Study of the behaviour of natural radionuclides in a Mediterranean actual system

CIEMAT/DIAE, Avda. Complutense 22, 28040 Madrid, Spain

Abstract

There is a lack of information for Mediterranean climate conditions and ecosystems from the point of view of characterization of real data, to obtain parameter values to be applied in the modeling of the behavior of natural and artificial radionuclides following hypothetical releases from a radioactive waste repository. So there was designed a project dealing with the study and determination of physical, chemical and radiological parameters from local and regional data obtained in an area of the southwest of Spain where and old uranium mine was being restored.

The project, running during two years, has been financed by the National Company for Radioactive Waste Management in Spain (ENRESA) and has been coordinated by the CIEMAT Research Center with the collaboration of the Department of Physics of the Extremadura University.

Results of the project have been the characterization of the biosphere system considering meteorological, geological, and hydrological data. Chemical and physical characterization of local soils and crops associated, surface waters and sediments samples, have been considered. Radiological measurements of U, Th and Ra contents in soils, vegetables, sediments and waters have been taken.

Range of several parameter values obtained have shown good agreement with literature data published, this will permit the application of these values to the modeling issues of biosphere in the performance assessment of radioactive waste repositories under Mediterranean climate conditions, as well as for a forecasting of similar conditions that will occur in the future in other temperate areas.