70-Year Anthropogenic Uranium Imprints of Nuclear Activities in Baltic Sea Sediments.

Environmental Science & Technology
Mu LinLiuchao Zhu

Abstract

A strongly stratified water structure and a densely populated catchment make the Baltic Sea one of the most polluted seas. Understanding its circulation pattern and time scale is essential to predict the dynamics of hypoxia, eutrophication, and pollutants. Anthropogenic 236U and 233U have been demonstrated as excellent transient tracers in oceanic studies, but unclear input history and inadequate long-term monitoring records limit their application in the Baltic Sea. From two dated Baltic sediment cores, we obtained high-resolution records of anthropogenic uranium imprints originating from three major human nuclear activities throughout the Atomic Era. Using the novel 233U/236U signature, we distinguished and quantified 236U inputs from global fallout (45.4-52.1%), Chernobyl accident (0.3-1.8%), and discharges from civil nuclear industries (46.1-54.3%) to the Baltic Sea. We estimated the total release of 233U (7-15 kg) from the atmospheric nuclear weapon testing and pinpointed the 233U peak signal in the mid-to-late 1950s as a potential time marker for the onset of the Anthropocene Epoch. This work also provides fundamental 236U data on Chernobyl accident and early discharges from civil nuclear facilities, prompting worldwide 2...Continue Reading

References

Jan 2, 2003·Journal of Environmental Monitoring : JEM·Vladislav P MironovJ Sabine Becker
Dec 24, 2003·Journal of Environmental Radioactivity·X L HouJ Kucera
Mar 18, 2008·Applied Radiation and Isotopes : Including Data, Instrumentation and Methods for Use in Agriculture, Industry and Medicine·S H LeeM A C Hotchkis
Aug 16, 2008·Science·Robert J Diaz, Rutger Rosenberg
May 2, 2009·The Science of the Total Environment·A SakaguchiM Yamamoto
Jun 24, 2009·Environmental Science & Technology·Daniel J ConleyLovisa Zillén
Apr 9, 2013·Earth and Planetary Science Letters·Stephan R WinklerJessica Carilli
Apr 8, 2014·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Jacob CarstensenDaniel J Conley
Oct 16, 2015·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Jesper H AndersenCiarán Murray
Jan 16, 2017·Journal of Environmental Radioactivity·R EiglA Sakaguchi
May 16, 2017·Environmental Science & Technology·Jixin QiaoRobin Golser
Sep 25, 2017·Journal of Environmental Radioactivity·Brit SalbuCarlos Sancho
Oct 11, 2017·Environmental Science & Technology·Marcus ChristlHans-Arno Synal
Aug 17, 2019·Journal of Environmental Radioactivity·Valerii KashparovVladislav Zabrotsky
Feb 18, 2020·The Science of the Total Environment·Maxi CastrillejoMarcus Christl

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.