Radioactive pollution

Tonelli, D., E. Gattavecchia, S. Ghini, C. Porrini, G. Celli, and A.M. Mercuri. 1990. Honey bees and their products as indicators of environmental radioactive pollution. Jour. Radioanal. Nuclear Chem. 141 427-436. 

Yakubov, V.P., Antipov, V.B., Losev, DN. and Yuriev, I.A. Passive radar detection of radioactive pollution Application of the Conversion Research Results for International Cooperation SIBCONVERS 99. The Third International Symposium, Volume 2, pp 397-399, May 18-20, 1999. 

Orlov A., Irkliyenko S., Kalish O. Long-term d)Tnanics of the radioactive pollution of boreal ecosystem compartments in Ukrainian Polissya // Proc. of Radioactivity on nuclear explosions and accidents . - Vol. 2.- St-Petersburg, 2000. - P. 249-254. 

B.4.3.2 Delayed Effects. The level of exposure to radioactive pollutants that may be encountered in the environment is expected to be too low to result in the acute effects described above. When one is exposed to radiation in the environment, the amount of radiation absorbed is more likely to produce long-term effects, which manifest themselves years after the original exposure, and may be due to a single large over-exposure or continuing low-level exposure. 

Any powerful technology has two faces. In fact, the adverse connotations of nuclear power (e.g. atomic bombs, radioactive pollution) are offset by important positive applications (e.g. in nuclear medicine). Sensors have two opposing faces as well. On the one hand, they make a major choice for the Analytical Chemistry of the XXI century on the other, the ease with which they can output signals (and hence results) may induce careless (non-contrasted) use and obtainment of spurious analytical information, particularly in the hand of non-experts (e.g. physicians, engineers) obviously lacking... 

De Putter, T., Andre, L., Bernard, A., Dupuis, C., Jedwab, J., Nicaise, D. Perruchot, A. 2002. Trace element (Th, U, Pb, REE) behaviour in a cryptokarstic halloysite and kaolinite deposit from Southern Belgium importance of accessory mineral formation for radioactive pollutant trapping. Applied Geochemistry, 17, 1313-1328. 

In the past, the fish used as food for man or farm animals was evaluated on the basis of protein and total lipid content, but nowadays the emphasis is on the biologically active substances such as polyenoic fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants. Recent problems have arisen because of contamination with sewage, mineral oil and its by-products, heavy metals and radioactive pollutants. The bizarre finding of certain Tasmanian oysters, bred downstream from a zinc smelting plant, which contained 10% of zinc on a dry weight basis is an... 

Radioactive pollution of the water in the North and Norwegian Seas is entirely due to emissions from radiochemical plants located in Western Europe. 

The impact of all the sources of radioactivity in the zone of the Arctic coast on the local population has not been assessed reliably enough. It was particularly difficult to separate the natural and anthropogenic components of such an impact. Aibulatov (2000) discussed future research into Russian Arctic radioactive pollution, including... 

Research of the impact of radioactive pollution on the dynamics of the Arctic marine ecosystem. 

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) makes a considerable contribution into environmental programs of the Black Sea. The Black Sea countries consider the monitoring of radioactive pollution of the sea to be the priority issue. The IAEA Program is aimed at study of the presence of radionuclides in the Black Sea and tracing variations of its radioactivity. 

Aside from accidents in nuclear facilities (e.g., Chernobyl), the main source of anthropogenic radioactive pollution is probably derived from medical applications. Documented reports of radioactive residue mismanagement indicate that sometimes these substances end up in garbage dumps, with the consequent danger of public exposure. The main radioactive isotopes in medical applications are listed in Table 8.7. 

Sullivan RE, Nelson NS, Ellett WH, et al. 1981. Estimates of health risk from exposure to radioactive pollutants. ORNL/TM-7745. 

Chlorinated hydrocarbons, radioactive pollutants and other kinds of radiation (like radar), which are also mentioned as possible causes for the present die-back, need still clarification by experimental work. 

Lee, H., Peyton, T.O., Steele, R.V. and White, R.K., Potential Radioactive Pollutants Resulting from Expended Energy Programs, SRI-EGU-4869, Stanford Research Institute, Menlo Park, CA, 1977. 

There are assessments predicting the use of reverse osmosis for the processing of the wastes from medical application [36,37] and for the removal of caesium-137 from decontamination wastes after accident in the steel production factory [38]. RO is considered as a method for removal of radioactive pollutants from contaminated water (removal of Cs and °Sr) in the vicinity of atomic power plants [39], as well as for removal of small quantities of radionuclides ( Rn, Ra) from... 

Soils are often relied on to attenuate the migration of potentially hazardous metals into groun4 or surface waters. For cationic metals, this retardation of movement is easily understood as due to exchange on negatively charged soil colloids. Suppose we consider the downward leaching of a radioactive pollutant, Cs, from a nuclear disposal site. If it were not adsorbed on exchange sites, it would move at the same... 

Radioactive pollution—Congresses. 2. Radioactive wastes—Congresses. 3. Radioactive waste disposal—Congresses. 4. Actinide elements. 

Following the prohibition of nuclear weapons testing the most important source of radioactive pollution of surface water is the radioactivity of wastes from exploitation and processing of uranium ores. Wastewaters with artificial radionuclides are less dangerous for surface water pollution. 

After the discharge of radioactive waste the following processes take place in the recipient precipitation, accumulation in the aquatic flora and fauna, and bottom sediments. Some radionuclides are accumulated selectively in certain organisms or organs. Contamination of fish is a very serious matter. Therefore, for total evaluation of radioactive pollution not only the liquid phase must be analysed, but also sediments, and aquatic flora and fauna. 

Comparison of the levels of radioactive contamination found in the honeys produced from the different species of trees also provides interesting information. Thus fir honey seems to highly concentrate radionuclides. The Cs and Cs concentrations in chestnut honeys are also generally high. Conversely, acacia honey appears as a weak indicator of radioactive pollution. Our results confirm those found by Tonelli and co-workers [8], who report that the mean concentrations of Cs found in Italian chestnut honey and acacia honey in May-June 1986 were 70.2 58.7Bq/kg (22.2 to 180) and 27.3 19.6Bq/kg (5.1 to 65.5), respectively. 

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