Microvolume analysis of 226Ra by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry: Environmental applications to high-resolution profile of wetland soil pore waters
Résumé
Background: The release to the environment of natural radionuclides like 226Ra due to human activities have
raised concerns about human and ecosystem exposure. 226Ra’s resemblance to calcium and involvement in
biological processes accentuate the importance of understanding its geochemical behavior and migration
pathways. Soil and sediment pore waters provide valuable information but have proved to be challenging to
analyze, requiring to push the limits of current sample preparation and detection methods often not scaled for
low concentrated microvolumes of samples. A more efficient and accurate analytical method is therefore needed
to get reliable data to support hydro-geochemical modeling.
Results: We describe here a novel comprehensive approach for accurate 226Ra quantification in pore waters of a
wetland located downstream of the former Rophin uranium mine. In order to highlight the migration of 226Ra
between the different soil layers, microvolumes of soil pore waters were in situ sampled up to 50 cm depth
employing Diffusive Equilibrium in Thin-Films (DET) probes. The workflow included spiking DET extracts with
an in-house 228Ra tracer, specific solid-phase extraction with 50 mg of AnaLig Ra-01® resin, and elution fraction
calcination. This process eliminated interferences and simplify the analysis matrix. Quantification relied on
isotope dilution after measurement by ICP-MS hyphenated to a desolvator module and to a microsampler (150 µL
injection). The resulting 1 cm-high-resolution profile revealed unusual 226Ra enrichment with depth, signs of Ra
mobility from the solid contamination source. These elements are essential for assessing 226Ra distribution coefficients across soil horizons and subsequent wetland remobilization considerations.
Significance and novelty: This first methodological advance for 226Ra constitutes a significant step to understand 226Ra behavior i.e., to quantify its activity level, fluxes inside of wetland soils or at the interface overlying
waters/sediments. Its potential extension to studies involving other elements underscores its broader applicability in environmental research. The findings contribute to evidence-based decision-making for environmental
protection and management, aiding in the preservation of ecological integrity and human health.
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