| Records |
Author  |
Mathuthu, M.; Uushona, V.; Indongo, V. |
| Title |
Radiological safety of groundwater around a uranium mine in Namibia |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2021 |
Publication |
Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C |
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
122 |
Issue |
|
Pages |
102915 |
| Keywords |
Groundwater, ICP-MS, Radiological hazard, Uranium mining |
| Abstract |
Uranium mining activities produce the main element used in nuclear energy production. However, it can also negatively affect the environment including groundwater by release of residues or effluent containing radioactive elements. The study investigated the concentration and radiological hazard of uranium in groundwater and seepage water from the tailings of a uranium mine in Namibia. Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to assess the concentration of uranium in the groundwater and seepage water and the radiological hazards were determined. The radiological hazard indices Radium equivalent activity (Raeq), Absorbed dose (D), Annual Effective Dose equivalent (AEDE), External hazard index (Hex) and Internal hazard index (Hin) were determined and compared to limits recommended by United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR). The calculated average value of D and Hin of groundwater is 108.11nGyh−1 and 1.26, respectively and are above the UNSCEAR values (55 nGyh−1 and 1). Further, the average values of Raeq, AEDE and Hex were below the recommended values. The isotopic ratio of uranium radionuclides in groundwater indicates that the uranium in the sampled groundwater is below 1 suggesting it is not natural uranium present but a possible contamination from the mine seepage. The radiological hazard parameters of the seepage water were above the recommended values and thus pose a radiation risk to human and environment. |
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Summary Language |
|
Original Title |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
1474-7065 |
ISBN |
|
Medium |
|
| Area |
|
Expedition |
|
Conference |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
no |
| Call Number |
THL @ christoph.kuells @ mathuthu_radiological_2021 |
Serial |
160 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Milena-Pérez, A.; Piñero-García, F.; Benavente, J.; Expósito-Suárez, V.M.; Vacas-Arquero, P.; Ferro-García, M.A. |
| Title |
Uranium content and uranium isotopic disequilibria as a tool to identify hydrogeochemical processes |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2021 |
Publication |
Journal of Environmental Radioactivity |
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
227 |
Issue |
|
Pages |
106503 |
| Keywords |
234U/238U, Betic cordillera, Groundwater, Hydrogeochemistry, Uranium natural isotopes |
| Abstract |
This paper studies the uranium content and uranium isotopic disequilibria as a tool to identify hydrogeochemical processes from 52 groundwater samples in the province of Granada (Betic Cordillera, southeastern Spain). According to the geological complexity of the zone, three groups of samples have been considered. In Group 1 (thermal waters; longest residence time), the average uranium content was 2.63 ± 0.16 μg/L, and 234U/238U activity ratios (AR) were the highest of all samples, averaging 1.92 ± 0.30. In Group 2 (mainly springs from carbonate aquifers; intermediate residence time), dissolved uranium presented an average value of 1.34 ± 0.13 μg/L, while AR average value was 1.38 ± 0.25. Group 3 comes from pumping wells in a highly anthropized alluvial aquifer. In this group, where the residence time of the groundwater is the shortest of the three, average uranium content was 5.28 ± 0.26 μg/L, and average AR is the lowest (1.17 ± 0.12). In addition, the high dissolved uranium value and the low AR brought to light the contribution of fertilizers (Group 3). In the three groups, 235U/238U activity ratios were similar to the natural value of 0.046. Therefore, 235U detected in the samples comes from natural sources. This study is completed with the determination of major ions and physicochemical parameters in the groundwater samples and the statistical analysis of the data by using the Principal Component Analysis. This calculation indicates the correlation between uranium isotopes and bicarbonate and nitrate anions. |
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Summary Language |
|
Original Title |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
0265-931x |
ISBN |
|
Medium |
|
| Area |
|
Expedition |
|
Conference |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
no |
| Call Number |
THL @ christoph.kuells @ milena-perez_uranium_2021 |
Serial |
112 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Moreau, M.; Daughney, C. |
| Title |
Defining natural baselines for rates of change in New Zealand’s groundwater quality: Dealing with incomplete or disparate datasets, accounting for impacted sites, and merging into state of the-environment reporting |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2021 |
Publication |
Science of The Total Environment |
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
755 |
Issue |
|
Pages |
143292 |
| Keywords |
Baseline, Groundwater quality, Machine-learning, Monitoring, New Zealand, Trends |
| Abstract |
To effectively manage sustainably groundwater bodies, it is essential to establish what the naturally occurring ranges of chemical concentrations in groundwaters are and how they change over time. We defined baseline trends for New Zealand groundwaters using: 1) pattern recognition techniques to deal with inconsistent monitoring suites between the national (110 sites) and the denser regional network (\textgreater1000 sites), and 2) multivariate statistics to identify and remove impacted sites from the enhanced dataset. Rates of changes were calculated for 13 parameters between January 2005 and December 2014 at more than 1000 groundwater quality monitoring sites. The resulting dataset included 262 complete cases (CC), which was enhanced using Machine-Learning (ML) techniques to a total of 607 sites. Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to identify trend clusters that were consistent between the CC, ML-enhanced datasets and a 2006 study based on solely on the national network. The largest cluster (WR) consisted of low magnitude changes across all parameters and was attributed to water-rock interaction processes. The second largest cluster (I) exhibited fast changes particularly for parameters linked to human-induced impact. The third largest cluster (D) comprised decreases of all parameters and was associated with dilution processes. Trend clusters were further refined using groundwater quality state information, enabling the identification of impacted sites outside of Cluster I in the ML-enhanced and CC datasets. Corresponding trend baselines were subsequently derived at unimpacted sites using univariate quantile distribution (5th and 95th percentile thresholds). Finally, we developed classifications combining baselines (state and trend) and natural variability to enhance state of the environment reporting. This allowed the new identification of deteriorating trends at sites where groundwater quality state is not yet affected in addition to trend reversals. These classifications can be adapted to incorporate new knowledge or align with surface water quality reporting. |
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Summary Language |
|
Original Title |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
0048-9697 |
ISBN |
|
Medium |
|
| Area |
|
Expedition |
|
Conference |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
no |
| Call Number |
THL @ christoph.kuells @ moreau_defining_2021 |
Serial |
164 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Musy, S.; Meyzonnat, G.; Barbecot, F.; Hunkeler, D.; Sültenfuss, J.; Solomon, D.K.; Purtschert, R. |
| Title |
In-situ sampling for krypton-85 groundwater dating |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2021 |
Publication |
Journal of Hydrology X |
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
11 |
Issue |
|
Pages |
100075 |
| Keywords |
Noble gases, Tracers, Groundwater, Dating, Sampling Methodology |
| Abstract |
Krypton-85 and other radioactive noble gases are widely used for groundwater dating purposes. 85Kr analysis require large volumes of water to reach the analytical requirements. Conventionally, this water is pumped to the surface to be degassed with a gas extraction system. The large pumping rate may disturb the natural flow field and requires substantial field logistics. Hence, we propose a new in-situ degassing method, in which membrane contactors are used to degas the groundwater directly in the well and gas is collected at the surface. This way, field work is facilitated, groundwater system disturbance is minimized, and the gas sample is collected at a specific depth. We demonstrate the tightness of the system regarding atmospheric air contamination for a collection times of 24 h, which is sufficient for both low-level counting and laser-based counting methods for 85Kr. The minimal borehole diameter is 7.5 cm for the prototype presented in this research but can easily be reduced to smaller diameters. In a case study, we compare the results obtained with the new passive method with those from a conventional packer setup sampling. Additionally, 3H/3He samples were collected for both sampling regimes and the dating results were compared with those from 85Kr. A good agreement between tracer ages is demonstrated and the age stratigraphy is consistent with the expected age distribution for a porous unconfined aquifer. In addition, our study emphasizes the differences between the age information sampled with various methods. In conclusion, we demonstrate that the new in situ quasi-passive method provides a more representative age stratigraphy with depth in most cases. |
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Summary Language |
|
Original Title |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
2589-9155 |
ISBN |
|
Medium |
|
| Area |
|
Expedition |
|
Conference |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
no |
| Call Number |
THL @ christoph.kuells @ Musy2021100075 |
Serial |
215 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
N, D.; Panda, B.; S, C.; V, P.M.; Singh, D.K.; L, R.A.; Sahoo, S.K. |
| Title |
Spatio-temporal variations of Uranium in groundwater: Implication to the environment and human health |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2021 |
Publication |
Science of The Total Environment |
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
775 |
Issue |
|
Pages |
145787 |
| Keywords |
Groundwater, Health risk, Speciation, Stable isotopes, Statistics, Uranium |
| Abstract |
Groundwater overexploitation has resulted in huge scarcity and increase in the demand for water and food security in India. Groundwater in India has been observed to have experienced various water quality issues like arsenic, fluoride, and Uranium (U) contamination, leading to risk in human health. Markedly, the health risk of higher U in drinking water, as well as its chemical toxicity in groundwater have adverse effects on human. This study has reported occurrence of U as an emerging and widespread phenomenon in South Indian groundwater. Data on U in groundwater were generated from 284 samples along the Cretaceous Tertiary boundary within 4 seasons viz. pre-monsoon (PRM), southwest monsoon (SWM), northeast monsoon (NEM), and post-monsoon (POM). High U concentrations (74 μgL−1) showed to be above the World Health Organization’s provisional guideline value of 30 μgL−1. The geochemical, stable isotope and geophysical studies suggested that U in groundwater could vary with respect to season and was noted to be highest during NEM. The bicarbonate (HCO3) released by weathering process during monsoon could affect the saturation index (SI)Calcite and carbonate species of U. However, the primary source of U was found to be due to geogenic factors, like weathering, dissolution, and groundwater level fluctuation, and that, U mobilization could be enhanced due to anthropogenic activities. The findings further indicated that groundwater in the study area has reached the alarming stage of chemical toxicity. Hence, it is urgent and imperative that workable management strategies for sustainable drinking water source be developed and preventive measures be undertaken, relative to these water quality concerns to mitigate their disconcerting effect on human health. |
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Summary Language |
|
Original Title |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
0048-9697 |
ISBN |
|
Medium |
|
| Area |
|
Expedition |
|
Conference |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
no |
| Call Number |
THL @ christoph.kuells @ n_spatio-temporal_2021 |
Serial |
146 |
| Permanent link to this record |
