Project Black: from the Black Forest to the Black Sea, harmonized gamma-ray analysis for dating and tracking radionuclides and pollutants in sediments from the Danube River

• Published in: Applied radiation and isotopes Vol. 225; p. 111997
• Main Authors: Seremet, R., Andreicovici, I., Ise, S., Suvaila, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2025
• Subjects: Danube River; Dating; Environmental radioactivity; Gamma spectrometry; Pollutants; Radionuclide map; Sediment database; Environmental radioactivity; Danube River; Sediment database; Radionuclide map; Pollutants; Dating; Gamma spectrometry
• ISSN: 0969-8043; 1872-9800; 1872-9800
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2025.111997

Industrial pollution impacts air, water, soil and sediment quality by introducing TENORM and emergent pollutant components in the natural cycle. Mainly from the atmosphere, those elements undergo dry or wet deposition, becoming involved in complex sedimentation processes, generating layers contaminated by human activities. Despite the abundance of data from studies conducted in the proximity of the Danube River and its Delta, a uniformized procedure for radionuclide concentration analysis, correlation and interpretation is not yet available. The purpose of this project is to create a reference sediment material database which sources its data both from existing results and new analysis on samples from key spots of the river course. Data from gamma spectrometric analysis and complementary techniques is convoluted with information provided by geological and historical studies of the respective spots in a harmonized framework in terms of methodology and uncertainty budget evaluation. The goal is to develop a system for storing data, mapping and analyzing the dynamics involved, for retrospective studies and prediction making regarding the evolution of radionuclide and pollutant concentrations. A methodology for the consortium under construction is presented, along with the associated interactive map and repository. Enhancing scientific exchanges between Danube River Basin countries for natural and anthropogenic radionuclide mapping will enable tracking spatial and temporal evolution of the plethora of pollutants embedded in sediment strata, which can be dated mainly by the unsupported 210Pb fractions. Further potential correlations of those pollutants and their history with changes occurred in the ecosystems are straightforward and of enormous impact. •TENORM, industrial and emergent pollutant dynamics are crucial for the Danube.•We emphasize the need for unitary methodology in interdisciplinary gamma studies.•The purpose is to reconstruct pollutant dynamics and be able to make predictions.•We present new website, database, interactive map and analysis software.•The project needs more partners from Danube Basin Countries.