Developing field-scale, gentle remediation options for nuclear sites contaminated with 137Cs and 90Sr: the role of nature-based solutions
Developing field-scale, gentle remediation options for nuclear sites contaminated with 137Cs and 90Sr: the role of nature-based solutions
The remediation of contaminated land using plants, bacteria and fungi has been widely examined, especially in laboratory or greenhouse systems where conditions are precisely controlled. However, in real systems at the field scale conditions are much more variable and often produce different outcomes, which must be fully examined if ‘gentle remediation options’, or GROs, are to be more widely implemented, and their associated benefits (beyond risk-management) realized. These secondary benefits can be significant if GROs are applied correctly, and can include significant biodiversity enhancements. Here, we assess recent developments in the field-scale application of GROs for the remediation of two model contaminants for nuclear site remediation (90Sr and 137Cs), their risk management efficiency, directions for future application and research, and barriers to their further implementation at scale. We also discuss how wider benefits, such as biodiversity enhancements, water filtration etc. can be maximized at the field-scale by intelligent application of these approaches.
Biodegradation, Environmental, Cesium Radioisotopes, Environmental Restoration and Remediation, Plants, Risk Management, Soil Pollutants, Strontium Radioisotopes
Purkis, Jamie M.
17c76efb-2aa2-429e-92b3-5a21de7b02a5
Bardos, R. Paul
2479866a-01e2-4f83-bafc-5ed5a42efdc9
Graham, James
d2b35a13-921b-4561-944c-372b3e2fdd89
Cundy, Andrew B.
994fdc96-2dce-40f4-b74b-dc638286eb08
15 April 2022
Purkis, Jamie M.
17c76efb-2aa2-429e-92b3-5a21de7b02a5
Bardos, R. Paul
2479866a-01e2-4f83-bafc-5ed5a42efdc9
Graham, James
d2b35a13-921b-4561-944c-372b3e2fdd89
Cundy, Andrew B.
994fdc96-2dce-40f4-b74b-dc638286eb08
Purkis, Jamie M., Bardos, R. Paul, Graham, James and Cundy, Andrew B.
(2022)
Developing field-scale, gentle remediation options for nuclear sites contaminated with 137Cs and 90Sr: the role of nature-based solutions.
Journal of Environmental Management, 308, [114620].
(doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114620).
Abstract
The remediation of contaminated land using plants, bacteria and fungi has been widely examined, especially in laboratory or greenhouse systems where conditions are precisely controlled. However, in real systems at the field scale conditions are much more variable and often produce different outcomes, which must be fully examined if ‘gentle remediation options’, or GROs, are to be more widely implemented, and their associated benefits (beyond risk-management) realized. These secondary benefits can be significant if GROs are applied correctly, and can include significant biodiversity enhancements. Here, we assess recent developments in the field-scale application of GROs for the remediation of two model contaminants for nuclear site remediation (90Sr and 137Cs), their risk management efficiency, directions for future application and research, and barriers to their further implementation at scale. We also discuss how wider benefits, such as biodiversity enhancements, water filtration etc. can be maximized at the field-scale by intelligent application of these approaches.
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Published MLFP paper accepted version
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More information
Accepted/In Press date: 25 January 2022
e-pub ahead of print date: 8 February 2022
Published date: 15 April 2022
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
The authors acknowledge funding from the TRANSCEND (TRANsformative SCience and Engineering for Nuclear Decommissioning) consortium ( EPSRC grant number EP/S01019X/1), plus the original authors of reports examining phytoremediation at the Sellafield site under BNFL and Westlakes Scientific Consulting, and NNL and predecessors for kindly providing access to these reports. The authors also acknowledge Mr. Shaun D. Hemming for useful discussions.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Elsevier Ltd
Copyright:
Copyright 2022 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
Keywords:
Biodegradation, Environmental, Cesium Radioisotopes, Environmental Restoration and Remediation, Plants, Risk Management, Soil Pollutants, Strontium Radioisotopes
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 455350
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/455350
ISSN: 0301-4797
PURE UUID: d6c33837-592c-42fc-80c9-eff55f6bfd24
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Date deposited: 17 Mar 2022 17:37
Last modified: 18 Mar 2024 05:28
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Author:
R. Paul Bardos
Author:
James Graham
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