Assessment of Natural Radioactivity, Heavy Metals and Particulate Matter in Air and Soil around a Coal-Fired Power Plant-An Integrated Approach

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2021-10-29

Authors

Maria De Lurdes Dinis (Author) FEUP; António Fiúza (Author) FEUP; Joaquim Góis (Author) FEUP; José Soeiro Carvalho (Author) FEUP; Ana C. Meira Castro (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Atmosphere

No. 1433

Pages: 1-1433

ISSN: 2073-4433

Publisher: MDPI

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Scientific classification

CORDIS: Technological sciences

FOS: Engineering and technology

Associated Projects

MODELING RDN AND METALS AIRBORNE DISPERSION - MODELAÇÃO DA DISPERSÃO NA ATMOSFERA DOS ELEMENTOS RADIOACTIVOS E DOS METAIS ORIGINADA POR UMA CENTRAL TÉRMICA DE CARVÃO

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00V-M0P

DOI: 10.3390/atmos12111433

Abstract (EN): A comprehensive study of the environmental radioactivity covered in a distance up to 20 km from a point source-two stacks of a coal-fired power plant. Airborne particulate matter was collected, and the element composition on the 30 cm soil profile was determined. The range of activity concentrations of Ra-226, Th-232 and K-40 from the studied areas varies from 8 Bq/kg to 41 Bq/kg, 5 to 72 Bq/kg and 62 to 795 Bq/kg, respectively. The activities values are increased by 44% for Ra-226, 37% for K-40, and 75% for Th-232 in the prevailing wind direction. For some elements, the respective concentration in the soil is above the maximum permissible level for all types of soil use, particularly for the arsenic concentration. The deposition flux ranged from 0.36 to 5.70 (g m(-2) per month) in the first sampling campaign and from 0.02 to 3.10 (g m(-2) per month) for the second sampling campaign. Maps on the spatial distribution of gamma dose rates, radionuclides activity concentrations, deposition flux and trace metals in topsoil were developed for the study region. These maps are in accordance with higher values in specific locations in the vicinity of the coal-fired power plant, showing the influence of point sources, and for locations within 6 and 20 km from the stacks, particularly in the prevailing wind direction.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 20