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Pham, H. C., & Alila, Y. (2024). Science of forests and floods: The quantum leap forward needed, literally and metaphorically. Science of The Total Environment, 912, 169646.
Abstract: A century of research has generated considerable disagreement on the effect of forests on floods. Here we call for a causal inference framework to advance the science and management of the effect of any forest or its removal on flood severity and frequency. The causes of floods are multiple and chancy and, hence, can only be investigated via a probabilistic approach. We use the stochastic hydrology literature to infer a blueprint framework which could guide future research on the understanding and prediction of the effects of forests on floods in environments where rain is the dominant form of precipitation. Drawing parallels from other disciplines, we show that the introduction of probability in forest hydrology could stimulate a gestalt switch in the science of forests and floods. In light of increasing flood risk caused by climate change, this probabilistic framework can help policymakers develop robust forest and water management plans based on a defensible and clear understanding of floods.
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Kazemi, A., Esmaeilbeigi, M., Sahebi, Z., & Ansari, A. (2022). Health risk assessment of total chromium in the qanat as historical drinking water supplying system. Science of The Total Environment, 807, 150795.
Abstract: This study investigated the health risk assessment of total chromium (CrT) in qanats of South Khorasan, Eastern Iran. For this, concentration of CrT in a total of 83 qanats were measured in summer 2020. Samples were initially tested in the field for temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), electrical conductivity (EC), and total dissolved solids (TDS). In the lab, collected samples were filtered and fixed with nitric acid (HNO3) for the detection of CrT using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Hazard quotient (HQ) and carcinogenic risk assessments were considered to evaluate the risks of CrT to inhabitants. Results showed that concentration of CrT ranged from 1.79 to 1017.05 μg L-1, and a total of 25 stations illuminated CrT concentrations above the WHO standards (50 μg L-1). HQ demonstrated HQ < 1 for 90.37% of studied samples with negligible hazard, whereas 9.63% of stations illuminated HQ ≥ 1 meaning the presence of non-carcinogenic risk for water consumers. Carcinogenic risk (CR) exhibited CR > 1.00E-04 in 81.93% of qanats while 18.07% of stations had 1.00E-06 < CR < 1.00E-04 meaning no acceptable and acceptable CR for the studied qanats, respectively. Zoning map displayed that qanats in the south of South Khorasan possessed the highest HQ, but north regions showed the lowest ones. Together, CrT in qanats of South Khorasan is above the WHO limit, which results in a high risk of carcinogenicity for residents, and in turn, more efforts should be made to provide hygienic groundwater for consumers.
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Prusty, S., Somu, P., Sahoo, J. K., Panda, D., Sahoo, S. K., Sahoo, S. K., et al. (2022). Adsorptive sequestration of noxious uranium (VI) from water resources: A comprehensive review. Chemosphere, 308, 136278.
Abstract: Groundwater is usually utilized as a drinking water asset everywhere. Therefore, groundwater defilement by poisonous radioactive metals such as uranium (VI) is a major concern due to the increase in nuclear power plants as well as their by-products which are released into the watercourses. Waste Uranium (VI) can be regarded as a by-product of the enrichment method used to produce atomic energy, and the hazard associated with this is due to the uranium radioactivity causing toxicity. To manage these confronts, there are so many techniques that have been introduced but among those adsorptions is recognized as a straightforward, successful, and monetary innovation, which has gotten major interest nowadays, despite specific drawbacks regarding operational as well as functional applications. This review summarizes the various adsorbents such as Bio-adsorbent/green materials, metal oxide-based adsorbent, polymer based adsorbent, graphene oxide based adsorbent, and magnetic nanomaterials and discuss their synthesis methods. Furthermore, this paper emphasis on adsorption process by various adsorbents or modified forms under different physicochemical conditions. In addition to this adsorption mechanism of uranium (VI) onto different adsorbent is studied in this article. Finally, from the literature reviewed conclusion have been drawn and also proposed few future research suggestions.
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Lartigue, J. E., Charrasse, B., Reile, B., & Descostes, M. (2020). Aqueous inorganic uranium speciation in European stream waters from the FOREGS dataset using geochemical modelling and determination of a U bioavailability baseline. Chemosphere, 251, 126302.
Abstract: The concentration of the bioavailable uranium fraction (Ubio) at the European scale was deduced by geochemical modelling considering several definitions found in the literature and the FOREGS European stream waters geochemical atlas dataset to produce a Ubio baseline. A sensitivity analysis was performed using three thermodynamic databases. We also investigated the link between total dissolved uranium (Uaq) concentrations, speciation and global stream water chemistry on the one hand, and the lithology and ages of the surrounding rocks on the other. The more U-enriched the stream sediments or rock type contexts are, which tends to be the case with rocks containing silicates (4.1 mg/kg), the less U-concentrated the stream waters are (0.15 μg/L). Sedimentary rocks lead to slightly higher Uaq concentrations (0.34 μg/L) even if the concentration in sediment (Used) is relatively low (1.6 mg/kg). This trend is reversed for Ubio, with higher concentrations in a crystalline context. The mean estimated Ubio value ranges from 1.5.10−3 to 65.3 ng/L and can fluctuate by 3 orders of magnitude depending on the considered definition as opposed to by 2 orders of magnitude accountable to differences between thermodynamic databases. The classification of the water in relation to the two surrounding rock lithologies makes it possible to reduce the mean variability for the Ubio concentrations. Irrespective of the definition of Ubio considered, in 59% of cases the Ubio fraction represents less than 1% of Uaq. Several threshold values relating to Ubio were proposed, assuming knowledge only of the aqueous concentrations of the major elements and Uaq.
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Veerasamy, N., Kasar, S., Murugan, R., Inoue, K., Natarajan, T., Ramola, R. C., et al. (2023). 234U/238U disequilibrium and 235U/238U ratios measured using MC-ICP-MS in natural high background radiation area soils to understand the fate of uranium. Chemosphere, 323, 138217.
Abstract: The Chhatrapur-Gopalpur coastal area in Odisha, India is a well-known natural high background radiation (HBRA) area due to the abundance of monazite (a thorium bearing radioactive mineral) in beach sands and soils. Recent studies on Chhatrapur-Gopalpur HBRA groundwater have reported high concentrations of uranium and its decay products. Therefore, the soils of the Chhatrapur-Gopalpur HBRA are reasonably suspected as the sources of these high uranium concentrations in groundwater. In this report, first the uranium concentrations in soil samples were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and they were found to range from 0.61 ± 0.01 to 38.59 ± 0.16 mg kg−１. Next, the 234U/238U and 235U/238U isotope ratios were measured to establish a baseline for the first time in Chhatrapur-Gopalpur HBRA soil. Multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) was used for measurement of these isotope ratios. The 235U/238U ratio was observed to be the normal terrestrial value. The 234U/238U activity ratio, was calculated to understand the secular equilibrium between 234U and 238U in soil and it varied from 0.959 to 1.070. To understand the dynamics of uranium in HBRA soil, physico-chemical characteristics of soil were correlated with uranium isotope ratios and this correlation of 234U/238U activity ratio indicated the leaching of 234U from Odisha HBRA soil.
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Kumar, V., Setia, R., Pandita, S., Singh, S., & Mitran, T. (2022). Assessment of U and As in groundwater of India: A meta-analysis. Chemosphere, 303, 135199.
Abstract: More than 2.5 billion people depend upon groundwater worldwide for drinking, and giving quality water has become one of the great apprehensions of human culture. The contamination of Uranium (U) and Arsenic (As) in the groundwater of India is gaining global attention. The current review provides state-of-the-art groundwater contamination with U and As in different zones of India based on geology and soil texture. The average concentration of U in different zones of India was in the order: West Zone (41.07 μg/L) \textgreater North Zone (37.7 μg/L) \textgreater South Zone (13.5 μg/L)\textgreater Central Zone (7.4 μg/L) \textgreater East Zone (5.7 μg/L) \textgreaterSoutheast Zone (2.4 μg/L). The average concentration of As in groundwater of India is in the order: South Zone (369.7 μg/L)\textgreaterCentral Zone (260.4 μg/L)\textgreaterNorth Zone (67.7 μg/L)\textgreaterEast Zone (60.3 μg/L)\textgreaterNorth-east zone (9.78 μg/L)\textgreaterWest zone (4.14 μg/L). The highest concentration of U and As were found in quaternary sediments, but U in clay skeletal and As in loamy skeletal. Results of health risk assessment showed that the average health quotient of U in groundwater for children and adults was less than unity. In contrast, it was greater than unity for As posing a harmful impact on human health. This review provides the baseline data regarding the U and As contamination status in groundwater of India, and appropriate, effective control measures need to be taken to control this problem.
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Klimkova, S., Cernik, M., Lacinova, L., Filip, J., Jancik, D., & Zboril, R. (2011). Zero-valent iron nanoparticles in treatment of acid mine water from in situ uranium leaching. Chemosphere, 82(8), 1178–1184.
Abstract: Acid mine water from in situ chemical leaching of uranium (Straz pod Ralskem, Czech Republic) was treated in laboratory scale experiments by zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI). For the first time, nZVI were applied for the treatment of the real acid water system containing the miscellaneous mixture of pollutants, where the various removal mechanisms occur simultaneously. Toxicity of the treated saline acid water is caused by major contaminants represented by aluminum and sulphates in a high concentration, as well as by microcontaminants like As, Be, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, U, V, and Zn. Laboratory batch experiments proved a significant decrease in concentrations of all the monitored pollutants due to an increase in pH and a decrease in oxidation–reduction potential related to an application of nZVI. The assumed mechanisms of contaminants removal include precipitation of cations in a lower oxidation state, precipitation caused by a simple pH increase and co-precipitation with the formed iron oxyhydroxides. The possibility to control the reaction kinetics through the nature of the surface stabilizing shell (polymer vs. FeO nanolayer) is discussed as an important practical aspect.
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Borrego-Alonso, D., Quintana-Arnés, B., & Lozano, J. C. (2023). Natural radionuclides behaviour in drinking groundwaters from Castilla y León (Spain); radiological implications. Water Research, 245, 120616.
Abstract: Since the coming into force of the European Council Directive 51/2013 EURATOM and its transposition into the Spanish legislation, the presence of radioactive substances in drinking waters must be kept under surveillance to ensure that the health protection requirements are met. Driven by this regulatory framework, in an attempt to know the starting point from which to design surveillance plans, the groundwaters intended for human consumption of Castilla y León (Spain) have been radiologically characterised by using both low-level γ-ray and α-particle spectrometry to determine the activity concentration of the natural radionuclides needed to account for the indicative dose estimation. This extensive research has comprised the radiological characterisation of more than 400 drinking water samples from one of the European Union’s largest regions. Furthermore, the gross α and gross β activities have been analysed. Results showed a high geographical variability that can be related to the hydrogeological formations where the groundwaters come from. The uranium isotopes, 234U and 238U, are the main radionuclides present in the analysed drinking waters reaching values up to 2000 mBq/L, in the southwestern and western of Castilla y León, where U-rich minerals are part of the host rock. High 210Pb and 226,228Ra occurrences are found in the low permeability igneous and metasedimentary hydrogeological formations of Salamanca province. From a public health protection point of view, 4.4% of the total drinking water samples from intakes exceeded the Indicative Dose parametric value of 0.1 mSv, which is a not negligible number of samples, being very likely related to granitic and metamorphosed host rock under specific local conditions. This fact highlights the need for research and consideration of special surveillance of the groundwaters from these areas.
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Netzer, L., Kurtzman, D., Ben-Hur, M., Livshitz, Y., Katzir, R., & Nachshon, U. (2024). Novel approach to roof rainwater harvesting and aquifer recharge in an urban environment: Dry and wet infiltration wells comparison. Water Research, 252, 121183.
Abstract: In urban environments there is a severe reduction of infiltration and groundwater recharge due to the existence of large impervious areas. During rain events, large volumes of water that could have recharged groundwater and surface water bodies are diverted into the municipal drainage system and lost from the freshwater storage. Moreover, extreme rain events impose high peak flows and large runoff volumes, which increase the risk of urban floods. Recent studies have suggested the use of rainwater harvesting for groundwater recharge, as a plausible solution for these challenges in dense urban environments. While the benefits of this approach are well understood, research on its practical, engineering, and hydrological aspects is relatively limited. The objective of the present study was to examine the use of infiltration wells for groundwater recharge with harvested rainwater collected from building rooftops under Mediterranean climate conditions. Two types of wells with similar hydraulic and technical properties were examined: a well that reaches the groundwater (wet well); and a well that discharges the harvested water into the unsaturated zone (dry well). Infiltration capacities of the wells were compared in controlled experiments conducted during summer months, and in operational recharge of harvested rainwater, during winter. Both dry and wet wells were found to be suitable for purposes of groundwater recharge with rooftop-harvested rainwater. Infiltration capacity of the wet well was about seven times greater than the infiltration capacity of the dry well. While the infiltration capacity of the wet well was constant throughout the entire length of the study (∼10 m3/h/m), the dry well infiltration capacity improved during winter (from 0.5 m3/h/m to 1.5 m3/h/m), a result of development of the dry well with time. Considering Tel-Aviv, Israel, as a case study for a dense modern city in a Mediterranean climate, it is demonstrated herein that the use of infiltration wells may reduce urban drainage by ∼40 %.
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Jamali, B., Bach, P. M., & Deletic, A. (2020). Rainwater harvesting for urban flood management – An integrated modelling framework. Water Research, 171, 115372.
Abstract: It is well known that rainwater harvesting (RWH) can augment water supply and reduce stormwater pollutant discharges. Due to the lack of continuous 2D modelling of urban flood coverage and its associated damage, the ability of RWH to reduce urban flood risks has not been fully evaluated. Literature suggests that small distributed storage spaces using RWH tanks will reduce flood damage only during small to medium flooding events and therefore cumulative assessment of their benefits is needed. In this study we developed a new integrated modelling framework that implements a semi-continuous simulation approach to investigate flood prevention and water supply benefits of RWH tanks. The framework includes a continuous mass balance simulation model that considers antecedent rainfall conditions and water demand/usage of tanks and predicts the available storage prior to each storm event. To do so, this model couples a rainfall-runoff tank storage model with a detailed stochastic end-use water demand model. The available storage capacity of tanks is then used as a boundary condition for the novel rapid flood simulation model. This flood model was developed by coupling the U.S. EPA Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) to the Cellular-Automata Fast Flood Evaluation (CA-ffé) model to predict the inundation depth caused by surcharges over the capacity of the drainage network. The stage-depth damage curves method was used to calculate time series of flood damage, which are then directly used for flood risk and cost-benefit analysis. The model was tested through a case study in Melbourne, using a recorded rainfall time series of 85 years (after validating the flood model against 1D-2D MIKE-FLOOD). Results showed that extensive implementation of RWH tanks in the study area is economically feasible and can reduce expected annual damage in the catchment by up to approximately 30 percent. Availability of storage space and temporal distribution of rainfall within an event were important factors affecting tank performance for flood reduction.
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