Journal of environmental radioactivity最新文献

{"title":"Interception and uptake by plants leaves of tritium from precipitation","authors":"Anca Melintescu ,&nbsp;Luc Patryl","doi":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107677","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107677","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Radiological and environmental impact assessment models are used for evaluating the radiological impact of actual and potential releases of radionuclides into the environment. For tritium, a special radionuclide that readily enters into many organic forms, the processes involved in its interception and uptake by plant leaves during a tritiated rain are complex and not yet well understood. When rain containing tritiated water (HTO) starts, water is retained progressively on leaves up to a maximum storage capacity and also evaporates from the wet canopy part. The dynamics of leaf HTO concentration depends also on rain intensity and duration. In the absence of experimental data for leaf HTO concentration due to tritiated rain, various processes of potential importance are presented. Processes such as: leaf interception during rain event, interaction between drops and leaf surface, and extension of water layer (adhesion fraction) are described in the present study. Recent results on pesticide spray and sprinkler irrigation experiments and modelling approaches are used, because they provide useful information for the interaction between water droplets and the leaf surface. The rain drop diameter distribution and the associated drop falling velocity are linked with the washout studies and past results for tritium are used. The main crops (<em>i.e</em>. wheat, maize, barley, soybean, oilseed rape, and grape) around Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant (Romania), operating two CANDU 6 units with high tritium loads are considered. For radiological impact assessment of tritium, the tritiated rain on crops at harvest for normal and/or short term and intense tritium release are presented.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of environmental radioactivity","volume":"285 ","pages":"Article 107677"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143682560","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Engineering barriers in deep geological disposal: Implications for radioactive nuclide migration and long-term safety","authors":"Nan Li ,&nbsp;Xianzhe Duan ,&nbsp;Guowen Peng","doi":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107670","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107670","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The rapid growth of nuclear energy technology, along with the expansion of global nuclear power projects, has led to a significant increase in high-level radioactive wastes (HLWs), particularly spent fuel from nuclear power plants. The disposal of HLWs remains a major challenge due to its high radioactivity, long half-lives, and complex management requirements. Ensuring the long-term safety of HLW disposal is critical for the sustainable development of nuclear energy. Currently, deep geological disposal is considered the most effective and secure method for isolating HLW. This method relies on a multi-barrier system that combines natural geological barriers with artificial engineering barriers to achieve the long-term isolation of radioactive wastes. Engineering barriers, including waste containers, buffering materials, and backfill materials, are essential for preventing radioactive leakage and maintaining isolation in the face of geological and environmental changes. Recent studies have focused on the design and optimization of these barriers, particularly their impact on the migration of key radioactive nuclides. Insights from international practices and technological advancements have highlighted the importance of materials like bentonite, disposal containers, and other engineering barriers in optimizing multi-barrier systems for HLW disposal. Bentonite, a widely used buffering material, is known for its excellent adsorption properties and low permeability. Recent modifications to bentonite have enhanced its ability to adsorb radioactive nuclides such as cesium (Cs) and plutonium (Pu), significantly improving the safety and long-term stability of disposal facilities. Additionally, the migration mechanisms of radioactive nuclides have been examined, with particular attention to the influence of hydrochemical conditions—such as hydration, ion concentration, and pH—on bentonite's adsorption capabilities. This study sheds light on the migration pathways and rates of these nuclides in HLW disposal systems. Another key area of focus is the materials used for disposal containers, particularly cement-based and metal materials, which play a critical role in mitigating corrosion risks during long-term storage. While experimental data show promising corrosion resistance under specific conditions, continued researches are necessary to evaluate the long-term durability of these materials. These findings provide valuable theoretical insights for the engineering design of HLW geological disposal, offering references for the site selection, design, and material optimization of disposal facilities, particularly in China. As experimental data and theoretical models continue to evolve, future safety assessments and long-term behavior predictions will become more accurate. By promoting international collaboration and interdisciplinary research, these efforts contribute to the development of a scientific foundation for the safe and sustainable disposal ","PeriodicalId":15667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of environmental radioactivity","volume":"285 ","pages":"Article 107670"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143643811","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Height and terrain correction of UAV radioactive measurements based on DEM data","authors":"Zhipeng Deng ,&nbsp;Liangquan Ge ,&nbsp;Long Wen ,&nbsp;Shengliang Guo ,&nbsp;Chuanfeng Tang ,&nbsp;Peng Yu ,&nbsp;Zekuan Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107655","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107655","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this study, we explore the application of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) gamma spectrometry in terrestrial radiometric surveys, with a particular focus on the impact of UAV flight altitudes and rough terrain on measurement. Through field experiments conducted at a rare earth deposit in Sichuan, China, radioactive data were obtained from 509 UAV survey points and 585 ground measurement points. A physical model for measuring ground radioactivity using UAVs is established, and the digital elevation model (DEM) in the survey area is used to correct the height and terrain of radioactivity at the measurement points. By qualitatively and quantitatively analyzing the differences between UAV and ground measurement systems in height and terrain, it concludes that the use of height and terrain correction method can utilize UAV measurement data to indicate ground air absorption dose rates, and the indication of corrected UAV-measured data is enhanced as the correction range expands. The results of this study not only confirm the effectiveness of UAV measurement technology in radiometric surveys, but also provide a new method for radiometric surveys under large-scale and complex terrain conditions, which has significant practical application value in fields such as environmental monitoring, resource exploration, and nuclear security.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of environmental radioactivity","volume":"285 ","pages":"Article 107655"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143627965","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Bone and head kidney radiation dosimetry for roach from radioactively contaminated reservoirs: Method elaboration and application","authors":"E.A. Shishkina ,&nbsp;M.V. Tyukhay ,&nbsp;A.A. Peretykin ,&nbsp;E.A. Pryakhin ,&nbsp;A.V. Akleyev","doi":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107659","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107659","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To establish causal relationships between radiation exposure and tissue effects, it is necessary to calculate the doses to critical organs and tissues and to evaluate the dose-effect relationship. The tools of non-human biota dosimetry that exist nowadays do not take into account the heterogeneous radionuclide distribution between organs and tissues. In the current study, a computational phantom of the roach body segment was developed based on the assessment of the morphometric parameters of target organs. The spine, ribs and head kidney were considered as target organs for bone and hematological effects of radiation exposure. The dose factors to convert specific activity of incorporated ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs to dose rates in target organs were calculated based on Monte Carlo simulation of electron and photon transport. One Bq/g of ⁹⁰Sr in bone tissue lead to dose rates equal to 1.98, 3.38 and 7.49 μGy/day in the head kidney, ribs and spine, respectively. The accumulation of ¹³⁷Cs in the bones results in bone-specific dose rates that are 3–4 times lower than those at the same concentration of ⁹⁰Sr. The obtained results were used to calculate doses to the roach from two radioactively contaminated waterbodies of Ural region. Maximum doses were typical of vertebra (1.4 ± 0.2 and 27.0 ± 8.3 mGy/day). They were 1.4–3 times higher than doses head kidney and ribs. One can expect more pronounced bone effects of radiation exposure in the vertebral bodies than in the ribs of fish, and they should be considered as separate target organs in the presence of Strontium isotopes in the environment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of environmental radioactivity","volume":"285 ","pages":"Article 107659"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143619336","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Influence of effective decay constant uncertainty on radon exhalation rate measurement from medium surfaces using CR-39","authors":"Xinyue Yang ,&nbsp;Zhongkai Fan ,&nbsp;Huiying Li ,&nbsp;Ruomei Xie ,&nbsp;Shuaibin Liu ,&nbsp;Shuai Yuan ,&nbsp;Haibo Yi ,&nbsp;Jiale Sun ,&nbsp;Zhipeng Liu ,&nbsp;Jiulin Wu ,&nbsp;Shicheng Luo ,&nbsp;Xianfa Mao ,&nbsp;Chenxi Zu ,&nbsp;Feng Xiao ,&nbsp;Hongbo Xu ,&nbsp;Hongzhi Yuan ,&nbsp;Yanliang Tan","doi":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107669","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107669","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The CR-39 solid-state nuclear track detector is a commonly used instrument for passively measuring radon. When using CR-39 to measure the radon exhalation rate from the surface of a medium, the effects of leakage are often overlooked. However, to a certain extent, system leakage can affect the accuracy of the measurement results. Therefore, the effect of different effective decay constants (including leakage) on the radon exhalation rate is worth studying. In this study, both theoretical and experimental validation methods were used to verify the effect of the uncertainty of the effective decay constant on the results of CR-39 measurements of radon exhalation rate from the medium surface. In the theoretical validation, different values of radon exhalation rate can be obtained by substituting different effective decay constants into the CR-39 formula for measuring radon exhalation rate while keeping the other variables constant. In the experimental validation, the radon exhalation rate in the same medium was measured using both CR-39 and RAD7. Since the traditional passive method (CR-39 solid-state nuclear track detector) cannot directly obtain the effective decay constant, the effective decay constant in the CR-39 measurement experiment was replaced by the effective decay constant value fitted from the RAD7 experimental data. The results showed that the radon exhalation rate value measured by CR-39 was much larger than that measured by RAD7. From the theoretical and experimental validation, it is concluded that the uncertainty of the effective decay constant has a significant effect on the radon exhalation rate measured by CR-39.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of environmental radioactivity","volume":"285 ","pages":"Article 107669"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143601094","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Isotope tracer study of soil erosion in a typical sub-watershed in the eastern Tianshan Mountains, China","authors":"Ninglu Zhang ,&nbsp;Jianjun Yang ,&nbsp;Wenli Xing ,&nbsp;Xinyu Liu ,&nbsp;Feifei Sheng ,&nbsp;Wanqing Zhao ,&nbsp;Zhiguang Zhang ,&nbsp;Ziqi Tian ,&nbsp;Rui Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107667","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107667","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil erosion represents a critical ecological and environmental challenge on a global scale. In this study, the Baiyang River sub-watershed, located in the eastern Tianshan Mountains of Xinjiang, China, was selected as a representative area for the quantitative analysis of soil erosion. The dual isotope tracer technique, utilizing ¹³⁷Cs and ²¹⁰Pb_ex, was employed to investigate the distribution patterns of these isotopes within soil profiles and to assess soil erosion dynamics under varying land-use types. This approach aimed to elucidate the influence of different land-use practices on soil erosion rates and nutrient contents to support sustainable land management strategies. The results indicated that the distribution of ¹³⁷Cs and ²¹⁰Pb_ex followed an exponential pattern in woodland and grassland, whereas in cropland, these isotopes exhibited a relatively uniform distribution. The average soil erosion rate in the study area followed the pattern: cropland (20.39 t ha⁻¹·yr⁻¹) &gt; grassland (13.21 t ha⁻¹·yr⁻¹) &gt; woodland (1.86 t ha⁻¹·yr⁻¹). The contents of soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) exhibited the opposite trend, with woodland &gt; grassland &gt; cropland. Furthermore, nutrient loss was lowest in woodland, highlighting its superior capacity to retain nutrients. SOC and TN demonstrated stronger correlations with soil particle size and isotopic composition, whereas phosphorus showed weaker correlations, suggesting that the distribution and transport processes of phosphorus differ significantly from those of carbon and nitrogen. The application of the ¹³⁷Cs and ²¹⁰Pb_ex dual isotope tracer technique offers a novel approach and valuable data for the quantitative assessment of soil erosion in arid regions, contributing significantly to ecological conservation and sustainable land management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of environmental radioactivity","volume":"285 ","pages":"Article 107667"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143601093","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Records of anthropogenic plutonium isotopes in wind-blown sand deposits: Tracing global fallout in northern China's semi-arid dune fields","authors":"Zhiwei Dong ,&nbsp;Yihong Xu ,&nbsp;Shihan Li ,&nbsp;Xiaofei Li ,&nbsp;Ying Wang ,&nbsp;Zhiwei Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107658","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107658","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates plutonium (Pu) isotopes preserved in nebkhas--aeolian dunes formed by shrubs intercepting wind-blown sands to reconstruct environmental changes in the semi-arid Mu Us dune field, northern China. Analysis results of two nebkha profiles reveal that the ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu atom ratios consistently approximate 0.18, indicating a dominant source from global fallout, with no significant local contributions from the Lop Nor or Semipalatinsk nuclear tests or the Chernobyl accident. Total Pu inventories (308 ± 3 Bq/m² and 402 ± 3 Bq/m²) highly exceed the direct atmospheric fallout value (66 Bq/m²), suggesting accumulation of both distant and proximal Pu-bearing sediments transported by wind. Depth distributions of ^239+240Pu activities (0.005–0.387 mBq/g) show a single-peak corresponding to 1963 and an onset around 1952, consistent with previous ¹³⁷Cs and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating results, validating Pu isotopes as reliable chronostratigraphic markers. Sediment deposition rates have declined over the past 20 years compared to the 1960s–1970s, likely due to reduced sandstorm activity and wind speed, potentially linked to regional afforestation and land-use changes. This study demonstrates the widespread nature of global Pu contamination—even in remote deserts, and highlights nebkhas as a novel geological archive for reconstructing atmospheric deposition and environmental changes. By providing a direct record of Pu deposition, this work advances understanding of Pu sources, transport, and behavior in arid regions, with broader implications for using radionuclides to study aeolian processes and environmental evolution.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of environmental radioactivity","volume":"285 ","pages":"Article 107658"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143578328","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Radiocesium dynamics from canopy to forest floor by main depositional processes in Fukushima forests at quasi-equilibrium state","authors":"Wataru Sakashita ,&nbsp;Naohiro Imamura ,&nbsp;Tamotsu Sato ,&nbsp;Tsutomu Yagihashi ,&nbsp;Ren Tsuneoka ,&nbsp;Tadashi Sakata ,&nbsp;Yoshimi Ohmae ,&nbsp;Satoru Miura ,&nbsp;Yoshiki Shinomiya","doi":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107656","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107656","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurate measurement of the amounts of radiocesium (¹³⁷Cs) that transfer from the canopy to the forest floor at the recent quasi-equilibrium state is crucial for improving the accuracy of long-term predictions of ¹³⁷Cs distribution in forests. This study is the first to detail the ¹³⁷Cs flux via throughfall, stemflow, and litterfall processes in two Japanese cedar forests (KU1-S and KU2-S) and one deciduous broad-leaved forest (KU1-Q) in the Fukushima Prefecture during the quasi-equilibrium state. From 2020 to 2023, the annual transfer of ¹³⁷Cs from the canopy to the forest floor, relative to the initial deposition, varied among the study plots but never exceeded 2% (0.433–0.564% in KU1-S, 1.06–1.62% in KU2-S, and 0.421–0.461% in KU1-Q). Since the transfer of ¹³⁷Cs from trees to soil is balanced with the transfer from soil to trees at the quasi-equilibrium state, these percentages can be interpreted as the root uptake of ¹³⁷Cs from the soil, which is difficult to observe directly. Analysis of the contributions of litterfall, throughfall, and stemflow to the total transfer of ¹³⁷Cs revealed that litterfall accounted for more than 50% in both Japanese cedar and deciduous broad-leaved forests. We also found that the proportion of ¹³⁷Cs flux via litterfall was higher in Japanese cedar forests compared to the deciduous broad-leaved forest (KU1-S:91–92%; KU2-S:74–77%; KU1-Q:57–60%). These findings regarding the ¹³⁷Cs fluxes at the quasi-equilibrium state will enhance our understanding of the future dynamics of ¹³⁷Cs within forest ecosystems and improve the accuracy of long-term predictions of ¹³⁷Cs activity concentration in forests.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of environmental radioactivity","volume":"285 ","pages":"Article 107656"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143578457","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Measurement and analysis of long-term variation of atmospheric 7Be activity concentrations in Dazaifu (western Japan)","authors":"Yukinori Narazaki ,&nbsp;Akihiro Sakoda ,&nbsp;Naofumi Akata ,&nbsp;Hisanori Itoh ,&nbsp;Noriyuki Momoshima","doi":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2024.107612","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2024.107612","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Atmospheric ⁷Be activity concentration was continuously measured in Dazaifu (33°30′N, 130°30′E), western Japan, from 1999 to 2020, and its variation was analyzed. Aerosol samples were collected using quartz fiber filters. The filtered samples were punched into circles, pressed, and molded into a 2-mm-thick disk for accurate ⁷Be quantification. Daily ⁷Be data analysis, encompassing an analysis for 7765 days over 22 years, revealed a concentration range of not detected–18 mBq/m³, characterized by substantial monthly variation and smoothed annual variation. An average daily ⁷Be activity concentration of 5.0 ± 2.6mBq/m³ was considered to be representative at the ground-surface-level in 30–40°N.</div><div>Results from a two-way Analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated statistical significance in monthly and annual ⁷Be variabilities. The monthly variability of ⁷Be activity concentration was approximately four times greater than the annual variability. Frequency analysis revealed that the monthly variability comprised major 12-month and minor 6-month periodicities. The substantial decrease in ⁷Be activity concentration during summer, a primary driver of monthly variation, was also observed at other locations in Japan, attributed to a stable high-pressure system in the Pacific Ocean that stalled over Japan’s southern seas, followed by the inflow of air masses containing low ⁷Be activity concentrations. The annual variation was primarily influenced by the 11-year solar activity cycle, which affects the intensity of cosmic rays that produce ⁷Be.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of environmental radioactivity","volume":"284 ","pages":"Article 107612"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143534311","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Quantitative environmental radiologic assessment of oil and gas exploration activities using 226Ra concentration to estimate 210Po and 210Pb dose","authors":"Paul Manion ,&nbsp;Mark Baskaran ,&nbsp;Marsha Haley ,&nbsp;Justin Nobel ,&nbsp;Tammy Murphy ,&nbsp;Laura Dagley","doi":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107642","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107642","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Exploration activities of hydrocarbon reservoirs have resulted in the release of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) into the environment, exposing them to workers and members of the public. Radium-226 and its progeny (²²²Rn, ²¹⁰Pb and ²¹⁰Po) in the ²³⁸U-series and ²²⁸Ra in the ²³²Th-series are key isotopes that are released into the environment. Excessive radiation derived from oil and natural gas activities can potentially result in adverse health effects and increased cancer risk; thus, this study is focused on the evaluation of radiation exposure in Southern Pennsylvania, where large-scale conventional drilling and newer technologies have been carried out for over a century. We collected and analyzed a suite of soil/sediment cores and grab samples; analyzed for ²¹⁰Po, ²¹⁰Pb, ²²⁶Ra and ²²⁸Ra; and evaluated the fraction of ²²⁶Ra derived from hydrocarbon exploration activities. The vertical variations of the activity ratios of ²¹⁰Pb/²²⁶Ra and ²¹⁰Po/²¹⁰Pb for soil and sediment cores are plotted. The vertical variations enrichment factor for ²²⁶Ra are plotted showing the vertical variations on the extent of ²²⁶Ra enrichment. Using a modeling approach, an estimate of the production of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb from production well to houses are estimated. The measured activities of ²³⁸U- and ²³²Th series radionuclides (²²⁶Ra, ²²²Rn, ²¹⁰Pb and ²¹⁰Po, and ²²⁸Ra), indicate that the estimated radiation dose does not pose any radiation health hazard to the public in Southern Pennsylvania. However, the oil and gas workers may be at risk and should be considered for radiation monitoring when working with certain infrastructure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of environmental radioactivity","volume":"284 ","pages":"Article 107642"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143534581","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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}