Inventory and vertical distribution of 137 Cs, 239+240 Pu and 238 Pu in soil from Raivavae and Hiva Oa, two French Polynesian islands in the southern hemisphere

Bouisset, P.; Nohl, M.; Bouville, André; Leclerc, G.

doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.12.017

Cited by 9 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Ground deposition of radionuclides from the global fallout was 106 shown to be highly latitude-dependent, with a maximum in the 40-50° bands in both hemispheres (UNSCEAR, 2000). In addition, the activity of 137 Cs deposited on the ground and its variation from one 108 location to another is closely linked to the annual rainfall rates, as a consequence of precipitation 109 scavenging (Bouisset et al, 2018;La Manna et al, 2019;Le Roux et al, 2010;Malakhov and Pudovkina, 110 1970). Moreover, relationships between monthly rainfall rates and 90 Sr fallout were observed in South 111 America, with a peak during the months of June-August (Volchok, 1965;Volchok, 1966).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mapping the spatial distribution of global 137Cs fallout in soils of South America as a baseline for Earth Science studies

Chaboche

Saby

Laceby

et al. 2021

Earth-Science Reviews

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Owing to the rapid expansion of agriculture in South America in recent decades, soil erosion and fine 26 sediment supply to river networks, which lead to deleterious on-site and off-site environmental 27 impacts, are exacerbated in intensively cultivated catchments. Measuring soil inventories of bomb-28 derived fallout radiocesium ( 137 Cs) bound to fine particles is one of the few techniques available to reconstruct soil redistribution rates and evaluate the sustainability of farming practices over the recent 30 phase of agricultural intensification (1960s-2020). However, information about the spatial distribution 31 of 137 Cs fallout across the soils of South America remains scarce, and the published data has not been 32 synthesized at the scale of this subcontinent so far. The objective of the current research is therefore 33 to quantify and map the initial 137 Cs fallout at the scale of South America, based on the compilation of 34 published 137 Cs inventories, additional measurements conducted on undisturbed soil profiles and 35 digital soil mapping as this baseline information may be useful for a wide range of Earth Science 36 applications. A database of 137 Cs inventories at 96 reference sites (i.e. areas without soil erosion nor 37 accumulation) has been compiled for a variety of soil profiles (Argentina = 10, Brazil = 34, Chile = 46, 38 Uruguay = 5, French Guiana = 1) located between 5.3° North latitude and 53° South latitude. The spatial 39 distribution of 137 Cs fallout was shown to be highly latitude-dependent, with a maximum in the 30-50° 40 South latitude band. There were higher fallout levels than expected between 20 to 60° South latitude 41 compared to the previous estimations made by UNSCEAR. A partial least square regression approach 42 based on rainfall data and geographical information as covariates was used to create a baseline map 43 of 137 Cs fallout in soils of continental South America. This baseline map provides a powerful reference 44 dataset to anticipate the order of magnitude of 137 Cs inventories in undisturbed soil profiles collected 45 in Brazil and Southern Chile and for numerous other applications in Earth Sciences. The potential 46 application of the 137 Cs inventory technique in countries of South America in general, and in regions 47 investigate soil redistribution rates in most of South American countries where detectable levels of 52 137 Cs can be expected to be found in sites exposed to erosion.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mapping the spatial distribution of global 137Cs fallout in soils of South America as a baseline for Earth Science studies

Chaboche

Saby

Laceby

et al. 2021

Earth-Science Reviews

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“…Greater depth was sampled for Gambier sites as our preliminary study in 2014 showed higher concentrations in soils in this archipelago. The preparation is identical to that used in our previous study (Bouisset et al, 2018). Briefly, each core sample was divided into 2-cm thick layers for depths between 0 and 10 cm and into 5-cm thick layers for depths up to 30 cm at Hiva Oa or up to 45 cm at Gambier.…”

Section: Sample Collection and Preparationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Measurements were made using a high purity Ge (HPGe) detector (56% relative efficiency). Detailed of the electronic chains and calibrations procedure were described previously (Bouisset and Calmet, 1997;Bouisset et al, 2018). Multi-gamma Analytics sources, in the same container that those used for sample measurements, are used for efficiency calibrations in the energy range 46 keV-2.5 Mev, taking account for self-absorption effects and scheme summations.…”

Section: Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The measurements of plutonium by alpha spectrometry were carried out by two different laboratories of the Institute of Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN). Those of Hiva Oa and sections 30-45 cm of Gambier were carried out by the Laboratory for the Study and Monitoring of the Environment (LESE) with the protocol detailed in (Bouisset et al, 2018) and those of the 0-30 cm of Gambier were carried out by the Laboratory of Radioactivity Measurement in the Environment (LMRE) with the protocol described above. In order to verify the consistency of the measurements of both laboratories, a sample (layer 4-6 cm) of each of the four Hiva Oa sites was again measured by the LMRE by quantifying plutonium (Fig.…”

Section: Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a previous study, we established inventories in 137 Cs, 238 Pu and 239+240 Pu on an island (Hiva Oa) in the Marquesas archipelago (Bouisset et al, 2018). This island is located at a latitude of only 10°S (139°W) more than 1,300 km north of both atolls of Moruroa and Fangataufa, and about 2,000 km southeast close to the Malden and Christmas Islands latitudes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Contribution of close-in fallout from the French atmospheric tests in inventories of 137Cs, 241Am and plutonium (238, 239, 240) in Gambier Islands (French Polynesia) – Signatures of stratospheric fallout in the Southern Hemisphere

Bouisset

Nohl

Cossonnet

et al. 2021

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

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Quantitative assessment of the spatial distribution of 239+240Pu inventory derived from global fallout in soils from Asia and Europe

et al. 2022

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Due to the atmospheric nuclear weapon tests carried out, terrestrial environments have been extensively contaminated by global fallout of plutonium (Pu) worldwide. The 249+240 Pu inventories in soil profiles from undisturbed and flat forest or grasslands (reference sites) mainly from Europe and Asia are considered as important background for evaluating soil erosion. Thus, we conducted a literature survey over an area extending from 2.6°W to 148.9°E and from 53.2°S to 76.6°N, with the purpose of analyzing the spatial distribution of 239+240 Pu inventories and possible controlling factors. The aim of this work was to derive an empirical model of 239+240 Pu inventory based on currently available 239+240 Pu data, precipitation and latitude. The results show that, in general, the latitudinal distribution of 239+240 Pu inventory was consistent with the UNSCEAR reports. However, the 239+240 Pu inventories are higher than the UNSCEAR data, especially in the Northern Hemisphere. In addition, close relationships (at the 0.01 significance level) were identified between 239+240 Pu inventories and annual precipitation and latitude. An empirical formula was therefore developed to estimate 239+240 Pu inventories in soils based on latitude and precipitation data. However, future research may require more data of measured 239+240 Pu inventories in soil profiles that can be used to compare, validate and improve upon the accuracy of the inferred empirical equation.

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Inventory and vertical distribution of 137 Cs, 239+240 Pu and 238 Pu in soil from Raivavae and Hiva Oa, two French Polynesian islands in the southern hemisphere

Cited by 9 publications

References 44 publications

Mapping the spatial distribution of global 137Cs fallout in soils of South America as a baseline for Earth Science studies

Mapping the spatial distribution of global 137Cs fallout in soils of South America as a baseline for Earth Science studies

Contribution of close-in fallout from the French atmospheric tests in inventories of 137Cs, 241Am and plutonium (238, 239, 240) in Gambier Islands (French Polynesia) – Signatures of stratospheric fallout in the Southern Hemisphere

Quantitative assessment of the spatial distribution of 239+240Pu inventory derived from global fallout in soils from Asia and Europe

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