This study deals with the geology in areas close to a large unexploited uranium deposit and the impact of bedrock characteristics on levels of radionuclides and other elements in soil and biota. Factors influencing soil inventory and ecosystem transfer are discussed, focussing on U, Ra, and Pb. Field work was carried out in Salangen Valley in Northern Norway. Sampling stations for soil and biota covered different habitats - grassland, birch forest and low alpine heathland. The geological survey confirmed uranium-bearing minerals in granitic gneiss and pegmatites. There was large variation in the local occurrence of uranium, reflecting the irregular nature of the pegmatite. Activity concentrations of U, Ra, and Pb in surface soil were elevated at sites close to U-enhanced bedrock, compared to sites with other types of bedrock. Particularly high soil levels were found for Ra and Pb, whereas activity concentrations of U were more variable, depending of local soil characteristics. Levels of other natural radionuclides (K, Th) merely increased with soil mineral content, and concentrations of heavy metals were generally low at all sites. External dose rate (1 m above ground surface) was closely correlated with Ra levels in soil. Plant levels of U and Ra varied by several orders of magnitude depending on soil level and plant species, whereas plant levels of Pb and Po were largely affected by aerial fallout. Berries generally contained lower levels of U and Ra than green plant parts. As was the case for plants, the levels of U in earthworms were strongly correlated with the respective concentrations in the soil. Soil-to-plant transfer was markedly higher for Ra than for U. For both radionuclides, a positive correlation was found between concentration ratios of V. myrtillus (heath) and soil organic matter content. The U concentration ratios for earthworms were generally two orders of magnitude higher than for plants.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2020.106291 | DOI Listing |
PLoS One
December 2024
School of Geoscience and Technology, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, China.
Clarifying the pore-throat size and pore size distribution of tight sandstone reservoirs, quantitatively characterizing the heterogeneity of pore-throat structures, is crucial for evaluating reservoir effectiveness and predicting productivity. Through a series of rock physics experiments including gas measurement of porosity and permeability, casting thin sections, scanning electron microscopy, and high-pressure mercury injection, the quality of reservoir properties and microscopic pore-throat structure characteristics were systematically studied. Combined with fractal geometry theory, the effects of different pore throat types, geometric shapes and scale sizes on the fractal characteristics and heterogeneity of sandstone pore throat structure are clarified.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMethods Mol Biol
December 2024
School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand.
Here, we present a protocol for the isolation and detection of Phytophthora oospores directly from soil samples. Our method incorporates a novel technique for isolating Phytophthora oospores using filter pouches and an improved DNA extraction procedure specifically designed for oospores. While we have primarily developed this protocol for detecting P.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnviron Monit Assess
December 2024
School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, Atomic Campus, P.O. Box LG 80 Legon, Accra, Ghana.
Excavation of terrestrial surface of the Earth could enhance the chance of exposure to radon while gases in the underground get access to escape. This study was aimed to assess the level of radon concentration from soil samples of quarrying sites at Hakim Gara in Ethiopia using CR-39 detectors in sealed container technique. The results of the measured radon concentration level were ranging from 164.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPlant Cell Rep
December 2024
Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, 603 203, India.
CesA proteins response to arsenic stress in rice involves structural and regulatory mechanisms, highlighting the role of BES1/BZR1 transcript levels under arsenate exposure and significant downregulation of BZR1 protein expression. Plants interact with several hazardous metalloids during their life cycle through root and soil connection. One such metalloid, is arsenic and its perilous impact on rice cultivation is a well-known threat.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTrop Med Infect Dis
December 2024
Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium.
is a vector of , the causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis. This study assessed the abundance and distribution of in different habitats and human houses situated at varying distances from hyrax (reservoir host) dwellings, in Wolaita Zone, southern Ethiopia. Sandflies were collected from January 2020 to December 2021 using CDC light traps, sticky paper traps, and locally made emergence traps.
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