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Evaluation of excess Th-228 in surface bottom sediment of shallow marine ecosystem: a case study from Dongshan Bay

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Abstract

Naturally-occurring thorium isotopes and corresponding Ra-Th disequilibrium in aquatic system are good tracers for particle dynamic processes. Here we reported a case study on the occurrence of 228Thex-228Ra disequilibrium in sediments of a shallow estuary-coastal bay system (Zhangjiang Estuary-Dongshan Bay). 228Ra activity concentration in saline water and 228Ra and 228Th activities in the surface sediments were measured and we found 228Ra’s non-conservative behavior in saline water and the existence of excess 228Th (228Thex = 228Th-228Ra) in surficial sediments at all the stations. Spatially, 228Thex gradually decreased from the Zhangjiang Estuary (16 Bq/kg) to the inner Dongshan Bay (8–11 Bq/kg), which is consistent with the variation trend of 228Ra activity concentration in seawater. This consistency explained the reason for the occurrence of 228Ra-228Th disequilibrium (or called “228Thex occurrence”) in the surface sediments. Because 228Ra activity concentration is very high in estuarine water, and 228Th continues to decay from 228Ra, and the newly formed 228Th is quickly cleared by suspended particles in the water and subsequently settles down to the seabed sediments. Based on a constructed simple irreversible scavenging model, the residence time of 228Thex was constrained to be 15–30 days in the estuary and to be 5–11 days in the inner bay. These results show that Th and other similarly particle-reactive trace metals will be scavenged rapidly from the water column of shallow estuary-bay systems.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 42206166).

Funding

Funding was provided by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 42206166).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Ocean Technology Center, Ministry of Natural Resources, Tianjin, 300112, China

    Wenqing Zhou, Yi Shao & Da Zhou

  2. Key Laboratory of Ocean Observation Technology, Ministry of Natural Resources, Tianjin, 300112, China

    Wenqing Zhou, Yi Shao & Da Zhou

  3. State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China

    Qiangqiang Zhong

  4. Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, 184 # DaXue Road, Siming District, Xiamen City, 361005, Fujian Province, China

    Qiangqiang Zhong & Jianda Ji

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  1. Wenqing Zhou
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Contributions

Conceptualization: [Qiangqiang Zhong]; Methodology: [Wenqing Zhou]; Formal analysis and investigation: [Da Zhou]; Writing—original draft preparation: [Wenqing Zhou, Yi Shao, Da Zhou, Qiangqiang Zhong, Jianda Ji]; Writing—review and editing: [Qiangqiang Zhong]; Funding acquisition: [Qiangqiang Zhong]; Supervision: [Jianda Ji].

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Correspondence to Qiangqiang Zhong or Jianda Ji.

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Zhou, W., Zhong, Q., Shao, Y. et al. Evaluation of excess Th-228 in surface bottom sediment of shallow marine ecosystem: a case study from Dongshan Bay. J Radioanal Nucl Chem (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-024-09518-2

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