Ecological behavior of plutonium and americium in a freshwater ecosystem. Phase I.  Limnological characterization and isotopic distribution

Emery, Richard M.; Klopfer, D.C.; Weimer, W.C.

doi:10.2172/4252700

Cited by 8 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…During this period, the first purified _Np and ='Pu were produced for the Space Nuclear Auxiliary Power (SNAP) program. Waste water from this operation was mixed with the normal weapons-grade m'u°Pu waste discharges (Emery and Klopfer 1974). An accumulative discharge for the period from 1959 through 1967 was reported for 1967 as 7.86 kg (96% of the total plutonium inventory) (Emery and Klopfer 1974).…”

Section: Otscharge Soumcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Waste water from this operation was mixed with the normal weapons-grade m'u°Pu waste discharges (Emery and Klopfer 1974). An accumulative discharge for the period from 1959 through 1967 was reported for 1967 as 7.86 kg (96% of the total plutonium inventory) (Emery and Klopfer 1974). In 1968, only 20.4 g of plutonium were reportedly discharged.…”

Section: Otscharge Soumcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is quite possible that many of the reported values were calculated excessively high because of unknown amounts of _'Pu present in the waste steams. Plutonium separations were probably made on the waste stream samples but the assay was done mostly by alpha count (Emery and Klopfer 1974). Thus, the conversion of plutonium activity to weight could cause excessively high plutonium weight values (Emery and Klopfer 1974).…”

Section: Otscharge Soumcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Plutonium separations were probably made on the waste stream samples but the assay was done mostly by alpha count (Emery and Klopfer 1974). Thus, the conversion of plutonium activity to weight could cause excessively high plutonium weight values (Emery and Klopfer 1974). However, there have also been indications that the reported plutonium discharge values are excessively low.…”

Section: Otscharge Soumcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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216-U-10 Pond and 216-Z-19 Ditch characterization studies

Duncan¹,

Graham²,

Hall³

et al. 1994

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provided additional unpublish_ data and answered many questions early in the study. D. W. Duncan assisted the statistical review and interpretation of the geologic data and aided preparation and editing of this document. D. E. Conover and T. L. Liikala also aided in the preparation of this document. G. W. Givan and the Environmental Monitoring Unit supplied all Radiation Monitoring support and assisted in the collection of samples. Gratitude is also expressed to the many individuals whose work has been included in this document but could not be referenced. Special thanks are extended to G. L. Wagenaar and T. J. Wood for their dedication and innovative ideas in solving unique sampling problems, and to L. L. Weaver for his dedication in taking and interpreting in situ analyses.

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Section: Otscharge Soumcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Otscharge Soumcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Otscharge Soumcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Otscharge Soumcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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216-U-10 Pond and 216-Z-19 Ditch characterization studies

Duncan¹,

Graham²,

Hall³

et al. 1994

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“…Differences between the biological affinities of ^Am relative to plutonium isotopes have been reported (Pentreath, 1981), and several authors (Hakanson, 1973;Emery, 1974a and1974b;Volchock, 1975) have reported a difference in the biological affinities of individual plutonium isotopes in the terrestrial and aquatic environment as well as in the laboratory (Thompson, 1967;Mahlum, 1969, andBair, 1974). Beasley and Fowler (1976) could not detect any preferential accumulation of 2 3 8~u over 239 + ^OPu in polychaete worms kept in sediments contaminated with these isotopes in a variety of ways.…”

Section: A")' )Ct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr M a Y Jun Jly Aug Sepmentioning

confidence: 99%

Concentration and depuration of some radionuclides present in a chronically exposed population of mussels (Mytilus edulis)

Clifton¹,

Stevens²,

Hamilton³

1983

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Factors are described which affect the concentration (p Ci g-' dry wt) and loss of ^Am, 239 + 240Pur 2 3 8~u r 144Ce, 13?Cs, '^Cs, lo6Ru, ^Zr and ^Nb in an exposed population of mussels Mytilus edulis L. from Ravenglass on the Esk estuary, Cumbria, UK which receives radioeffluents from the British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. (BNFL) plant at Sellafield, some 10 km to the north. Tidal position and mussel body size have a negligible influence on the concentration of 241Am, l3?Cs and ^Ru in the total soft tissue, but variation in soft tissue weight throughout the year has a considerable influence on the apparent concentration and depuration times of these radionuclides. Apart from the clearance (ti,, biol, 1 to 3 h) of sediment-associated activity from the digestive tract, the depuration rate profiles follow a single component clearance curve with a biological half-life in excess of 200 d for ^'Am, 239 + ^OPU, 23%and l4Ve, and of 40 d for 13'Cs. The clearance of Io6Ru is more complex and consists of a 3 component depuration profile with biological half-lives of 6 h, 12 d and 260 d. The depuration profiles presented in this work are for chronically ingested isotopes under natural conditions; acute exposure will most likely result in different profiles, especially those derived from laboratory spiking experiments. Isotope ratio data support the hypothesis that the main route of entry into the mussel for the majority of the radionuclides studied is from the water. Differences in the biological half-lives observed between 239 + ^OPu and both and 241Am could be related to their different physico-chemical forms rather than a biological mechanism differentiating between these isotopes; as there are no suitable data available for the composition (chemical or physical) of the BNFL effluent it is not possible to determine whether these differences reflect procedures employed during fuel reprocessing or sediment-water interactions after discharge. This paucity of information also makes it difficult to determine the degree to which the Ravenglass mussels reflect recent discharges from BNFL.

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