Global Inventory and Distribution of Fallout Plutonium

Hardy, Edward P.; Krey, P.W.; Volchok, H.L.

doi:10.1038/241444a0

Cited by 427 publications

(139 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…2,3) The anthropogenic radionuclides in the Japan Sea have been mainly supplied by global fallout from atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, and several surveys of these radionuclides have been performed there since the early 1960s. 4,5) Since significant global fallout ceased in the 1980s, the above-mentioned nuclear facilities are now the leading potential sources of anthropogenic radionuclides for the Japan Sea. Thus, there is an increased need to monitor environmental radioactivity in the Japan Sea to address the risk and consequences of potential contamination from these remaining sources.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimation of Total Amounts of Anthropogenic Radionuclides in the Japan Sea

Ito

Otosaka

Kawamura

2007

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology

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We estimated the total amounts of anthropogenic radionuclides, consisting of 90 Sr, 137 Cs, and 239þ240 Pu, in the Japan Sea for the first time based on experimental data on their concentrations in seawater and seabed sediment. The radionuclide inventories in seawater and seabed sediment at each sampling site varied depending on the water depth, with total inventories for 90 Sr, 137 Cs, and 239þ240 Pu in the range of 0.52-2.8 kBq m À2 , 0.64-4.1 kBq m À2 , and 27-122 Bq m À2 , respectively. Based on the relationship between the inventories and the water depths, the total amounts in the Japan Sea were estimated to be about 1:2 AE 0:4 PBq for 90 Sr, 1:8 AE 0:7 PBq for 137 Cs, and 69 AE 14 TBq for 239þ240 Pu, respectively; the amount ratio, 90 Sr: 137 Cs: 239þ240 Pu, was 1.0:1.6:0.059. The amounts of 90 Sr and 137 Cs in the Japan Sea were in balance with those supplied from global fallout, whereas the amount of 239þ240 Pu exceeded that supplied by fallout by nearly 40%. These results suggest a preferential accumulation of the plutonium isotopes. The data used in this study were obtained through a wide-area research project, named the ''Japan Sea expeditions (phase I),'' covering the Japanese and Russian exclusive economic zones.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimation of Total Amounts of Anthropogenic Radionuclides in the Japan Sea

Ito

Otosaka

Kawamura

2007

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology

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“…Among the 20 isotopes of Pu with mass numbers ranging from 228 to 247, as presented in Table 1, 238 Pu, 239 Pu, 240 Pu and 241 Pu with half-lives of 87.7 yr, 24110 yr, 6561 yr and 14.35 yr, respectively, are the most frequently monitored in environmental studies [3]. Pu isotopes are released into the environment as a result of human nuclear activities including nuclear weapons testing and accidents, satellites and reactors accidents (e.g., Systems for Nuclear Auxiliary Power generator (SNAP) in 1964; Palomares in 1966; Thule in 1968 and Chernobyl in 1986) and discharges from nuclear reprocessing facilities and nuclear power plants as well [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. As shown in Table 2, Pu liberated in nuclear weapons testing, particularly in the late 1950s and early 1960s, is by far the largest source of Pu in the environment, from which the total fallout of 330 TBq of 238 Pu,7.4 PBq of 239 Pu,5.2 PBq of 240 Pu, 170 PBq of 241 Pu and 16 TBq of 242 Pu were estimated in 1989 [4].…”

Section: Sources and Distribution Of Pu In The Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pu ions have relatively large ionic radii and therefore give rise to complexes with high coordination numbers (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14). For a given ligand the strength of complexes and the liability of ions to hydrolyze decrease following the effective charges:…”

Section: +mentioning

confidence: 99%

Determination of plutonium isotopes in waters and environmental solids: A review

Qiao

Hou

Miró

et al. 2009

Analytica Chimica Acta

125

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A number of analytical methods have been developed in the past decades for environmental monitoring of plutonium (Pu) isotopes around nuclear facilities, emergency preparedness as well as for risk assessment of contaminated areas resulting from nuclear weapon tests, nuclear accidents, and the discharge of nuclear waste. This article summarizes and critically compares recently reported methods for determination of Pu isotopes in waters and environmental solid substrates, in which sample pre-treatment is imperative for separation of the target species from matrix ingredients and/or potentially interfering radionuclides prior to detection by radiometric or mass spectrometric detection techniques. Also discussed, via representative examples, is the automation of the entire analytical protocol by on-line extraction chromatography and ion exchange chromatography using flow injection (FI) or sequential injection (SI) approaches.

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“…It appeared as if the recent volcanic erup cally powered satellite SNAP-9A (Systems for tions may have played an important role in alter Nuclear Auxiliary Power) have been studied ing the stratospheric inventory of plutonium during the past two decades by several investi during the past few years. Meanwhile, a number gators (Harley, 1964;Krey, 1967; Mamuro and of reports on the occurrence of `natural' pluto Matsunami) 1969; Debartoli and Gaglione, 1969; nium in volcanic samples have appeared in the Miyake et al, 1970;Hardy et al, 1973;Gavini literature. Meier et al (1974), for example, and Kuroda, 1977;Holloway and Hayes, 1982; reported Pu/U ratios of up to 10`' atom/atom Katsuragi et al, 1982).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%