On April 26, 1986, Unit Four of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor exploded in then Soviet Ukraine. More than 3.5 million people in Ukraine alone, not to mention many citizens of surrounding countries, ...are still suffering the effects.Life Exposedis the first book to comprehensively examine the vexed political, scientific, and social circumstances that followed the disaster. Tracing the story from an initial lack of disclosure to post-Soviet democratizing attempts to compensate sufferers, Adriana Petryna uses anthropological tools to take us into a world whose social realities are far more immediate and stark than those described by policymakers and scientists. She asks: What happens to politics when state officials fail to inform their fellow citizens of real threats to life? What are the moral and political consequences of remedies available in the wake of technological disasters?
Through extensive research in state institutions, clinics, laboratories, and with affected families and workers of the so-called Zone, Petryna illustrates how the event and its aftermath have not only shaped the course of an independent nation but have made health a negotiated realm of entitlement. She tracks the emergence of a "biological citizenship" in which assaults on health become the coinage through which sufferers stake claims for biomedical resources, social equity, and human rights.Life Exposedprovides an anthropological framework for understanding the politics of emergent democracies, the nature of citizenship claims, and everyday forms of survival as they are interwoven with the profound changes that accompanied the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The safe disposal of high-level radioactive waste in a deep geological repository is a huge social and technical challenge. So far, one of the less considered factors needed for a long-term risk ...assessment, is the impact of microorganisms occurring in the different host rocks. Even under the harsh conditions of salt formations different bacterial and archaeal species were found, e. g. Halobacterium sp. GP5 1-1, which has been isolated from a German rock salt sample. The interactions of this archaeon with uranium(VI), one of the radionuclides of major concern for the long-term storage of high-level radioactive waste, were investigated. Different spectroscopic techniques, as well as microscopy, were used to examine the occurring mechanisms on a molecular level leading to a more profound process understanding. Batch experiments with different uranium(VI) concentrations showed that the interaction is not only a simple, but a more complex combination of different processes. With the help of in situ attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy the association of uranium(VI) onto carboxylate groups was verified. In addition, time-resolved laser-induced luminescence spectroscopy revealed the formation of phosphate and carboxylate species within the cell pellets as a function of the uranium(VI) concentration and incubation time. The association behavior differs from another very closely related halophilic archaeon, especially with regard to uranium(VI) concentrations. This clearly demonstrates the importance of studying the interactions of different, at first sight very similar, microorganisms with uranium(VI). This work provides new insights into the microbe-uranium(VI) interactions at highly saline conditions relevant to the long-term storage of radioactive waste in rock salt.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
For many years Antarctic ecosystems have been considered pristine, however recent studies, including our results, contradict this assumption. Our comprehensive study on the activity of anthropogenic ...radioisotopes (137Cs and 90Sr) in the most common species of green algae, bryophytes, lichens, and vascular plants, as well as soil and guano samples collected over a large area on King George Island (South Shetland Archipelago) in the austral summer 2018/2019 clearly indicate the importance of large-scale transport in shaping the level of pollution in areas very distant from potential sources of contamination. Additionally, radioisotope pollution can be measured even after a very long period (>60 years) since their occurrence. The mean activity of 137Cs measured in lichens, bryophytes, vascular plants, green algae, soil, and guano was, respectively: 3.72 Bq kg−1dw, 3.70 Bq kg−1dw, 2.62 Bq kg−1dw, 2.26 Bq kg−1dw, 4.07 Bq kg−1dw and 2.08 Bq kg−1dw. For 90Sr mean activity in lichens, bryophytes, vascular plants, green algae, and soil was, respectively: 1.99 Bq kg−1dw, 3.05 Bq kg−1dw, 2.42 Bq kg−1dw, 1.08 Bq kg−1dw, and 6.43 Bq kg−1dw. Increased activities of 90Sr and 137Cs were observed in species collected in the area influenced by glacier melt and penguin guano.
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•137Cs and 90Sr in Antarctic biota were still detected.•The highest activities of 137Cs and 90Sr in soil were near glaciers and penguin colonies.•The activity of 137Cs in vascular plants didn't show decrease trends.
The use of visible light to convert soluble U(VI) to insoluble U(IV) is a promising strategy for removing radioactive pollution. In this work, we used the top-down strategy to make carbon quantum ...dots and calcined with melamine to obtain carbon quantum dot modified carbon nitride (CD-C.sub.3N.sub.4) composite photocatalytic material. The introduction of carbon quantum dots encourages not only the separation of photogenerated electrons and holes, but also the capture of light through up-conversion photoluminescence activity. When the carbon quantum dots doping amount rate of 5% (CD.sub.5-C.sub.3N.sub.4), the energy gap was 2.2 eV, and the highest photocatalytic performance is shown. After irradiation for 120 min, the removal rate of U(VI) in the solution was 97.19%. Five photocatalytic cycle experiments show that the CD.sub.5-C.sub.3N.sub.4 had perfect reusability. Moreover, through the active species trap experiment, the possible mechanism of enhancing photocatalysis was proposed and analyzed. This research has a broad application prospect in the field of radioactive pollution purification, and is of great significance for the design of other CQDs-based photocatalysts in radioactive contamination treatment.
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•Synthesized 2 %g-C3N4/SnS2-V3/CQD1 using waste plant soot for sustainability.•Enhanced U(VI) removal with upconversion CQDs optimizing NIR light use.•Validated indirect Z-scheme ...mechanism for improved photocatalytic activity.•Demonstrated high reusability with stable performance over multiple cycles.•Aligned with green chemistry by converting waste into effective photocatalysts.
Heavy metal U (VI) wastewater is a difficult problem in water treatment because U (VI) readily dissolves in water and exhibits significant radiotoxicity and chemical toxicity. In the current work, the photocatalytic elimination of U (VI) is realized through the application of the Z-scheme 2 % g-C3N4/SnS2-V3/CQD1 photocatalytic system. The system demonstrates high removal efficiency, efficient collection ability of natural visible light and considerable upconversion performance. Employing uranyl nitrate hexahydrate (N2O8U·6H2O) as the simulated pollutant of heavy metal U (VI), the 2 % g-C3N4/SnS2-V3/CQD1 achieved a removal rate of 98.84 % in 30 min under the condition of pH = 3, and the reaction rate constant (k) was 0.09972 min−1. Cycling stability tests demonstrated consistent performance of the photocatalyst over four repeated cycles, indicating its potential practical application in heavy metal pollution remediation. The investigation into the boosted photocatalytic activity delved into the analysis of optical properties, including the ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflection spectrum (UV–vis DRS), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS). Additionally, electrochemical tests, such as Mott-Schottky (M−S) plots, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and photocurrent response, were employed to unravel the underlying factors contributing to this enhancement. Furthermore, we proposed a credible catalytic mechanism for the photocatalytic system. The Z-scheme photocatalytic model serves to enhance the conveyance of photogenerated carriers, thereby mitigating the electron-hole recombination rate within the photocatalyst. This work not only provides ideas and strategies for the construction of other multi-functional composite photocatalysts, but also pioneers a novel approach for addressing heavy metal pollution.
For decades, nuclear energy has been considered an important option for ensuring global energy security, and it has recently started being promoted as a solution for climate change mitigation. ...However, nuclear power remains highly controversial due to its associated risks – nuclear accidents and problematic radioactive waste management. This review aims to assess the viability of global nuclear energy economically (energy-wise), climatically and environmentally. To this end, the nuclear sector's energy- and climate-related advantages were explored alongside the downsides that mainly relate to radioactive pollution. Economically, it was found that nuclear energy is still an important power source in many countries around the world. Climatically, nuclear power is a low-carbon technology and can therefore be a viable option for the decarbonization of the world's major economies over the following decades, if coupled with other large-scale strategies such as renewable energies. These benefits are however outweighed by the radioactive danger associated to nuclear power plants, either in the context of the nuclear accidents that have already occurred or in that of the large amounts of long-lived nuclear waste that have been growing for decades and that represent a significant environmental and societal threat.
•A review of the tridimensional viability (energetical, climatic, environmental) of nuclear energy was conducted.•Energetically, nuclear power is still an important pillar of global energy security.•Climatically, nuclear power can be a viable pathway towards the decarbonization of the world's major economies.•Environmentally, nuclear energy is a double threat due to possible nuclear accidents and highly radioactive waste.•This trilema fuels the highly controversial nature of nuclear energy in today's society.
A reactor accident on a nuclear submarine in Chazhma Bay (Peter the Great Bay (PGB), Japan Sea), occurred at 11:55 h local time on 10 August 1985 and caused radioactive contamination of sea water and ...air. The potential transport pathways of radioactive tracers on the sea surface and at different depths in the water during the month after the accident have been simulated based on the regional ocean modelling system (ROMS) with high resolution and Lagrangian analysis. The spread of radionuclides on the sea surface in the adjacent Ussuri Bay was strongly influenced by two typhoons, which mixed the polluted water in the bay and reduced the concentration of radionuclides in the fallen spot. The surface transport of tracers from the Chazhma and Strelok bays was also affected by multidirectional winds, whereas the dispersion of tracers in the deeper layers was influenced by eddies in PGB.
•We simulated transport of contaminated water after nuclear accident in Chazhma Bay.•First ROMS-based Lagrangian simulation at various depths was done for Aug–Sep, 1985.•Transport pathways of radioactive tracers have been found in the study area.•Majority of the tracers were removed from the bays near Vladivostok during a month.•Eddies were found to operate as collectors of radionuclides providing their removal.
Copper hexacyanoferrate was imbued on pores of synthetic zeolite and the formation of needle shaped copper hexacyanoferrate microcrystals was confirmed by XRD and SEM. Batch equilibrations showed ...that the sorbent has good affinity for Cs and Sr which was further confirmed from column studies. It is established that a substantial amount (>8000 bed volumes) of low level waste contaminated with .sup.137Cs and .sup.90Sr can be treated in fixed bed column. The sorbent, owing to its low cost, simple preparation process and excellent .sup.137Cs and .sup.90Sr removal performance, is expected to find wide spread application in nuclear industry.
This open access book presents the findings from on-site research into radioactive cesium contamination in various agricultural systems affected by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident ...in March 2011. This fourth volume in the series reports on studies undertaken at contaminated sites such as farmland and forests, focusing on soil, water, mountain, agricultural products, and animals. It also provides additional data collected in the subsequent years to show how the radioactivity levels in agricultural products and their growing environments have changed with time and the route by which radioactive materials entered agricultural products as well as their movement between different components (e.g., soil, water, and trees) within an environmental system (e.g., forests). The book covers various topics, including radioactivity testing of food products; decontamination trials for rice and livestock production; the state of contamination in, trees, mushrooms, and timber; the dynamics of radioactivity distribution in paddy fields and upland forests; damage incurred by the forestry and fishery industries; and the change in consumers’ attitudes. In the series of this book, a real-time radioisotope imaging system has been introduced, a pioneering technique to visualize the movement of cesium in soil and in plants. This is the only book to provide systematic data on the actual change of radioactivity, which is of great value to all researchers who wish to understand the effect of radioactive fallout on agriculture. In addition, it helps the general public better understand radio-contamination issues in the environment. The project is ongoing; the research groups from the Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences of The University of Tokyo continue their work in the field further to evaluate the long-term effects of the Fukushima accident.
The rising use of radioactive elements is increasing radioactive pollution and calling for advanced materials to protect individuals. For instance, polymers are promising due to their mechanical, ...electrical, thermal, and multifunctional properties. Moreover, composites made of polymers and high atomic number fillers should allow to obtain material with low-weight, good flexibility, and good processability. Here we review the synthesis of polymer materials for radiation protection, with focus on the role of the nanofillers. We discuss the effectivness of polymeric materials for the absorption of fast neutrons. We also present the recycling of polymers into composites.
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