Residual radionuclide concentrations and estimated radiation doses at the former French nuclear weapons test sites in Algeria

Danesi, P.R.; Moreno, Jesús Pérez; Makarewicz, M.; Louvat, D.

doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2007.08.022

Cited by 19 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…137 Cs contamination detected in France during a Saharan dust event was suspected to be the result of leakage from past nuclear test sites in French Saharan territory (Danesi et al, 2008). Igarashi et al (2005) pointed out that close-in fallout from atmospheric nuclear explosions should have been an insignificant source of surface contamination of 90 Sr and 137 Cs around the test sites, thus negligible in aeolian dust transport; and French researchers drew similar conclusions (Menut et al, 2009;Masson et al, 2010).…”

Section: Appendix a A1 No Direct Link To Past Nuclear Testssupporting

confidence: 51%

Change of the Asian dust source region deduced from the composition of anthropogenic radionuclides in surface soil in Mongolia

Igarashi

Fujiwara

Jugder³

2011

Atmos. Chem. Phys.

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Section: Appendix a A1 No Direct Link To Past Nuclear Testssupporting

confidence: 51%

Change of the Asian dust source region deduced from the composition of anthropogenic radionuclides in surface soil in Mongolia

Igarashi

Fujiwara

Jugder³

2011

Atmos. Chem. Phys.

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“…For black fragments of fused sand, and for a very specific small surface, samples had the concentrations of 137 Cs = 29.10 3 Bq kg −1 . Danesi et al [2008] more generally concluded that local activity is very small and not harmful for inhabitants in this region. However, they also suggest to promote a new measurement campaign to explore more sites.…”

Section: Transport and Deposition Of Radionuclides In Particulate Mattermentioning

confidence: 99%

Contribution of Saharan dust on radionuclide aerosol activity levels in Europe? The 21–22 February 2004 case study

Menut

Bessagnet

2009

J. Geophys. Res.

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In February 2004, a spectacular dust event was observed in the south of France. Associated with huge particulate matter deposition, unusual 137Cs concentrations were found in samples. Using the transport model CHIMERE‐DUST, we first show that these dust aerosols came from North Africa. More precisely, the question is whether this sudden increase of measured 137Cs concentrations was due to a huge amount of dust over a large region (with an usual radionuclide content) or due to an import of more concentrated air masses over a limited area. This question is connected to the open debate about the contribution of 137Cs concentrations in Europe from “Gerboise” sites, where former French nuclear tests in the 1960s were performed. With the model in scenario mode, this study attempts to track down 137Cs concentrations recorded in the south of France. To quantify the origin and percentage of dust originating from North Africa to the south of France, three simulations are performed: (1) with the complete dust emissions inventory of Africa, (2) with only emissions in the eastern Maghreb, and (3) only considering the Gerboise sites. It is showed that the majority (80%) of the dust was coming from eastern Maghreb, but only 0.7% of the African emissions were from Gerboise, leading to 1–5% of the concentrations recorded in the south of France for the day of the peak.

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“…Researchers in France (Menut et al, 2009;Masson et al, 2010) needed to solve a similar problem for transported Saharan dust because it also contains a trace but detectable amount of 137 Cs and other radionuclides. Contamination of 137 Cs detected during the Saharan dust event in France was suspected to be the result of leakage from past nuclear test sites in French Saharan territory (Danesi et al, 2008). Igarashi et al (2005) pointed out that close-in fallout from atmospheric nuclear explosions should have been an insignificant source of surface contamination of 90 Sr and 137 Cs around the test sites, thus negligible in aeolian dust transport, and French researchers drew similar conclusions (Menut et al, 2009;Masson et al, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Change of the Asian dust source region deduced from the relationship between anthropogenic radionuclides in surface soil and precipitation in Mongolia

Igarashi¹,

Fujiwara²,

Jugder³

2011

Preprint

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The Asian dust source region may be expanding primarily as a result of recent climate change, especially during the 2000s. This change was investigated by examining anthropogenic radionuclides contained in surface soil samples from Mongolia. Surface soil was globally labeled by radioactive fallout from nuclear testing during the late 1950s and early 1960s. There are no current direct sources for anthropogenic radionuclides in the air, so the radionuclides in the atmosphere are mainly carried by dust from wind-blown surface soil, that is, aeolian dust. Asian dust carries 90Sr, 137Cs, and other anthropogenic radionuclides; the heaviest deposition occurs in spring and has been recorded in Japan since the early 1990s. The composition of anthropogenic radionuclides in atmospheric depositions would be affected by a change in the dust source. Previous studies of atmospheric depositions at long-term monitoring sites (e.g. in Tsukuba, Japan) have detected changes in the 137Cs/90Sr ratio and in the specific activity of the radionuclides. These changes in the composition of observed atmospheric depositions should be a reflection for a change in the climatic conditions of the dust source region. To investigate this dust source change, a field survey for radionuclides (90Sr and 137Cs) in surface soil samples was conducted in September 2007 in the eastern and southern regions of Mongolia, where dust storms have occurred more frequently since 2000. It was found that specific activities of both radionuclides as well as the 137Cs/90Sr ratio in the surface soil correlated well with annual average precipitation in the Mongolian desert-steppe zone. The higher specific activities and the higher 137Cs/90Sr ratio were found in the grassland region with the greater precipitation. This finding suggests that the increased specific activities and the activity ratio detected in the atmospheric depositions in Japan during years of the frequent Asian dust transport event since 2000 should be a sign of grassland degradation

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Residual radionuclide concentrations and estimated radiation doses at the former French nuclear weapons test sites in Algeria

Cited by 19 publications

References 2 publications

Change of the Asian dust source region deduced from the composition of anthropogenic radionuclides in surface soil in Mongolia

Change of the Asian dust source region deduced from the composition of anthropogenic radionuclides in surface soil in Mongolia

Contribution of Saharan dust on radionuclide aerosol activity levels in Europe? The 21–22 February 2004 case study

Change of the Asian dust source region deduced from the relationship between anthropogenic radionuclides in surface soil and precipitation in Mongolia

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