Earth and Environmental Sciences (SEES)

Environmental Modelling & Monitoring

Staff: Mike Fowler and Jim Smith

Jim Smith

Main Research Themes

  • The impact of ionising radiation on biota at the individual level (genetic/physiological biomarkers) and on the ecosystem as a whole.
  • Modelling the transfers of very long-lived radionuclides in the biosphere
  • Modelling of nutrient transport in rivers and their catchments

Recently completed and current research projects

Environmental impacts of ionising radiation

In collaboration with Dr John Murphy at Queen Mary University, radiation research has focused on the population-level impacts of ionising radiation in aquatic ecosystems affected by the Chernobyl nuclear accident. Analyses have been carried out of the diversity of freshwater macroinvertebrates in lakes of different radioactive contamination densities. This ongoing radiation effects research is linked to empirical and modelling studies of the radiation exposures currently received by aquatic biota in these lakes.

Transport and biological effects of stable phosphorus in rivers

In collaboration with Dr Mike Bowes at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, stable phosphorus research has focused on identifying the relationship between P concentrations in rivers and algal growth. Novel meso-scale experiments used experimental channels to modify water P concentrations (using P-stripping and P additions) to establish limiting concentrations at which algal growth is inhibited in the River Frome, Dorset. Recent work has also led to the development of the Load Apportionment Model to determine the relative contributions of point and diffuse sources of phosphorus inputs to rivers.

Additional ongoing and future research

Ongoing and future environmental radioactivity research will focus on (1) the biosphere transport of very long-lived radionuclides (129I; 36Cl; 99Tc; Pu isotopes) using both food chain bioaccumulation and (where possible) stable analogue models; (2) the evaluation of radiation doses to aquatic organisms using exposure modelling and measurement by in situ thermoluminescent dosimetry (3) sources and impacts of phosphorus and nitrogen in freshwater systems.

Recent and current research funding sources

Consultancy on behalf of the Environment Agency: Bioaccumulation of radioactive phosphorus isotopes in freshwater systems.
Thai Government (Office of Atoms for Peace) 2 full-time PhD studentships
NERC/Centre for Ecology and Hydrology: PhD studentship (joint supervision: Centre for Ecology and Hydrology/Portsmouth University).

Recent papers in refereed journals

  1. Murphy, J.F., Nagorskaya, L.L., Smith, J.T. (2011, in press) Aquatic macroinvertebrate communities in lakes exposed to Chernobyl-derived ionising radiation. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity in press.
  2. Smith, J.T. (2011) A long shadow over Fukushima. Nature 472, p. 7.
  3. Beresford, N A, Barnett, C L, Brown, J E , Cheng, J-J, Copplestone, D, Gaschak, S, Hosseini, A, Howard, B J, Kamboj, S, Nedveckaite, T, Olyslaegers, G, Smith, J T, Vives i Batlle J, Vives-Lynch, S and Yu, C (2010) Predicting the radiation exposure of terrestrial wildlife in the Chernobyl exclusion zone: an international comparison of approaches. Journal of Radiological Protection, 30, 341-373.
  4. Yankovich, T L, Vives i Batlle J, Vives-Lynch, S, Beresford, N A, Barnett, C L, Beaugelin-Seiller, K., Brown, J E , Cheng, J-J, Copplestone, D, Heling, R., Hosseini, A, Howard, B J, Kamboj, S., Kryshev, A.I., Nedveckaite, T, Smith, J T, and Wood, M D (2010) International model validation exercise on radionuclide transfer and doses to freshwater biota. Journal of Radiological Protection 30, 1-42.
  5. Smith, J.T., Bowes, M.J., Clarke, R.T. (2010) Are groundwater nitrate concentrations reaching a turning point in some chalk aquifers? Science of the Total Environment, 408, 4722-4732.
  6. Bowes, M.J., Neal, C., Jarvie, H.P., Smith, J.T., Davies, H.N. (2010, in press) Predicting phosphorus concentrations in British rivers resulting from the introduction of improved phosphorus removal from sewage effluent. Science of the Total Environment 408 (19), 4239-4250.
  7. Monte, L., Perianez, R, Boyer, P., Smith, J.T., Brittain, J.E. (2009) The role of physical processes controlling the behaviour of radionuclide contaminants in the aquatic environment: a review of state-of-the-art modelling approaches. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 100, 779-784.
  8. Pinder, J.E., Hinton, T.G., Whicker, F.W., Smith, J.T. (2009) Cesium accumulation by fish following acute input to lakes: a comparison of experimental and Chernobyl-impacted systems. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 100, 456–467
  9. Smith, J.T., L A Walker, L.A., Shore, R.F., Durell , S E A le V, Howe, P.D., Taylor, M. (2009). Do estuaries pose a toxic contamination risk for wading birds?  Ecotoxicology, Vol 18, No. 7, 906-917.
  10. Bowes, M.J., Smith, J.T., Jarvie, H. P., Neal, C. and Barden, R. (2009) Changes in point and diffuse source phosphorus inputs to the River Frome (Dorset, UK) from 1966 to 2006. Science of the Total Environment, 407, 1954 – 1966.
  11. Smith, J.T., Sasina, N.V., Kryshev, A.I., Belova, N.V., Kudelsky, A.V. (2009). A review and test of predictive models for the bioaccumulation of radiostrontium in fish. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 100, 950-954.
  12. Smith, J.T. (2009) The influence of hot particle contamination on 90Sr and 137Cs transfers to milk and on time-integrated ingestion doses. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 100, 322–328
  13. Bulgakov, A., Konoplev, A., Smith, J.T., Laptev, G., Voitsekhovich, O. (2009) Fuel particles in the Chernobyl cooling pond: current state and prediction for remediation options. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 100, 329–332
  14. Bowes, M.J., Smith, J.T. and Neal, C. (2009) The value of high resolution nutrient monitoring: a case study of the River Frome, Dorset, UK. Journal of Hydrology 378, 82-96.
  15. Beresford, N.A., Barnett, C.L., Beaugelin-Seiller, K., Brown, J.E., Cheng, J-J., Copplestone, D., Gaschak, S., Hingston, J.L., Horyna, J., Hosseini, A., Howard, B.J., Kamboj, S., Kryshev, A., Nedveckaite, T., Olyslaegers, G., Sazykina, T., Smith, J.T., Telleria, D., Vives i Batlle, J., Yankovich, T.L., Heling, R., Wood, M.D. and Yu, C. (2009) Findings and recommendations from an international comparison of models and approaches for the estimation of radiological exposure to non-human biota. Radioprotection 44(5), 565–570.
  16. Smith, J.T. (2008) Is Chernobyl radiation really causing negative individual and population-level effects on barn swallows? Biology Letters, 4, 63-64.
  17. Bowes, M.J., Smith, J.T., Jarvie, H.P. and Neal, C. (2008) Modelling of phosphorus inputs to rivers from diffuse and point sources. Science of the Total Environment 395 (2-3) 125-138.
  18. Bowes, M.J., Smith, J.T., Hilton, J., Sturt, M.M. and Armitage, P.D. (2007). Periphyton biomass response to changing phosphorus concentrations in a nutrient-impacted river: A new methodology for P target setting. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 64(2): 227-238.
  19. Sasina, N.V., Smith, J.T., Kudelsky, A.V., Wright, S.M. (2007) “Blind” testing of models for predicting the 90Sr activity concentration in river systems using post-Chernobyl monitoring data. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 92, 63-71.
  20. Smith, J.T. (2007) Are passive smoking, air pollution and obesity a greater mortality risk than major radiation incidents? BMC Public Health 2007, 7:49.

Mike Fowler

Main Research Themes

  • Trace metals in the environment
  • Speciation and bioaccessibility of trace metals in contaminated soils
  • Elemental and isotopic fingerprinting methods of dust source attribution

Current research and consultancy projects

Quantitative assessment of dust propagation from hazardous waste landfill

Collaborators: Prof. G. Walton, H. Datson and B. Williams DustScan Ltd., S. Roscoe, Grundon Waste Management Ltd.

Air Pollution Control (APC) residues derive from incineration of municipal solid wastes, and are rich in lime and carbon used to reduce exhaust acidity and sequester fugitive metals and organic pollutants. Thus, when disposed of to landfill, they represent significant sources of a cocktail of potential toxicants. Since particulate dispersion is an obvious pathway for landfill leakage, it is important to monitor dust levels during and after disposal. This project has developed an empirical fingerprinting methodology that allows the proportion of APC-derived dust to be monitored in directional dust samples taken on a routine basis around one of the largest hazardous waste landfill sites in the country. We are currently developing an interface between the chemical database and computer contouring software to provide periodic maps of dust concentration in the vicinity of the site. These will then be used to test theoretical dust dispersion models and create an integrated modelling package.

This partnership received financial support from the Knowledge Transfer Partnership programme (KTP). KTP aims to help businesses to improve their competetiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills that reside within the UK Knowledge Base. KTP is funded by the Technology Strategy Board along with other government funding organisations.

Developments in directional dust monitoring

Collaborators: H, Datson, DustScan Ltd

Finance SE POCKET funding to develop a high-sensitivity passive directional dust sampling head for the DustScan DS100 monitor.

Recent Publications

  • Fowler, M.B., Datson, H and Newberry, J. (submitted) Quantitative assessment of dust propagation at a hazardous waste landfill. Journal of Environmental Monitoring.
  • Datson, H. and Fowler, M.B. 2007. A method for the characterization of ambient dust: Geochemical analysisof directional sticky pad samples. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, 101, 413-429.
  • Dustscan Ltd. 2005. DustChem research and development project: Wingmoor Farm dust characterisation study: Final Report. 51pp, confidential. For Grundon Waste Management Ltd.
  • Hooda, P.S., Henry, C.J.K., Seyoum, T.A., Armstrong, L.D.M. and Fowler, M.B. 2004. The potential impact of soil ingestion on human mineral nutrition. Science of the Total Environment, 333, 75-87.