Radionuclide transport in freshwater systems: a synthesis of the results of the CRP

L. Monte, A.I. Klyashtorin, Friederike Strebl, Peter Bossew

Publikation: Beitrag in Buch oder TagungsbandBuchkapitel

Abstract

Environmental releases of radionuclides have occurred over about the last 50 years from a variety of sources, including global fallout, Chernobyl-derived radionuclides, effluents from nuclear installations, and natural radionuclides released as a by-product of mining. A basic understanding of radionuclide distribution and dynamics in lakes and rivers, as well as in their respective catchments, has been gained from experimental studies in different hydrogeologic systems and geographic regions (Nylen and Grip 1997; Burrogh et al. 1999; Abraham et al. 2000; Sanchez-Cabeza et al. 2000; Matsunaga et al. 1998; Malmgren and Jansson 1995). The behavior of radionuclides in soils and sediments has also been the subject of considerable scientific interest and numerous investigations. A range of models useful for predicting radionuclide migration characteristics in soils and sediments also have been developed (IAEA, 2000, BIOMOVS, 1990; Smith et al. 1999; Tipping 1996; Hakanson 1996, 1999; Monte & Hakanson, 1999, Zheleznyak et al., 1992). Following the Chernobyl accident, a number of projects were launched to validate models for predicting the behavior of radioactive substances in the environment by using the Chernobyl data. Such projects took advantage of the great deal of experimental data produced after the accident, covering various components of the environment and of the human food chain. BIOMOVS (BIOspheric Model Validation Study), an international project initiated by the Swedish National Institute for Radiation Protection (NIRP), was the first example of a cooperative study for the validation of environmental models (e.g. BIOMOVS II 1996). The success of the BIOMOVS projects, in terms of new results and in relation to the benefits from the international co-operation, led to the initiation of other validation exercises. In 1990 the project VAMP (Validation of Model Predictions) was sponsored by the IAEA. Among the different tasks of this project, the validation of models for predicting the migration of radionuclides in lakes, reservoirs and rivers has been carried out for some European fresh water systems (IAEA 2000). Both BIOMOVS and VAMP projects stimulated intensive efforts for improving the reliability of the models aimed to predict the migration of 137CS in lakes and of 137C s and 90Sr in rivers. Comparatively few studies have been undertaken, however, on the mechanisms and factors controlling the potential radioactive contamination of groundwater. Recent studies have reported the point-source contamination of groundwater due to leaching of radioactive pollution from underground waste dumps (Kersting et al. 1999; Sloan and Ewen 1999), but the study of groundwater contamination from non-point sources has not been comprehensive. The pathways and processes of vertical migration of radionuclides from superfcial catchment compartments (soil and surface water) to groundwater aquifers are not well understood. As a result, a study aimed at tracing the migration of radionuclides, particularly 137CS resulting from the Chernobyl fallout, in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems was carried out during 1997-1999 as a Coordinated Research Project (CRP) of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The CRP involved participants from Austria, Belarus, Brazil, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Ukraine. Besides 137Cs, the behavior of other anthropogenic radionuclides (137Cs, 238Pu, 239,240Pu and 90Sr) and several naturally occurring radionuclides (212Bi, 228Ac, 214Bi, 226Ra and 40K) was also investigated in some areas. This chapter provides a summary of the objectives, methodology, and results of the various studies. Detailed project reports are attached in the following chapters.
OriginalspracheEnglisch
TitelIn: IAEA-TECDOC-1314: Radionuclide transport dynamics in freshwater resources. Ed. by IAEA
Seiten5-33
Seitenumfang29
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 2002

Research Field

  • Biosensor Technologies

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