Analysis of a sugar maple tree core for monitoring environmental uranium contamination

• Published in: Journal of radioanalytical and nuclear chemistry Vol. 307; no. 3; pp. 1691 - 1696
• Main Authors: McHugh, Kelly C., Widom, Elisabeth, Spitz, Henry B., Glover, Sam E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-03-2016; Springer
• Subjects: Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Diagnostic Radiology; Ecosystems; Hadrons; Heavy Ions; Heavy metals; Inorganic Chemistry; Nuclear Chemistry; Nuclear industry; Nuclear Physics; Physical Chemistry; Radioactive substances; Uranium; Biomonitor; Environmental contamination; Uranium; Isotope; Dendrochemistry
• ISSN: 0236-5731; 1588-2780
• DOI: 10.1007/s10967-015-4369-x

Concentrations and isotopic ratios of metals in tree rings can be employed to resolve temporal changes in contamination, but few studies have explored the behavior of uranium (U). This study measured U abundance and isotopic compositions of sugar maple (
Acer saccharum
) tree rings near the former Fernald Feed Materials Production Center (FFMPC), a U purification facility in Ohio. U concentrations,
235
U/
238
U, and
234
U/
238
U are generally consistent with known events in FFMPC history. Additionally, the outermost rings have compositions consistent with contemporary soil. These results suggest that sugar maple may be reliable for monitoring past and present environmental U contamination.