Cresswell, T

Johansen, MP

English

ANSTO Publications Online

Radioecology at ANSTO  
2016 and into the future 
Mathew Johansen and Tom Cresswell 
ANSTO Environmental Research 
Tom.Cresswell@ansto.gov.au 
Mathew.Johansen@ansto.gov.au 
 
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) 
OPAL Research Reactor  
produces nuclear 
medicine and facilitates 
research into 
environment, human 
health and nuclear fuel 
cycle 
Environmental dose rates at the former British nuclear test sites in 
Australia 
110
100
1000
10000
B
q
/k
g 
Am241 Cs137 Eu152
Wave-active 
beach 
Sediment near 
detonation site 
Turtle nest zone 
Dunes 
Island Soil 
Pu239 (estimated) 
Human and wildlife exposure along a lagoon-beach-inland transect 
~60 μm 
0.00
0.01
0.10
1.00
10.00
100.00
1,000.00
10,000.00
100,000.00
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
D
o
se
 R
a
te
 (
µ
G
y/
d
a
y)
Particle Size (µm)
Dose Rate 1% Pu Dose Rate 10% Pu Dose Rate 50% Pu
1 cm3 volume of lung 
tissue
Partnering with: 
Norwegian University of Life Sciences 
(NMBU),  
University of Seville, 
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 
IAEA CRP partners 
COMET-RATE partners MCNPX Modelling 
Hot particle considerations in dose to living organisms using 
Synchrotron, AMS, PIXE, α,β,γ  analyses, autoradiography 
ANSTO analysis and modelling 
capabilities are assisting ARPANSA, 
ERISS, and commercial companies in 
evaluating radiological contamination 
concerns and dose rates.   
Improved 
parameters and 
tools needed for 
evaluating subsea 
NORM scale 
Evaluation of uranium, mineral sands, oil and gas production sites 
ANSTO Radioecology Facilities 
Aquatic Lab for stable and radiotracer studies 
ANSTO Radioecology Facilities 
Greenhouse for stable and radioisotope studies 
Aquatic ecotoxicology research at ANSTO 
‘Tag’ with 
radiotracer 
– add to 
water and 
diet 
0
1
2
3
0 10 20 30
W
h
o
le
 b
o
d
y 
C
d
 µ
g
/g
 (
w
w
) 
Time (d) 
Individual 
accumulation kinetics 
Exo GI H S G AG 
n
g 
C
d
/c
m
2
 
Quantify internal 
distribution of 
contaminant 
Increased understanding 
of organism response to 
contaminants 
 
Improved management of 
aquatic ecosystems 
Cresswell, T. et al. 2015. Environ. Sci. Technol. 49, 1182-1189. 
Production of radioisotopes at ANSTO’s OPAL reactor 
Neutron activation 
De-canning and preparation of 
stock solution 
Addition of active solution to 
experiment 
Recent production of radioisotopes 
 
• 141Ce (in nano and ionic forms) 
• 134Cs 
• 75Se (as SeIV and SeVI)  
• 65Zn  
Radioecology research at ANSTO: Aquatic ecosystems 
0.E+00
4.E-05
8.E-05
1.E-04
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0 4 8 12 16 20
W
h
o
le
-a
n
im
al
 C
d
 (
µ
g/
g)
 
W
h
o
le
-a
n
im
al
 Z
n
 (
µ
g/
g)
 
Exposure time (d) 
Zn
Cd
Rebecca Hull – University of Melbourne; Metal bioaccumulation and internal distribution by ascidians 
0
20
40
60
80
0 2 4 6 8
Se
-7
5
 a
ct
iv
it
y/
ta
d
p
o
le
 
Exposure time (d) 
SeIV
SeVI
0
20
40
60
80
100
7 12 17
%
 r
et
en
ti
o
n
 o
f 
Se
 
Depuration time (d) 
SeIV
SeVI
Chantal Lanctôt – Smart Water Research Centre; Coal mine derived metal bioaccumulation by striped marsh frogs 
Radioecology research at ANSTO: Terrestrial ecosystems 
Divya Vinod – University of Technology Sydney; Assessing Se bioaccumulation and protein distribution by crop plants – Biofortification and 
phytoremediation 
Se IV Se VI 
Conversion to Organic 
Se/Protein. Majority in: 
1. Glutelin 
2. Albumin 
3. Crude Starch 
Harsha Fowdar – Monash University; Tracing nutrients (P) associated with grey water through biofilters (Carex spp.) 
Fi
lt
e
r 
M
e
d
ia
 
Su
b
m
e
rg
e
d
 
Zo
n
e
 
200 mm washed 
sand 
140 mm washed sand 
and wood chips 
60 mm coarse sand 
and gravel 
Grey water labelled with 32P 
influent 
Filtered effluent 
– measure 32P 
content 
Key International collaborations 
• IAEA Monaco (Live animal radiotracing methods) 
• IAEA MODARIA  
• IAEA CRP on Hot Particles 
• BATAN Indonesia (visit by Wahyu Retno Prihatiningsih facilitated by IAEA) 
• IAEA RAS Marine Benchmark Study on the Possible impact of the Fukushima Radioactive 
Releases in the Asia-Pacific Region  
• Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)  
• University of Salford (Live animal radiotracing methods) 
• COMET-RATE  
• University of Seville  
• Fukushima University (assessment of wild boar) 
• Oregon State University  
• Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory 
• Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)  
Research priorities and plans for future work 
1. Combine live-animal radiotracing techniques to quantify real-time contaminant 
bioaccumulation with non-lethal measures of effect (e.g. behaviour, colour change, 
respiratory rate) – Live animal SPECT imaging 
2. Wildlife dose assessments at nuclear and mining sites 
3. Hot particles – improve understanding of long-term bioavailability 
4. Continue providing data and ANSTO capability assistance to international partners  
 
Future work: 
 
1. NORM scale in the ocean: radiological and ecotoxicological effects on benthic marine 
organisms (offshore oil and gas industry) 
2. Radiosynthesis of 35S-labelled PFOS to better understand the hydrological and ecological 
transport and fate of the persistent organic pollutant 
3. Studies into the impacts of metal mixtures on aquatic organisms and how these mixtures 
relate to current water quality guidelines 
4. Use radiotracing techniques to understand the mechanisms of toxicity due to rates of 
accumulation and organ distribution of non-radiological contaminants  


Radioecology at ANSTO 2016 and into the future

http://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/bitstream/10238/9721/1/5.iur-regional-forum_bali2016-cresswell.pdf

Radioecology at ANSTO 2016 and into the future

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