The availability of plutonium and americium in Irish Sea sediments for re-dissolution

McDonald, Paul C.; Batlle, J. Vives i; Bousher, A.; Whittall, A; Chambers, N

doi:10.1016/s0048-9697(00)00771-3

Cited by 36 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Even if only 10 % of the total plutonium was actually bound to readily oxidisable sulphides, very high and localised concentrations could be reached in these phases (up to 20,000-500,000 Bq of 239 Pu per kg of AVS assumed to have a mean composition of FeS) potentially focusing its impact on biota, especially microorganisms. This observation was not expected from previous investigations [17], which took less care of preservation of the anoxic character of the sediment and of resorption of plutonium during the extraction. Since no significant differences were observed in the solid partitioning between the different plutonium isotopes measured, the down core evolution of the plutonium solid partition is examined for the 239 Pu only (Fig.…”

Section: Solid Partition Of the Plutoniumcontrasting

confidence: 78%

Diagenetic reactivity of the plutonium in marine anoxic sediments (Cumbrian mud patch - eastern Irish Sea)

et al. 2005

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Abstract. An extensive diagenetic study carried out on a sediment core collected in the Cumbrian mud patch off the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant, is presented. Sequential leaching data, using a thoroughly validated protocol specifically designed to prevent any resorption of the released plutonium in the course of the extraction, demonstrate that a significant proportion of the plutonium is loosely bound to sites that readily exchange with seawater, oxidise upon oxygenated water contact (reactive sulphides) or easily dissolve upon changes in pH. Such a result contradicts many previous sequential extraction studies which have reported that little of the plutonium in Irish Sea sediments is in a readily available form. The profile of dissolved plutonium in pore waters indicates an active uptake process at depth, probably linked to sulphide (Acid Volatile Sulphide) precipitation. These reactive sulphides are liable to act as source of plutonium to the overlying water if they are brought close the interface by bioturbation or in contact with oxygenated seawater by burrowing activity.

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Section: Solid Partition Of the Plutoniumcontrasting

confidence: 78%

Diagenetic reactivity of the plutonium in marine anoxic sediments (Cumbrian mud patch - eastern Irish Sea)

et al. 2005

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“…Laboratory studies suggested that only 0.02 -1 % of the total Pu in the sediment is available for remobilisation (McCubbin et al, 1999;McDonald et al, 2001). …”

Section: Behaviour Of Pu In the Marine Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plutonium isotopes as tracers for ocean processes: A review

Lindahl

Lee

Worsfold

et al. 2010

Marine Environmental Research

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Since the first nuclear weapons tests in the 1940s, pulsed inputs of plutonium isotopes have served as excellent tracers for understanding sources, pathways, dynamics and the fate of pollutants and particles in the marine environment. Due to the well-defined spatial and temporal inputs of Pu, the long half- Pu and its unique chemical properties, Pu is a potential tracer for various physical and biogeochemical ocean processes, including circulation, sedimentation and biological productivity, and hence a means of assessing the impacts of global climate change. Due to the source dependency of the Pu isotopic signature, plutonium isotopes are beginning to be exploited as tools for the evaluation and improvement of regional and global ocean models that will enhance understanding of past and future changes in the oceans. This paper addresses the major sources of Pu and the physical and biogeochemical behaviour in the marine environment. Finally, the use of Pu isotopes as tracers for various oceanic processes (e.g. water mass transport, particle export, and sedimentation) is considered.

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“…It is known that Pu behaviour in various environmental systems and also in aquatic systems depends on the geochemical and physical characteristics of the environment. A number of studies have shown that mineralogy, chelating agents, redox conditions, pH, and temperature are able to bring about a significant alteration in the environmental behaviour of plutonium [4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. Moreover, plutonium ions often are not in a state of thermodynamic equilibrium in waters and their possibility of their migration is related to the form in which the nuclides are introduced into the aquatic system [11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plutonium isotopes in ecosystem of a running shallow lake

Gvozdaitė¹,

Druteikienė²,

Tarasiuk³

et al. 2010

Lithuanian J. Phys.

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The aim of the present work is to get information on the possibilities of the shallow lake self-cleaning from plutonium isotopes using Lake Žuvintas as an object of study. A choice of the object is mainly related to the peculiarity of hydrology and hydrodynamics of Lake Žuvintas located in the southern part of Lithuania that was affected by radioactive fallouts after the nuclear events. During the period of study the bottom sediments of Lake Žuvintas behaved mainly as an accumulator of Pu isotopes. The main part of plutonium of the Chernobyl origin in surface sediments is present in exchangeable and potentially mobile physico-chemical forms. Processes of Pu migration are especially active during winter season when under anaerobic conditions the most important role in the Pu isotopes transfer belongs to reduced plutonium ions.

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The availability of plutonium and americium in Irish Sea sediments for re-dissolution

Cited by 36 publications

References 31 publications

Diagenetic reactivity of the plutonium in marine anoxic sediments (Cumbrian mud patch - eastern Irish Sea)

Diagenetic reactivity of the plutonium in marine anoxic sediments (Cumbrian mud patch - eastern Irish Sea)

Plutonium isotopes as tracers for ocean processes: A review

Plutonium isotopes in ecosystem of a running shallow lake

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