Assessment of Natural Radioactivity, Heavy Metals and Particulate Matter in Air and Soil around a Coal-Fired Power Plant—An Integrated Approach
A comprehensive study of the environmental radioactivity covered in a distance up to 20 km from a point source—two stacks of a coal-fired power plant. Airborne particulate matter was collected, and the element composition on the 30 cm soil profile was determined. The range of activity concentrations...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Atmosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/12/11/1433 |
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| author | Maria de Lurdes Dinis António Fiúza Joaquim Góis José Soeiro de Carvalho Ana C. Meira Castro |
| author_facet | Maria de Lurdes Dinis António Fiúza Joaquim Góis José Soeiro de Carvalho Ana C. Meira Castro |
| author_sort | Maria de Lurdes Dinis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A comprehensive study of the environmental radioactivity covered in a distance up to 20 km from a point source—two stacks of a coal-fired power plant. Airborne particulate matter was collected, and the element composition on the 30 cm soil profile was determined. The range of activity concentrations of <sup>226</sup>Ra, <sup>232</sup>Th and <sup>40</sup>K from the studied areas varies from 8 Bq/kg to 41 Bq/kg, 5 to 72 Bq/kg and 62 to 795 Bq/kg, respectively. The activities values are increased by 44% for <sup>226</sup>Ra, 37% for <sup>40</sup>K, and 75% for <sup>232</sup>Th in the prevailing wind direction. For some elements, the respective concentration in the soil is above the maximum permissible level for all types of soil use, particularly for the arsenic concentration. The deposition flux ranged from 0.36 to 5.70 (g m<sup>−2</sup> per month) in the first sampling campaign and from 0.02 to 3.10 (g m<sup>−2</sup> per month) for the second sampling campaign. Maps on the spatial distribution of gamma dose rates, radionuclides activity concentrations, deposition flux and trace metals in topsoil were developed for the study region. These maps are in accordance with higher values in specific locations in the vicinity of the coal-fired power plant, showing the influence of point sources, and for locations within 6 and 20 km from the stacks, particularly in the prevailing wind direction. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:42:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ae4a2207fe2d4a3b9b07663c804cbafe |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:42:28Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-ae4a2207fe2d4a3b9b07663c804cbafe2023-11-22T22:24:18ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332021-10-011211143310.3390/atmos12111433Assessment of Natural Radioactivity, Heavy Metals and Particulate Matter in Air and Soil around a Coal-Fired Power Plant—An Integrated ApproachMaria de Lurdes Dinis0António Fiúza1Joaquim Góis2José Soeiro de Carvalho3Ana C. Meira Castro4Centre for Natural Resources and Environment (CERENA/FEUP), Engineering Faculty, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, PortugalCentre for Natural Resources and Environment (CERENA/FEUP), Engineering Faculty, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, PortugalCentre for Natural Resources and Environment (CERENA/FEUP), Engineering Faculty, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, PortugalCentre for Natural Resources and Environment (CERENA/FEUP), Engineering Faculty, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, PortugalSchool of Engineering, Polytechnic of Porto (ISEP), Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 431, 4200-072 Porto, PortugalA comprehensive study of the environmental radioactivity covered in a distance up to 20 km from a point source—two stacks of a coal-fired power plant. Airborne particulate matter was collected, and the element composition on the 30 cm soil profile was determined. The range of activity concentrations of <sup>226</sup>Ra, <sup>232</sup>Th and <sup>40</sup>K from the studied areas varies from 8 Bq/kg to 41 Bq/kg, 5 to 72 Bq/kg and 62 to 795 Bq/kg, respectively. The activities values are increased by 44% for <sup>226</sup>Ra, 37% for <sup>40</sup>K, and 75% for <sup>232</sup>Th in the prevailing wind direction. For some elements, the respective concentration in the soil is above the maximum permissible level for all types of soil use, particularly for the arsenic concentration. The deposition flux ranged from 0.36 to 5.70 (g m<sup>−2</sup> per month) in the first sampling campaign and from 0.02 to 3.10 (g m<sup>−2</sup> per month) for the second sampling campaign. Maps on the spatial distribution of gamma dose rates, radionuclides activity concentrations, deposition flux and trace metals in topsoil were developed for the study region. These maps are in accordance with higher values in specific locations in the vicinity of the coal-fired power plant, showing the influence of point sources, and for locations within 6 and 20 km from the stacks, particularly in the prevailing wind direction.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/12/11/1433coal-fired power plant emissionsgamma dose ratestrace metalsparticulate matterspatial variabilitysoil |
| spellingShingle | Maria de Lurdes Dinis António Fiúza Joaquim Góis José Soeiro de Carvalho Ana C. Meira Castro Assessment of Natural Radioactivity, Heavy Metals and Particulate Matter in Air and Soil around a Coal-Fired Power Plant—An Integrated Approach Atmosphere coal-fired power plant emissions gamma dose rates trace metals particulate matter spatial variability soil |
| title | Assessment of Natural Radioactivity, Heavy Metals and Particulate Matter in Air and Soil around a Coal-Fired Power Plant—An Integrated Approach |
| title_full | Assessment of Natural Radioactivity, Heavy Metals and Particulate Matter in Air and Soil around a Coal-Fired Power Plant—An Integrated Approach |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of Natural Radioactivity, Heavy Metals and Particulate Matter in Air and Soil around a Coal-Fired Power Plant—An Integrated Approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of Natural Radioactivity, Heavy Metals and Particulate Matter in Air and Soil around a Coal-Fired Power Plant—An Integrated Approach |
| title_short | Assessment of Natural Radioactivity, Heavy Metals and Particulate Matter in Air and Soil around a Coal-Fired Power Plant—An Integrated Approach |
| title_sort | assessment of natural radioactivity heavy metals and particulate matter in air and soil around a coal fired power plant an integrated approach |
| topic | coal-fired power plant emissions gamma dose rates trace metals particulate matter spatial variability soil |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/12/11/1433 |
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