MSR from a sulphate pool that has undergone semi-closed system conditions. Closed-system MSR is also a commonly observed feature in igneous rock hosted fracture aquifers, as shown by extremely <sup>34</sup>S-enriched pyrite. What is less well-constrained is whether δ<sup>34</sup>S in barite can be used as a proxy for MSR in such systems. Here we explore the microscale heterogeneity of δ<sup>34</sup>S and δ<sup>18</sup>O via secondary ion mass spectrometry and the trace element Sr via LA-ICP-MS maps in barite precipitated in granite-hosted boreholes during a 17-year experiment, at Äspö, Sweden. We compare it with δ<sup>18</sup>O<sub>sulfate</sub>, δ<sup>34</sup>S<sub>sulfate</sub>, and δ<sup>34</sup>S<sub>sulfide</sub> of the fracture fluids and with paragenetic pyrite with δ<sup>34</sup>S values reflecting closed system MSR. The δ<sup>18</sup>O values in barite (+9.4 to +16.9 ‰) represent two generations of barite, one with low values and one with high values. The latter are likely impacted by sulphur disproportionating or -oxidizing bacteria. The barite reflects a much smaller span in δ<sup>34</sup>S (+14.5 to +28.6 ‰) than the pyrite (-47.2 to +53.3 ‰). This lack of extremely high δ<sup>34</sup>S<sub>barite</sub> values is proposed to be due to that barite saturation only occurred in the early parts of the Rayleigh cycle. Additionally, fluid migration has affected the δ<sup>34</sup>S values to lower values, accompanied by higher Sr concentrations. Taken together, barite δ<sup>34</sup>S values cannot be regarded as a reliable independent proxy for MSR in deep sulphate-poor igneous rock hosted aquifers. However, the relation between the δ<sup>34</sup>S values of coeval barite and pyrite is regarded as a useful proxy for MSR-related fractionation during early stages of MSR.</p>","PeriodicalId":14597,"journal":{"name":"Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies","volume":" ","pages":"557-584"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142375470","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Estimation of radiological health risks due to <sup>226</sup>Ra, <sup>232</sup>Th, and <sup>40</sup>K in foods consumed in Iraqi Kurdistan Region.","authors":"Dedawan Salam Saleh, Hemn Salh, Jahfer Majeed Smail, Saddon T Ahmad, Sarmad Raheem Kareem","doi":"10.1080/10256016.2024.2411360","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10256016.2024.2411360","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study investigates the activity concentration of natural radionuclides in a diverse range of food samples in the Koya district markets food baskets, including both domestic and imported products. The samples cover annual crops (e.g. coffee, tea, kidney beans), tree nuts (e.g. almonds, pistachios), and other items (e.g. beef, fish, milk) by using a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector. This research addresses a notable gap by providing baseline data on radionuclide concentrations and assessing potential health risks. Average activity concentrations for ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K were 0.943, 0.367, and 191.8 Bq kg<sup>-1</sup>, respectively. Radium equivalent activity values ranged from 2.88-58.48 Bq kg<sup>-1</sup>, all below the safety limit. The average excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) was 0.154 mSv a<sup>-1</sup>, indicating safety for most samples, though coffee and tea showed higher levels. This study provides new data crucial for future research and regulatory monitoring, underscoring the need for further investigation into geological impacts on radionuclide levels.</p>","PeriodicalId":14597,"journal":{"name":"Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies","volume":" ","pages":"628-641"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142375469","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jonathan Holmes, Anne-Lise Jourdan, W George Darling
{"title":"Stable-isotope variability in daily precipitation: insights from a low-cost collector in SE England.","authors":"Jonathan Holmes, Anne-Lise Jourdan, W George Darling","doi":"10.1080/10256016.2024.2402730","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10256016.2024.2402730","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Precipitation stable-isotope data are often used in hydroclimatic, hydrological and hydrogeological investigations, with measurements typically undertaken on integrated monthly samples. However, daily sampling reveals overlooked aspects of controls on precipitation isotope values, including synoptic meteorological conditions. We present a one-year record of stable isotopes in daily precipitation during 2021, from a site in SE England close to Greater London. We find marked daily variability over the course of the year (-15.62 to +0.92 ‰ for δ<sup>18</sup>O, -108.7 to +2.9 ‰ for δ<sup>2</sup>H and -6.5 to +23.1 ‰ for deuterium excess). Correlations with individual meteorological variables including precipitation amount, temperature and weather type are moderate to weak suggesting complex controls on the daily rainfall isotope values. The daily data are compared with three other daily datasets from England and, by conversion to monthly values, directly with data from three long-term collection stations across Britain and Ireland. The scale of variability in the daily data from our site is consistent with that seen in other English records despite them all coming from different time periods. The monthly data show broad consistency, although there are differences that also highlight geographical variability in precipitation values across the British Isles.</p>","PeriodicalId":14597,"journal":{"name":"Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies","volume":" ","pages":"596-614"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142287302","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zhijie Li, Rüdiger Reichel, Holger Wissel, Kerui Zhao, Nicolas Brüggemann
{"title":"Co-application of glucose and phosphorus with recalcitrant high-carbon soil amendments improves N retention in a reclaimed soil: a long-term incubation study.","authors":"Zhijie Li, Rüdiger Reichel, Holger Wissel, Kerui Zhao, Nicolas Brüggemann","doi":"10.1080/10256016.2024.2423797","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10256016.2024.2423797","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Incorporation of soil amendments with high organic carbon content (HCA) can reduce losses of mineral nitrogen (N) from agricultural soils. The magnitude of N immobilization and remobilization is strongly controlled by the availability of carbon (C) and phosphorus (P). However, the exact mechanisms and interactions between C, N, and P availability are poorly understood. An eight-month incubation experiment was conducted on recultivated mine soil with low organic C, mineral N and P background concentrations to investigate the effects of HCA in combination with <sup>13</sup>C-labelled glucose and mineral P fertilization on greenhouse gas emissions, soil nutrient status (dissolved organic C (DOC), nitrate (NO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup>), extractable P), and microbial biomass growth. The experiment had a factorial design of one N level × two P levels × six C treatments (control, wheat straw, poplar sawdust, glucose, and combinations of wheat straw or sawdust with glucose). The HCA increased the cumulative CO<sub>2</sub> and CH<sub>4</sub> emissions but decreased N<sub>2</sub>O emission, except for wheat straw. Addition of <sup>13</sup>C-labelled glucose decreased the cumulative CH<sub>4</sub> emission by 59 and 85 % in the sawdust and sawdust + P treatment, respectively. Glucose application reduced the NO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup> content in the HCA-amended soil by 26-64 %, while P fertilizer further decreased the NO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup> content in the wheat straw and sawdust treatments by 20 and 24 %, respectively. Both HCA and glucose treatments promoted microbial biomass growth and reduced the soil mineral N content. The δ<sup>13</sup>C of microbial biomass (δ<sup>13</sup>C<sub>MB</sub>) showed an increasing trend during the whole experiment, although <sup>13</sup>C-labelled glucose was added only once at the beginning of the experiment. Addition of HCA decreased δ<sup>13</sup>C<sub>MB</sub>, while P addition had the opposite effect. In conclusion, adding a readily available C source to HCA may increase the efficacy of retaining N in post-harvest soils, particularly of more recalcitrant types of HCA like sawdust.</p>","PeriodicalId":14597,"journal":{"name":"Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies","volume":" ","pages":"1-19"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142716098","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Andrea Vukoja, Tomislav Bogdanović, Davor Rašeta, Nora Miljanić, Iva Ivanišić Risek, Krunoslav Ilić, Ivan Pavičić, Ana Marija Marjanović Čermak, Branko Petrinec
{"title":"Dragonflies (Odonata) as bioindicators of radioactivity.","authors":"Andrea Vukoja, Tomislav Bogdanović, Davor Rašeta, Nora Miljanić, Iva Ivanišić Risek, Krunoslav Ilić, Ivan Pavičić, Ana Marija Marjanović Čermak, Branko Petrinec","doi":"10.1080/10256016.2024.2425070","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10256016.2024.2425070","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bioindicators are living organisms that are successfully used for monitoring changes in the environmental health due to natural and/or anthropogenic influences. Dragonflies (Odonata) are considered to be good indicators of water quality; however, research on dragonflies as potential indicators of radioactivity is scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate dragonflies as potential biological indicators of ionising radiation in nature by measuring <sup>137</sup>Cs activity concentrations in the dragonfly and river water samples. Altogether, 11 collective samples of dragonflies were collected from the bank of the Mura-Drava-Danube Biosphere Reserve, in the area of Virovitica-Podravina County. Following the initial sample preparation, the gamma spectrometry technique, employing an ORTEC HPGe detector system, was utilised to determine the activity concentrations of <sup>137</sup>Cs. The results show that the activity concentrations of <sup>137</sup>Cs in the river water were in the range from 4 to 13 Bq/m<sup>3</sup>. The results of dragonfly samples showed that <sup>137</sup>Cs was in the range from 1.7 to 3 Bq/kg. This was more than a hundred times higher than in the river Drava water. According to the obtained results, we conclude that dragonflies could be used as potential bioindicators of radioactivity.</p>","PeriodicalId":14597,"journal":{"name":"Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142687020","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}