Radioecological investigation of (3)H, (14)C, and (129)I in natural waters from Fuhrberger Feld catchment, Northern Germany.

Related Articles

Radioecological investigation of (3)H, (14)C, and (129)I in natural waters from Fuhrberger Feld catchment, Northern Germany.

J Environ Radioact. 2016 Dec;165:243-252

Authors: Osman AA, Bister S, Riebe B, Daraoui A, Vockenhuber C, Wacker L, Walther C

Abstract
Ongoing radionuclide releases from nuclear facilities, e.g. from reprocessing plants, but also from nuclear reactors require monitoring of the environment. Particularly drinking water reservoirs are prone to possible radionuclide accumulation fostering the need for routine surveillance. In this work, we investigated tritium ((3)H), radiocarbon ((14)C), and iodine-129 ((129)I) activity levels in natural aquatic samples at the water protection area of Fuhrberger Feld near Hannover city, Northern Germany. For that aim, a low-level liquid scintillation counting (LSC) technique was used to measure (3)H in the water samples based on a distillation process after alkaline permanganate treatment. Isotopic ratios for both (14)C and (129)I were measured by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) after chemical separation and purification of the samples. Mean (3)H levels in precipitation (8.8 ± 3.4 TU) were found to be comparable to its levels in precipitation data in Germany. Rivers and small streams revealed similar mean (3)H value (11.0 ± 3.3 TU) as in lake water (10.6 ± 3.4 TU). Variations in (3)H concentrations in groundwater samples were observed and discussed. (14)C levels in all groundwater samples were below the atmospheric natural level of 100 pMC indicating no anthropogenic input of radiocarbon. The (129)I/(127)I isotopic ratios in all investigated water samples were in the order of 10(-8) to 10(-7), which is significantly higher than the pre-nuclear natural equilibrium isotopic ratio (∼1.5 × 10(-12)). In strong contrast to all other regional groundwaters, the Fuhrberger Feld groundwater has much higher values of (129)I concentration and (129)I/(127)I isotopic ratio close to the ones of surface water. The overall annual effective dose via ingestion for all nuclides in the investigated groundwater remains substantially below the reference dose level of 0.1 mSv a(-1).

PMID: 27794272 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://ift.tt/2nHsEaF