Source, fate and transfer of primordial radionuclides as potential contaminants in environmental matrices of high and low background radiation areas – a critical review

ABSTRACT

The source, fate and transport of pollutants are of typical interest in environmental chemistry, which focuses on the presence and effects of chemicals in soil and water bodies. In this setting, minimising pollutant sources and limiting pollution generation are key factors in achieving environmental sustainability. Over the past few decades, novel approaches were devised by researchers across the world to resolve disputes related to major pollutions in soil, air and water bodies. However, there is still a need to address the research interest in radionuclides as contaminants. The first step in addressing concerns related to radionuclide contamination would be to develop complete knowledge and a database on the accumulation, transport rate, and fate of radionuclides in both natural high background radiation areas and other locations of the world. The current review is an attempt to provide information about this, where it briefs out the A.C, C.R. and T.F of the parental radionuclides (²³⁸U, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K) and their progeny nuclides (²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb) in various media (soil, sediments, rock, and water), as well as in the food chains of aquatic environments close to areas contaminated with radionuclides. It discusses the disagreements around radio-isotopes in these regions and draws attention to the threat it poses to the local biota and population. Exceeding concentration of radionuclides than the recommended reference level in such areas shall open up possible opportunity of conducting epidemiological studies related to the health effects of the inhabitants. It shall also pave a way for initiating future research activities destined in formulation of remedial measures for the welfare of biodiversity.

KEYWORDS:

• Radionuclides
• sediment
• soil
• water
• aquatic biota
• geochemical transfer

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the Chairman, Honourable Secretary & Correspondent, Principal, Vice-Principals (Academic & Administration) P.G. & Research Department of Zoology, The New College (Autonomous), Chennai for Institutional support. We profoundly thank Department of Science and Technology – Science and Engineering Research Board (DST-SERB), Government of India, New Delhi for funding the project [File No.: ECR/2017/001268, dated 18.03.2019].

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author’s contribution

Bharathi Santhanabharathi - Conceptualisation and design, Data curation, Kumara Perumal Pradhoshini – Conceptualisation and design, Manuscript preparation – writing original manuscript, Munawar Suhail Ahmed – Data curation, Manuscript preparation – review and editing, Marckasagayam Priyadharshini – Manuscript preparation – review and editing, Mohamat Hanifa Shafeeka Parveen – Manuscript preparation – review and editing, Lubna Alam – statistical analysis and data interpretation, Ismail Md Mofizur Rahman – statistical analysis and data interpretation, Van Hao Duong – Imaging analysis, Mehraj Ud Din War – Table preparation, Mohamed Saiyad Musthafa – Final validation and approval of the manuscript.

Data availability statement

All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article [and its supplementary information files].

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.