Project background
Pollution by anthropogenic radionuclides from nuclear weapon tests and power plants is ubiquitous in the environment. Levels of environmental radioactivity in coastal settings of Wales and the southwest of the England are sufficiently minor to deconvolve local (Severn Estuary power stations) and more distant (Chernobyl accident, Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant, global fall-out) source terms.
Toxicity of anthropogenic radionuclides as a pollutant to life is directly linked to their abundances in the environment. Yet, given a range of these radionuclides are man-made (e.g. plutonium), their behaviour and mobility in the natural environment is not well established. Thus, it is paramount to both directly monitor abundance levels and improve our understanding of their mobility in the environment. This may be accomplished through monitoring radionuclides and other geochemical tracers in natural sediment and soils and combine these with controlled laboratory experiments, using nuclear forensics and isotope fingerprinting to establish sources and processes.
Project aims and methods
The project aim is to deepen the understanding of both sources and mobility of radionuclides in the environment and ultimately to establish the potential hazard levels. Specifically, the aim in to quantify anthropogenic plutonium and uranium pollution in the southwest and Wales region in terms of abundance levels, sources and environmental mobility.
This will be accomplished using cutting-edge measurement techniques for detection of ultra-trace abundances and isotope ratios of uranium and plutonium. Plutonium isotopes can be used to fingerprint specific source origins (e.g. global fall-out vs. near-source contamination), while, for uranium, both the natural behaviour and anthropogenic addition can be investigated through the isotope systematics of uranium and daughter products, in combination with full-spectrum geochemical characterisation.
Targeted samples will be a range of shallow marine and estuary sediments as well as terrestrial soils across Wales and the southwest England. This environmental monitoring will be combined with controlled laboratory experiments to further understand the mobility of anthropogenic actinides under changing environmental conditions (e.g. Eh, pH) directly related predicted environmental scenarios under future climate change.
Candidate requirements
Experience with isotope and/or clean laboratory work would be useful.
Project partners
Cefas (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science) has provided routine monitoring of radionuclides and assessed the public’s exposure to radiation. They have extensive experience in environmental sampling, important databases and an unparalleled set-up for alpha- and gamma spectrometry, which will be used to complement the high-resolution, ultra-trace methods based in Cardiff and Bristol. The student will be part of the team at Cefas, providing a unique opportunity for the student to work with scientific experts who are tackling serious problems of climate change and pollution to secure a sustainable marine and terrestrial aquatic environment.
Training
The main training involves 1) environmental field-work and sampling in a local macro-tidal setting, 2) co-design of laboratory experiments and 3) analytical geochemistry. The measurements, including full trace and major elemental geochemical measurements and analytical purification techniques for plutonium and uranium isotopes will be conducted in Cardiff (CELTIC) and Bristol (BIG) isotope laboratories using MC-ICPMS and triple-Q ICPMS techniques for measuring ultra-trace abundances and isotope ratios. The student will benefit from connections afforded by the Southwest Nuclear Hub which includes a research theme focused on nuclear hazards and risks and provides a platform for wider engagement with the UK nuclear research environment.
Entry requirements
In order to be accepted you would need to have a first-class BSc degree or a second-class degree plus an MSc or good MSci. However, for international students, you would need to have a relevant degree in the subject area and have evidence of an English Language qualification. Further information on the English Language can be found on our website.
How to apply
In order to formally apply for the PhD you will need to visit our website.
In the black box on the right of the page please select the following options:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Full Time
- 1st October 2022
Click on ‘Apply now’.
Please ensure that you include the ‘Project Title’ you are applying for and supervisor and that you add ‘NERC DTP’ under the source of funding.
The application deadline is Monday 10 January 2022 at 2359 GMT. Interviews will take place from 23rd February to 9th March 2022. For more information about the NERC GW4+ Doctoral Training Partnership please visit https://www.nercgw4plus.ac.uk.
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