Selected anthropogenic and natural radioisotopes in the Barents Sea and off the western coast of Svalbard.

The Murmansk Marine Biological Institute (MMBI) performed high-latitude expeditions to the Barents Sea during 2007-2009 where a scientist from the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) participated. The aim of the expeditions was to study and map the current radiological situation throughout the Barents Sea. In the expeditions, samples of seawater, sediment and biota were collected for radioactivity studies. The (90)Sr and (137)Cs isotopes were analysed from the seawater samples and no spatial distribution in the concentrations of (90)Sr and (137)Cs was found. The sediment samples were analysed for γ-emitting isotopes. In the statistical analysis performed only the (90)Sr was found to have no spatial distribution. In the (137)Cs concentrations two areas containing higher concentrations were observed: one in the western part of Svalbard and another in Franz Victoria Trough near the Franz Josef Land archipelago. The increase in the western coast of Svalbard suggests an Atlantic influence while in the Franz Victoria Trough source regions are possibly more complex. Since (137)Cs in marine sediments mainly originates from terrestrial sources, finding higher concentrations in the northern part of the Barents Sea may also suggest a contribution of (137)Cs carried by the ocean currents and by sea ice from the outside Barents Sea. In addition to γ spectrometric measurements, the sediment samples were radiochemically analysed for (210)Pb. It was found that the unsupported fraction of (210)Pb showed significant spatial variation. The fraction of unsupported (210)Pb was reduced to 40-70% near Bear Island, Edge Island and in the Franz Josef Land archipelago. In these regions the sea is typically covered with sea ice during winter. The relatively low fraction of unsupported (210)Pb is possibly caused by blocking of wet and dry deposition of (210)Pb onto the sea by winter sea ice. In biota samples, only small traces, at the level of 0.2 Bq/kg w.w. of (137)Cs, were found. When the (137)Cs concentrations found in cod and in haddock were compared with studies done in the early 1990's an effective half-life of (137)Cs in cod and in haddock was deduced. For cod the estimated effective half-life of (137)Cs was between 5.8 and 7.5 years and for haddock between 5.3 and 9.5 years. Similarly, the concentrations of naturally occurring (210)Po and (210)Pb were from 0.1 to 0.3 Bq/kg w.w. The (210)Po/(210)Pb ratio varied from 1.8 to 30 indicating a more efficient bioaccumulation of (210)Po than its precursor (210)Pb. The dose to humans eating Barents Sea fish was estimated. Even for people consuming large quantities of Barents Sea fish the annual dose was found to be below 20 µSv. The effective dose from anthropogenic (137)Cs was found to be less than 1% compared to the dose caused naturally occurring (210)Po and (210)Pb.

137Cs, 239,240Pu and 241Am in boreal forest soil and their transfer into wild mushrooms and berries.

Profiles of podzolic soil from boreal forests were sampled from eight sites in Finland and the distribution of (137)Cs in the soil layers was determined. In addition, (239,240)Pu and (241)Am were determined from two soil profiles taken at one sampling site. Inventories of (137)Cs in the soil profiles varied between 1.7 kBq/m(2) and 42 kBq/m(2), reflecting known variation in (137)Cs fallout from the Chernobyl accident. The highest proportions of the radionuclides were found in the organic layer at a depth of less than 5 cm, which on average contained 47% of (137)Cs, 76% of (239,240)Pu and 79% of (241)Am. In the litter, clearly higher proportions of (137)Cs were found compared to (239,240)Pu and (241)Am, probably indicating its more effective recycling from the organic layer back to the surface. Only very minor proportions of (137)Cs were recorded below 20 cm. The concentration of (137)Cs in the soil profiles could be approximated with a declining logarithmic trend. The activity concentrations of (137)Cs were determined for six wild mushroom species and three wild berry species at two sites, as well as the aggregated transfer factors and the distribution of (137)Cs between their various parts. In addition, (239,240)Pu and (241)Am were determined in one mushroom and three berry species at one site. Very high concentrations of (137)Cs, up to 20 kBq/kg (d.w.), were found in mushrooms, and their transfer factors were between 0.1 m(2)/kg and 1.0 m(2)/kg. In berries, the transfer factors were an order of magnitude lower. (137)Cs accumulated more in the caps of mushrooms and in the fruits of berries than in other parts. Transfer factors for (239,240)Pu and (241)Am were two to three orders of magnitude lower than those of (137)Cs.

Distribution of (210)Pb and (210)Po in boreal forest soil.

Vertical distribution and activity contents of (210)Pb and (210)Po were investigated in forest soils of Scots pine-dominated (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands from seven different locations in Finland. The mean total inventory in the soil profile, up to 20cm, of (210)Pb was 4.0kBqm(-2) (range3.1-5.0kBqm(-2)) and (210)Po 5.5kBqm(-2) (range 4.0-7.4kBqm(-2)), the organic soil layer containing 45% of the total inventory of both nuclides. In both the organic and the mineral layers the (210)Po/(210)Pb ratio was close to unity indicating a radioactive equilibrium between them. In the litter layer there was, however, a clear excess of (210)Po suggesting that polonium is recycled via root uptake from the root zone to the ground surface. The activity concentration (Bqkg(-1)) of (210)Pb clearly correlated with organic matter and the Fe, Al and Mn concentrations in soil indicating that radioactive lead is associated both with humic substances and the oxides of iron, aluminium and manganese. Radioactive lead was also seen to follow the behavior of stable lead. No systematic correlation between polonium and soil properties was seen.

Distribution of 210Pb and 210Po concentrations in wild berries and mushrooms in boreal forest ecosystems.

The activity concentrations and distribution of 210Pb and 210Po in wild berries and edible mushrooms were investigated in Finnish forests. The main study areas were located in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forests in southern and northern Finland. The activity concentrations of 210Pb and 210Po in blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) and lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) samples decreased in the order: stems>leaves>berries (i.e. fruits). The activity ratios of 210Po/210Pb in the wild berry samples were mainly higher than one, indicating elevated activity concentrations of polonium in the samples. In mushrooms the activity concentrations of 210Pb and especially 210Po were higher than in fruits of the wild berries. The highest activity concentration of 210Pb was detected in Cortinarius armillatus L. (16.2 Bq kg(-1) d.w.) and the lowest in Leccinum vulpinum L. (1.38 Bq kg(-1) d.w.). The 210Po activity concentrations of the whole fruiting bodies ranged from 7.14 Bq kg(-1) d.w. (Russula paludosa L.) to 1174 Bq kg(-1) d.w. (L. vulpinum L.). In general, the highest activity concentrations of 210Po were recorded in boletes. The caps of mushrooms of the Boletaceae family showed higher activity concentrations of 210Po compared to the stipes. In most of the mushrooms analyzed, the activity concentrations of 210Po were higher than those of 210Pb. 210Po and 210Pb dominate the radiation doses received via ingestion of wild berries and mushrooms in northern Finland, while in southern Finland the ingested dose is dominated by 137Cs from the Chernobyl fallout.