Physicochemical characterisation of depleted uranium (DU) particles at a UK firing test range

Depleted uranium (DU) particles were isolated from soils at Eskmeals, UK, where DU munitions have been tested against hard targets and unfired DU buried in soils for corrosion studies. Using electron microscopy and X-ray analyses, three classes of particles were identified: (1) DU aerosols and fragments, typically 1-20 μm diameter, composed mainly of uranium as UO₂ and U₃O₈, (2) solidified molten particles, typically 200-500 μm diameter, composed of U, mixed with Fe from target materials and (3) deposits and coatings, often of metaschoepite on sand grains up to 500 μm diameter. The first two particle types are derived from firing impacts, the last from corrosion of buried uranium metal. Alpha and mass spectrometry allowed quantitative elemental and isotopic characterisation of DU-containing particulate environmental samples.     

Depleted uranium (DU): a holistic consideration of DU and related matters.

Following the use of depleted uranium (DU) during the Gulf and Balkan conflicts, unnecessary and costly confusion has existed for some 11 years concerning the hazard it constitutes, despite the fact that sufficient data are available to answer most of the relevant questions. In tracing the significance of uranium in the environment and humans, too much reliance is still placed upon the extrapolation of animal data. The existing radiological nomenclature is far too involved and complex to understand, let alone implement. The excellence of early health physics seems to have been lost, and hence there is a failure to utilise the large body of knowledge, and the manner in which it was obtained, in other disciplines. Health physics has failed to understand the nature of some natural processes that ultimately control radiation dose to the environment and humans. Examination of three types of DU, in particular the highly radioactive and potentially hazardous unprocessed, spent-reactor uranium fuel debris (UDU), alluded to as hot particles, has been poorly studied on the basis of scarcity in the environment. Fundamental geological processes are described which illustrate that, as a consequence of routine operation of nuclear reprocessing plants, especially in the past, and following reactor accidents, natural processes can result in an enrichment of DU particles in most types of sediment. Failure to grasp essential geological processes in relation to the dispersion of radionuclides in the environment is detrimental to public acceptance of an essential form of energy in association with others.     

Mechanisms controlling lateral and vertical porewater migration of depleted uranium (DU) at two UK weapons testing sites

Uranium associations with colloidal and truly dissolved soil porewater components from two Ministry of Defence Firing Ranges in the UK were investigated. Porewater samples from 2-cm depth intervals for three soil cores from each of the Dundrennan and Eskmeals ranges were fractionated using centrifugal ultrafiltration (UF) and gel electrophoresis (GE). Soil porewaters from a transect running downslope from the Dundrennan firing area towards a stream (Dunrod Burn) were examined similarly. Uranium concentrations and isotopic composition were determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Multi-Collector-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS), respectively.The soils at Dundrennan were Fe- and Al-rich clay-loam soils whilst at Eskmeals, they were Fe- and Al-poor sandy soils; both, however, had similar organic matter contents due to the presence of a near-surface peaty layer at Eskmeals. These compositional features influenced the porewater composition and indeed the associations of U (and DU). In general, at Dundrennan, U was split between large (100 kDa-0.2 μm) and small (3-30 kDa) organic colloids whilst at Eskmeals, U was mainly in the small colloidal and truly dissolved fractions. Especially below 10 cm depth, association with large Fe/Al/organic colloids was considered to be a precursor to the removal of U from the Dundrennan porewaters to the solid phase. In contrast, the association of U with small organic colloids was largely responsible for inhibiting attenuation in the Eskmeals soils.Lateral migration of U (and DU) through near-surface Dundrennan soils will involve both large and small colloids but, at depth, transport of the smaller amounts of U remaining in the porewaters may involve large colloids only. For one of the Dundrennan cores the importance of redox-related processes for the re-mobilisation of DU was also indicated as Mn^IV reduction resulted in the release of both Mn^II and U^VI into the truly dissolved phase.     

Measurements of daily urinary uranium excretion in German peacekeeping personnel and residents of the Kosovo region to assess potential intakes of depleted uranium (DU)

Following the end of the Kosovo conflict, in June 1999, a study was instigated to evaluate whether there was a cause for concern of health risk from depleted uranium (DU) to German peacekeeping personnel serving in the Balkans. In addition, the investigations were extended to residents of Kosovo and southern Serbia, who lived in areas where DU ammunitions were deployed. In order to assess a possible DU intake, both the urinary uranium excretion of volunteer residents and water samples were collected and analysed using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). More than 1300 urine samples from peacekeeping personnel and unexposed controls of different genders and age were analysed to determine uranium excretion parameters. The urine measurements for 113 unexposed subjects revealed a daily uranium excretion rate with a geometric mean of 13.9 ng/d (geometric standard deviation (GSD)=2.17). The analysis of 1228 urine samples from the peacekeeping personnel resulted in a geometric mean of 12.8 ng/d (GSD=2.60). It follows that both unexposed controls and peacekeeping personnel excreted similar amounts of uranium. Inter-subject variation in uranium excretion was high and no significant age-specific differences were found. The second part of the study monitored 24 h urine samples provided by selected residents of Kosovo and adjacent regions of Serbia compared to controls from Munich, Germany. Total uranium and isotope ratios were measured in order to determine DU content. (235)U/(238)U ratios were within +/-0.3% of the natural value, and (236)U/(238)U was less than 2 x 10(-7), indicating no significant DU in any of the urine samples provided, despite total uranium excretion being relatively high in some cases. Measurements of ground and tap water samples from regions where DU munitions were deployed did not show any contamination with DU, except in one sample. It is concluded that both peacekeeping personnel and residents serving or living in the Balkans, respectively, were not exposed to significant amounts of DU.     

生物活性炭（BAC）技术在废水处理中的应用与研究

总结了生物活性炭技术在废水处理和污水再生利用处理中的应用,并进一步阐述了生物活性炭对污染物的去除机理,归纳了生物活性炭技术在水处理中的优势,以推广生物活性炭技术的应用.     

Biological treatment of Mn(II) and Fe(II) containing groundwater: kinetic considerations and product characterization

In the present article, the treatment of groundwater containing Mn(II) and Fe(II) has been investigated. The biological oxidation of Mn(II) and Fe(II) in upflow filtration units comprised the applied experimental technique. The oxidation processes were mediated by specific bacteria, namely the Leptothrix ochracea and Gallionella ferruginea, which belong to the general category of manganese and iron oxidizing bacteria. This work was focused on the characterization of the products of biological oxidation and to the examination of the kinetics of Mn(II) removal as compared with Fe(II) removal from groundwaters. The products of biological oxidation were characterized using the spectroscopic techniques XRD, XPS and SEM-EDS and comprised a mixture of biogenic hydrous manganese and iron oxides. The oxidation state of manganese in the precipitates was found to be between 3 and 4. Iron oxides were mainly in the form of amorphous ferrihydrite. The kinetic results indicated that the rates of manganese and iron oxidation were several orders of magnitude greater than the respective for abiotic oxidation. The bacterially mediated oxidation of iron was faster than manganese oxidation, presenting half-lives of reaction 0.9 and 3.98 min, respectively.     

Contribution for tier 1 of the ecological risk assessment of Cunha Baixa uranium mine (Central Portugal): II. soil ecotoxicological screening

This study presents the first ecotoxicological data concerning the soils of the area surrounding the Cunha Baixa uranium mine. Our main goal was to categorise soils from the area based on their toxicity profiles using a battery of cost- and time-effective bioassays (elutriate approach - Microtox and Daphnia acute tests; whole-soil approach - Microtox and avoidance assays with Eisenia andrei), as a part of tier 1 of an ongoing Environmental Risk Assessment. No acute toxicity was found for any of the 10 sites/soils using Microtox or Daphnia. On the contrary, the behavioural response of E. andrei was found to be an extremely sensitive endpoint, allowing the discrimination of highly to moderately toxic soils based on their toxicity profiles (as a function of soil concentration). Soils exhibiting highest toxicity corresponded to areas subjected to runoffs or sludge deposition from the aquatic effluent, while non-toxic soils were farthest to the mine. Data obtained in avoidance assays strengthen the previous evaluation of risks based on chemical data and supported decisions about proceeding for tier 2.     

我国湿热地区人群基础热舒适反应研究(2):研究结果的对比分析

基于我国湿热地区人群的气候室实验结果,从心理热反应、生理热反应和生理-心理关系等多方面对国内外研究结果进行了系统对比与分析,发现现行国际标准不适用于我国湿热地区,生理热习服和心理热适应是其重要原因。考虑热习服和热适应的影响作用,建立我国湿热地区人群的生理热调节模型与心理-生理模型,是掌握其基础热舒适反应规律、合理制定热环境标准的重要途径。     

Pollution studies of River Khan (INDORE) India—I. Biological assessment of pollution

Pollution studies of the River Khan, Indore (India) have been made, with an emphasis on the biological assessment of water quality. The study covers a critical analysis and testing of various European methods for the biological monitoring of water pollution, under the Indian conditions in the River Khan. The river has been divided into different zones of pollution. The biological data have been correlated with the chemical data, and the practical implications of the European saprobity system, under the Indian conditions have been discussed. The importance of benthic macro-invertebrates in the assessment of water quality in the river has also been discussed.     

“大直径泥质软岩嵌岩灌注桩的荷载传递性状”讨论之二

《岩土工程学报》１９９８年第４期所载“大直径泥质软岩嵌岩灌注桩的荷载传递性状”一文（作者刘松玉等,以下简称“刘文”）,提供了许多宝贵资料。笔者对刘文分析整理后,取其部分绘成系数ξｐ与嵌岩比关系数图（图１）。ξｐ＝ｑｍａｘ／ｆｗ,式中ｆｗ资料来源於文献［１］。从图１可看出ξｐ似与嵌岩比无关。桩基的侧阻力和端阻力在粘性土和砂性土中往往存在“深度效应”,对此各文献都有解释［２,３］。对於嵌岩桩的端阻力是否也存在“深度效应”,国内外文献没有明确报到,这是一个值得探讨的问题。嵌岩段侧阻力修正系数ξｒ也同样有待研究探讨。*图１　系数ξｐ与嵌岩比的关系Ｆｉｇ．１　Ｔｈｅｒｅｌａｔｉｏｎｓｈｉｐｂｅｔｗｅｅｎ     

Accumulation of arsenic in Lemna gibba L. (duckweed) in tailing waters of two abandoned uranium mining sites in Saxony, Germany

Accumulation of arsenic in Lemna gibba L. was investigated in tailing waters of abandoned uranium mine sites, following the hypothesis that arsenic poses contamination risks in post uranium mining in Saxony, Germany. Consequently, macrophytes growing in mine tailing waters accumulate high amounts of arsenic, which might be advantageous for biomonitoring arsenic transfer to higher trophic levels, and for phytoremediation. Water and L. gibba sample collected from pond on tailing dumps of abandoned mine sites at Lengenfeld and Neuensalz-Mechelgrun were analysed for arsenic. Laboratory cultures in nutrient solutions modified with six arsenic and three PO(4)(3-) concentrations were conducted to gain insight into the arsenic-L. gibba interaction. Arsenic accumulation coefficients in L. gibba were 10 times as much as the background concentrations in both tailing waters and nutrient solutions. Arsenic accumulations in L. gibba increased with arsenic concentration in the milieu but they decreased with phosphorus concentration. Significant reductions in arsenic accumulation in L. gibba were observed with the addition of PO(4)(3-) at all six arsenic test concentrations in laboratory experiments. Plant samples from laboratory trials had on average twofold higher bioaccumulation coefficients than tailing water at similar arsenic concentrations. This would be attributed to strong interaction among chemical components, and competition among ions in natural aquatic environment. The results of the study indicate that L. gibba can be a preliminary bioindicator for arsenic transfer from substrate to plants and might be used to monitor the transfer of arsenic from lower to higher trophic levels in the abandoned mine sites. There is also the potential of using L. gibba L. for arsenic phytoremediation of mine tailing waters because of its high accumulation capacity as demonstrated in this study. Transfer of arsenic contamination transported by accumulations in L. gibba carried with flowing waters, remobilisation through decay, possible methylisation and volatilisation by L. gibba need to be considered.     

Contribution for tier 1 of the ecological risk assessment of Cunha Baixa uranium mine (Central Portugal): I soil chemical characterization

Within the tier 1 of a site specific risk assessment, the pseudo-total concentrations (extracted with aqua regia) and the potential mobile fractions of metals were determined to perform a preliminary evaluation of risks posed by contaminated soils from an abandoned uranium mine (Mangualde, Central Portugal). Considering the mobile fractions of metals, extracted with artificial rain water, aluminium and uranium were the most concerning elements, since their concentrations were above soil quality criteria values (SQGVs) established for both elements. However, according to the evaluation based on potential mobile fractions of elements, rather than on pseudo-total metal concentrations the risks were limited to sites within the exploitation area, where contamination derives mainly from past in-situ leaching activities of pore ore as well as from the deposition of sludge from the effluent pond. The exclusion of other sites under evaluation, from the risk assessment process, requires additional data provided by soil screening ecotoxicological assays.     

“大直径泥质软岩嵌岩灌注桩的荷载传递性状”讨论之一

笔者学习了刘松玉同志的“大直径泥质软岩嵌岩灌注桩的荷载传递性状”一文（载《岩土工程学报》１９９８年第４期,ｐｐ．５８～６１,以下简称“原文”）很有收获,但笔者对原文的概念、统计方法和结论有不同看法,提出来与作者商榷。１　关于泥质软岩的提法　　*（１）国标《岩土工程勘察规范》ＧＢ５００２１－９４岩石按强度分类可分为硬质岩石（抗压强度≥３０ＭＰａ）和软质岩石（＜３０ＭＰａ）,并指出硬质岩石的代表性岩石有花岗岩、石灰岩、石英砂岩、大理岩、硅质砾岩等;软质岩石（可分次软岩石和极软岩石）其代表性岩石有粘土岩、页岩、千枚岩、绿泥石片岩、泥岩等。原文中表２桩端持力层为粉砂质泥岩、泥质砂岩、泥质粉砂岩、泥质砾     

Selenium depuration: residual effects of dietary selenium on Sacramento splittail (Pogonichthys macrolepidotus)

We examined the growth performance, tissue selenium (Se) concentration, and histopathology of Sacramento splittail (Pogonichthys macrolepidotus) fed a control diet (0.4 microg Se/g) for 1, 3, 7, 13, 21 wk after a 9-month dietary exposure to 0.4, 12.6, 26.0, and 57.6 microg Se/g dry diet. Splittail previously fed 57.6 microg Se/g showed a significantly (P<0.05) lower final body weight but had higher weight gain than fish fed 0.4 microg Se/g diet at the end of the 21-wk depuration study. There were no significant differences in body weight in fish previously fed diets with or less than 26.0 microg Se/g. Liver and muscle Se concentrations decreased significantly in fish previously fed 26.0 and 57.6 microg Se/g diet but did not change significantly in fish fed 12.6 or less mug Se/g diet at the end of 21 wk. Liver Se concentrations dropped to the same concentration as fish fed 0.4 microg Se/g diet after a 13-wk depuration in all treatments. Muscle Se concentrations remained significantly higher in fish previously fed 12.6 or higher microg Se/g diets when compared to fish fed control diet at the end of a 21-wk depuration. Except for the presence of preneoplastic basophilic foci in two fish previously fed 57.6 microg Se/g diet, normal liver morphology was observed in splittail in all treatments at the end of 21-wk depuration. Prevalences of kidney lesions were increased in fish previously fed 26.0 and 57.6 microg Se/g diets at 3 and 7 wk, and decreased at 13 and 21 wk of depuration. No kidney lesions were observed in fish previously fed 12.6 microg Se/g diet or less. In conclusion, growth of splittail previously fed a diet containing 57.6 microg Se/g was still affected at the end of 21-wk depuration. The 21-wk depuration was not long enough for muscle Se concentrations to return to basal levels in fish previously fed 12.6 or more microg Se/g diet. Deleterious health effects of Se persisted in fish previously fed diets with 26.0 or more microg Se/g diet. Current results suggest that splittail that survived the 9-month exposure to 12.6 or less microg Se/g diet under current laboratory conditions is likely to thrive if Se in diet was reduced to control concentration.     

我国湿热地区人群基础热舒适反应研究(1):实验方法与结果

采用经典热舒适研究方法,于2008年夏季对我国湿热地区典型人群受试者作了气候室实验,在凉-暖范围内6个不同温湿度组合的工况下进行了问卷投票和生理指标测试。结果显示,受试者的热中性温度为26.9℃(修正温度);受试者夏季偏爱稍凉的热感觉(-0.2);潮湿感中性对应的水蒸气分压力约为3500Pa;热中性对应的平均皮肤温度为33.2℃;平均皮肤温度与皮肤湿润度是预测热感觉与热舒适的重要参数;心率与热感觉存在线性关系,血压在偏凉环境下与热感觉呈线性关系,在偏暖环境下变化不大。