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  1. Article ; Online: Enhancing radiological monitoring of

    Hunt, D / Dewar, A / Dal Molin, F / Willey, N

    Journal of environmental radioactivity

    2023  Volume 268-269, Page(s) 107261

    Abstract: With the rapidly expanding global nuclear industry, more efficient and direct radiological monitoring approaches are needed to ensure the associated environmental health impacts and risk remain fully assessed and undertaken as robustly as possible. ... ...

    Abstract With the rapidly expanding global nuclear industry, more efficient and direct radiological monitoring approaches are needed to ensure the associated environmental health impacts and risk remain fully assessed and undertaken as robustly as possible. Conventionally, radiological monitoring in the environment consists of measuring a wide range of anthropogenically enhanced radionuclides present in selected environmental matrices and using generic transfer values for modelling and prediction that are not necessarily suitable in some situations. Previous studies have found links between taxonomy and radionuclide uptake in terrestrial plants and freshwater fish, but the marine context remains relatively unexplored. This preliminary study was aimed at investigating a similar relationship between brown seaweed, an important indicator in radiological monitoring programmes in the marine environment, and Caesium-137, an important radionuclide discharged to the marine environment. A linear mixed model was fitted using REsidual Maximum Likelihood (REML) to activity concentration data collected from literature published worldwide and other databases. The output from REML modelling was adjusted to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) quoted transfer value for all seaweed taxa in order to produce mean estimate transfer value for each species, which were then analysed by hierarchical ANalysis Of VAriance (ANOVA) based on the taxonomy of brown seaweeds. Transfer value was found to vary between taxa with increasing significance up the taxonomic hierarchy, suggesting a link to evolutionary history. This novel approach enables contextualisation of activity concentration measurements of important marine indicator species in relation to the wider community, allows prediction of unknown transfer values without the need to sample specific species and could, therefore, enhance radiological monitoring by providing accurate, taxon specific transfer values for use in dose assessments and models of radionuclide transfer in the environment.
    MeSH term(s) Animals ; Water Pollutants, Radioactive/analysis ; Radiation Monitoring ; Cesium Radioisotopes/analysis ; Seaweed
    Chemical Substances Cesium-137 (4T2E65IAR7) ; Water Pollutants, Radioactive ; Cesium Radioisotopes
    Language English
    Publishing date 2023-08-02
    Publishing country England
    Document type Journal Article
    ZDB-ID 1483112-0
    ISSN 1879-1700 ; 0265-931X
    ISSN (online) 1879-1700
    ISSN 0265-931X
    DOI 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107261
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  2. Article: Energy harvesting from plants using hybrid microbial fuel cells; potential applications and future exploitation.

    Greenman, John / Thorn, Robin / Willey, Neil / Ieropoulos, Ioannis

    Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology

    2024  Volume 12, Page(s) 1276176

    Abstract: Microbial Fuel Cells (MFC) can be fuelled using biomass derived from dead plant material and can operate on plant produced chemicals such as sugars, carbohydrates, polysaccharides and cellulose, as well as being "fed" on a regular diet of primary biomass ...

    Abstract Microbial Fuel Cells (MFC) can be fuelled using biomass derived from dead plant material and can operate on plant produced chemicals such as sugars, carbohydrates, polysaccharides and cellulose, as well as being "fed" on a regular diet of primary biomass from plants or algae. An even closer relationship can exist if algae (e.g., prokaryotic microalgae or eukaryotic and unicellular algae) can colonise the open to air cathode chambers of MFCs driving photosynthesis, producing a high redox gradient due to the oxygenic phase of collective algal cells. The hybrid system is symbiotic; the conditions within the cathodic chamber favour the growth of microalgae whilst the increased redox and production of oxygen by the algae, favour a more powerful cathode giving a higher maximum voltage and power to the photo-microbial fuel cell, which can ultimately be harvested for a range of end-user applications. MFCs can utilise a wide range of plant derived materials including detritus, plant composts, rhizodeposits, root exudates, dead or dying macro- or microalgae, via Soil-based Microbial Fuel Cells, Sediment Microbial Fuel Cells, Plant-based microbial fuel cells, floating artificial islands and constructed artificial wetlands. This review provides a perspective on this aspect of the technology as yet another attribute of the benevolent Bioelectrochemical Systems.
    Language English
    Publishing date 2024-01-31
    Publishing country Switzerland
    Document type Journal Article ; Review
    ZDB-ID 2719493-0
    ISSN 2296-4185
    ISSN 2296-4185
    DOI 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1276176
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  3. Article ; Online: Radioactivity in Future Phosphogypsum: New predictions based on estimates of 'Peak P' and rock phosphate resources.

    Willey, Neil / Timbs, Patrick

    Journal of environmental radioactivity

    2022  Volume 244-245, Page(s) 106828

    Abstract: Global food supplies currently depend on producing inorganic P fertilisers from a finite reserve of rock phosphate (RP). P fertilisers are themselves significant pollutants but their production from RP also leaves a phosphogypsum (PG) by-product that is ... ...

    Abstract Global food supplies currently depend on producing inorganic P fertilisers from a finite reserve of rock phosphate (RP). P fertilisers are themselves significant pollutants but their production from RP also leaves a phosphogypsum (PG) by-product that is sufficiently radioactive that its reuse is restricted. PG is mostly accumulated in open 'stacks' that make up a significant proportion of all Technologically Enhanced Naturally-Occurring Radioactive Material (TENORM) waste. Using lower and upper estimates of current RP reserves, historic production, and Hubbert's logistic function-based 'peak theory', lower and upper boundaries for possible RP production were predicted to the year 2100. The 'low' boundary scenario had a production peak of c.350 Mt/a RP in c.2050 followed by a steep decline. The 'high' boundary scenario had a production peak of c.1200 Mt/a RP in about 2090. Future trends in P demand for food production were used to predict a possible, demand-driven, RP production scenario until 2100 which peaked at a demand of c.620 Mt/a RP and was within possible production boundaries. An RP:P ratio of 5.62:1 and PG:P fertiliser ratio of 4:1 was used to calculate that this predicted demand-driven scenario would ultimately produce nearly 350 Mt/a of PG and a cumulative total of c.30 Gt by 2100. Average PG activity concentrations of
    Language English
    Publishing date 2022-02-03
    Publishing country England
    Document type Journal Article
    ZDB-ID 1483112-0
    ISSN 1879-1700 ; 0265-931X
    ISSN (online) 1879-1700
    ISSN 0265-931X
    DOI 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.106828
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  4. Article ; Online: Moving radiation protection on from the limitations of empirical concentration ratios.

    Beresford, N A / Willey, N

    Journal of environmental radioactivity

    2019  Volume 208-209, Page(s) 106020

    Abstract: Radionuclide activity concentrations in food crops and wildlife are most often predicted using empirical concentration ratios (CRs). The CR approach is simple to apply and some data exist with which to parameterise models. However, the parameter is ... ...

    Abstract Radionuclide activity concentrations in food crops and wildlife are most often predicted using empirical concentration ratios (CRs). The CR approach is simple to apply and some data exist with which to parameterise models. However, the parameter is highly variable leading to considerable uncertainty in predictions. Furthermore, for both crops and wildlife we have no, or few, data for many radionuclides and realistically, we are never going to have specific data for every radionuclide - wildlife/crop combination. In this paper, we present an alternative approach using residual maximum likelihood (REML) fitting of a linear mixed effects model; the model output is an estimate of the rank-order of relative values. This methodology gives a less uncertain approach than the CR approach, as it takes into account the effect of site; it also gives a scientifically based extrapolation approach. We demonstrate the approach using the examples of Cs for plants and Pb for terrestrial wildlife. This is the first published application of the REML approach to terrestrial wildlife (previous applications being limited to the consideration of plants). The model presented gives reasonable predictions for a blind test dataset.
    MeSH term(s) Radiation Exposure/analysis ; Radiation Exposure/statistics & numerical data ; Radiation Monitoring ; Radiation Protection ; Radioisotopes/analysis
    Chemical Substances Radioisotopes
    Language English
    Publishing date 2019-07-20
    Publishing country England
    Document type Journal Article
    ZDB-ID 1483112-0
    ISSN 1879-1700 ; 0265-931X
    ISSN (online) 1879-1700
    ISSN 0265-931X
    DOI 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.106020
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  5. Article: Radioactivity in Future Phosphogypsum: New predictions based on estimates of ‘Peak P’ and rock phosphate resources

    Willey, Neil / Timbs, Patrick

    Journal of environmental radioactivity. 2022 Apr., v. 244-245

    2022  

    Abstract: Global food supplies currently depend on producing inorganic P fertilisers from a finite reserve of rock phosphate (RP). P fertilisers are themselves significant pollutants but their production from RP also leaves a phosphogypsum (PG) by-product that is ... ...

    Abstract Global food supplies currently depend on producing inorganic P fertilisers from a finite reserve of rock phosphate (RP). P fertilisers are themselves significant pollutants but their production from RP also leaves a phosphogypsum (PG) by-product that is sufficiently radioactive that its reuse is restricted. PG is mostly accumulated in open ‘stacks’ that make up a significant proportion of all Technologically Enhanced Naturally-Occurring Radioactive Material (TENORM) waste. Using lower and upper estimates of current RP reserves, historic production, and Hubbert's logistic function-based ‘peak theory’, lower and upper boundaries for possible RP production were predicted to the year 2100. The ‘low’ boundary scenario had a production peak of c.350 Mt/a RP in c.2050 followed by a steep decline. The ‘high’ boundary scenario had a production peak of c.1200 Mt/a RP in about 2090. Future trends in P demand for food production were used to predict a possible, demand-driven, RP production scenario until 2100 which peaked at a demand of c.620 Mt/a RP and was within possible production boundaries. An RP:P ratio of 5.62:1 and PG:P fertiliser ratio of 4:1 was used to calculate that this predicted demand-driven scenario would ultimately produce nearly 350 Mt/a of PG and a cumulative total of c.30 Gt by 2100. Average PG activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra (650 Bq/kg), ²¹⁰Po (300 Bq/kg) and ²³⁰Th (100 Bq/kg) give a total of c.30 PBq radioactivity in this by-product. Humanity is faced with a phosphorus dilemma – if the low production scenario unfolds it threatens food security but if predicted demand for P is met from RP the environmental challenges arising from P fertiliser use will be profound and exacerbated by a significant radioactive waste challenge. The estimates reported here show that studies of environmental radioactivity have a role to play in debates about P resources and global food security.
    Keywords byproducts ; fertilizer application ; food production ; food security ; phosphogypsum ; phosphorus fertilizers ; radioactive waste ; radioactivity ; rock phosphate
    Language English
    Dates of publication 2022-04
    Publishing place Elsevier Ltd
    Document type Article
    ZDB-ID 1483112-0
    ISSN 1879-1700 ; 0265-931X
    ISSN (online) 1879-1700
    ISSN 0265-931X
    DOI 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.106828
    Database NAL-Catalogue (AGRICOLA)

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  6. Article ; Online: Enhancing radiological monitoring of 137Cs in coastal environments using taxonomic signals in brown seaweeds

    Hunt, D. / Dewar, A. / Dal Molin, F. / Willey, N.

    Journal of Environmental Radioactivity. 2023 Nov., v. 268-269 p.107261-

    2023  

    Abstract: With the rapidly expanding global nuclear industry, more efficient and direct radiological monitoring approaches are needed to ensure the associated environmental health impacts and risk remain fully assessed and undertaken as robustly as possible. ... ...

    Abstract With the rapidly expanding global nuclear industry, more efficient and direct radiological monitoring approaches are needed to ensure the associated environmental health impacts and risk remain fully assessed and undertaken as robustly as possible. Conventionally, radiological monitoring in the environment consists of measuring a wide range of anthropogenically enhanced radionuclides present in selected environmental matrices and using generic transfer values for modelling and prediction that are not necessarily suitable in some situations. Previous studies have found links between taxonomy and radionuclide uptake in terrestrial plants and freshwater fish, but the marine context remains relatively unexplored. This preliminary study was aimed at investigating a similar relationship between brown seaweed, an important indicator in radiological monitoring programmes in the marine environment, and Caesium-137, an important radionuclide discharged to the marine environment. A linear mixed model was fitted using REsidual Maximum Likelihood (REML) to activity concentration data collected from literature published worldwide and other databases. The output from REML modelling was adjusted to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) quoted transfer value for all seaweed taxa in order to produce mean estimate transfer value for each species, which were then analysed by hierarchical ANalysis Of VAriance (ANOVA) based on the taxonomy of brown seaweeds. Transfer value was found to vary between taxa with increasing significance up the taxonomic hierarchy, suggesting a link to evolutionary history. This novel approach enables contextualisation of activity concentration measurements of important marine indicator species in relation to the wider community, allows prediction of unknown transfer values without the need to sample specific species and could, therefore, enhance radiological monitoring by providing accurate, taxon specific transfer values for use in dose assessments and models of radionuclide transfer in the environment.
    Keywords Phaeophyceae ; analysis of variance ; environmental health ; freshwater fish ; indicator species ; industry ; macroalgae ; marine environment ; nuclear power ; prediction ; radioactivity ; risk ; statistical models ; taxonomy ; brown seaweed ; Taxonomic effects ; Caesium-137 ; REML modelling ; Transfer factors
    Language English
    Dates of publication 2023-11
    Publishing place Elsevier Ltd
    Document type Article ; Online
    ZDB-ID 1483112-0
    ISSN 1879-1700 ; 0265-931X
    ISSN (online) 1879-1700
    ISSN 0265-931X
    DOI 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107261
    Database NAL-Catalogue (AGRICOLA)

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  7. Article ; Online: Predicting the Effects of Low Dose-Rate Ionizing Radiation on Redox Potential in Plant Cells.

    Caplin, Nicol / Willey, Neil

    Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)

    2019  Volume 1990, Page(s) 135–142

    Abstract: During exposure of cells to acute high dose-rate ionizing radiation (IR), oxidants from the radiolysis of water can overwhelm antioxidant systems. Protecting flora from the effects of IR released from a nuclear industry of increasing global significance ... ...

    Abstract During exposure of cells to acute high dose-rate ionizing radiation (IR), oxidants from the radiolysis of water can overwhelm antioxidant systems. Protecting flora from the effects of IR released from a nuclear industry of increasing global significance and managing the growth of plants during space flight both necessitate estimating the effects of chronic low dose-rate exposure to IR. In contrast to effects at acute high-dose rates, under chronic low dose-rate exposure it is subtle, progressive, long-term effects on antioxidant systems that it is important to estimate. Here, we outline a method that combines biochemical measurement and mathematical modeling to predict the effects of chronic low dose-rate IR on redox potential in plant cells over time.
    MeSH term(s) Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation ; Glutathione/metabolism ; Models, Theoretical ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Plant Leaves/radiation effects ; Radiation, Ionizing
    Chemical Substances Glutathione (GAN16C9B8O)
    Language English
    Publishing date 2019-05-16
    Publishing country United States
    Document type Journal Article
    ISSN 1940-6029
    ISSN (online) 1940-6029
    DOI 10.1007/978-1-4939-9463-2_11
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  8. Book: Environmental plant physiology

    Willey, Neil

    2016  

    Author's details Neil Willey
    Keywords Plant ecophysiology. ; ecology
    Language English
    Size x, 390 pages :, illustrations (chiefly color) ;, 28 cm
    Document type Book
    ISBN 9780815344698 ; 0815344694
    Database NAL-Catalogue (AGRICOLA)

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  9. Article: Moving radiation protection on from the limitations of empirical concentration ratios

    Beresford, N.A / Willey, N

    Journal of environmental radioactivity. 2019 Nov., v. 208-209

    2019  

    Abstract: Radionuclide activity concentrations in food crops and wildlife are most often predicted using empirical concentration ratios (CRs). The CR approach is simple to apply and some data exist with which to parameterise models. However, the parameter is ... ...

    Abstract Radionuclide activity concentrations in food crops and wildlife are most often predicted using empirical concentration ratios (CRs). The CR approach is simple to apply and some data exist with which to parameterise models. However, the parameter is highly variable leading to considerable uncertainty in predictions. Furthermore, for both crops and wildlife we have no, or few, data for many radionuclides and realistically, we are never going to have specific data for every radionuclide - wildlife/crop combination. In this paper, we present an alternative approach using residual maximum likelihood (REML) fitting of a linear mixed effects model; the model output is an estimate of the rank-order of relative values. This methodology gives a less uncertain approach than the CR approach, as it takes into account the effect of site; it also gives a scientifically based extrapolation approach. We demonstrate the approach using the examples of Cs for plants and Pb for terrestrial wildlife. This is the first published application of the REML approach to terrestrial wildlife (previous applications being limited to the consideration of plants). The model presented gives reasonable predictions for a blind test dataset.
    Keywords data collection ; food crops ; lead ; models ; prediction ; radioactivity ; radionuclides ; statistical analysis ; uncertainty ; wildlife
    Language English
    Dates of publication 2019-11
    Publishing place Elsevier Ltd
    Document type Article
    ZDB-ID 1483112-0
    ISSN 1879-1700 ; 0265-931X
    ISSN (online) 1879-1700
    ISSN 0265-931X
    DOI 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.106020
    Database NAL-Catalogue (AGRICOLA)

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  10. Article ; Online: Ion-brew: clarifying the influences on plant ionomes.

    Willey, Neil

    The New phytologist

    2012  Volume 196, Issue 1, Page(s) 1–3

    MeSH term(s) Metabolome ; Metabolomics/methods ; Plant Shoots/metabolism ; Poaceae/metabolism
    Language English
    Publishing date 2012-08-26
    Publishing country England
    Document type Journal Article ; Comment
    ZDB-ID 208885-x
    ISSN 1469-8137 ; 0028-646X
    ISSN (online) 1469-8137
    ISSN 0028-646X
    DOI 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04279.x
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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