Cite this dataset as
Beresford, N.A., Barnett, C.L., Jones, D.G., Wood, M.D., Appleton, J.D., Breward, N., Copplestone, D. (2015). Natural radionuclide concentrations in soil, water, sediment and biota in England and Wales. NERC Environmental Information Data Centre. (Dataset). https://doi.org/10.5285/bb2d7874-7bf4-44de-aa43-348bd684a2fe
Import this citation into your reference management software:
BibTeX | Reference Manager (RIS) | Endnote
This dataset is made available under the terms of the Open Government Licence 
Natural radionuclide concentrations in soil, water, sediment and biota in England and Wales
Data comprise estimates of activity concentrations of naturally occurring radionuclides (40K, 238U and 232Th series radionuclides) in environmental media (soil and stream sediments and waters) and non-human biota (focusing on the ICRP Reference Animals and Plants). For soil, stream sediments and stream waters data were derived from total K, U and Th concentrations mainly from the ongoing geochemical survey of the United Kingdom (G-BASE), conducted by the British Geological Survey. The geochemical survey data are currently incomplete for England and Wales, but almost complete coverage was obtained for K in stream sediments by using the Wolfson Atlas data for southern England. For U and Th in sediments and K, U and Th in soils, more complete coverage was achieved by geological extrapolation (using relationships between soils/sediments and bedrock/superficial geology). For media and sediments, datasets are provided for both: (i) geometric mean concentrations from measured samples on a 5 x 5 km square basis where data are available; and (ii) extrapolated surfaces covering all of England and Wales. Data for non-human biota are from targeted sampling and analyses and data review.
Publication date: 2015-11-18
View record as
Format
Comma-separated values (CSV)
Spatial information
- Study area
-
- Spatial representation type
- Tabular (text)
- Spatial reference system
- WGS 84
Temporal information
- Temporal extent
-
1984-09-01 to 2006-01-01
Provenance & quality
Please download supporting information for full materials and methods. Alternatively refer to the following journal papers:
For soil, water and sediment data: Background exposure rates of terrestrial wildlife in England and Wales N.A. Beresford, C.L. Barnett, D.G. Jones, M.D. Wood, J.D. Appleton, N. Breward, D. Copplestone. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 99 (2008) 1430-1439. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2008.03.003
For biota data: Assessment of naturally occurring radionuclides around England and Wales: Application of the G-BASE dataset to estimate doses to non-human species Jones, D. G., Appleton, J. D., Breward, N., Mackenzie, A. C., Scheib, C., Beresford, N. A., … Copplestone, D. (2009). Assessment of naturally occurring radionuclides around England and Wales: Application of the G-BASE dataset to estimate doses to non-human species. Radioprotection, 44(5), 629–634. https://doi.org/10.1051/radiopro/20095116
For soil, water and sediment data: Background exposure rates of terrestrial wildlife in England and Wales N.A. Beresford, C.L. Barnett, D.G. Jones, M.D. Wood, J.D. Appleton, N. Breward, D. Copplestone. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 99 (2008) 1430-1439. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2008.03.003
For biota data: Assessment of naturally occurring radionuclides around England and Wales: Application of the G-BASE dataset to estimate doses to non-human species Jones, D. G., Appleton, J. D., Breward, N., Mackenzie, A. C., Scheib, C., Beresford, N. A., … Copplestone, D. (2009). Assessment of naturally occurring radionuclides around England and Wales: Application of the G-BASE dataset to estimate doses to non-human species. Radioprotection, 44(5), 629–634. https://doi.org/10.1051/radiopro/20095116
Supplemental information
Hosseini, A., Beresford, N. A., Brown, J. E., Jones, D. G., Phaneuf, M., Thørring, H., & Yankovich, T. (2010). Background dose-rates to reference animals and plants arising from exposure to naturally occurring radionuclides in aquatic environments. Journal of Radiological Protection, 30(2), 235-264
Beresford, N.A., Barnett, C.L., Jones, D.G., Wood, M.D., Appleton, J.D., Breward, N., Copplestone D. 2008. Background exposure rates of terrestrial wildlife in England and Wales. J. Environ. Radioact., 99, 1430-1439
Jones, D.G., Appleton, J.D., Breward, N., Mackenzie, A.C., Scheib, C., Beresford, N. A., Barnett, C.L., Wood, M.D., Copplestone D. Assessment of naturally occurring radionuclides around England and Wales: application of the G-BASE dataset to estimate doses to non-human species. Radioprotection (2009) 44, 629-634.
Hosseini, A., Beresford, N.A., Brown, J.E., Jones, D.G., Phaneuf, M., Thørring, H., & Yankovich, T. (2010). Background dose-rates to reference animals and plants arising from exposure to naturally occurring radionuclides in aquatic environments. Journal of Radiological Protection, 30(2), 235-264
Beresford, N.A., Appleton, J D., Barnett, C.L., Bescoby, M.W., Breward, N., Jones, D.G., MacKenzie, A.C., Scheib, C.,Thørring, H., Wood, M.D. 2007. Assessment of naturally occurring radionuclides around England and Wales. Science Project SC030283. ISBN: 1844325679. Environment Agency, Bristol.
Correspondence/contact details
Professor Nick Beresford
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Maclean Building, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford
Wallingford
Oxfordshire
OX10 8BB
UNITED KINGDOM
enquiries@ceh.ac.uk
Wallingford
Oxfordshire
OX10 8BB
UNITED KINGDOM
Authors
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8722-0238
Barnett, C.L.
Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Jones, D.G.
British Geological Survey
Breward, N.
British Geological Society
Copplestone, D.
School of Natural Sciences
Other contacts
- Rights holder
-
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
- Custodian
-
NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centreinfo@eidc.ac.uk
- Publisher
-
NERC Environmental Information Data Centreinfo@eidc.ac.uk
- Owner
-
Natural Environment Research Councilenquiries@ceh.ac.uk