Biotic, temporal and spatial variability of tritium concentrations in transpirate samples collected in the vicinity of a near-surface low-level nuclear waste disposal site and nearby research reactor

The results of a 21 month sampling program measuring tritium in tree transpirate with respect to local sources are reported. The aim was to assess the potential of tree transpirate to indicate the presence of sub-surface seepage plumes. Transpirate gathered from trees near low-level nuclear waste di...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of environmental radioactivity 2011-06, Vol.102 (6), p.551-558
Main Authors: Twining, J.R., Hughes, C.E., Harrison, J.J., Hankin, S., Crawford, J., Johansen, M., Dyer, L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Applied ecology
Applied sciences
Biological and medical sciences
Correlation modelling
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution
Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on plants and fungi
Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics
Environmental Monitoring
Exact sciences and technology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Groundwater
Groundwaters
Infiltration
Leachate
Mathematical models
Natural water pollution
New South Wales
Nuclear Reactors
Nuclear research reactors
Nuclear waste disposal
Plant Leaves - chemistry
Pollution
Pollution, environment geology
Radioactive Waste - analysis
Radioactive wastes
Rainfall
Refuse Disposal
Rhizosphere
Sampling
Seasons
Soil Pollutants, Radioactive - analysis
Species Specificity
Transpiration
Trees
Trees - chemistry
Tritium
Tritium - analysis
Wastes
Water - chemistry
Water Pollutants, Radioactive - analysis
Water treatment and pollution
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Summary:The results of a 21 month sampling program measuring tritium in tree transpirate with respect to local sources are reported. The aim was to assess the potential of tree transpirate to indicate the presence of sub-surface seepage plumes. Transpirate gathered from trees near low-level nuclear waste disposal trenches contained activity concentrations of 3H that were significantly higher (up to ∼700 Bq L−1) than local background levels (0–10 Bq L−1). The effects of the waste source declined rapidly with distance to be at background levels within 10s of metres. A research reactor 1.6 km south of the site contributed significant (p 
ISSN:0265-931X
1879-1700
DOI:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2011.02.012