Environmental Applications of 210Po and 210Pb in the Brazilian Amazon and Other Sites

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Series: Environmental Research Advances
BISAC: SCI026000

210Po is an intermediary member of the natural mass number (4n+2) 238U decay series that finishes at a stable 206Pb, according to the sequence: 238U (4.49 Ga, a) ® 234Th(24.1 d, b-) ® 234Pa (1.18 min, b- ) ® 234U (0.248 Ma, a) ® 230Th (75.2 ka, a) ® 226Ra (1622 a, a) ® 222Rn (3.83 d, a) ® 218Po (3.05 min, a) ® 214Pb (26.8 min, b-) ® 214Bi (19.7 min, b-) ® 214Po (0.16 ms, a) ® 210Pb (22.26 a, b-) ® 210Bi (5 d, b-) ® 210Po (138 d, a) ® 206Pb. The 238U descendants are produced continuously in rocks and minerals, since uranium is among the main elements contributing to natural terrestrial radioactivity. It is a lithophile element that is concentrated preferentially in acidic igneous rocks compared with intermediate, basic, and ultrabasic varieties. Some 210Po atoms escape the rocks and soils to the surrounding fluid, such as groundwater during interactions between the liquid and solid phases. Both 210Pb and 210Po in water are well-documented radionuclides for health risks, as WHO has proposed a guidance level of 0.1 Bq/L for the activity concentration in drinking water in order to not exceed the reference dose level of the committed effective dose equal to 0.1 mSv from one year of consumption.

Analyses of most natural waters have shown that 210Po is present at very low activities, usually even lower than its insoluble precursor, 210Pb. 210Pb is a particle-reactive radionuclide readily removed from the water column through adsorption onto particulate forms of matter and their coatings (organic or Fe-Mn oxides). Numerous studies have utilized 210Pb derived from 210Po-data as a chronometer for sediment accumulation and mixing in lakes, estuaries, marshes, and coastal areas, since they have provided a reliable dating method over the last 100-150 years. The importance of the Amazon area to sustain the global equilibrium in the environment has been recognized worldwide. This has been much more accentuated presently due to the intense debate related to global warming. Consequently, all initiatives/studies directed to a better knowledge/management of that huge environment are welcome and needed. This book is a contribution to this task, which presents a revision of a 210Pb and 210Po database in the Brazilian Amazon area and in sediments providing from different hydrographic basins in SĂŁo Paulo, Brazil.

 

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1. Introduction (pp. 1-6)

Chapter 2. General Considerations about Lead and Polonium (pp. 7-16)

Chapter 3. Experimental Steps for the Quantification of 210Pb and 210Po (pp. 17-30)

Chapter 4. 210Pb as a Chronometer (pp. 31-46)

Chapter 5. General Characteristics of the CorumbataĂ­ River Basin (pp. 47-68)

Chapter 6. Physicochemical and Chemical Characterization of the Rainwater and River Waters from CorumbataĂ­ River Basin (pp. 69-90)

Chapter 7. Characterization of the 210Po and 210Pb in Rainwater and River Waters from CorumbataĂ­ River Basin (pp. 91-126)

Chapter 8. Chemical Characterization of the Bottom Sediments from CorumbataĂ­ River Basin (pp. 127-146)

Chapter 9. The Precursors of 210pb in the Bottom Sediments (pp. 147-170)

Chapter 10. Characterization of 210Po and 210Pb in the Bottom Sediments from CorumbataĂ­ River Basin (pp. 171-192)

Chapter 11. Characterization of 210Po and 210Pb in Sediments from Amazonas River in the Brazilian Amazon Area (pp. 193-206)

Chapter 12. Characterization of 210Po and 210Pb in Sediments from Madeira River Basin in the Brazilian Amazon Area (pp. 207-226)

Chapter 13. Characterization of 210Po and 210Pb in Sediments from other Hydrographic Basins at SĂŁo Paulo State in Brazil (pp. 227-250)

Chapter 14. Major Highlights on the Use of 210Po and 210Pb Data in Sediments from Different Hydrographic Basins in Brazil (pp. 251-258)

References (pp. 259-272)

About the Author (pp. 273-274)

Index (pp. 275)


Click here, to read the review by – LuĂ­s Mancini, LaboratĂłrio de Estudos, GeocronolĂłgicos, Geodinâmicos e Ambientais Instituto de GeociĂŞncias Universidade de BrasĂ­lia, BrasĂ­lia, Brasil


Additional Information

Keywords: Lead-210; Polonium-210; Sedimentation rates; Pollution history; Brazilian Amazon; Hydrographic basins pollution; SĂŁo Paulo State

The book is mainly directed to university students (undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate), researchers, decision makers, politicians, environmentalists, and interested public in general. The text may be used for teaching, research and professional reference. The principal audiences for the book are related to the following subject areas: Geosciences, Ecology, Environmental Engineering, Chemistry, Biosciences, Hydrology, and Toxicology.

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