Frequency distribution, isotopic composition and physical characterization of plutonium-bearing particles from the Fig-Quince zone on Runit Island, Enewetak Atoll

Hamilton, T F; Jernstroem, J.; Martinelli, R. E.; Kehl, S R; Eriksson, Mats; Williams, Ross W.; Bielewski, Marek; Rivers, Ariel; Brown, Thomas A.; Tumey, Scott J.; Betti, M.

doi:10.1007/s10967-009-0237-x

Cited by 19 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…By also determining atom/isotopic ratios, specific particle characteristics can be linked to the releasing source. (Hamilton et al, 2009). During 1951-1992, 86 atmospheric weapon tests (UNSCEAR, 2000 and 828 underground tests (Kersting et al, 1999) took also place in the Nevada Test Site, US.…”

Section: Size Distributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges associated with the behaviour of radioactive particles in the environment

Salbu

Kashparov

Lind

et al. 2018

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

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A series of different nuclear sources associated with the nuclear weapon and fuel cycles have contributed to the release of radioactive particles to the environment. Following nuclear weapon tests, safety tests, conventional destruction of weapons, reactor explosions and fires, a major fraction of released refractory radionuclides such as uranium (U) and plutonium (Pu) were present as entities ranging from sub microns to fragments. Furthermore, radioactive particles and colloids have been released from reprocessing facilities and civil reactors, from radioactive waste dumped at sea, and from NORM sites. Thus, whenever refractory radionuclides are released to the environment following nuclear events, radioactive particles should be expected. Results from many years of research have shown that particle characteristics such as elemental composition depend on the source, while characteristics such as particle size distribution, structure, and oxidation state influencing ecosystem transfer depend also on the release scenarios. When radioactive particles are deposited in the environment, weathering processes occur and associated radionuclides are subsequently mobilized, changing the apparent K. Thus, particles retained in soils or sediments are unevenly distributed, and dissolution of radionuclides from particles may be partial. For areas affected by particle contamination, the inventories can therefore be underestimated, and impact and risk assessments may suffer from unacceptable large uncertainties if radioactive particles are ignored. To integrate radioactive particles into environmental impact assessments, key challenges include the linking of particle characteristics to specific sources, to ecosystem transfer, and to uptake and retention in biological systems. To elucidate these issues, the EC-funded COMET and RATE projects and the IAEA Coordinated Research Program on particles have revisited selected contaminated sites and archive samples. This COMET position paper summarizes new knowledge on key sources that have contributed to particle releases, including particle characteristics based on advanced techniques, with emphasis on particle weathering processes as well as on heterogeneities in biological samples to evaluate potential uptake and retention of radioactive particles.

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Section: Size Distributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges associated with the behaviour of radioactive particles in the environment

Salbu

Kashparov

Lind

et al. 2018

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

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“…A 2010 study 24 of soils collected from the Bikini atoll presented 244 Pu/ 239 Pu atom ratios ranging from roughly 2–5 × 10 −4 . In another study 23 , a soil sample collected from Enewetak atoll from the Fig-Quince tests exhibited a 244 Pu/ 239 Pu atom ratio of 3.2 × 10 −5 . A contributing factor to the relatively small ratio observed in this latter study is the low fission yields generated in some of these tests 23 .…”

Section: Historical Studies Of Plutonium-244mentioning

confidence: 94%

“…In another study 23 , a soil sample collected from Enewetak atoll from the Fig-Quince tests exhibited a 244 Pu/ 239 Pu atom ratio of 3.2 × 10 −5 . A contributing factor to the relatively small ratio observed in this latter study is the low fission yields generated in some of these tests 23 . In these cases relatively low 244 Pu production is expected.…”

Section: Historical Studies Of Plutonium-244mentioning

confidence: 94%

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Anthropogenic plutonium-244 in the environment: Insights into plutonium’s longest-lived isotope

Armstrong

Brant

Nuessle

et al. 2016

Sci Rep

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Owing to the rich history of heavy element production in the unique high flux reactors that operated at the Savannah River Site, USA (SRS) decades ago, trace quantities of plutonium with highly unique isotopic characteristics still persist today in the SRS terrestrial environment. Development of an effective sampling, processing, and analysis strategy enables detailed monitoring of the SRS environment, revealing plutonium isotopic compositions, e.g., 244Pu, that reflect the unique legacy of plutonium production at SRS. This work describes the first long-term investigation of anthropogenic 244Pu occurrence in the environment. Environmental samples, consisting of collected foot borne debris, were taken at SRS over an eleven year period, from 2003 to 2014. Separation and purification of trace plutonium was carried out followed by three stage thermal ionization mass spectrometry (3STIMS) measurements for plutonium isotopic content and isotopic ratios. Significant 244Pu was measured in all of the years sampled with the highest amount observed in 2003. The 244Pu content, in femtograms (fg = 10−15 g) per gram, ranged from 0.31 fg/g to 44 fg/g in years 2006 and 2003 respectively. In all years, the 244Pu/239Pu atom ratios were significantly higher than global fallout, ranging from 0.003 to 0.698 in years 2014 and 2003 respectively.

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“…the Republic of the Marshall Islands (Hamilton et al, 2009) and Semipalatinsk Test Site, Kazakhstan (Conway et al, 2009;Lind, 2006); non-criticality accidents involving nuclear weapons, e.g. Thule, Greenland and Palomares, Spain (Lind et al, 2007); military use of depleted uranium ammunition, e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Retention of radioactive particles and associated effects in the filter-feeding marine mollusc Mytilus edulis

Jaeschke

Lind

Bradshaw

et al. 2015

Science of The Total Environment

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Frequency distribution, isotopic composition and physical characterization of plutonium-bearing particles from the Fig-Quince zone on Runit Island, Enewetak Atoll

Cited by 19 publications

References 21 publications

Challenges associated with the behaviour of radioactive particles in the environment

Challenges associated with the behaviour of radioactive particles in the environment

Anthropogenic plutonium-244 in the environment: Insights into plutonium’s longest-lived isotope

Retention of radioactive particles and associated effects in the filter-feeding marine mollusc Mytilus edulis

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