Radionuclide uptake mechanisms by native flora in the vicinity of uranium mines in arid South Australia

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorPandelus, SBen_AU
dc.contributor.authorPring, Aen_AU
dc.contributor.authorJohansen, MPen_AU
dc.contributor.authorPayne, TEen_AU
dc.contributor.authorStopic, Aen_AU
dc.contributor.authorSpooner, NAen_AU
dc.contributor.authorKalnins, GAGen_AU
dc.contributor.authorPopelka-Filcoff, RSen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2025-04-04T03:14:52Zen_AU
dc.date.available2025-04-04T03:14:52Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2019-11-17en_AU
dc.date.statistics2025-03-28en_AU
dc.description.abstractEnvironmental risk assessments for radiological impacts follow internationally accepted methods including use of the Environmental Risk from Ionising Contaminants: Assessment and Management (ERICA) tool. Concentration ratios (ratio of radionuclides in an organism to that of its host soil/water- CR) are an essential input for these models. However, the available international input data are primarily from temperate Europe and North America, and may not apply in arid conditions. Previous studies have shown that Australian native species accumulate radionuclides from their environment differently when compared to similar species from other climates. This research aims to develop a concentration ratio dataset relevant for U and Th series radionuclides in arid and semi-arid conditions. Olympic Dam, operated by BHP, is a large copper, uranium, gold and silver producer in South Australia, and utilises underground mining, with the ore being processed on site. To examine radionuclide uptake mechanisms by native flora, samples of flora and adjacent soil have been collected at Olympic Dam. Analyses of flora and soil samples included gamma-ray spectroscopy, neutron activation analysis, alpha-particle spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Alternative analytical methods have been incorporated including alpha track analysis for flora samples. Alpha track analysis uses a nuclear emulsion gel layer applied to the individual leaf sample. Analysis of the gel is used to identify radionuclide accumulation and spatially-resolve its location within structures of the leaves. Soil from the surface to 10 cm below the surface was analysed by ICP-MS. Results show a gradient of uranium concentration from 4 ppm at the surface to 0.5 ppm at a depth of 10 cm. The soil depth profile data show that the most probable mechanism of radionuclide transport is airborne and therefore any potential uptake into flora is influenced by the depositional effects on the soil surface. Overall this research provides a better understanding of the behaviour of radionuclides in an arid environment and provides data on the mechanisms of radionuclide uptake in flora. It augments existing international data for use in models in Australia and other localities with similar arid environments.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationPandelus, S. B., Pring, A., Johansen, M., Payne, T. E., Stopic, A., Spooner, N. A., Kalnins, C. A. G., & Popelka-Filcoff, R. S. (2019). Radionuclide uptake mechanisms by native flora in the vicinity of uranium mines in arid South Australia. Poster presented to the Fifth International Symposium on the System of Radiological Protection, Adelaide, South Australia, 17-21 November 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.icrp.org/page.asp?id=457en_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceenddate2019-11-21en_AU
dc.identifier.conferencenameFifth International Symposium on the System of Radiological Protectionen_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceplaceAdelaide, South Australiaen_AU
dc.identifier.conferencestartdate2019-11-17en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/handle/10238/16128en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherICRPen_AU
dc.relation.urihttps://www.icrp.org/page.asp?id=457en_AU
dc.subjectRadionuclide migrationen_AU
dc.subjectPlantsen_AU
dc.subjectSouth Australiaen_AU
dc.subjectAustraliaen_AU
dc.subjectUranium minesen_AU
dc.subjectEnvironmenten_AU
dc.subjectRisk assessmenten_AU
dc.subjectContaminationen_AU
dc.subjectClimatesen_AU
dc.subjectMass spectroscopyen_AU
dc.subjectSoilsen_AU
dc.subjectArid Landsen_AU
dc.titleRadionuclide uptake mechanisms by native flora in the vicinity of uranium mines in arid South Australiaen_AU
dc.typeConference Posteren_AU
Files
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.63 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Conference Publications