Journal article
Polonium-210 accumulates in a lake receiving coal mine discharges—anthropogenic or natural?
Journal of environmental radioactivity, Vol.167, pp.211-221
02/2017
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.10.023
PMID: 27914777
Abstract
Coal is an integral part of global energy production; however, coal mining is associated with numerous environmental health impacts. It is well documented that coal-mine waste can contaminate the environment with naturally-occurring radionuclides from the uranium-238 (238U) decay series. However, the behavior of the final radionuclide in the 238U-series, i.e., polonium-210 (210Po) arising from coal-mine waste-water discharge is largely unexplored. Here, results of a year-long (2014–2015) field study, in which the concentrations of 210Po in sediments and surface water of a lake that receives coal-mine waste-water discharge in West Virginia are presented. Initial measurements identified levels of 210Po in the lake sediments that were in excess of that which could be attributed to ambient U-series parent radionuclides; and were indicative of discharge site contamination of the lake ecosystem. However, control sediment obtained from a similar lake system in Iowa (an area with no coal mining or unconventional drilling) suggests that the levels of 210Po in the lake are a natural phenomenon; and are likely unrelated to waste-water treatment discharges. Elevated levels of 210Po have been reported in lake bottom sediments previously, yet very little information is available on the radioecological implications of 210Po accumulation in lake bottom sediments. The findings of this study suggest that (Monthly Energy Review, 2016) the natural accumulation and retention of 210Po in lake sediments may be a greater than previously considered (Chadwick et al., 2013) careful selection of control sites is important to prevent the inappropriate attribution of elevated levels of NORM in lake bottom ecosystems to industrial sources; and (Van Hook, 1979) further investigation of the source-terms and potential impacts on elevated 210Po in lake-sediment ecosystems is warranted. •210Po accumulates in lake bottom sediments downstream of water treatment facility.•210Po approximately 10-fold higher than parent 238U.•Increased levels of 210Po appear to be a natural phenomenon.•More studies are needed to understand the bioaccumulation pathways of 210Po.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Polonium-210 accumulates in a lake receiving coal mine discharges—anthropogenic or natural?
- Creators
- A.W Nelson - Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa, Chemistry Building, 251 North Capitol Street, Iowa City, IA 52242, United StatesE.S Eitrheim - Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa, Chemistry Building, 251 North Capitol Street, Iowa City, IA 52242, United StatesA.W Knight - Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa, Chemistry Building, 251 North Capitol Street, Iowa City, IA 52242, United StatesD May - Interdisciplinary Human Toxicology Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United StatesM.D Wichman - Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 145 N. Riverside Drive, 100 CPHB, Iowa City, IA 52242, United StatesT.Z Forbes - Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa, Chemistry Building, 251 North Capitol Street, Iowa City, IA 52242, United StatesM.K Schultz - Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa, Chemistry Building, 251 North Capitol Street, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of environmental radioactivity, Vol.167, pp.211-221
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.10.023
- PMID
- 27914777
- ISSN
- 0265-931X
- eISSN
- 1879-1700
- Grant note
- name: University of Iowa Center
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 02/2017
- Academic Unit
- Radiology; Civil and Environmental Engineering; Occupational and Environmental Health; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Radiation Oncology; Chemistry
- Record Identifier
- 9983985968102771
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