Particulate distribution of plutonium and americium in surface waters from the Spanish Mediterranean coast

Molero, J.; Sanchez-Cabeza, Joan-Albert; Merino, Juan Francisco Roldán; Batlle, J. Vives i; Mitchell, P.I.; Vidal‐Quadras, A.

doi:10.1016/0265-931x(95)97299-r

Cited by 21 publications

(9 citation statements)

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“…In Cosmonauts Sea, 241 Am/ 239+240 Pu activity ratio is determined to be 7.879 ± 0.051. In marine environments, Am:Pu ratio is obviously related to the depth of the water column, particulate matter, and sedimentary facies. ,, As shown in Table S4, the significant Pearson coefficient between 241 Am activity, 241 Am/ 239+240 Pu activity ratio, and the water depth of the sampling station in this work (Figure ) indicates that Am has a better enrichment effect in surface sediments in deeper waters than Pu.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 59%

“…237 Np/ 239 Pu atom ratio and 241 Am/ 239+240 Pu activity ratio are also used to trace the source and behavior of radioactive pollution in the environment. A large number of studies − have shown that the distribution of 241 Am/ 239+240 Pu activity ratio in seawater and marine sediments is significantly different, and the different sorting of Am and Pu by sinking particles and in situ decay of parent 241 Pu makes more 241 Am enriched in marine surface sediments. Research on the 237 Np/ 239 Pu atom ratio shows that the current ratio has changed significantly from the reference value of the same source in the preceding century in various environments. , Now it is difficult to directly trace the source of Np in a certain area through this ratio.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Determination and Assessment of Transuranic Isotopes (Pu, Np, Am) Activities and Isotopes Ratios in Antarctic Marine Sediments

Han

et al. 2021

ACS Earth Space Chem.

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Due to the nuclear testing in the 20th century, a considerable amount of anthropogenic transuranic isotopes (237Np, 239, 240Pu, and 241Am) was produced, spread, and deposited in the natural environment including Antarctica. Here, activities of 239+240Pu, 237Np, and 241Am in Antarctic marine sediments are determined by ICP-SF-MS, ranging from 0.008 to 0.293 Bq/kg for 239+240Pu, from 0.057 to 0.926 mBq/kg for 237Np, and from 0.027 to 0.277 Bq/kg for 241Am. The dominant source of 237Np, 239, 240Pu, and 241Am in the study marine sediments is global fallout. 240Pu/239Pu atom ratio is measured to be 0.179 ± 0.010 (n = 17) on average, which is consistent with the global fallout of the nuclear weapons tests. Average 237Np/239Pu atom ratio for global fallout is suggested as 0.221 (n = 58), which may be used as a new characteristic index to indicate the current source of Np in a certain region. Due to the different fractionations of Pu and Am by seawater and the enrichment efficiency of marine particles, 241Am/239+240Pu activity ratios in these samples (mean, 2.037 ± 0.040; n = 17) are much higher than global fallout. In addition, 237Np/239Pu atom ratio and 241Am/239+240Pu activity ratio are found to be positively correlated with the sampling depth. Furthermore, the correlation between organic matter and eight heavy metals with transuranic activities is revealed. The cold climate, latitude, and sediment properties have an important influence on the distributions of Np, Pu, and Am in these marine sediments of Antarctic.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 59%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determination and Assessment of Transuranic Isotopes (Pu, Np, Am) Activities and Isotopes Ratios in Antarctic Marine Sediments

Han

et al. 2021

ACS Earth Space Chem.

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“…Measurements are taken from Martin and Thomas (1990). conditions and with Eyrolle and Charmasson (2004), who have reported that 85% of Pu isotopes are bound to particles in the river. Computed distribution coefficients in the plume are of the order of 3 Â 10 5 l=kg, decreasing out of it and approaching the value found by Molero et al (1995). Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…Specific activity in water due to fallout plutonium is 0.016 Bq/m 3 (Martin and Thomas, 1990). Using the Pu k d value measured in the northwestern Mediterranean (Molero et al, 1995), 1:4 Â 10 5 l=kg, which is also in good agreement with the average value of the Pu distribution coefficient in coastal waters recognized in IAEA (1985), 1:0 Â 10 5 l=kg, the specific activity in suspended matter particles due to fallout plutonium (again assuming equilibrium for fallout radionuclides) is 0.0024 Bq/g. It can be seen that the model gives a correct estimation of plutonium levels in both phases in the river plume.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The dispersion of 137Cs and 239,240Pu in the Rhone River plume: a numerical model

Periáñez

2004

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

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“…These are typically limited by the insolubility of hydrolysis products such as Pu(OH)4 [35], which over time becomes less soluble due to the formation of PuO2(aq), which is even more insoluble and the most kinetically stable form of plutonium [35]. In sediments, plutonium is likely to exist in the tetravalent state [40,43,47]. [70,71], photon correlation spectroscopy, photoacoustic detection of light scattering [72], and laser--induced breakdown spectroscopy [73,74].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular Forensic Science Analysis of Nuclear Materials

Reilly

2012

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Concerns over the proliferation and instances of nuclear material in the environment have increased interest in the expansion of nuclear forensics analysis and attribution programs. A new related field, molecular forensic science (MFS) has helped meet this expansion by applying common scientific analyses to nuclear forensics scenarios. In this work, MFS was applied to three scenarios related to nuclear forensics analysis. In the first, uranium dioxide was synthesized and aged at four sets of static environmental conditions and studied for changes in chemical speciation. The second highlighted the importance of bulk versus particle characterizations by analyzing a heterogeneous industrially prepared sample with similar techniques. In the third, mixed uranium/plutonium hot particles were collected from the McGuire Air Force Base BOMARC Site and analyzed for chemical speciation and elemental surface composition. This work has identified new signatures and has indicated unexpected chemical behavior under various conditions. These findings have lead to an expansion of basic actinide understanding, proof of MFS as a tool for nuclear forensic science, and new areas for expansion in these fields. v At each step in my life, I have considered myself lucky. I have worked hard, but the credit should go to my friends and family. Without their help, love, and support, I would not have completed this journey. I came from small beginnings, but with the support my parents, Dave and Lisa Reilly; I have come this far and will continue to honor them, my many friends, colleagues, and mentors by continuing to further myself as a scientist and person. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .

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Particulate distribution of plutonium and americium in surface waters from the Spanish Mediterranean coast

Cited by 21 publications

References 10 publications

Determination and Assessment of Transuranic Isotopes (Pu, Np, Am) Activities and Isotopes Ratios in Antarctic Marine Sediments

Determination and Assessment of Transuranic Isotopes (Pu, Np, Am) Activities and Isotopes Ratios in Antarctic Marine Sediments

The dispersion of 137Cs and 239,240Pu in the Rhone River plume: a numerical model

Molecular Forensic Science Analysis of Nuclear Materials

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