Excess plutonium in soil near the Nevada Test Site, USA

Turner, M. F.; Rudin, Mark; Cizdziel, James V.; Hodge, Vernon F.

doi:10.1016/s0269-7491(03)00071-x

Cited by 42 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…About 100 g of plutonium-contaminated soil (HP-11) was obtained from Area 11 of the Double Track test shot area at the NTS. Soils at the NTS region are classified as medium-to fine-grained sands (Turner, et al 2003). The predominant vegetation in the area is the shrub species of basin big sagebrush and black sagebrush (Nevada Test Site Annual Site Environmental Report-2002, DOE/NV/11718-842, 2003.…”

Section: Soil Samplementioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial mobilization of plutonium and other actinides from contaminated soil

Francis

Dodge

2015

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

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We examined the dissolution of Pu, U, and Am in contaminated soil from the Nevada Test Site (NTS) due to indigenous microbial activity. Scanning transmission x-ray microscopy (STXM) analysis of the soil showed that Pu was present in its polymeric form and associated with Fe- and Mn- oxides and aluminosilicates. Uranium analysis by x-ray diffraction (μ-XRD) revealed discrete U-containing mineral phases, viz., schoepite, sharpite, and liebigite; synchrotron x-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF) mapping showed its association with Fe- and Ca-phases; and μ-x-ray absorption near edge structure (μ-XANES) confirmed U(IV) and U(VI) oxidation states. Addition of citric acid or glucose to the soil and incubated under aerobic or anaerobic conditions enhanced indigenous microbial activity and the dissolution of Pu. Detectable amount of Am and no U was observed in solution. In the citric acid-amended sample, Pu concentration increased with time and decreased to below detection levels when the citric acid was completely consumed. In contrast, with glucose amendment, Pu remained in solution. Pu speciation studies suggest that it exists in mixed oxidation states (III/IV) in a polymeric form as colloids. Although Pu(IV) is the most prevalent and generally considered to be more stable chemical form in the environment, our findings suggest that under the appropriate conditions, microbial activity could affect its solubility and long-term stability in contaminated environments.

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Section: Soil Samplementioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial mobilization of plutonium and other actinides from contaminated soil

Francis

Dodge

2015

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

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“…Mitchell et al, 1990;Mboulou et al, 1998;Jia et al, 1999;Shabana and Al-Shammari, 2001;Breban et al, 2003). The radionuclide activity ratios are usually used to trace the source (Al Hamarneh et al, 2003;Turner et al, 2003;Duffa and Frechou, 2003). The originality of the present work is the statistical study of the evolution of the radionuclide ratios with depth through a v 2 test in order to compare the migration behaviour of 90 Sr, 239+240 Pu and 241 Am.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Comparative migration behaviour of 90Sr, 239+240Pu and 241Am in mineral and organic soils of France

Solovitch-Vella¹,

Pourcelot²,

Chen³

et al. 2007

Applied Geochemistry

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“…After a 100-hour count, the sample was found to contain 0.0026 G 0.0001 Bq/cm 2 , with a 239,240 Pu/ 238 Pu ratio of 39 G 4 (Bq/Bq G 1 s). This value can be compared to the worldwide fallout value of 36 G 4, which is significantly different from the value of 78 G 6 in the surrounding surface soil (Turner et al, 2003). These preliminary measurements suggest that the varnish expresses the activity ratios for 137 Cs/ 239,240 Pu and 239,240 Pu/ 238 Pu which are more consistent with worldwide fallout than the values found in the surrounding soil, which are heavily influenced by past testing at the NTS.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 64%

“…For comparison, typical worldwide fallout has a ratio of 31 G 4. In contrast, Turner et al (2003) report a value of 0.81 G 0.02 for 137 Cs/ 239,240 Pu in top 1.25 cm layer of surface soil from the same location. In addition, the 239,240 Pu/ 238 Pu activity ratio was determined in the strip solution of another varnish sample from Queen City Summit.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 80%