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First study on 236U in environmental samples from Bangladesh by ICP-MS/MS prior to the operation of its first nuclear power plant

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Abstract

For the first time, using ICP-MS/MS, the 234U, 235U, 236U, and 238U in the sediment samples from coastal region, Bangladesh, were measured as 5.13–5.48, 0.234–0.252, (2.70–4.59) × 10–5, and 4.92–5.31 Bq kg−1, and the 236U/238U atom ratios were (2.87–4.57) × 10–8, indicating the predominate influence of global fallout on 236U. For the rock samples from hilly area, the corresponding concentrations were much higher as 18.7–4023, 0.902–173, 9.58 × 10–5–1.29 × 10–2, and 18.8–2279 Bq kg−1, but the 236U/238U atom ratios were in the same range of (1.52–3.04) × 10–8, indicating the 236U was primarily due to the natural nuclear reactions.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh (Bangabandhu Science and Technology Fellowship Trust, in 2017-2018 and also under special allocation No. Physical 261, in 2014–2015). The authors wish to express their gratitude to Dr. Minoru Sasaki for processing the rock samples. M.F. Alam thanks the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan, for conducting the research work at the Hirosaki University, Japan under the MEXT Nuclear Researchers Exchange Program. M.F. Alam also thanks to Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, Fukushima University for allowing him to conduct additional sample analysis. This work was also partly supported by JSPS KAKENHI (19J14291, 21K12287) and the Sasakawa Scientific Research Grant from the Japan Science Society.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Symbiotic Systems Science and Technology, Fukushima University, 1 Kanayagawa, Fukushima, 960-1296, Japan

    Md. Ferdous Alam & Kenji Nanba

  2. Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University, 66-1 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori, 036-8564, Japan

    Md. Ferdous Alam, Jun Hu, Guosheng Yang & Masatoshi Yamada

  3. Nuclear and Radiation Chemistry Division, Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Ganakbari, Savar, Dhaka, 1349, Bangladesh

    Md. Ferdous Alam

  4. Center for Environmental Remote Sensing, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi, Inage, Chiba, 263-8522, Japan

    Jun Hu

  5. National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan

    Guosheng Yang

  6. Chemistry Division, Atomic Energy Center, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh

    A. K. M. Atique Ullah

  7. Institute of Nuclear Minerals, Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Ganakbari, Savar, Dhaka, 1349, Bangladesh

    M. Ibrahim Khalil

  8. International Affairs Division, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh

    A. K. M. Fazle Kibria

  9. Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, Fukushima University, 1 Kanayagawa, Fukushima City, Fukushima, 960-1296, Japan

    Ismail M. M. Rahman & Kenji Nanba

  10. Central Laboratory, Marine Ecology Research Institute, 300 Iwawada, Onjuku, Chiba, 299-5105, Japan

    Masatoshi Yamada

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Alam, M.F., Hu, J., Yang, G. et al. First study on 236U in environmental samples from Bangladesh by ICP-MS/MS prior to the operation of its first nuclear power plant. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 330, 103–111 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-021-07931-5

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