Articles tagged with Radioactive Contamination
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A study found that children who lived near Coldwater Creek, a Missouri River tributary polluted by nuclear waste, had a higher risk of developing cancer. The researchers estimated that those living less than one kilometer away from the creek had a 44% higher risk of cancer compared to those living more than 20 kilometers away.
A team of researchers are studying the reproductive traits of Japanese tree frogs living in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, to understand how radiation affects their survival. Their findings suggest that radiation can disrupt genetic pathways associated with sperm motility, potentially altering reproductive success.
Researchers reconstructed metal pollution history in São Paulo using sediment cores, revealing three periods of increasing pollution. The study highlights the importance of sediments as environmental indicators and offers insights for conservation efforts.
A team at Hainan University has developed a supramolecular organic framework for efficient iodine capture from seawater, removing 79% of iodine pollution in simulated contaminated environments. The material achieves an ultrahigh iodine adsorption capacity of 46 mg g−1 within a 20-day extraction period.
Researchers have developed a battery that can harness ambient gamma radiation to produce strong electric outputs, enabling potential applications in space exploration and sensors. The prototype demonstrated a peak power output of 288 nanowatts using cesium-137 and 1.5 microwatts with cobalt-60.
Researchers developed a metal-organic cage that selectively recognizes and encapsulates radioactive strontium, achieving a 99.7% removal efficiency at low concentrations. The novel material design enables precise recognition sites within the cage's cavity.
Researchers found that radioactive cesium moves rapidly through the soil and decreases in fine roots of cedar trees, promoting a self-cleansing effect that can aid in forest decontamination. This phenomenon has implications for developing new forest decontamination methods.
New research reveals surprising differences in songbirds' diets and gut microbiomes in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone. Contrary to expectations, birds growing up in radiologically contaminated habitats have a higher diversity of insects in their diet.
Scientists have developed a cage-like molecule to trap sulfate in water, which could help control its concentration in health, industry, and environmental management. The molecular trap can be prepared inexpensively from off-the-shelf chemicals and has potential applications in medicine, such as treating cystic fibrosis.
Chinese researchers are exploring advanced porous nanomaterials and technologies to reduce radionuclide discharge into the environment. These materials possess high specific surface area, abundant pore structures, exceptional stability, and design flexibility, making them promising candidates for radionuclide removal.
Researchers at PNNL have developed ultra-low radiation cables to minimize interference from cosmic radiation, increasing sensitivity and flexibility in detector design. These cables can help solve key mysteries of the universe, including dark matter and neutrino properties.
The UK and Japan partnership aims to develop new technologies for detecting and processing radioactive waste. Researchers will focus on improving inspection technologies using hyperspectral imaging and exploring calcined clays as natural resources to engineer 'geopolymer binders'.
Researchers from Vienna University of Technology and Leibniz University of Hannover have found the solution to the wild boar paradox. The radioactivity in wild boar meat remains high due to the accumulation of cesium-137 from nuclear weapons tests, which is also present in deer truffles that are particularly favored by wild boars.
Researchers at Pusan National University have developed a new adsorbent that utilizes problematic protons in acidic wastewater to enhance the removal of radioactive cesium ions. The adsorbent, potassium calcium thiostannate, shows improved capacity under strongly acidic conditions.
A nine-year study led by Kyoto University found that critical thinking and logical decision-making promoted intelligent attitudes and risk literacy, reducing anxiety and food avoidance among citizens in Tokyo and Kansai regions.
A Phase 1 clinical trial has started to test the safety and tolerability of an experimental oral drug called HOPO 14-1 in healthy adults. The study aims to determine how the drug removes radioactive contaminants from the body, which can occur after nuclear accidents or exposure to dirty bombs.
Researchers at Pusan National University have developed high-adsorption phosphates that can efficiently capture radionuclide cesium ions. These phosphates outperform standard adsorbents with record-high adsorption capacities, making them promising candidates for radioactive waste disposal.
Particle radioactivity from radon in air pollution increases toxicity and risk of death from cardiovascular disease, especially from heart attack and stroke. Researchers used spatiotemporal predictions to estimate exposure and found that higher gross beta-activity levels increased the risk of death from these conditions.
A team from Tsinghua University developed analysis models to simulate the diffusing process of radioactive water in oceans. The pollutants are expected to cover almost the entire Pacific Ocean within 3600 days, with a contamination center moving eastward along the 35°N latitude line.
Researchers from the University of Tsukuba used a fractional diffusion model to predict Lake Onuma's radioactivity concentration after the Fukushima accident. The study found that the radioactivity decrease is slowed down in closed lakes like Lake Onuma.
A University of Georgia study finds that rat snakes can effectively monitor residual radioactivity in the Fukushima Exclusion Zone. The snakes' limited movement and close contact with contaminated soil allow them to accumulate high levels of radionuclides, making them a useful bioindicator.
Scientists analyzed samples of radioactive 106Ru contaminant and found markers consistent with nuclear waste reprocessing protocols. The study suggests the 2017 release occurred during such reprocessing, providing new insights into the incident.
Researchers measured high levels of external gamma radiation on islands exposed to nuclear testing, including Bikini and Rongelap Atolls. The study also revealed high activity concentrations of radioactive isotopes in soil samples and fruits from the affected areas.
Researchers found that fungi can accumulate radioactive substances, making them suitable for assessing environmental contamination. The study suggests using fungi as biomonitors in ecosystems with low radioactive content, providing a new approach to monitoring environmental pollution.
Researchers at Dartmouth College developed a new-generation microporous material that scrubs iodine from water. The breakthrough could hold the key to cleaning radioactive waste in nuclear reactors and after nuclear accidents like Fukushima.
Green rust, a type of clay, has been found to effectively capture and contain neptunium, a radioactive waste product that poses a serious health risk. The discovery offers new insights into the disposal of radioactive waste and could lead to safer storage solutions.
Researchers at Monash University discovered that early meteorites' radioactive nuclei could have originated from a nearby giant star. The presence of these nuclei affects the evolution of planetary systems and the origin of Earth's water.
Scientists recommend preserving contaminated DOE sites as is, rather than undergoing costly remediation, to protect wildlife, biodiversity, and regional air and water quality. This approach would also reduce remediation costs and minimize public health risks.
Experts will address common misconceptions about radiation and provide guidance on planning and preparation for terrorist acts involving radioactive materials. The seminar aims to educate nuclear medicine professionals and alleviate fears among non-nuclear medical staff.
A new University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill study suggests that benzene is responsible for between 8% and 48% of all smoking-induced leukemia deaths. The chemical also causes between 12% and 58% of smoking-related deaths from acute myeloid leukemia.
Researchers at Idaho National Laboratory have discovered that microorganisms can break down urea and promote the formation of calcite, trapping radioactive strontium-90. This process could be used to contain contaminant until it decays away, potentially providing a cheaper and safer alternative to surface extraction.
Researchers found that common soil minerals can work with ionizing radiation to break down toxic chlorinated chemicals into simpler compounds. However, this process may produce volatile gases, posing a risk of explosion at storage tanks like Hanford's.
Researchers in Mexico City are testing an antenna system designed to ionise the atmosphere, hoping to influence local wind patterns and rainfall to disperse air contaminants. However, experts remain sceptical due to the enormous number of electrons required to alter the natural level of ionisation.
Researchers at the University of Georgia have developed a new test for detecting DNA strand breakage in freshwater mussels, which can serve as an early warning system for pollution. The study found significant strand breakage in mussels exposed to lead, but no damage after long-term exposure.