Danube Field Excursion 1988: Tritium Content of River Water; Radioactivity of Danube Sediments

1990 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 203-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Rank ◽  
F. J. Maringer ◽  
W. Papesch ◽  
V. Rajner
Keyword(s):  
River Water ◽  
Bottom Sediments ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Radioactive Material ◽  
Reactor Accident ◽  
Tritium Content ◽  
Fine Sediments ◽  
Fish Samples ◽  
Field Excursion

Water, sediment, and fish samples were collected during the Danube excursion 1988, within a coordinated sampling program of the Radiology Working Group of the “Internationale Arbeitsgemeinschaft Donauforschung ” (K.Hübel, Munich; I. Kurcz, Budapest; D.Rank, Vienna). The H-3 content of the river water and the radioactivity of the bottom sediments were measured at the BVFA Arsenal, Vienna. The determined H-3 content of the Danube water corresponds with the long-term trend in the H-3 content of the hydrosphere; the values lie in the range of 3 Bq/kg downstream from Belgrade, upstream from Belgrade they are about 4 Bq/kg. It was only in the waste water plume of the nuclear power station of Kozloduj that a slightly elevated H-3 value - 6 Bq/kg - was determined. The content of the sediments of artificial radionuclides was found, at the time of the Danube field excursion, to be almost exclusively due to the radioactive material released following the reactor accident at Chernobyl in April 1986 (mainly Cs-137 and Cs-134). As a consequence of the air currents and precipitation conditions prevailing at the time of the accident, the bottom sediments in the lower course of the Danube were less contaminated than those in the upper course. The fine sediments were found to contain over 3000 Bq/kg of Cs-137 in the upper course of the Danube.

scholarly journals Long-Term Monitoring of Radiocesium Concentration in Sediments and River Water along Five Rivers in Minami-Soma City during 2012–2016 Following the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 1319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiyoshi Shizuma ◽  
Wim Ikbal Nursal ◽  
Yushi Sakurai
Keyword(s):  
River Water ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
137Cs Concentration ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
High Accumulation ◽  
Ge Detector ◽  
Long Term Monitoring ◽  
Term Monitoring

Radiocesium monitoring in sediments and river water has been conducted along five rivers in Minami-Soma City during 2012–2016 to clarify the temporal changes of radiocesium contamination in these rivers. Sampling has been performed annually under normal flow conditions. Sediment and river water samples were collected from four or five sampling sites along each river. Gamma-ray measurements of sediments were performed using a low-background Ge detector and unfiltered river water was utilized to determine radiocesium concentration using a well-type Ge detector. The 137Cs concentration in sediments was highest at upstream sites and slowly decreased to downstream sites for all rivers reflecting the high radioactive contamination in the upstream area. Temporal decrease of the 137Cs concentration was observed in sediments and river water for each river. The effective half-lives were 1.3–2.1 y for sediments, and 0.9–2.1 y for river water from rivers with upstream dams. On the undammed river, the effective half-lives were 4.7 y and 3.7 y for sediment and river water, respectively. Much longer effective-half-lives might reflect the direct transfer of radiocesium from forests and plains to the river. The 137Cs concentration in riverbed was low in downstream areas, however, accumulation of 137Cs over the floodplain was observed. Rapid decrease of 137Cs contamination through rivers will put residents at ease, but high accumulation of radiocesium over floodplains should be noted for future river decontamination.

scholarly journals Anthropogenic Influence on the Rhine water temperatures

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Zavarsky ◽  
Lars Duester
Keyword(s):  
River Water ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Important Variable ◽  
Anthropogenic Influence ◽  
River Temperature ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
Long Term Trend ◽  
River Water Temperature

Abstract. River temperature is an important parameter for water quality and an important variable for physical, chemical and biological processes. River water is also used by production facilities as cooling agent.We introduce a new way of calculating a catchment-wide air temperature and regressing river temperature vs air temperatures. As a result the meteorological influence and the anthropogenic influence can be studied separately. We apply this new method at four monitoring stations (Basel, Worms, Koblenz and Cologne) along 5 the Rhine and show that the long term trend (1979–2018) of river water temperature is, next to the increasing air temperature, mostly influenced by decreasing nuclear power production. Short term changes on time scales

scholarly journals Conceptual model and results of long-term radioecological monitoring of the effect zone of liquid discharges from the Beloyarsk nuclear power plant

2020 ◽  
pp. 68-75
Author(s):  
L. N. Mikhailovskaya ◽  
A. V. Korzhavin ◽  
V. N. Trapeznikova ◽  
A. V. Trapeznikov
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Bottom Sediments ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Liquid Waste ◽  
River System ◽  
Reference Points ◽  
Radiation Hazard ◽  
Hydrographic Network

Relevance. The long-term use of the Olkhovsk bog as a natural filter on the way of the liquid discharges of the Beloyarsk Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) led to radionuclide contamination of the Olkhovsk bog-river system that became a source of secondary pollution.Intention. To assess the radioecological state of the BNPP liquid waste zone based on a special system for monitoring environmental pollution by long-lived radionuclides.Methodology. Samples of water, bottom sediments, and soils were studied at the reference points of the bog-river system.Results and Discussion. Over the 35 years of the BNPP operation, pollution of the upper layers of bottom sediments has decreased due to redistribution of radionuclides with surface runoff, depth migration and radioactive decay. After the reconstruction of discharges, the removal of radionuclides into open hydrographic network decreased by 2–3 times and amounted to 48.2 ∙ 106 Bq ∙ year–1 for 90Sr and 94.8 ∙ 106 Bq ∙ year–1 for 137Cs. The migration of radionuclides to adjacent Olkhovsk bog-river system territories is still limited by the coastal strip of flooded soils.Conclusion. Radioecological situation in the Olkhovsk bog-river system is potentially dangerous. Migration processes (movement of the pollution front along the drain vector) can result in increased transfer of radionuclides into an open hydrographic network and require constant monitoring. For a balanced assessment of the radiation hazard of Olkhovsk bogriver system, it is necessary to assess current stocks of radionuclides.

7. Nuclear Energy and the Environment

2021 ◽  
pp. 405-452
Author(s):  
Alan Boyle ◽  
Catherine Redgwell
Keyword(s):  
Competing Risks ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
Public Perceptions ◽  
Toxic Substances ◽  
Reactor Accident ◽  
Perceptions Of Risk ◽  
Regulatory Standards ◽  
Chernobyl Reactor

This chapter gives the example of the Chernobyl reactor accident in 1986 to show that nuclear power creates risks for all states, irrespective of whether they choose this type of energy. Every state, and the global environment, is potentially affected by the possibility of radioactive contamination, the spread of toxic substances derived from nuclear energy, and the long-term health hazards consequent on exposure to radiation. Whether the nuclear power industry has now attained acceptable levels of risk to international society cannot be answered in the abstract, the chapter argues, or solely by reference to regulatory standards and technical capabilities, but must take into account public perceptions of risk, as well as the alternatives and the competing risks, such as climate change. The chapter notes that for all governments there are inevitably difficult policy choices in which there are few electoral advantages.

scholarly journals Chernobyl: de desierto nuclear a laboratorio evolutivo

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
German Orizaola
Keyword(s):  
Radioactive Contamination ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Basic Research ◽  
Radioactive Material ◽  
Large Mammals ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Long Term Impact ◽  
Natural Laboratory

The 1986 accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine caused the worst human-caused release of radioactive material in history. Initial forecasts considered that the area affected by radioactive contamination would be devoid of life for millennia. Three decades later, the biodiversity of the area has completely recovered and all the large mammals of Eastern Europe, as well as over 200 bird species, now live in Chernobyl. The mechanisms that allow organisms to live in this area are still the subject of study and controversy. There is currently no scientific consensus on the medium- and long-term impact of radiation on the nature of the area. Thus, basic research is required in Chernobyl to understand the effects that radioactive contamination had on biodiversity there. The area is also an excellent natural laboratory for studying eco-evolutionary processes in response to human activity.

CASTOR® BR3: Design of a Transport and Storage Cask for Spent Fuel From a Belgian Nuclear Power Plant

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrich Knopp
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Storage Period ◽  
Nuclear Research ◽  
Ductile Cast Iron ◽  
Radioactive Material ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Spent Fuel ◽  
Interim Storage ◽  
And Storage

Abstract The CASTOR® BR3 cask has been designed and manufactured to accomodate irradiated fuel (U and MOX) from the BR3 test reactor at the nuclear research centre SCK/CEN in Dessel near Mol, Belgium, which is currently being dismantled. The CASTOR® BR3 is designed as a Type B(U)F package for transport and will be licensed in Belgium. In addition, the CASTOR® BR3 needs a license as a storage cask to be operated in an interim cask storage facility. To obtain these licenses, the cask design has to observe the international regulations for the safe transport of radioactive material as well as the special requirements for the cask storage. The CASTOR® BR3 is a member of the CASTOR® family of spent fuel casks, delivered by the German company GNB. In this way, the cask has such typical features as the following: • monolithic cask body made of ductile cast iron; • double-lid system consisting of primary and secondary lid for long-term interim storage of the fuel. This family of casks has been used for over 20 years for transport and storage of spent fuel. In this paper, the IAEA regulatory requirements for transport casks are summarized and it is shown by selected examples how these requirements have been converted into the cask design and the analyses performed for the cask. Finally, the cask features for an interim storage period of up to 50 years will be spotlighted. Main topics are the evaluation of the long term behaviour of selected cask components and the cask monitoring system for the surveillance of the leak tightness of the cask during the storage period.

scholarly journals Concentrations of 137Cs radiocaesium in the organs and tissues of low-dose-exposed wild Japanese monkeys

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshinori Omi ◽  
Sachie Nakiri ◽  
Setsuko Nakanishi ◽  
Naomi Ishii ◽  
Taiki Uno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Body Weight Gain ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Radioactive Material ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Japanese Monkeys ◽  
Fdnpp Accident ◽  
Forested Areas ◽  
Kidney Liver

Abstract Objectives Following the massive earthquake that struck eastern Japan on March 11, 2011, a large amount of radioactive material was released into the environment from the damaged reactor of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP). After the FDNPP accident, radiocaesium was first detected in muscle samples from wild Japanese monkeys exposed to radioactive materials, and haematologic effects, changes in head size, and delayed body weight gain were also reported, but little is known about the distribution of 137 Cs in the organs and tissues of wild Japanese monkeys. Results We detected the 137 Cs in various organ and tissue samples of 10 wild Japanese monkeys inhabiting the forested areas of Fukushima City that were captured between July and August 2012.Among muscle, brain, heart, kidney, liver, lung, and spleen, muscle exhibited the highest and the brain the lowest 137 Cs concentration. The concentration (mean±SD) of 137 Cs in muscle, brain, heart, kidney, liver, lung, and spleen was 77 ± 66, 26 ± 22, 41 ± 35, 49 ± 41, 41 ± 38, 53 ± 41, and 53 ± 51 Bq/kg, respectively.These results can help us understand the biological effects of long-term internal radiation exposure in non-human primates.

Estimation of Ex-Vessel Steam Explosion Pressure Loads for AP1000 Nuclear Power Plant

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhigang Li ◽  
Jinghao Li ◽  
Meng Lin ◽  
Yanhua Yang
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Steam Explosion ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Geometrical Model ◽  
Radioactive Material ◽  
Coolant Temperature ◽  
Reactor Accident ◽  
Melt Temperature ◽  
Explosion Pressure

An ex-vessel steam explosion is a fuel coolant interaction process which may occur when the reactor vessel fails and the molten core pours into the water in the reactor cavity during a severe reactor accident. A strong enough steam explosion in a nuclear power plant could endanger the containment integrity and lead to a direct release of radioactive material to the environment. In this article, a nuclear island geometrical model of AP1000 nuclear power plant was established and different scenarios of ex-vessel steam explosions in AP1000 NPP were simulated by MC3D code. Since the initial parameters with large quantity of uncertainties under accident condition may have important effects on the steam explosion, some initial parameters study were performed by varying the location of the melt release (75°,45°,30°,0°), the cavity water subcooling, the triggering time for explosion calculations, the melt temperature and the break size. Results indicate that the higher the melt temperature, the longer the triggered time and the lower the coolant temperature would lead to the more severe steam explosion. Besides, when the angle of break reaches 45 degree and the diameter of the break is 0.5m, the steam explosion causes the largest damage.

scholarly journals Concentrations of 137Cs radiocaesium in the organs and tissues of low-dose-exposed wild Japanese monkeys

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshinori Omi ◽  
Sachie Nakiri ◽  
Setuko Nakanishi ◽  
Naomi Ishii ◽  
Taiki Uno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Body Weight Gain ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Radioactive Material ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Japanese Monkeys ◽  
Fdnpp Accident ◽  
Forested Areas ◽  
Kidney Liver

Abstract Objectives Following the massive earthquake that struck eastern Japan on March 11, 2011, a large amount of radioactive material was released into the environment from the damaged reactor of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP). After the FDNPP accident, radiocaesium was first detected in muscle samples from wild Japanese monkeys exposed to radioactive materials, and haematologic effects, changes in head size, and delayed body weight gain were also reported, but little is known about the distribution of 137Cs in the organs and tissues of wild Japanese monkeys. Results We detected the 137Cs in various organ and tissue samples of 10 wild Japanese monkeys inhabiting the forested areas of Fukushima City that were captured between July and August 2012.Among muscle, brain, heart, kidney, liver, lung, and spleen, muscle exhibited the highest and the brain the lowest 137Cs concentration. The concentration (mean±SD) of137Cs in muscle, brain, heart, kidney, liver, lung, and spleen was 77 ± 66, 26 ± 22, 41 ± 35, 49 ± 41, 41 ± 38, 53 ± 41, and 53 ± 51 Bq/kg, respectively. These results can help us understand the biological effects of long-term internal radiation exposure in non-human primates.

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