Uranium and Radon in geo-environment

Aim of the study

The study aims to study the mobilisation of the nuclides of uranium decay series in connection of weatherisation and migration of the nuclides. The aim is to increase the phenomenological and process-mechanical understanding of these processes. In the first phase of this study - already completed - the mineralogical background of radium in esker gravel was studied.

Implementation

In the first phase of this study samples from a high radon area in Hollola, Finland, was studied. The results have been published in a Hungarian Pro gradu thesis and in a scientific publication.

The results will be exploited in evaluations of radon emissions as well as in evaluations of the environmental effects of uranium mining and disposal of nuclear wastes.

The study is based on observations, measurements and modelling of the nuclides and their occurrence and behaviour in rocks and sediments and when needed in ground water. The study sites are U-mineralization (Askola, Palmottu, Paukkajanvaara) and background level areas (Hollola, Olkiluoto) in Finland.

Dissemination and exploitation of results

The publications so far as follows:

Daniel Breitner. Complex radon source measurements in the Hollola esker: a Finnish case study. Eotvos University, Budapest. Pro gradu thesis. Hungary 2006.

Breitner D, Turtiainen T, Arvela H, Vesterbacka P, Johanson B, Lehtonen M, Hellmuth K-H, Szabó C. Multidisciplinary analysis of Finnish esker sediment in radon source identification. Science of the Total Environment 2008. Epub 2008 Jun 6. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.06.015.

Daniel Breitner will publish his doctoral thesis in 2009 and the results will also be exploited in publications in scientific journals.

Collaborators

Daniel Breitner ja Csaba Szabo, LRG, Lithosphere Fluid Research Group, Department of Petrology and Geochemistry, Eötvös University Budapest, Hungary; Marja Siitari-Kauppi, Helsinki University, Laboratory of Radiochemistry and Geological Survey of Finland

Timetable

2005 – 2009

Responsible scientist

Hannu Arvela

Page updated 15/05/2009