Environmental pollution and Environmental pollution and remediation - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Environmental pollution and Environmental pollution and remediation challenges in Upper remediation challenges in Upper Silesia Coal Basin Silesia Coal Basin, , Poland Poland

Bogus Bogusł ław MICHALIK aw MICHALIK

Central Central Mining Mining Institute Institute,

, Katowice, POLAND

Katowice, POLAND

2nd Meeting of the EMRAS II Workings Group 2, Vienna 23-25 September 2009

NORM & NORM & Legacy Legacy Sites Sites

Upper Silesia Coal Basin Upper Silesia Coal Basin

a post a post-

• industrial landscape

industrial landscape

• Industrial activity has been

Industrial activity has been carried out since XII century carried out since XII century

• 25% of total surface is

25% of total surface is covered by anthropogenic covered by anthropogenic formation made from formation made from different industrial waste different industrial waste

• Approximately the same

Approximately the same proportion of surface is proportion of surface is deformed due to deformed due to underground mining underground mining

• Different pollution coexists

Different pollution coexists

Upper Silesia Coal Basin Upper Silesia Coal Basin

a post a post-

• industrial landscape

industrial landscape

• Coal take

Coal take-

• off above 200 millions of tonnes
• ff above 200 millions of tonnes

per year (in seventies of XX century) per year (in seventies of XX century) currently about 70 millions of tonnes currently about 70 millions of tonnes

• 50 underground hard coal mines still in

50 underground hard coal mines still in

• peration (in 35 administrative units)
• peration (in 35 administrative units)
• Daily surface discharge of saline water

Daily surface discharge of saline water about 100 000 m about 100 000 m3

3

Discharge of radium Discharge of radium-

• bearing

bearing waters into surface waters into surface

• All coal mines have to pump water out of the

All coal mines have to pump water out of the underground galleries underground galleries

• In 40 out of 50 coal mines in Upper Silesia brines

In 40 out of 50 coal mines in Upper Silesia brines with high concentration of radium occur with high concentration of radium occur

• Some proportion of radium remains in underground

Some proportion of radium remains in underground galleries due to spontaneous precipitation or galleries due to spontaneous precipitation or technical measures but up to 40% of the total inflow technical measures but up to 40% of the total inflow is pumped onto surface is pumped onto surface

Radium Radium-

• bearing

bearing waters waters

Type of water

Ra-226

[kBq/m3]

Ra-228

[kBq/m3]

Ba2+

[g/l]

SO4

2-

[g/l]

A 0.5 - 390 0.3 - 150

Up to 1.5

traces B 0.1 - 20 0.1 -40 no

Up to 15

Behaviour of radium depends mainly on the presence of barium ions in water

Maximum values o Maximum values of f radium activity concentration in radium activity concentration in formation water , years 1999 formation water , years 1999-

• 2008

2008

0,00 50,00 100,00 150,00 200,00 250,00 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

kBq/m3

Ra-226 max Ra_228 max Sum

Maximum values of radium activity concentration in Maximum values of radium activity concentration in sediments, years 1999 sediments, years 1999-

• 2008

2008

100 1000 10000 100000 1000000 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Ra-226 + Ra-228, Bq/kg effective dose 6 mSv effective dose 1 mSv commited dose 1 mSv commited dose 6 mSv low activity radioactive waste

Mine water destination Mine water destination …

…

• From mines at south

From mines at south-

• west part of USCB:

west part of USCB:

The The Oder Oder river through river through settling/retentive settling/retentive ponds ponds, pumping stations and pipelines. , pumping stations and pipelines.

• Remaining:

Remaining:

The Vistula river, through The Vistula river, through s settling ettling/retentive /retentive ponds ponds, streams and small river , streams and small river

The „OLZA” pipeline – mine water collector

• Eight mines are connected

Eight mines are connected

• Each mine discharges about 200 m

Each mine discharges about 200 m3

3/h

/h

• The total length

The total length: : close to 100 km close to 100 km

• The pipes diameter

The pipes diameter: : 300 up 800 mm 300 up 800 mm

• The total discharge of water to the

The total discharge of water to the Oder Oder river: river: 1500 m 1500 m3

3/h (above 13 000

/h (above 13 000 000 000 m m3

3/year)

/year)

• The maximum Radium concentration in water

The maximum Radium concentration in water inflow inflow: : 11 Bq/l 11 Bq/l

• 10 settling/retentive ponds

10 settling/retentive ponds

Pomp station Jas-Mos

1 6 3 3 m Pompownia Jankowice

Pomp station Zofiówka Pomp station Pniówek

Pompownia Marcel

Pomp station Moszczenica Zbiorniki retencyjne

Va VI III IV Ia V

Pomp station

Odra

Pomp station Borynia

I II

Pomp station Krupiński

Vc

3 2 1 Chwałowice Jankowice Krupiński Pniówek Zwałowisko Kościelniok Zofiówka Marcel Szyby Marklowice Jas-Mos Marcel Ruch 1 Maja Marcel Borynia

800 ? 400 ? 327 36,3 400 ? 400 ? 409 45,4 600 ? 581 64,5 515 57,2 500 ? 300 ? 458 50,8 400 ? 409 45,4 705 47 570 30 409 45,4 300 ? 350 ? 327 36,3 327 36,3 300 ?

plastic pipe steel pipe

Va

Grids internal diameter: 350mm Wall thickness: 30mm

350 30

The Oder river

The Leśnica river

The „OLZA” pipeline – mine water collector

The „OLZA” pipeline – mine water collector:

Occupational risk Occupational risk

Exposure to external gamma Exposure to external gamma radiation in pumps stations radiation in pumps stations and pipeline and pipeline’ ’s grids/checking s grids/checking points points gamma dose rate reaches: gamma dose rate reaches: 3.70 3.70±

±0.44

0.44 µ

µSv/h

Sv/h

The „OLZA” pipeline – mine water collector:

environmental effect

• The maximum radium

The maximum radium concentration in water discharged concentration in water discharged into the into the Oder Oder river: 0.03 river: 0.03 Bq/l Bq/l – – there is there is’ ’t t noticeable effect in the noticeable effect in the river river

• Contaminated scrap

Contaminated scrap remains remains underground underground… ….. ..

SETTLING PONDS IN COAL MINING INDUSTRY SETTLING PONDS IN COAL MINING INDUSTRY

• Artificial reservoirs, situated on

Artificial reservoirs, situated on territory of a colliery, sealed and territory of a colliery, sealed and protected against uncontrolled spread protected against uncontrolled spread

• f sediments, periodically cleaned,
• f sediments, periodically cleaned,

access is restricted to mine staff access is restricted to mine staff

• Natural lakes or former fish ponds,

Natural lakes or former fish ponds, adapted as settling ponds without adapted as settling ponds without any protective layers or barriers, any protective layers or barriers, nowadays usually excluded from nowadays usually excluded from technological process, accessible for technological process, accessible for common people and non common people and non-

• human

human biota biota

Sediments originating from mine effluents Sediments originating from mine effluents

the main source of environmental burden the main source of environmental burden

Contain high enough activity Contain high enough activity concentration of radionuclides concentration of radionuclides to be classified as radioactive to be classified as radioactive waste, waste, Occur in huge quantities Occur in huge quantities deposited directly in the deposited directly in the environment, environment, Consist of wide variety of Consist of wide variety of chemical compounds and chemical compounds and different minerals, different minerals, After releasing can start After releasing can start chemical or physical processes chemical or physical processes leading to the additional leading to the additional radionuclides concentration radionuclides concentration, , Frequently are associated with Frequently are associated with

• ther pollutants as heavy
• ther pollutants as heavy

metals, sulphates, metals, sulphates, hydrocarbons. hydrocarbons.

SETTLING PONDS IN COAL MINING SETTLING PONDS IN COAL MINING INDUSTRY INDUSTRY

There are 25 currently working settling ponds There are 25 currently working settling ponds containing sediments with enhanced containing sediments with enhanced concentration of radium isotopes concentration of radium isotopes

(the old ones are not well identified) (the old ones are not well identified)

Total content: Total content: 5 million cubic meters of 5 million cubic meters of sediments sediments

Basic statistics of sample Basic statistics of sampled d surface sediments surface sediments

711 711 711 711

Number of samples Number of samples

83 785 83 785 156 942 156 942

Maximum Maximum

<1 <1 <1 <1

Minimum Minimum

104 104 152 152

Median Median

1 631 1 631 4 341 4 341

Arithmetic average Arithmetic average

Bq/kg Bq/kg

228 228Ra

Ra

226 226Ra

Ra

Scrap from dewatering systems Scrap from dewatering systems of

• f mine

mines s

Scaling of: Scaling of:

• barium sulphates

barium sulphates from formation from formation water discharge water discharge systems systems

• calcium sulphates

calcium sulphates from coal ash back from coal ash back-

• filling systems

filling systems

Shortage Shortage of

• f:

:

• Appropriate regulations

Appropriate regulations

• Means of decontamination

Means of decontamination

Additional Additional legacy legacy …

…. .

contaminated beds of

streams, where formation water used to be discharged

contaminated

soils on neighbouring arable lands

Environmental risk Environmental risk characterization characterization

Natural radionuclides = long lived radionuclides Almost all natural radionuclides are alpha emitters Risk evolution: increase of concentration of

progenies - new elements = different properties (i.e. radium -> polonium)

Environmental Environmental effects effects ???? ????

early mortality morbidity reduced reproductive success

ICRP PUBLICATION 103

The 2007 Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection

an reductionistic approach: Reflected in the concept of „reference organism”

BIOTOPE BIOCENOZIS E C O S Y S T E M E C O S Y S T E M E C O S Y S T E M

ABIOTIC ENVIRONMENT

ENERGY FLOW TIME - INFORMATION FLOW

ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION

Herbivores Carnivores Detritivores Decomposers Primary production

Autotrophs

photoautotrophs chemoautotrophs

Interaction of contaminants with biota takes place at the cellular level

Genetic test-systems should be used for an early and reliable displaying of the alterations in ecosystems

Cellular response is:

the first manifestation of harmful effects, and suitable tools for the early detection of the pollution

Effects on biota Effects on biota

Environmental risk assessment Environmental risk assessment

Stages of investigation Stages of investigation

• M

Migration igration of

• f r

radionuclides adionuclides in in abiotic environment abiotic environment

• Biota expos

Biota exposure ure to external g to external ga amma mma and al and alph pha a radiation radiation

• Biological

Biological a availability vailability of

• f radionuclides

radionuclides

• T

Transfer ransfer factors factors of

• f r

radionuclides adionuclides’ ’ into biota into biota and and commited commited dose dose evaluation evaluation

• E

Effects ffects of

• f r

radiation adiation on biota

• n biota

SETTLING PONDS SETTLING PONDS UNDER THE UNDER THE INVESTIGATION INVESTIGATION

• Total area:

Total area: 16 and 32 hectares 16 and 32 hectares

• Specific mass activity of bulk

Specific mass activity of bulk sediments: sediments: reaches 45 kBq/kg reaches 45 kBq/kg and 10 kBq of and 10 kBq of 226

226Ra and

Ra and 228

228Ra

Ra respectively (by dry mass). respectively (by dry mass).

• Scales inside of pipelines and

Scales inside of pipelines and close to the discharging points: close to the discharging points: up to 1 up to 16 60 kBq/kg both radium 0 kBq/kg both radium isotopes isotopes. .

• Maximum

Maximum dose dose rate rate above above the the sediments sediments reaches reaches 0.04 mSv/h 0.04 mSv/h

• Associated contamination:

Associated contamination: barium, cobalt, nickel, zinc, barium, cobalt, nickel, zinc, lead and copper are present in lead and copper are present in dimensions higher than the dimensions higher than the permitted concentration limits permitted concentration limits

Radium concentration in different plants Radium concentration in different plants

• vergrowing the abandoned settling ponds
• vergrowing the abandoned settling ponds

104±5

69±13

Atriplex hastata reference sample

324±13

170±21

Atriplex hastata

1136±42

580±64

Atriplex hastata

286±12 151±25

Atriplex hastata

17±3

16±0

Pharagmites australis reference sample

360±16 175±30

Pharagmites australis

371±14 191±22

Pharagmites australis

59±5 28±18

Calamagrostis epigeios

84±7 43±20

Calamagrostis epigeios

91±5 55±17

Calamagrostis australis

228Ra

Bq/kg (dry mass)

226Ra

Bq/kg (dry mass)

plant

(samples taken in different parts of the settling pond)

Biota exposition to external Biota exposition to external al alph pha a and and gamma gamma radiation radiation

• External dose caused by

External dose caused by gamma gamma radiation radiation

• Exposure to external

Exposure to external al alph pha a radiation radiation (an

(an approach on base of TLD dosimetry) approach on base of TLD dosimetry)

• Radon concentration in soil gas

Radon concentration in soil gas

Radionuclides Radionuclides’ ’ transfer factors into transfer factors into biota biota

• The inventory of plants transgressing into

The inventory of plants transgressing into abandoned settling ponds abandoned settling ponds

• Field experiments

Field experiments

• Laboratory tests

Laboratory tests

Radionuclides transfer factors into biota Radionuclides transfer factors into biota

The main findings: The main findings:

• Relationship between transfer factors and radium environmental i

Relationship between transfer factors and radium environmental is s n non

• n-
• linear

linear

• Transfer factors (CF) calculated on mobile fraction of radium ca

Transfer factors (CF) calculated on mobile fraction of radium can be n be three orders of magnitude higher than calculated on base of tota three orders of magnitude higher than calculated on base of total l radium concentration in sediments radium concentration in sediments

y = 20,577x-0,9277 R2 = 0,9279 0,00 0,02 0,04 0,06 0,08 0,10 3 000 6 000 9 000 12 000 15 000 total 228Ra+226Ra activity concentration [Bq kg-1] Concentration factor

Dose Dose rate rate evaluation evaluation

41 69 14

Matricaria perforate

29 46 9

Circium vulgare

54 102 7

Lepidium ruderale

30-290 55-570 5-10

Phragmites australis

(µGy d-1)

the second site

43 80 5

Quercus robur

104 201 7

Phragmites australis

47 84 9

Betula pendula

861 1659 63

Calamagrostis epigeios

(µGy d-1)

the first site

Total dose rate in upper part system Total dose rate in root system commited dose rate

Effects on biota Effects on biota

To study To study cytotoxic cytotoxic and and genotoxic genotoxic potential potential in in sediment from the test sediment from the test-

• sites the

sites the Allium Allium-

• test was applied

test was applied The objective was: The objective was:

• To reveal key pollutants determining biological

To reveal key pollutants determining biological effect effect

• To find relationship between biological effects

To find relationship between biological effects and levels of key contaminants in water and and levels of key contaminants in water and sediment from test sediment from test-

• sites

sites

Effects on biota Effects on biota

high level of genotoxicity has been observed in all samples tested

• nly samples with the highest activity concentration showed toxicity

estimated from the root proliferation

Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of sediments sampled from Upper Silesia post-mining areas.

14 26 15 20 16 1.27 ± 0.08 7842 33.41 ± 1.58 1810 control 12 42 57 3 2 2.92 ± 0.29 3860 34.87 ± 1.31 1765 B2 10 31 34 2 13 2.29 ± 0.16 3693 31.18 ± 2.34 1809 B1 12 31 57 6 6 2.75 ± 0.25 4063 32.47 ± 2.30 1749 R

3p g m2 f2

f1+m1

Aberrations in types AC, % AT MI, % Total cells Sample

MI – mitotic index; AT – ana-telophases scored; AC - number of aberrant cells; f1, m1 – chromatid (single) fragments and bridges; f2, m2 – chromosome (double) fragments and bridges; g – lagging chromosomes; 3p – multipolar mitoses

The possibilities of contaminated The possibilities of contaminated sites land reclamation sites land reclamation

• phytostabilisation,

phytostabilisation,

• phytoextraction

phytoextraction

• dissolution in

dissolution in environment environment

• conventional

conventional method land method land reclamation reclamation (costs, time and (costs, time and efficiency) efficiency)

versus

But, the gap in relevant regulation in frame of radiation protection as well as in industrial waste treatment results in the lack of any rational approach ….

Summary Summary

in in Polish Polish coal coal mining mining industry industry: :

• T

The lack of relevant regulation results he lack of relevant regulation results in that NORM waste treatment and its in that NORM waste treatment and its environmental impact is left out of environmental impact is left out of regulatory control. regulatory control.

• The frame of proper

The frame of proper treatment treatment of NORM waste is

• f NORM waste is

already developed already developed

• I

I n the context of economical effectiveness n the context of economical effectiveness t the he needs of driving force exists needs of driving force exists in in order to

• rder to enforce

enforce it it

Summary Summary

The The problems problems must must be be solved solved at at the the legal legal level level: :

• NORM

NORM waste waste = = radioactive radioactive waste waste ??? ???

• NORM

NORM waste waste below below the the level level set for set for radioactive radioactive waste waste – – should should be be regulated regulated ? ?

Thank Thank you you for for the the attention attention