High concentrations of HgS, MeHg and toxic gas emissions in thermally affected waste dumps from hard coal mining in Poland.

This study aims to provide numerous environmental research approaches to understand the formation of mineral and organic mercury compounds in self-heating coal waste dumps of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB). The results are combined with environmental and health risk assessments. The mineralogy comprised accessory minerals in the fine fraction of thermally affected waste, i.e., Hg sulfides, most likely cinnabar or metacinnabar. Moreover, other metals, e.g., Pb, Zn and Cu, were found as sulfide forms. Apart from Hg, the ICP-ES/MS data confirmed the high content of Mn, Zn, Pb, Hg, Cr and Ba in these wastes. The high concentration of available Hg resulted in elevated MeHg concentrations in the dumps. There were no correlations or trends between MeHg concentrations and elemental Hg, TS, TOC, and pH. Furthermore, we did not detect microbial genes responsible for Hg methylation. The organic compounds identified in waste and emitted gases, such as organic acids, or free methyl radicals, common in such burn environments, could be responsible for the formation of MeHg. The concentration levels of gases, e.g., benzene, formaldehyde, NH3, emitted by the vents, reached or surpassed acceptable levels numerous times. The potential ecological and human health risks of these dumps were moderate to very high due to the significant influence of the high Hg concentrations.

Natural radioactivity in granites and gneisses of the Opava Mountains (Poland): a comparison between laboratory and in situ measurements.

The natural radioactivities of five characteristic igneous rocks of the eastern foreland of the Opava Mountains (Eastern Sudetes, Poland), obtained in the laboratory and under in situ conditions, are presented. The activity concentrations of 232Th, 238U, and 40K were measured using an HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry system. The ranges of the activity concentrations of 232Th were 7-71 Bq kg-1 in the laboratory and 6-68 Bq kg-1 for the in situ measurements. For 238U, the ranges of the activity concentrations were 5-52 Bq kg-1 in the laboratory and 9-48 Bq kg-1 for the in situ measurements, and for 40K, the ranges were 520-1560 Bq kg-1 in the laboratory and 537-1700 Bq kg-1 for the in situ measurements. These determined activity concentrations were compared with the average activity concentrations of the radionuclides in similar types of rocks and with data from the Sudetes available in the literature. No significant differences were found between the in situ and laboratory measurements.

222Rn and 220Rn concentrations in soil gas of Karkonosze-Izera Block (Sudetes, Poland).

Soil gas 222Rn and 220Rn concentrations were measured at 18 locations in the Karkonosze-Izera Block area in southwestern Poland. Measurements were carried out in surface air and at sampling depths of 10, 40 and 80 cm. Surface air 222Rn concentrations ranged from 4 to 2160 Bq m(-3) and 220Rn ranged from 4 to 228 Bq m(-3). The concentrations for 10 and 40 cm varied from 142 Bq m(-3) to 801 kBq m(-3) and 102 Bq m(-3) to 64 kBq m(-3) for 222Rn and 220Rn, respectively. At 80 cm 222Rn concentrations ranged from 94 Bq m(-3) to >1 MBq m(-3). The 220Rn concentrations at 80 cm varied from 45 Bq m(-3) to 48 kBq m(-3). The concentration versus depth profiles for 222Rn differed for soils developed on fault zones, uranium deposits or both. Atmospheric air temperature and soil gas 222Rn and 220Rn were negatively correlated. At sampling sites with steep slopes, 220Rn concentrations decreased with depth.

Gamma background measurements in the Gran Sasso National Laboratory.

In situ gamma-ray measurements were taken at eight locations in the Gran Sasso National Laboratory (Italy). Count rates for gamma radiation within the energy range of 7-2,734 keV varied from 8 to 60 Î³ s-1. The arithmetic mean was 49 Î³ s-1 for measurements taken without a collimator. The average gamma flux inside the Lab was 0.25 Î³ cm-2 s-1. The sedimentary rocks surrounding the Lab are characterized by low activity concentrations of uranium and thorium, equal to 1.7 and 1.4 Bq kg-1, respectively.

Gamma background measurements in the Boulby Underground Laboratory.

To determine background radiation levels that might influence experiments, we measured in situ gamma-ray emissions at ten locations in the Boulby Underground Laboratory. For gamma radiation in the energy range of 7-2,734 keV, the counts varied from 6.5 to 28 Î³ s-1. For measurements inside the Lab, the arithmetic mean was 24 Î³ s-1. The sedimentary rocks that surrounded the Lab, halite and mudstone, were characterized by very low activity concentrations of uranium (0.8-7.1 Bq kg-1) and thorium (0.6-3.9 Bq kg-1).

Natural radioactivity in rocks of the Modane-Aussois region (SE France).

The activity concentrations of 40K, 232Th, and 238U in the characteristic rocks of the Modane-Aussois region (Western Alps, France) were determined using an HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry system. The activity concentrations of 40K varied from 18 Bqkg-1 (limestone dolomite) to 392 Bqkg-1 (calcschist), while those of 232Th varied from 0.7 Bqkg-1 (limestone dolomite) to 18 Bqkg-1 (calcschist). The activities associated with 238U ranged from 9 (quartzite) to 29 Bqkg-1 (dolomite). In the investigated rock samples, concentrations of 238U (ppm) and 40K (%) had a strong negative correlation.

Gamma background measurements in the Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane.

In situ gamma-ray measurements were taken at six locations in the Modane Underground Laboratory. Count rates for gamma radiation within the energy range of 7-2734 keV varied from 15 to 108 Î³s-1. The arithmetic mean was 79 Î³s-1 for measurements taken without a collimator. The metamorphic rocks surrounding the Lab are characterized by low activity concentrations of uranium and thorium equal to 12 and 10 Bq kg-1, respectively.