Revista Recursos Hdricos

DOI:10.5894/rh36n1-5
O texto deste artigo foi submetido para reviso e possvel publicao em maio de 2014, tendo sido aceite pela Comisso de Editores Cientficos Associados em maro de 2015. Este artigo parte integrante da Revista Recursos Hdricos, Vol. 36, N 1, 47-58, maio de 2015.

Avaliao das vulnerabilidades radiolgicas na bacia do rio Mondego e proteo dos ecossistemas dulaqucolas

Evaluation of radiological vulnerabilities in the basin of river Mondego and protection of freshwater ecosystems

Fernando P. Carvalho¹, Joo M. Oliveira¹, Margarida Malta¹

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1 - Laboratrio de Proteo e Segurana Radiolgica /// Instituto Superior Tcnico (IST/CTN), Universidade de Lisboa /// E-mail: carvalho@itn.pt

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RESUMO
Os resultados da monitorizao da radioatividade na bacia do Rio Mondego, efetuada em 2012, so apresentados com detalhe. Estes resultados comprovam a existncia de escombros com elevadas concentraes de radionuclidos em vrios stios de antigas minas de urnio localizados junto de afluentes do Rio Mondego. Alguns destes stios mineiros foram j objeto de intervenes de remediao ambiental com a finalidade de reduzir a disperso da radioatividade. No entanto, as anlises da gua do Mondego mostraram, em poca de caudal elevado, que os valores de concentraes de radionuclidos dissolvidos foram relativamente baixos, embora as concentraes determinadas na matria em suspenso e nos sedimentos do leito do Mondego e de vrios afluentes tenham revelado a persistncia da contaminao radioativa. Como muitos dos stios das antigas minas de urnio no foram intervencionados, e neles subsistem escombreiras com materiais radioativos, assinalam-se as principais vulnerabilidades da bacia do Rio Mondego no tocante contaminao radioativa. Para assegurar a proteo eficaz da bacia hidrogrfica do Mondego h ainda necessidade de introduzir o recurso a zonas hmidas para tratamento suplementar das guas de minas j tratadas quimicamente, e antes da sua descarga para as linhas de gua.

Palavras-chave: Bacia do Mondego; Qualidade da gua; Minas de urnio; Radioatividade; Rio Do.

ABSTRACT
The results of radioactivity monitoring in the Mondego River basin, performed in 2012, are presented in detail. These results confirm the presence of uranium waste with high concentrations of radionuclides in various former uranium mine sites located near River Mondego tributaries. Some of these mine sites have been the subject of environmental remediation measures in order to reduce the dispersion of radioactivity. However, analyzes of Mondego water in high flow season showed that values of dissolved radionuclide concentrations were relatively low, although concentrations in the suspended matter and in riverbed sediments of Mondego and tributaries have shown the persistence of radioactive contamination. As many of the sites of former uranium mines were not remediated yet and radioactive waste materials remain there, the main vulnerabilities of the basin Rio Mondego with regard to radioactive contamination were assessed. To ensure effective protection of Mondego watershed the use of wetlands for further treatment of chemically treated mine water is justified.

Keywords: Mondego Basin; Water quality; Uranium mining; Radioactivity; River Do.

 

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