Microbial bloom formation in a high pH spent nuclear fuel pond

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 720; p. 137515
• Main Authors: Foster, Lynn, Boothman, Christopher, Ruiz-Lopez, Sharon, Boshoff, Genevieve, Jenkinson, Peter, Sigee, David, Pittman, Jon K., Morris, Katherine, Lloyd, Jonathan R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 10.06.2020
• Subjects: Cyanobacteria; First generation Magnox storage pond; High pH; Pseudanabaena; Sellafield; Spent nuclear fuel pond; CCA; SNFP; First generation Magnox storage pond; MIC; rRNA; Pseudanabaena; ITS2; TOC; ppm; Sellafield; SC; OTU; FGMSP; DNA; Cyanobacteria; Spent nuclear fuel pond; Chl-a; qPCR; kGy; High pH; PCR; QIIME; RDP
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137515

Microorganisms are able to colonise a wide range of extreme environments, including nuclear facilities. In this study, the First Generation Magnox Storage Pond (FGMSP) a high pH, legacy spent nuclear fuel pond (SNFP) situated at Sellafield, Cumbria, UK, was studied. Despite the inhospitable conditions in the FGMSP, microorganisms can cause “blooms” within the facility which to date have not been studied. These microbial blooms significantly reduce visibility in the engineered facility, disrupting fuel retrieval operations and slowing decommissioning. The microbial community colonising the pond during two microbial bloom periods was determined by using physiological measurements and high throughput next generation sequencing techniques. In situ probes within the ponds targeting photosynthetic pigments indicated a cyanobacterial bloom event. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene data suggested that a single cyanobacterial genus was dominant during the bloom events, which was most closely related to Pseudanabaena sp. Comparisons between the microbial community of FGMSP and an adjacent SNFP that is periodically purged into the FGMSP, showed different community profiles. Data confirm the onset of the microbial blooms occurred when the pond purge rate was reduced, and blooms could be controlled by re-establishing the purging regime. The presence of Pseudanabaena sp. that can colonise the pond and dominate during bloom periods is notable since they have received little attention for their role in cyanobacterial bloom formation. This work also informs bioremediation efforts to treat waters contaminated with radionuclides, which could benefit from the use of cyanobacteria able to tolerate extreme environments and accumulate priority radionuclides. [Display omitted] •Provides a detailed overview of the conditions in the pond over a two-year period, which includes two bloom events.•Targeted sequencing of the 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA genes, and fungal ITS2 region to identify the microbial community of 2 SNFPs.•Supports the use of pond water purge to control microbial bloom formation and restore visibility following a bloom.