Tom Hinton Research Transport - Aquatic Transport - Terrestrial Modeling Risk Assessment Remediation SREL Home

Remediation of Radioactively Contaminated Ecosystems

Thomas G. Hinton
Savannah River Ecology Laboratory
P O Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802
(803) 725-7454 office
(803) 725-3309 fax
thinton(at)uga.edu

Dr. Hinton has received numerous grants from the Department of Energy to develop a remediation technique that is less damaging to contaminated lakes, ponds and wetlands than the traditional method of complete removal of contaminated sediments and subsequent burial elsewhere. The research, in collaboration with Drs. Dan Kaplan and Anna Knox of the Savannah River National Laboratory, resulted in an in situ method of applying illite clays to contaminated water bodies. Application of the technique cost 20-times less than traditional "muck and truck" methods, significantly reduced the biological availability of radioactive cesium, and preserved the integrity of the wetland (Fig 5).

Figure 5. Replicated limnocorrals, to which various treatments were applied, were used to field test methods for the remediation of ¹³⁷Cs-contaminated wetlands.

Other work, in collaboration with Dr. Ward Whicker at Colorado State University, evaluated alternative remediation strategies based on realistic risk analyses. Results of the research contributed to the Department of Energy refilling a partially drained, contaminated lake on the Savannah River Site. This simple remediation measure saved tax payers millions of dollars compared to a proposed alternative involving complete drainage and subsequent trucking of the contaminated sediments to another location.

Relevant works

Hinton, T. G., D. I. Kaplan, A. S. Knox and R. Sharitz. 2005. Phytoremediation potential of native trees in a uranium and thorium contaminated wetland. J. Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chem. 264:417-422.
Whicker, F. W., T. G. Hinton, M. M. MacDonnell, J. E. Pinder III, and L. J. Habegger. 2004. Avoiding destructive remediation at DOE sites. Science 303:1615-1616.
Whicker, F. W., T. G. Hinton, M. M. MacDonnell, J. E. Pinder III, and L. J. Habegger. 2004. Response to L. Moore’s and Response to R. Efroymson’s comments on “Avoiding destructive remediation at DOE sites”. Science 306:975-977.
Hinton, T. G., Bon-Jun Koo, S. I. Watson, D. Kaplan, D. E. Fletcher, D. P Coughlin, and M. M. Standora. 2004. Short-term environmental impacts of illite clays when used as an in situ method for remediation of 137Cs-contamintated wetlands. WSRC-TR-2004-0500, Westinghouse Savannah River Company.
Knox, A., D. Kaplan, D. Adriano, T. G. Hinton, and M. D. Wilson. 2003. Apatite and Phillipsite as sequestering agents for metals and radionuclides. J. Environ. Quality 32:515-525.
Hinton, T. G., A. S. Knox, and D. I. Kaplan. 2002. Field deployment of an in situ remediation method for 137Cs contaminated wetlands. WSRC-TR-2002-00516. Rev. 0. Westinghouse Savannah River Company, Aiken, SC.
Hinton, T. G., A. Knox, D. Kaplan and S. Serkiz. 2001. An in situ method for remediating 137Cs-contaminated wetlands using naturally occurring minerals. J. Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 249:197-202.
Knox, A. S., T. G. Hinton and D. I. Kaplan. 2001. Bioavailability of Radioactive Cesium in Old R Discharge Canal, R-Canal, Pond A, and the Adjacent Floodplain. WSRC-TR - 2001-00455, Rev. 0. Westinghouse Savannah River Company, Aiken SC.
Kaplan, D. I., A. S. Knox, T. G. Hinton, R. R. Sharitz, B. P. Allen and S. M. Serkiz. 2001. Evaluation of the Phytoimmobilization Technology for the TNX Outfall Delta. WSRC-TR-2001-00032, Rev. 0. Westinghouse Savannah River Company, Aiken, SC.
Kaplan, D. I., A. S. Knox, T. G. Hinton, and S. M. Serkiz. 2000. Proof-of-Concept of the Phytoimmobilization Technology for the TNX Outfall Delta: Status Report. WSRC-TR-2000-00058, Rev. 0. Westinghouse Savannah River Company, Aiken, SC.
Hinton, T. G., D. I. Kaplan, A. C. Knox and S. M. Serkiz. 1999. In situ remediation of 137Cs contaminated wetlands using naturally occurring minerals. Westinghouse Savannah River Company Technical Report, WSCR-TR-99-00229. Aiken, SC.
Romanek, C. S., Hinton T., Philippi T., Collins B., McArthur JV., Sharitz R. and Seaman J. 1999. 137Cs in floodplain sediments of the Lower Three Runs Creek Integrated Operable Unit of the Savannah River Site, Westinghouse Savannah River Company, SRS.
Hinton, T. G., C. M. Bell, F. W. Whicker and T. Phillippi. 1999. Temporal changes and factors influencing 137Cs concentration in vegetation colonizing an exposed lake bed over a three year period. J. Environ. Radioactivity 44:1-19.
Hinton, T. G., M. Malek, C. Sherony and S. B. Clark. 1998. Operationally-defined availability from sequential extractions compared to plant uptake of 137Cs and 90Sr. J. Radioanalytical Nuclear Chem. 235:185-190.
Whicker, F. W., D. J. Niquette and T. G. Hinton. 1993. To remediate or not: A case history. IN: Proceedings of the 26th Midyear Topical Meeting of the Health Physics Society. Coeur d’Alene, ID. pp. 473-485.
Hinton, T. G. and F. W. Whicker. 1985. A field experiment on Rn flux from reclaimed uranium mill tailings. Health Physics 48(4):421-427.
Hinton, T. G. and F. W. Whicker. 1982. A field experiment on tailings reclamation: Radon flux versus earthen cover depth. IN: The 5th Symposium on Uranium Mill Tailings Management. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. pp. 421-432.