TY - JOUR
T1 - Fit-for-purpose modelling of radiocaesium soil-to-plant transfer for nuclear emergencies: a review
AU - Al Mahaini, Talal
AU - Beresford, Nicholas A.
AU - Crout, Neil M.J.
AU - Sweeck, Lieve
N1 - Score=10
PY - 2019/2/15
Y1 - 2019/2/15
N2 - Numerous radioecological models have been developed to predict radionuclides transfer from contaminated
soils to the food chain, which is an essential step in preparing and responding to nuclear emergencies. However,
the lessons learned from applying these models to predict radiocaesium (RCs) soil-to-plant transfer following the
Fukushima accident in 2011 renewed interest in RCs transfer modelling. To help guide and prioritise further
research in relation to modelling RCs transfer in terrestrial environments, we reviewed existing models focussing
on transfer to food crops and animal fodders.
To facilitate the review process, we categorised existing RCs soil-to-plant transfer models into empirical, semimechanistic and mechanistic, though several models cross the boundaries between these categories. The empirical approach predicts RCs transfer to plants based on total RCs concentration in soil and an empirical transfer
factor. The semi-mechanistic approach takes into account the influence of soil characteristics such as clay and
exchangeable potassium content on RCs transfer. It also uses ʻbioavailableʼ rather than total RCs in soil. The
mechanistic approach considers the physical and chemical processes that control RCs distribution and uptake in
soil-plant systems including transport in the root zone and root absorption kinetics.
Each of these modelling approaches has its advantages and disadvantages. The empirical approach is simple
and requires two inputs, but it is often associated with considerably uncertainty due to the large variability in the
transfer factor. The semi-mechanistic approach factorises more soil and plant parameters than the empirical
approach; therefore, it is applicable to a wider range of environmental conditions. The mechanistic approach is
instrumental in understanding RCs mobility and transfer in soil-plant systems; it also helps to identify influential
soil and plant parameters. However, the complexity and the large amount of specific parameters make this approach impractical for nuclear emergency preparedness and response purposes.
We propose that the semi-mechanistic approach is sufficiently robust and practical, hence more fit for the
purpose of planning and responding to nuclear emergencies compared with the empirical and mechanistic approaches. We recommend further work to extend the applicability of the semi-mechanistic approach to a wide
range of plants and soils.
AB - Numerous radioecological models have been developed to predict radionuclides transfer from contaminated
soils to the food chain, which is an essential step in preparing and responding to nuclear emergencies. However,
the lessons learned from applying these models to predict radiocaesium (RCs) soil-to-plant transfer following the
Fukushima accident in 2011 renewed interest in RCs transfer modelling. To help guide and prioritise further
research in relation to modelling RCs transfer in terrestrial environments, we reviewed existing models focussing
on transfer to food crops and animal fodders.
To facilitate the review process, we categorised existing RCs soil-to-plant transfer models into empirical, semimechanistic and mechanistic, though several models cross the boundaries between these categories. The empirical approach predicts RCs transfer to plants based on total RCs concentration in soil and an empirical transfer
factor. The semi-mechanistic approach takes into account the influence of soil characteristics such as clay and
exchangeable potassium content on RCs transfer. It also uses ʻbioavailableʼ rather than total RCs in soil. The
mechanistic approach considers the physical and chemical processes that control RCs distribution and uptake in
soil-plant systems including transport in the root zone and root absorption kinetics.
Each of these modelling approaches has its advantages and disadvantages. The empirical approach is simple
and requires two inputs, but it is often associated with considerably uncertainty due to the large variability in the
transfer factor. The semi-mechanistic approach factorises more soil and plant parameters than the empirical
approach; therefore, it is applicable to a wider range of environmental conditions. The mechanistic approach is
instrumental in understanding RCs mobility and transfer in soil-plant systems; it also helps to identify influential
soil and plant parameters. However, the complexity and the large amount of specific parameters make this approach impractical for nuclear emergency preparedness and response purposes.
We propose that the semi-mechanistic approach is sufficiently robust and practical, hence more fit for the
purpose of planning and responding to nuclear emergencies compared with the empirical and mechanistic approaches. We recommend further work to extend the applicability of the semi-mechanistic approach to a wide
range of plants and soils.
KW - Nuclear emergency
KW - Fukushima
KW - Chernobyl
KW - Radioactive caesium
KW - Soil-to-plant transfer model
KW - Uncertainty
UR - http://ecm.sckcen.be/OTCS/llisapi.dll/open/33742610
U2 - 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.01.006
DO - 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.01.006
M3 - Article
SN - 0265-931X
VL - 201
SP - 58
EP - 66
JO - Journal of environmental radioactivity
JF - Journal of environmental radioactivity
ER -