Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-2pzkn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-07T02:23:42.167Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Radiological impact of using forest tree biomass for energy and recycling the ash

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 June 2009

J. Barescut ,
A. H. Rantavaara  and
L. J. Aro
A. H. Rantavaara
Affiliation:
Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK), PO Box 14, 00881 Helsinki, Finland
L. J. Aro
Affiliation:
Finnish Forest Research Institute (METLA), Parkano Research Unit, 39700 Parkano, Finland
Get access

Abstract

In Northern Europe the use of tree biomass for production of energy is mostly based on thinning of forests, harvest residues, stumps from final cutting, bark of commercial roundwood, and organic waste of pulp industry. Results based on field experiments allow estimations of 137Cs activity removed from forests in wood fuel, and also the activity returned in ash used as a fertiliser. After one fertilisation treatment in three types of coniferous forests the activity concentration of 137Cs in wood fuel and ash was reduced to a fraction of 0.3 to 08 of activities in products from unfertilised forests. The improved tree growth and lowering activity concentrations of 137Cs in trees and understorey after fertilisation refer to reduction of human radiation exposure in Chernobyl-affected areas in the long term. Thereby radiation doses to workers handling the ash and members of the public using forests will gradually decrease faster than through radioactive decay only. A documented and traceable ash recycling history of forests is important for all users of forests.

Type
Research Article
Information
Radioprotection , Volume 44 , Issue 5: ECORAD 2008 - Radioecology and Environmental Radioactivity , 2009 , pp. 927 - 932
Copyright
© EDP Sciences, 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Laitila J., Asikainen A. and Anttila P., “Energiapuuvarat”, Kuusinen M. and Ilvesniemi H. (Eds.): Energiapuun korjuun ympäristövaikutukset. (Environmental effects of wood harvesting for energy). Tutkimusjulkaisuja, Tapion ja Metlan julkaisuja. Published in internet 11.2.2008, www.metsavastaa.net/energiapuu/raportti, pp. 6–12.
Hynynen J., Finnish Forest Research Institute, Research Papers 816 (2001) 9–16.
Mälkönen E., Kukkola M. and Finer L. Finnish Forest Research Institute, Research Papers 816 (2001) 31–52.
Rantavaara A. and Aro L., STUK-A 195 (2003) 443–449.
Aro L., Rantavaara A., Raitio H. and Vetikko V., Radioprotection – colloques 37 (C1) (2002) 427–432.
Aro L. and Rantavaara A., 2002. “137Cs activity in stumps and coarse roots of pine, spruce and birch trees as affected by fertilization”, Proceedings from the International Conference on Radioactivity in the Environment, 1-5 September 2002 Monaco, P. Børretzen, T. Jølle, and P. Strand Eds. (2002) Posters, CD-rom appendix, 4 p.
Moberg L., Hubbard L., Avila R. Wallberg L., Feoli E., Scimone M., Milesi C., Mayes B., Iason G., Rantavaara A., Vetikko V., Bergman R., Nylén T., Palo T., White N., Raitio H., Aro L., Kaunisto S. and Guillitte O. An integrated approach to radionuclide flow in semi-natural ecosystems underlying exposure pathways to man (LANDSCAPE). Final Report (Swedish Radiation Protection Institute, Stockholm, 1999) pp. 29–37.
Kaunisto S., Aro L. and Rantavaara A., Environmental Pollution 117 (2002) 111–119.
Rantavaara A., Aro L. and Aarnio J., ''Sustainable remediation of forests after 137Cs contamination'', Proceedings from the International Conference on Radioactivity in the Environment, 1-5 September 2002, Monaco, P. Børretzen, T. Jølle, and P. Strand Eds. (2002) Posters, CD-rom appendix, 5 p.
Hakkila, P. and Kalaja, H. Folia Forestalia 552 (1983) 1–37.
Vetikko V., Valmari T., Oksanen M., Rantavaara A., Klemola S. and Hänninen R., STUK-A 200 (2004) 1–106.
Rantavaara A.H. and Moring K.M. “Contaminated tree biomass in energy production - potential need for radiation protection”, Contaminated Forests, I. Linkov, W.R. Schell (Eds.): (Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands, 1999) 303–310.
Rantavaara A. and Moring M. Report STUK-A 177 (2001) 1–41.
Levula T., Saarsalmi A. and Rantavaara A., Forest Ecology and Management 126 (2000) 267–277.
Stupak, I., Asikainen A. and Jonsell M., et al. Biomass and Bioenergy 31 (2007) 666–684.