Neutron activation analysis of sediments of the Padma River adjacent to Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant: Elemental and multivariate statistical approach

Abu Sayed Mohammed Sayam; Mohammad Amirul Islam; Md Rahat Ali; Mohammad Monzur Hossain Khan; Md Farhan Ishrak

doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2023.110784

Neutron activation analysis of sediments of the Padma River adjacent to Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant: Elemental and multivariate statistical approach

Appl Radiat Isot. 2023 Jun:196:110784. doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2023.110784. Epub 2023 Mar 21.

Authors

Abu Sayed Mohammed Sayam¹, Mohammad Amirul Islam², Md Rahat Ali³, Mohammad Monzur Hossain Khan⁴, Md Farhan Ishrak⁵

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, Ashulia, Dhaka, 1349, Bangladesh; Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh.
² Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, Ashulia, Dhaka, 1349, Bangladesh; Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh. Electronic address: amirul.islam@baec.gov.bd.
³ Department of Physics, Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology, Rajshahi, 6204, Bangladesh.
⁴ Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh.
⁵ Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh.

PMID: 36989683
DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2023.110784

Abstract

This study investigated the major and trace element concentrations in the sediments of the Padma River adjacent to the under-construction Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant to have baseline elemental concentration data. Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) was used to determine a total of twenty-three elements (Al, As, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Dy, Eu, Fe, Hf, La, Mn, Na, Sb, Sc, Sm, Ti, Th, U, V, Yb, and Zn). The calculation of the enrichment factor, geo-accumulation index, and pollution load index revealed that most of the sediment samples were minor to moderately contaminated by twelve elements (As, Ca, Ce, Cs, Dy, Hf, La, Sb, Sm, Th, U, and Yb). An ecological risk assessment by ecological risk factor, comprehensive potential ecological risk index, and sediment quality guidelines showed that the sampling locations were subject to harmful biological effects due to high concentrations of As and Cr in the sediments. Three multivariate statistical analyses identified two groups of elements based on their characteristics in the sediments. This study will act as baseline elemental concentration data for future studies concerning anthropogenic activities in this area.

Keywords: Ecological risk assessment; Environmental monitoring; INAA; Multivariate statistical analysis; New nuclear facility; Padma River; River sediment.