Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The input/removal rates of size-fractionated 210Po in the Jiulongjiang estuary and its implications

  • Reports
  • Published:
Chinese Science Bulletin

Abstract

The geochemical behaviors of dissolved (< 0.4 μm), low molecular weight (< 10 kDa) and colloidal (10 kDa-0.4 μm) 210Po in surface waters from the Jiulongjiang estuary were examined and the input/removal rates of different 210Po species were estimated. Both dissolved and low molecular weight 210Po were considerably removed during estuarine mixing. However, colloidal 210Po was removed only at low salinity regions (S < 15) but had input behavior at high salinity surface waters (S > 15). The input/removal rates of three species indicate that 210Po was removed rapidly in the Jiulongjiang estuary. The discrepancy of input/removal rates between 210Po species suggests different geochemical behavior and a dynamic transformation between 210Po species. Low molecular weight 210Po may be more appropriate for characterizing the 210Po behavior in estuary zone than the traditional dissolved 210Po.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Carvalho, F. P., 210Pb and 210Po in sediments and suspended matter in the Tagus estuary, Portugal. Local enhancement of natural levels by wastes from phosphate ore processing industry, The Science of the Total Environment, 1995, 159: 201–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. McCartney, M., Cavidson, C. M., Howe, S. E. et al., Temporal changes in the distribution of natural radionuclides alone the Cumbrian coast following the reduction of discharges from a phosphoric acid production plant, Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 2000, 49: 279–291.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Bolivar, J. P., Garcia-Tenorio, R., Vaca, F., Radioecological study of an estuarine system located in the south of Spain, Water Research, 2000, 34(11): 2941–2950.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Al-Masri, M. S., Al-Bich, F., Polonium-210 distribution in Syrian phosphogypsum, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 2002, 251(3): 431–435.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Germain, P., Leclerc, G., Simon, S., Distribution of 210Po in Mytilus edulis and Fucus vesiculosus along the channel coast of France: influence of industrial releases in the Seine river and estuary, Radiat. Prot. Dosim., 1992, 45, 257–260.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Koster, H. W., Marwitz, P. A., Berger, G. W. et al., 210Po, 210Pb, 226Ra in aquatic ecosystems and polders, anthropogenic sources, distribution and enhanced radiation doses in the Netherlands, Radiat. Prot. Dosim., 1992, 45, 715–719.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Perianez, R., Garcia-Leon, M., Ra-Isotopes around a phosphate fertilizer complex in an estuarine system at the southwest of Spain, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 1993, 172: 71–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Poole, A. J., Allington, D. J., Baxter, A. J. et al., The natural radioactivity of phosphate ore and associated products discharging into the eastern Irish Sea from a phosphoric acid production plant, The Science of the Total Environment, 1995, 173/174, 137–149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Carvalho, F. P., Distribution, cycling and mean residence time of 226Ra, 210Pb and 210Po in the Tagus estuary, The Science of the Total Environment, 1997, 196: 151–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Chen, M., Guo, L. D., Huang, Y. P. et al., Application of the crossflow ultrafiltration technique to the study of colloidal uranium, thorium, radium isotopes and organic carbon in seawater, Acta Oceanologica Sinica (in Chinese), 2000, 22(5): 51–59.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Li, Y. H., Chan, L. H., Desorption of Ba and Ra-226 from riverborn sediments in the Hudson estuary, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 1979, 43: 343–350.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Maeda, M., Windom, H. L., Behavior of uranium in two estuaries of the southeastern United States, Marine Chemistry, 1982, 11: 427–436.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Kim, G., Hussain, N., Church, T., Excess 210Po in the coastal atmosphere, Tellus, 2000, 52B: 74–80.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Swarzenski, P. W., McKee, B. A., Booth, J. G., Uranium geochemistry on the Amazon shelf: Chemical phase partitioning and cycling across a salinity gradient, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 1995, 59(1): 7–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Sholkovitz, E. R., Boyle, E. A., Price, N. B., The removal of dissolved humic acids and iron during estuarine mixing, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 1978, 40: 130–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Boyle, E. A., Edmond, J. M., Sholkovitz E R. The mechanism of iron removal in estuaries, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 1977, 41: 1313–1324.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Hunter, K. A., Leonard, M. W., Colloid stability and aggregation in estuaries: 1. Aggregation kinetics of riverine dissolved iron after mixing with seawater, Geochimica et Cosmoschimica Acta, 1988, 52: 1123–1130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Sholkovitz, E. R., The geochemistry of rare earth elements in the Amazon River estuary. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 1993, 57: 2181–2190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Germain, P., Leclerc, G., Simon, S. Transter of polonium-210 into Mytilus edulis (L.) and Fucus vesiculosus (L.) from the baie de Seine (Channel coast of France), The Science of the Total Environment, 1995, 164: 109–123.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Pennders, R. M. J., Koster, H. W., Lambrechts, J. E., Characteristics of 210Po and 210Pb in effluents from phosphate-producing industries: a first orientatin, Radiat. Prot. Dosim., 1992, 43: 737–740.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oceanography, Xiamen University, 361005, Xiamen, China

    Weifeng Yang, Min Chen, Yipu Huang, Yusheng Qiu, Lei Zhang, Na Xing & Yanping Li

Authors
  1. Weifeng Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Min Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yipu Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yusheng Qiu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Lei Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Na Xing
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Yanping Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yipu Huang.

About this article

Cite this article

Yang, W., Chen, M., Huang, Y. et al. The input/removal rates of size-fractionated 210Po in the Jiulongjiang estuary and its implications. Chin.Sci.Bull. 48, 2362–2365 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1360/03wd0172

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1360/03wd0172

Keywords

Search

Navigation