[M-AG34] Radioisotope migration: Development from Environmental Dynamics Research on the F1NPS Accident

[MAG34-05] Long-term trends in radionuclide concentrations in rivers across Europe originating from Chornobyl

*Yasunori Igarashi¹, Yuichi Onda¹, Jim Smith² (1.Fukushima University, 2.University of Portsmouth)

Keywords:radionuclides, river, water chemistry, long-term trand

Large-scale nuclear accidents may contaminate large areas of land with long-lived radionuclides. Rivers are important pathways for transporting these radionuclides from upstream to downstream. Radionuclide concentration released during the Chornobyl nuclear accident has been shown to decrease over time. Previous studies also have shown that the concentration of radionuclide in rivers is influenced by competing ions, hydrological processes, the amount of adsorption sites on suspended particles, and the land cover of the catchment. However, comparative studies between rivers are limited, and the factors that determine the variation in radionuclide concentrations in rivers remain unclear. In this study, we collected time-series measurements of radionuclide from nine major rivers across Europe, each from different regions and country affected by varying environmental conditions. We also characterized the properties of each river’s catchment, including land cover, water chemistry, and hydrological characteristics. By linking the radionuclide concentration data with these catchment attributes, we aimed to identify the most significant factors influencing radionuclide transport.