Modeling estimates of the effect of acid rain on background radiation dose

Journal Article · Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988 · Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.8878197· OSTI ID:6398851

Sheppard, S C; Sheppard, M I

Acid rain causes accelerated mobilization of many materials in soils. Natural and anthropogenic radionuclides, especially 226Ra and 137Cs, are among these materials. Okamoto is apparently the only researcher to date who has attempted to quantify the effect of acid rain on the background radiation dose to man. He estimated an increase in dose by a factor of 1.3 following a decrease in soil pH of 1 unit. We reviewed literature that described the effects of changes in pH on mobility and plant uptake of Ra and Cs. Generally, a decrease in soil pH by 1 unit will increase mobility and plant uptake by factors of 2 to 7. Thus, Okamoto's dose estimate may be too low. We applied several simulation models to confirm Okamoto's ideas, with most emphasis on an atmospherically driven soil model that predicts water and nuclide flow through a soil profile. We modeled a typical, acid-rain sensitive soil using meteorological data from Geraldton, Ontario. The results, within the range of effects on the soil expected from acidification, showed essentially direct proportionality between the mobility of the nuclides and dose. This supports some of the assumptions invoked by Okamoto. We conclude that a decrease in pH of 1 unit may increase the mobility of Ra and Cs by a factor of 2 or more. Our models predict that this will lead to similar increases in plant uptake and radiological dose to man. Although health effects following such a small increase in dose have not been statistically demonstrated, any increase in dose is probably undesirable.

• Research Organization: Whiteshell Nuclear Research Establishment, Manitoba (Canada)
• OSTI ID: 6398851
• Journal Information: Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States), Vol. 78
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACID RAIN
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
CESIUM 137
UPTAKE
MAN
RADIATION DOSES
PLANTS
CONTAMINATION
SOILS
ACIDIFICATION
BACKGROUND RADIATION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PH VALUE
RADIUM 226
WEATHER
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
ANIMALS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CARBON 14 DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CESIUM ISOTOPES
DOSES
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
MAMMALS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
PRIMATES
RADIATIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIUM ISOTOPES
RAIN
VERTEBRATES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
510200* - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
510300 - Environment
Terrestrial- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
560162 - Radionuclide Effects
Kinetics
& Toxicology- Animals
Plants
Microorganisms
& Cells
560161 - Radionuclide Effects
Kinetics
& Toxicology- Man