Distribution and Relationship of Radionuclides and Heavy Metal Concentrations in Marine Sediments from the Areas Surrounding the Daya Bay Power Plant, Southeast China
Radionuclides and heavy metals pose potential risks to marine ecosystems and human health. Daya Bay, the site of China’s first commercial nuclear power plant, has experienced significant anthropogenic impacts, yet the extent of radionuclide and heavy metal contamination remains unclear. Nineteen sur...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/13/7/1237 |
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| author | Chengpeng Huang Yunpeng Lin Haidong Li Binxin Zheng Xueqiang Zhu Yiming Xu Heshan Lin Qiangqiang Zhong Fangfang Shu Mingjiang Cai Yunhai Li |
| author_facet | Chengpeng Huang Yunpeng Lin Haidong Li Binxin Zheng Xueqiang Zhu Yiming Xu Heshan Lin Qiangqiang Zhong Fangfang Shu Mingjiang Cai Yunhai Li |
| author_sort | Chengpeng Huang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Radionuclides and heavy metals pose potential risks to marine ecosystems and human health. Daya Bay, the site of China’s first commercial nuclear power plant, has experienced significant anthropogenic impacts, yet the extent of radionuclide and heavy metal contamination remains unclear. Nineteen surface sediment samples were collected in January 2024 and analyzed for natural (<sup>210</sup>Pb, <sup>228</sup>Th, <sup>226</sup>Ra, <sup>228</sup>Ra, and <sup>40</sup>K) and anthropogenic (<sup>137</sup>Cs) radionuclides, heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, Mn, Hg, and As), grain size, and total organic carbon (TOC). The surface sediments of Daya Bay were predominantly fine-grained, with TOC levels ranging from 0.41% to 1.83%, influenced significantly by riverine input from the Dan’ao River. Natural radionuclides exhibited distinct spatial patterns: <sup>210</sup>Pb and <sup>228</sup>Th activity levels were higher in fine-grained sediments, and correlated with TOC, indicating adsorption and sedimentation controls. In contrast, anthropogenic <sup>137</sup>Cs activity was low and showed no significant impact from the nuclear power plant. Notably, the absence in the samples of key anthropogenic radionuclides typically associated with nuclear power plant operations further confirmed the negligible impact of the power plant on local sediment contamination. The results indicated that the baseline levels of both natural and anthropogenic radionuclides and heavy metals were predominantly influenced by natural processes and local anthropogenic activities rather than the operation of the nuclear power plant. This study establishes critical baselines for radioactivity and heavy metals in Daya Bay, underscoring effective pollution control measures and the resilience of local ecosystems despite anthropogenic pressures. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c9589d4248fc4fb5a027c1967bcd2de9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2077-1312 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-c9589d4248fc4fb5a027c1967bcd2de92025-08-20T03:32:32ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122025-06-01137123710.3390/jmse13071237Distribution and Relationship of Radionuclides and Heavy Metal Concentrations in Marine Sediments from the Areas Surrounding the Daya Bay Power Plant, Southeast ChinaChengpeng Huang0Yunpeng Lin1Haidong Li2Binxin Zheng3Xueqiang Zhu4Yiming Xu5Heshan Lin6Qiangqiang Zhong7Fangfang Shu8Mingjiang Cai9Yunhai Li10Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Physical and Geological Processes, Xiamen 361005, ChinaThird Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, ChinaFujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Physical and Geological Processes, Xiamen 361005, ChinaFujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Physical and Geological Processes, Xiamen 361005, ChinaShanghai Nuclear Engineering Research & Design Institute Co., Ltd., Shanghai 200233, ChinaShanghai Nuclear Engineering Research & Design Institute Co., Ltd., Shanghai 200233, ChinaThird Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, ChinaThird Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, ChinaFujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Physical and Geological Processes, Xiamen 361005, ChinaSchool of Resources and Environmental Science, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou 362000, ChinaFujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Physical and Geological Processes, Xiamen 361005, ChinaRadionuclides and heavy metals pose potential risks to marine ecosystems and human health. Daya Bay, the site of China’s first commercial nuclear power plant, has experienced significant anthropogenic impacts, yet the extent of radionuclide and heavy metal contamination remains unclear. Nineteen surface sediment samples were collected in January 2024 and analyzed for natural (<sup>210</sup>Pb, <sup>228</sup>Th, <sup>226</sup>Ra, <sup>228</sup>Ra, and <sup>40</sup>K) and anthropogenic (<sup>137</sup>Cs) radionuclides, heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, Mn, Hg, and As), grain size, and total organic carbon (TOC). The surface sediments of Daya Bay were predominantly fine-grained, with TOC levels ranging from 0.41% to 1.83%, influenced significantly by riverine input from the Dan’ao River. Natural radionuclides exhibited distinct spatial patterns: <sup>210</sup>Pb and <sup>228</sup>Th activity levels were higher in fine-grained sediments, and correlated with TOC, indicating adsorption and sedimentation controls. In contrast, anthropogenic <sup>137</sup>Cs activity was low and showed no significant impact from the nuclear power plant. Notably, the absence in the samples of key anthropogenic radionuclides typically associated with nuclear power plant operations further confirmed the negligible impact of the power plant on local sediment contamination. The results indicated that the baseline levels of both natural and anthropogenic radionuclides and heavy metals were predominantly influenced by natural processes and local anthropogenic activities rather than the operation of the nuclear power plant. This study establishes critical baselines for radioactivity and heavy metals in Daya Bay, underscoring effective pollution control measures and the resilience of local ecosystems despite anthropogenic pressures.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/13/7/1237marine sedimentsradionuclidesheavy metalsDaya Bayenvironmental baselinesnuclear power plants |
| spellingShingle | Chengpeng Huang Yunpeng Lin Haidong Li Binxin Zheng Xueqiang Zhu Yiming Xu Heshan Lin Qiangqiang Zhong Fangfang Shu Mingjiang Cai Yunhai Li Distribution and Relationship of Radionuclides and Heavy Metal Concentrations in Marine Sediments from the Areas Surrounding the Daya Bay Power Plant, Southeast China Journal of Marine Science and Engineering marine sediments radionuclides heavy metals Daya Bay environmental baselines nuclear power plants |
| title | Distribution and Relationship of Radionuclides and Heavy Metal Concentrations in Marine Sediments from the Areas Surrounding the Daya Bay Power Plant, Southeast China |
| title_full | Distribution and Relationship of Radionuclides and Heavy Metal Concentrations in Marine Sediments from the Areas Surrounding the Daya Bay Power Plant, Southeast China |
| title_fullStr | Distribution and Relationship of Radionuclides and Heavy Metal Concentrations in Marine Sediments from the Areas Surrounding the Daya Bay Power Plant, Southeast China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Distribution and Relationship of Radionuclides and Heavy Metal Concentrations in Marine Sediments from the Areas Surrounding the Daya Bay Power Plant, Southeast China |
| title_short | Distribution and Relationship of Radionuclides and Heavy Metal Concentrations in Marine Sediments from the Areas Surrounding the Daya Bay Power Plant, Southeast China |
| title_sort | distribution and relationship of radionuclides and heavy metal concentrations in marine sediments from the areas surrounding the daya bay power plant southeast china |
| topic | marine sediments radionuclides heavy metals Daya Bay environmental baselines nuclear power plants |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/13/7/1237 |
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