Naslov
Radioecology around a closed uranium mine

Autori
Smodiš, Borut ; Štrok, Marko ; Černe, Marko

Izvornik
Journal of radioanalytical and nuclear chemistry (0236-5731) 299 (2014); 765-771

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
Uranium mine ; Natural radionuclides ; Mobility ; Sequential extraction ; Wetland plants ; Milk ; ERICA Tool

Sažetak
The uranium mine and mill at Žirovski vrh, Slovenia, operated from 1982 to 1990. After processing, the uranium mill tailings were deposited onto the Boršt waste pile lying close to the mine. Radioecological studies focused on assessing the mobility and bioavailability of deposited radionuclides were initiated some five years ago. The mobility of U-238, U-234, Th-230 and Ra-226 in soil was studied by applying sequential extraction protocols. The highest activity concentrations were found at the bottom of the waste pile. Uranium isotopes were the most mobile, followed by Ra-226 whose mobility appeared to be suppressed by high sulphate concentrations and Th-230. The wetland plants grown in soils contaminated with seepage waters from the tailings contained higher levels of U-238, Ra-226 and Th-230 compared to plants from a control site. The activity concentration of Ra-226 was the highest in all studied plant species. The radiological risk to wildlife around the mine area as assessed by the ERICA Tool was negligible. Activity concentrations in bovine milk from the area of Žirovski vrh were comparable to the reference location, except for uranium where the content was higher. The combined annual effective dose for adults consuming milk from the Žirovski vrh area is 13.0 ± 1.7 μSv a-1.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Geologija, Kemija, Interdisciplinarne biotehničke znanosti

POVEZANOST RADA