Numerical modelling for the distribution of 137 Cs and 131 I in the scheldt basin after a potential nuclear accident.

Autor: Patil AR; Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, Mol, Belgium; Institute of Mechanics, Material and Civil Engineering, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium. Electronic address: amit.ravindra.patil@sckcen.be., Fiengo Perez F; Aquafin, Aartselaar, Belgium. Electronic address: fabricio.fiengo@aquafin.be., Lambrechts J; Institute of Mechanics, Material and Civil Engineering, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium. Electronic address: jonathan.lambrechts@uclouvain.be., Draoui I; Institute of Mechanics, Material and Civil Engineering, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium. Electronic address: insaf.draoui@uclouvain.be., Deleersnijder E; Institute of Mechanics, Material and Civil Engineering, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; Earth and Life Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium. Electronic address: eric.deleersnijder@uclouvain.be.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Journal of environmental radioactivity [J Environ Radioact] 2024 Dec; Vol. 280, pp. 107568. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Nov 10.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2024.107568
Abstrakt: Using the discontinuous Galerkin method in the SLIM modelling framework, we study the transport in the Scheldt basin and adjacent coastal area of radionuclides possibly emitted by Doel nuclear power plant in the aftermath of an accident. The contamination pathways taken into consideration are direct liquid releases into the water and deposition via the atmosphere. In past nuclear accidents, several radionuclides were released, among which, 131 I and 137 Cs were considered herein. The hydrodynamics and atmospheric conditions are selected to simulate the worst-case scenario in the domain of interest. The radionuclide deposition towards the North Sea results in 131 I and 137 Cs being transported to the Belgian coastal region. In case of deposition towards the river, radioactivity from upstream tributaries can reach the estuary within days. Direct liquid releases spread downstream until the mouth of the estuary after about few weeks and extend upstream into the Scheldt River. In all cases, due to tidal influence, the estuary becomes most vulnerable, with radioactivity potentially circulating for over a month. Additionally, higher river discharge resulted in decreased radioactivity levels in the estuary.
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
(Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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