Long-lived Radionuclides in the Surface Environment (LO-RISE)- Mechanistic Studies of Speciation, Environmental Transport and Transfer
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Manchester
Department Name: Earth Atmospheric and Env Sciences
Abstract
The impact of radioactivity on humans and the wider environment is controlled by the behaviour of the radionuclides in groundwaters, soils and sediments, and this behaviour is dictated by the quantities of radionuclides, and their chemical forms. We will study some of the radionuclides which are particularly important because they are potentially present in relatively large quantities, are environmentally mobile, and are readily taken up by living organisms. The main radionuclides we are going to study are:
Carbon-14, which occurs in nature, but was produced back in the 1960s and 60s through nuclear weapons testing, and is also present in nuclear wastes; and
Uranium (together with its decay product radium) which is present in nature, and also in some nuclear wastes.
We will use four areas of the UK which contain elevated levels of these radionuclides as our study sites. These are South Terras (an old uranium mine in Cornwall), the Needle's Eye (a uranium mineral vein in SW Scotland), the Esk Estuary in NW England, and offshore sediments in the NE Irish Sea. At these last two sites, the sediments contain elevated levels of radioactivity from authorised Sellafield discharges, mainly in the 1970s.
As well as studying how radioactivity occurs in, and moves through, the soils, waters, plants and (in the offshore sediments) animals, we want to understand the environmental and biological processes which control this movement. To do this, we will do a series of laboratory experiments, looking at the way soil/sediment conditions influence the radionuclide concentrations in solution, the form of the radionuclides in the solution, the way radionuclides are taken up into plants and animals, and the way they are distributed in plant tissues.
We will use the results from our field and laboratory studies to develop and test mathematical models of radionuclide transport and transfer processes. These are important because they allow us to predict behaviour, rather than having to make measurements. These predictive models can be used in assessing environmental impacts, cleaning up contaminated land and predicting the long term impact of radioactive waste disposals.
Carbon-14, which occurs in nature, but was produced back in the 1960s and 60s through nuclear weapons testing, and is also present in nuclear wastes; and
Uranium (together with its decay product radium) which is present in nature, and also in some nuclear wastes.
We will use four areas of the UK which contain elevated levels of these radionuclides as our study sites. These are South Terras (an old uranium mine in Cornwall), the Needle's Eye (a uranium mineral vein in SW Scotland), the Esk Estuary in NW England, and offshore sediments in the NE Irish Sea. At these last two sites, the sediments contain elevated levels of radioactivity from authorised Sellafield discharges, mainly in the 1970s.
As well as studying how radioactivity occurs in, and moves through, the soils, waters, plants and (in the offshore sediments) animals, we want to understand the environmental and biological processes which control this movement. To do this, we will do a series of laboratory experiments, looking at the way soil/sediment conditions influence the radionuclide concentrations in solution, the form of the radionuclides in the solution, the way radionuclides are taken up into plants and animals, and the way they are distributed in plant tissues.
We will use the results from our field and laboratory studies to develop and test mathematical models of radionuclide transport and transfer processes. These are important because they allow us to predict behaviour, rather than having to make measurements. These predictive models can be used in assessing environmental impacts, cleaning up contaminated land and predicting the long term impact of radioactive waste disposals.
Planned Impact
The risk of nuclear industry operations is always a major concern. Whether or not these perceptions of risk are justified, they influence the public and decision-makers very heavily. Moreover, there are major uncertainties associated with radioactivity and the environment, which may lead to a very conservative approach to risk. These conservatisms can lead to overestimation of risk, and costly over-engineering of projects. A proportionate understanding of risk in any nuclear programme is therefore essential for public acceptance, political support and proper cost-detriment analysis. Ultimately, the behaviour of radionuclides in the biosphere dictates the radiological risk they represent, and LO-RISE will substantially improve our understanding of this risk, and of conservatisms in risk assessments, so any organisation with responsibilities for assessing or limiting radiological impact will benefit from LO-RISE.
Two distinct groups of beneficiaries can be identified:
1. Government, Industry, and Regulators. Government sets policy for the UK nuclear industry and has clearly stated that the "safety and security of nuclear power is of paramount concern". Our findings will be disseminated both through our project partners and also by LO-RISE academics' involvement in policy and strategy activities, so that LO-RISE will inform and improve policy making. The owners and operators of nuclear licensed sites (NDA, its Site Licence Companies, MOD and its contractors), the implementers of geological disposal (NDA-RWMD); and the nuclear industry regulators (primarily EA in England and Wales, SEPA in Scotland, though ONR may also have an interest), are responsible for delivering Government's policy objectives, and LO-RISE will support development and delivery of Site Lifetime Plans, or equivalent. At the operational level, the nuclear industry relies heavily on a very diverse supply chain. LO-RISE will help these contractors develop and implement improved solutions at the project level, for deployment in the UK and overseas.
2. The Wider Stakeholder Community, and the Public. Even in 'nuclear' communities, new nuclear projects are controversial. This is clearly illustrated by, for example, 'Stop Hinkley' or the controversy around the MRWS process in west Cumbria. Objective research has a vital role in providing trusted information to inform these debates, and LO-RISE will contribute to this through specifically tailored outreach and impact activities.
Two distinct groups of beneficiaries can be identified:
1. Government, Industry, and Regulators. Government sets policy for the UK nuclear industry and has clearly stated that the "safety and security of nuclear power is of paramount concern". Our findings will be disseminated both through our project partners and also by LO-RISE academics' involvement in policy and strategy activities, so that LO-RISE will inform and improve policy making. The owners and operators of nuclear licensed sites (NDA, its Site Licence Companies, MOD and its contractors), the implementers of geological disposal (NDA-RWMD); and the nuclear industry regulators (primarily EA in England and Wales, SEPA in Scotland, though ONR may also have an interest), are responsible for delivering Government's policy objectives, and LO-RISE will support development and delivery of Site Lifetime Plans, or equivalent. At the operational level, the nuclear industry relies heavily on a very diverse supply chain. LO-RISE will help these contractors develop and implement improved solutions at the project level, for deployment in the UK and overseas.
2. The Wider Stakeholder Community, and the Public. Even in 'nuclear' communities, new nuclear projects are controversial. This is clearly illustrated by, for example, 'Stop Hinkley' or the controversy around the MRWS process in west Cumbria. Objective research has a vital role in providing trusted information to inform these debates, and LO-RISE will contribute to this through specifically tailored outreach and impact activities.
Organisations
Publications
Tierney KM
(2017)
Nuclear reprocessing-related radiocarbon (14C) uptake into UK marine mammals.
in Marine pollution bulletin
Tierney KM
(2017)
Ecosystem uptake and transfer of Sellafield-derived radiocarbon (14C) part 2: The West of Scotland.
in Marine pollution bulletin
Tierney K
(2018)
Modelling marine trophic transfer of radiocarbon (14C) from a nuclear facility
in Environmental Modelling & Software
Thorpe C
(2014)
The interactions of strontium and technetium with Fe(II) bearing biominerals: Implications for bioremediation of radioactively contaminated land
in Applied Geochemistry
Thorpe C
(2017)
Quantifying Technetium and Strontium Bioremediation Potential in Flowing Sediment Columns
in Environmental Science & Technology
Thorpe C
(2015)
Neptunium and manganese biocycling in nuclear legacy sediment systems
in Applied Geochemistry
Smith K
(2018)
Np(V) sorption and solubility in high pH calcite systems
in Chemical Geology
Siddeeg SM
(2015)
Behaviour and mobility of U and Ra in sediments near an abandoned uranium mine, Cornwall, UK.
in Environmental science. Processes & impacts
Siddeeg SM
(2014)
Dispersion of U-series natural radionuclides in stream sediments from Edale, UK.
in Environmental science. Processes & impacts
Rosas-Moreno J
(2021)
Specific arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal-plant interactions determine radionuclide and metal transfer into Plantago lanceolata
in PLANTS, PEOPLE, PLANET
Ray D
(2020)
Controls on anthropogenic radionuclide distribution in the Sellafield-impacted Eastern Irish Sea.
in The Science of the total environment
Ochiai A
(2018)
Uranium Dioxides and Debris Fragments Released to the Environment with Cesium-Rich Microparticles from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
in Environmental science & technology
Muir GK
(2017)
Ecosystem uptake and transfer of Sellafield-derived radiocarbon (14C). Part 1. The Irish Sea.
in Marine pollution bulletin
Masters-Waage N
(2017)
Impacts of Repeated Redox Cycling on Technetium Mobility in the Environment
in Environmental Science & Technology
Marshall TA
(2014)
Incorporation of Uranium into Hematite during crystallization from ferrihydrite.
in Environmental science & technology
Ikehara R
(2018)
Novel Method of Quantifying Radioactive Cesium-Rich Microparticles (CsMPs) in the Environment from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
in Environmental science & technology
Fuller A
(2020)
Organic complexation of U(VI) in reducing soils at a natural analogue site: Implications for uranium transport
in Chemosphere
Dungan K
(2017)
Uranium from seawater - Infinite resource or improbable aspiration?
in Progress in Nuclear Energy
Davies HS
(2018)
Multiple environmental factors influence 238U, 232Th and 226Ra bioaccumulation in arbuscular mycorrhizal-associated plants.
in The Science of the total environment
Davies HS
(2015)
Radioactivity and the environment: technical approaches to understand the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal plants in radionuclide bioaccumulation.
in Frontiers in plant science
Crean DE
(2020)
Correction: Multimodal X-ray microanalysis of a UFeO4 particle: evidence for the environmental stability of ternary U(V) oxides from depleted uranium munitions testing.
in Environmental science. Processes & impacts
Crean DE
(2020)
Multimodal X-ray microanalysis of a UFeO4: evidence for the environmental stability of ternary U(v) oxides from depleted uranium munitions testing.
in Environmental science. Processes & impacts
Bower WR
(2019)
Metaschoepite Dissolution in Sediment Column Systems-Implications for Uranium Speciation and Transport.
in Environmental science & technology
Boghi A
(2018)
A Model of Uranium Uptake by Plant Roots Allowing for Root-Induced Changes in the soil.
in Environmental science & technology
Al-Qasmi H
(2018)
Deposition of artificial radionuclides in sediments of Loch Etive, Scotland.
in Journal of environmental radioactivity
Al-Qasmi H
(2016)
Origin of artificial radionuclides in soil and sediment from North Wales.
in Journal of environmental radioactivity
| Description | 1. We have developed a quantitative model of carbon-14 transfer through marine food chains. As the principal radionuclide discharged to the Irish Sea, which is readily transferred into living organisms, this will help provide confidence that these discharges do not have any significant radiological impact in the ecosystem. 2. We have identified an ability of organic matter in soils and sediments to trap uranium without the well-known chemical reduction, which inhibits its uptake into plant roots. We have also identified physiological mechanisms by whch plants limit transfer of uranium and radium into above-ground tissues. |
| Exploitation Route | The findings should be usable by industry and regulators in the nuclear sector |
| Sectors | Energy,Environment |
| Description | Safety cases for contaminated land management and radioactive waste disposal. Regulation of these activities |
| First Year Of Impact | 2016 |
| Sector | Energy,Environment |
| Impact Types | Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |
| Description | Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership Nuclear Sector Panel |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Member, Nuclear Innovation & Research Advisory Board |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Non Executive Director of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/news/professor-francis-livens-to-join-the-nda-board |
| Description | Nuclear Advisory Committees |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | Participation in a number of Government advisory committees, principally- Deputy chair, Committee on Radioactive Waste Management Member, Scientific Advice to Government in Emergencies (SAGE) group Member, Cabinet Office Scientific Advisory Committee on High Impact Threats Member, Scientific Advisory Committee, Government Decontamination Service Member, ad hoc Nuclear R&D Advisory Board Co-Author, Nuclear R&D Roadmap |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/committee-on-radioactive-waste-management |
| Description | BBC RADIO 4: File on Four: The Nuclear Option - Powering the Future and Cleaning Up the Past |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Interview for File on Four |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09byv6k |
| Description | BBC TV interview |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | BBC NORTH WEST TONIGHT: Sellafield decommisioning |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0bptlk1 |
| Description | Blogs |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The PG students run a nuclear blog, to which academics contribute. Academics also contribute to the policy@manchester blogs (https://www.policy.manchester.ac.uk/blogs/) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015,2016,2017 |
| URL | https://ngnstudents.org/category/outreach/ |
| Description | Interview for national newspaper |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | THE GUARDIAN: Fate of UK's nuclear plants in doubt over ageing infrastructure 3 Feb 2019 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/feb/03/fate-of-uks-nuclear-power-stations-in-doubt-over... |
| Description | MAIL ONLINE: Radioactive waste from 43 nuclear explosions is LEAKING into the Pacific because a reinforced concrete dome built by the US military on an island to store it is disappearing under the sea |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Press interview |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5340465/Concrete-dome-holding-radioactive-waste-LEAKING.html |
| Description | Public Debates |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Three public debates on nuclear energy |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017 |
| URL | http://www.discuss.org.uk/discussion/nuclear-power-yes-please/ |
| Description | Public events |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Regular nuclear power exhibitions, designed and delivered by students and PDRAs, held annually at the Museum of Science & Industry, Manchester |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016,2017 |
| URL | https://ngnstudents.org/category/outreach/ |