E.G. San Miguel

Radioactive impact of Fukushima accident on the Iberian Peninsula: Evolution and plume previous pathway

High activity concentrations of several man-made radionuclides (such as (131)I, (132)I, (132)Te, (134)Cs and (137)Cs) have been detected along the Iberian Peninsula from March 28th to April 7th 2011. The analysis of back-trajectories of air masses allowed us to demonstrate that the levels of manmade radionuclide activity concentrations in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula come from the accident produced in the nuclear power plant of Fukushima. The pathway followed by the radioactive plume from Fukushima into Huelva (southwest of the Iberian Peninsula) was deduced through back-trajectories analysis, and this fact was also verified by the activity concentrations measured of those radionuclides reported in places crossed by this radioactive cloud. In fact, activity concentrations reported by E.P.A., and by IAEA, in several places of Japan, Pacific Ocean and United States of America are according to the expected ones from the air mass trajectory arriving at Huelva province.

Vertical distribution of Th-isotope ratios, 210Pb, 226Ra and 137Cs in sediment cores from an estuary affected by anthropogenic releases.

In an estuary system highly polluted by mining and industrial activities, the sections of sediment cores affected by anthropogenic inputs of U-series radionuclides (due to fertilizer plants releases) were determined through the vertical profiles of Th-isotopic ratio (230Th/232Th). Also, when possible, a modified version of the 210Pb dating method was applied in the uncontaminated sections of these cores. Using the information provided by the Th-isotopic ratio and 210Pb methods, we were able to establish confident chronologies, covering the last century, in several of the analysed sediment cores. These chronologies will be used in forthcoming research to study the time evolution of pollutant concentrations in the estuary. Additionally, and based on the established chronologies, we have found that sedimentation rates have drastically increased in some zones of the estuary since the commencement of several industrial activities in the surrounding environment and since the construction of two dikes in the area.

210Pb determination by gamma spectrometry in voluminal samples (cylindrical geometry)

In this paper a simple method for the direct analysis of 210 Pb (T1=2 ¼ 22:3 years) by gamma-ray spectrometry in sediment samples with coaxial Ge detectors is outlined. This method, developed for a cylindrical sample geometry, accounts for variable sample heights and provides a fundamental advantage: individual self-absorption corrections can easily be determined knowingthe apparent densities of the samples. The results obtained with the proposed method are in good agreement with those given by other techniques. r 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Validation of isotope signatures in sediments affected by anthropogenic inputs from uranium series radionuclides

This paper aims to show the usefulness of 226Ra/228Ra activity ratios and confirm the possibility of using 230Th/232Th activity ratios as chronological markers in sediment cores from an estuarine system strongly contaminated by discharges from non-nuclear industries (fertiliser plants). The validation was carried out using an independent, well-established dating technique based on the analysis of the 137Cs fallout profile, which comprises the same time interval as that covered by both isotope ratios. The advantage of using the 226Ra/228Ra activity ratio profile instead of the Th-isotope profile is that determination can be accomplished with a non-destructive, simpler and less time-consuming technique, because both Ra isotopes can be determined by gamma-ray spectrometry.

A dosimetric model for determining the effectiveness of soil covers for phosphogypsum waste piles

Phosphogypsum (PG) is a by-product of the phosphoric acid production process that contains high concentrations of U-series radionuclides. PG piles formed during the last 30 years cover about 1,200 hectares and are located close to the town of Huelva (Spain) on a salt-marsh. The regional government of Andalusia restored the area beginning in 1990 by covering it with a 25-cm-thick layer of natural soil. With this restoration, the external gamma-dose rate in the zone has decreased drastically, approaching near environmental background values. This conclusion is based on results obtained through in-situ monitoring measurements and through a dosimetric model developed for that particular radiation source. As the model uses average parameters of the studied site, its output does not show a correlation point by point with the in-situ monitoring measurements. However, a good agreement is observed in average values over the covered piles. The model gives an average dose rate of 0.41 mGy y(-1) and the in situ monitoring 0.40 mGy y(-1). Based on this model, it is possible to calculate the necessary thickness of soil to reduce the dosimetric contribution from a similar extension of PG until the desired level is reached. In our conditions, in a 25-cm-thick soil, about 0.19 mGy y(-1) is the increase produced by the PG layer in relation to an infinitum soil layer. Consequently, no radiological concern exists in the restored zones with respect to the external gamma radiation.

230Th/232Th activity ratios as a chronological marker complementing 210Pb dating in an estuarine system affected by industrial releases

The main purpose of this research is to show the usefulness of the 230Th/232Th activity ratios as a chronological marker that can be helpful in the dating of sediment cores collected from an estuarine system located in the south west of Spain highly polluted by wastes from fertilizer plants. These wastes, being released for 30 years, and enriched in radionuclides from the uranium series including 210Pb, invalidate the application of the 210Pb dating technique in full extent to the sediment cores collected in this estuary. However, the evaluation and the interpretation of both 210Pb and 230Th/232Th profiles allows the determination of average sedimentation rates in different parts of the cores, contaminated and noncontaminated zone, that agree in the case analysed in this research. Through this approach, a confident chronology covering the last century, which is essential to analyse and reconstruct the historical evolution of other pollutants in this heavily contaminated system can be established.

A simple method for efficiency calibration of HPGe detectors in γ-spectrometric measurements

Abstract In this paper a simple, rapid and general method for γ -ray efficiency calibration of Ge detectors for environmental samples is presented. This method is based on the use of an active natural solid sample with several γ -emissions (in our case, 226 Ra) as the calibrating matrix for determining the full energy peak efficiency (FEPE) e c vs γ -emission energy E γ and the sample height h in a counting cylindrical geometry. The 226 Ra activity concentration is determined by α -particle spectrometry, a method that has previously been validated.

Water acidification trends in a reservoir of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (SW Spain).

Scarcity of waters is the main limiting factor of economic development in most arid and semi-arid regions worldwide. The construction of reservoirs may be an optimal solution to assure water availability if the drainage area shows low disturbances. This is the quandary of mining areas where economic development relies on water accessibility. Water acidification trends were investigated in the Sancho Reservoir (SW Spain) in the last 20 years. The acidity (pH3-5) and high dissolved metal concentrations (e.g., 4.4 mg/L of Al, 2.1mg/L of Mn, 1.9 mg/L of Zn) observed in the Sancho, together with the large volume stored (between 37 and 55 Mm(3)), makes this reservoir an extreme case of surface water pollution worldwide. A progressive acidification has been observed since 2003, as evidenced by decreasing pH values and increasing dissolved metal concentrations, especially noticeable after 2007. The increase in the net acidity in the reservoir originates from the higher input of metals and acidity due to the rebound effect after the mining closure in 2001. This trend was not detected in the river feeding the reservoir due to its great hydrological and hydrochemical variability, typical of the Mediterranean climate. Chemical analysis and absolute dating of sediments identified a progressive enrichment in S and metals (i.e., Fe, Zn Cu, Ni, Co and Cd) in the upper 20 cm, which reinforce the year 2002/03 as the onset of the acidification of the reservoir. The decrease of pH values from 4-5 to 3-4 occurred later than the increase in sulfate and metals due to pH-buffering by Al. The acid mine drainage (AMD) pressure has caused an increment of dissolved Fe and other metals, as well as a change in the pH buffering role, exerted now by Fe. These processes were simulated by PHREEQC, which confirms that the acidification trend will continue, causing pH values to reach 2.5 if AMD pressure persists.

Ra and U isotopes determination in phosphogypsum leachates by alpha-particle spectrometry

Publisher Summary Forced leaching experiments on phosphogypsum reveals that the main transfer of Ra and U from the phosphogypsum wastes to the water performed with fresh phosphogypsum. Consequently, waters used for phosphogypsum transportation to the piles for its storage could be enriched in U-isotopes and 226 Ra. Additionally, U concentrations in these leachates were higher than for Ra, in agreement with the results found in sediments collected in the Tinto river, just in the zone where these waters drained after phosphogypsum storage. These sediments show U/Ra activity ratios higher than one, in contrast to the U/Ra activity ratios lower than one found in bulk phosphogypsum. On the other hand, leachates obtained from forced leaching experiments with phosphogypsum previously washed and stored in the piles (“old” phosphogypsum) showed for both U and Ra very low transfer to the waters.

A comparison between active and passive techniques for measurements of radon emanation factors

Some radon related parameters have been determined through two different techniques (passive and active) in soil and phosphogypsum samples. Emanation factors determined through these techniques show a good agreement for soil samples while for phosphogympsum samples appear large discrepancies. In this paper, these discrepancies are analyzed and explained if non-controlled radon leakages in the passive technique are taken into account.