1
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Qiao J, Cao Y, Varttic VP, Steier P. Stratigraphic records and inventories of anthropogenic 233U and 236U in Baltic Sea sediments. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 901:166402. [PMID: 37598960 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jixin Qiao
- Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Risø Campus, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Yiyao Cao
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 310051 Hangzhou, China
| | - Vesa-Pekka Varttic
- Measurements and Environmental Monitoring, Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, Finland
| | - Peter Steier
- VERA Laboratory, Faculty of Physics - Isotope Research, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
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2
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Zhang L, Levy I, Vassileva E. Determination of uranium isotopes in marine sediments and seawaters by SF ICP-MS after rapid chemical separation using TK200 resin. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:44671-44683. [PMID: 36696061 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-25513-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
This work provided a novel analytical procedure for rapid and precise uranium isotopic determination in marine sediment and seawater, using a new type of extraction resin, TK200 resin, in combination with microwave digestion (for marine sediments), Fe(OH)3 co-precipitation (for seawater), and single collector sector field-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SF ICP-MS) measurement. The removal ability of TK200 extraction chromatography for the interfering elements (IEs) Hg, Pb, Th, Pt, Tl, and the matrix rare earth elements (REEs) was carefully investigated. High decontamination factors (DFs) were obtained for IEs and REEs. Accurate quantification of uranium isotope ratios was accomplished based on a "double-cycle" ICP-MS measurement method. The analytical method was optimized and validated with isotopic standards (IRMM-187), matrix-containing certified reference marine sediments (IAEA-384, IAEA-385, and IAEA-412), and seawater reference material (IAEA-443). A stable chemical recovery of ~ 90% was obtained for both types of marine environmental samples, and the method showed great efficiency with a total analytical time of less than 6 h. The proposed procedure was validated following ISO/IEC 17025 guidelines. The important factors affecting the isotope ratio results (instrument background, procedural blank, memory effects, peak tailing, mass discrimination, dead time, and hydride interferences) were considered in the estimation of combined uncertainties. This work provides an alternative way for the determination of trace uranium isotope ratios and can be applied in the emergency monitoring of nuclear accidents and marine environmental analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Zhang
- International Atomic Energy Agency, Marine Environment Laboratories, 4 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Monaco, Principality of Monaco.
- Institute of Materials, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang, 621900, China.
| | - Isabelle Levy
- International Atomic Energy Agency, Marine Environment Laboratories, 4 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Monaco, Principality of Monaco
| | - Emilia Vassileva
- International Atomic Energy Agency, Marine Environment Laboratories, 4 Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Monaco, Principality of Monaco
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3
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Lukashenko SN, Edomskaya MA. Plutonium in the Environment: Sources, Dissemination Mechanisms, and Concentrations. BIOL BULL+ 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s1062359022110139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
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4
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Wallner G, Uguz H, Kern M, Jirsa F, Hain K. Retrospective determination of fallout radionuclides and 236U/ 238U, 233U/ 236U and 240Pu/ 239Pu atom ratios on air filters from Vienna and Salzburg, Austria. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2022; 255:107030. [PMID: 36191507 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.107030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
137Cs and 241Pu (via 241Am) concentrations were measured γ-spectrometrically on air filters from the early 1960s (mainly from 1964-66) from Vienna, Austria, and an alpine station in Salzburg, Austria. Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) was used to determine 240Pu/239Pu, 236U/238U and 233U/236U atom ratios as well as 236U, 239Pu and 240Pu atom concentrations. The maximum 236U/238U atom ratio of these unique undisturbed global fallout samples was (1.19 ± 0.31) × 10-5 in spring 1964. The 233U/236U atom ratios were found within (0.15-0.49) × 10-2 and indicate that the weapons tests of the early 1960s can be excluded as 233U source. The 236U/239Pu atom ratios were calculated in the range of 0.22-0.48.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Wallner
- Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 42, A-1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - H Uguz
- Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 42, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - M Kern
- Faculty of Physics, Isotope Physics, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 17, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - F Jirsa
- Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 42, A-1090, Vienna, Austria; University of Johannesburg, Department of Zoology, Auckland Park, 2006, South Africa
| | - K Hain
- Faculty of Physics, Isotope Physics, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 17, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
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5
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Wallner G, Zima P, Moser W, Uguz H, Bartmann MG, Steier P, Hain K. Retrospective determination of U and Pu isotopes and atom ratios in lung samples from Vienna, Austria. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2022; 251-252:106965. [PMID: 35843081 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.106965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Uranium and plutonium isotope concentrations as well as 236U/238U and 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios were measured by AMS in human lung samples from the early 1960s. The 236U concentrations as well as the 236U/238U atom ratios show a maximum in 1964, 239Pu and 240Pu concentrations are increasing continually from 1962 to 1965. 236U/238U atom ratios are lower by two orders of magnitude compared to corresponding aerosol data from Vienna, probably due to older 238U deposited in the lungs, enhanced 238U concentrations in the city air, and activity partition within different particle sizes. The 236U/239Pu atom ratios in lung samples are also lower than expected from the aerosol data, while 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios lie well within the range typical for nuclear bomb fallout.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Wallner
- Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 42, A-1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - P Zima
- Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 42, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - W Moser
- Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 42, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - H Uguz
- Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 42, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - M G Bartmann
- Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 42, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - P Steier
- Faculty of Physics, Isotope Physics, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 17, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - K Hain
- Faculty of Physics, Isotope Physics, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 17, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
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6
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Kaizer J, Aoyama M, Bujdoš M, Buompane R, Pánik J, Povinec PP, Sýkora I, Tateda Y, Terrasi F. Sequential scavenging and measurement of seawater radiocesium concentrations and plutonium isotopic ratios offshore Fukushima. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2022; 251-252:106983. [PMID: 35964527 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.106983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The scientific interest in radiocesium and plutonium found in the oceans and seas has increased enormously in the past years as a consequence of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident and is expected to be ongoing due to many unresolved questions. Hence, continuous development of new and verification of old analytical methods should be at the top of the list of the community, working on the topic. In this study, we processed and analyzed several seawater samples, collected in different time frames (2011-2015) from the North Pacific Ocean offshore Fukushima, to determine their radiocesium activities, 134Cs/137Cs activity ratios and 240Pu/239Pu isotopic ratios using the sequential scavenging method, gamma spectrometry and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). The observed radiocesium levels in seawater (0.07-0.042 Bq L-1) clearly indicated that the investigated region remained impacted by releases from the damaged power plant even after four years after the accident. Regarding plutonium, its successful separation from large volume seawater samples was confirmed by detection of 240Pu by AMS. However, several problems emerged during the analyzes, which we tried to address with the use of additional methods (e.g., measurements of uranium by ICPMS). The efficiencies of the applied methods and other issues are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Kaizer
- Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University, 84248, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Michio Aoyama
- Center for Research in Isotopes and Environmental Dynamics, University of Tsukuba, 305-8577, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Marek Bujdoš
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, 84215, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Raffaele Buompane
- Department of Mathematics and Physics, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Ján Pánik
- Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, 81372, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Pavel P Povinec
- Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University, 84248, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Ivan Sýkora
- Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University, 84248, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Yutaka Tateda
- Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, 270-1194, Chiba, Japan
| | - Filippo Terrasi
- Department of Mathematics and Physics, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100, Caserta, Italy
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7
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Qiao J, Ransby D, Steier P. Deciphering anthropogenic uranium sources in the equatorial northwest Pacific margin. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 806:150482. [PMID: 34844331 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This work reports the first high-resolution deposition records of anthropogenic uranium (236U and 233U) in a sediment core taken at the continental slope of the Philippine Sea off Mindanao Island in the equatorial northwest Pacific Ocean. Two notable peaks were observed in both profiles of 236U and 233U concentrations, with a narrower peak in 1951-1957 corresponding to close-in Pacific Proving Grounds (PPG) signal, and a broader peak in 1960s-1980s corresponding to the global fallout from nuclear weapons testing. 236U and 233U areal cumulative inventories in the studied sediment core are (2.79 ± 0.20) ∙ 1012 atom ∙ m-2 and (3.12 ± 0.41) ∙ 1010 atom ∙ m-2, respectively, about 20-30% of reported 233U and 236U inventories from the direct global fallout deposition. The overall 233U/236U atomic ratios obtained in this work vary within (0.3-3.5) ∙ 10-2, with an integrated 233U/236U atomic ratio of (1.12 ± 0.17) ∙ 10-2. The contribution from global fallout and close-in PPG fallout to 236U in the sediment core is estimated to be about 69% and 31%, respectively. We believe the main driving process for anthropogenic uranium deposition in the Philippine sediment is continuous scavenging of dissolved 236U from the surface seawater by sinking particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jixin Qiao
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Risø Campus, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Daniela Ransby
- Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Peter Steier
- VERA Laboratory, Faculty of Physics, Isotope Research, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
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8
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Lin M, Qiao J, Hou X, Golser R, Hain K, Steier P. On the Quality Control for the Determination of Ultratrace-Level 236U and 233U in Environmental Samples by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry. Anal Chem 2021; 93:3362-3369. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c03623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mu Lin
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Risø Campus, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Jixin Qiao
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Risø Campus, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Xiaolin Hou
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Risø Campus, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Robin Golser
- VERA Laboratory, Faculty of Physics, Isotope Physics, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Karin Hain
- VERA Laboratory, Faculty of Physics, Isotope Physics, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Steier
- VERA Laboratory, Faculty of Physics, Isotope Physics, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
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9
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Qiao J, Hain K, Steier P. First dataset of 236U and 233U around the Greenland coast: A 5-year snapshot (2012-2016). CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 257:127185. [PMID: 32497842 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We report the first combined dataset of 236U and 233U in the Greenland marine environment during the period of 2012-2016. Results are discussed in terms of time evolution and spatial distribution of 236U concentration, and atomic ratios of 236U/238U and 233U/236U. 236U concentrations along the Greenland coast are distributed within a relatively narrow range of (0.7-12.9) × 107 atom/L, corresponding to 236U/238U atomic ratios of (1.1-15.5) × 10-9. The 233U/236U atomic ratios obtained vary from 0.12 × 10-2 to 1.16 × 10-2, with the majority distributed in the range of (0.2-0.7) × 10-2. We applied 233U/236U and 236U/238U atomic ratios in a binary mixing model to identify possible 236U source terms. The results indicate that anthropogenic 236U and 233U in Greenland surface seawater originated from the direct global fallout (DGF) and the Sellafield and La Hague reprocessing plants (RP) is diluted by a third endmember, mostly likely natural ocean water (NOW), containing marginal 236U and 233U. A preliminary estimation of the source terms of 236U using 233U/236U atomic ratios indicate that, for both eastern and western Greenland seawater, contributions from global fallout (GF) constitute about 30% of 236U. The dominating source for 236U, i.e. 70 %, is associated to reactor 236U including discharges from RP and local reactor input in the Arctic Ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jixin Qiao
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Karin Hain
- VERA Laboratory, Faculty of Physics - Isotope Physics, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Steier
- VERA Laboratory, Faculty of Physics - Isotope Physics, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
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11
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Diez-Fernández S, Jaegler H, Bresson C, Chartier F, Evrard O, Hubert A, Nonell A, Pointurier F, Isnard H. A new method for determining 236U/238U isotope ratios in environmental samples by means OF ICP-MS/MS. Talanta 2020; 206:120221. [DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2019.120221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Revised: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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12
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Wu J, Sun J, Xiao X. An overview of current knowledge concerning the inventory and sources of plutonium in the China Seas. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 150:110599. [PMID: 31733905 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Revised: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
This study reviews the current understanding of the inventory and sources of plutonium (Pu) in the marine environment adjacent to China. The 239+240Pu inventory in the China Seas was found to have large spatial variations. The quantity in sediments decreases away from the shore, generally tracing the sedimentation rate distribution. High 239+240Pu inventories indicated that Pu in the water column was easily scavenged since Pu has a high particle affinity. Indeed, substantially higher 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios were observed in the sediment and seawater of the China Seas than are found in global fallout. We thus clarified that Pu sources in the China Seas were from both global fallout and the Pacific Proving Grounds (PPG) in the Pacific Marshall Islands. Plutonium from the latter source is transported into the China Seas through the North Equatorial Current (NEC) and Kuroshio. Using a two end-member mixing model, we revealed that the contribution of Pu from the PPG accounts for over 40% of the Pu in the East China Sea (ECS) and South China Sea (SCS), and less than 20% of the Pu in the Yellow Sea (YS). The distributions and isotopic composition of Pu in the China Seas indicate strong scavenging of Pu in the ECS and high Pu accumulation in the SCS. This information on the inventory and isotopic composition of Pu helps to establish a background for the future study of Pu in the China Seas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junwen Wu
- College of Science, Shantou University, Shantou, 515063, China.
| | - Jiang Sun
- College of Science, Shantou University, Shantou, 515063, China
| | - Xiyu Xiao
- College of Science, Shantou University, Shantou, 515063, China
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13
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Al-Qasmi H, Law GTW, Fifield LK, Howe JA, Brand T, Cowie GL, Law KA, Livens FR. Deposition of artificial radionuclides in sediments of Loch Etive, Scotland. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2018; 187:45-52. [PMID: 29429873 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2017] [Revised: 10/08/2017] [Accepted: 02/01/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The nuclear fuel reprocessing plants on the Sellafield site (UK) have released low-level effluents into the Irish Sea under authorisation since 1952. This has led to the labelling of nearby offshore sediments with a range of artificial radionuclides. In turn, these sediments act as a long-term secondary source of both soluble and particle-associated radionuclides to coastal areas. These radionuclides are of interest both in assessing possible environmental impacts and as tracers for marine processes. Here we present results from a study of the geochemistry of natural (234, 238U) and artificial (137Cs, 241Am, 238Pu, 239+240Pu, and 236U) radionuclides and their accumulation in sediments from Loch Etive, Scotland. The data are interpreted in the context of the historical radioactive discharges to the Irish Sea and biogeochemical processes in marine sediments. Loch Etive is divided into two basins; a lower, seaward basin where the sedimentation rate (∼0.6 cm/yr) is about twice that of the more isolated upper basin (∼0.3 cm/yr). These accumulation rates are consistent with the broad distribution of 137Cs in the sediment profiles which can be related to the maximum Sellafield discharges of 137Cs in the mid-1970s and suggest that 137Cs was mainly transported in solution to Loch Etive during that period. Enrichments of Mn, Fe, and Mo in sediment and porewater from both Loch Etive basins result from contemporary biogeochemical redox processes. Enrichments of 238U and 234U in the lower basin may be a result of the cycling of natural U. By contrast, the Sellafield-derived artificial isotope 236U does not seem to be affected by the redox-driven reactions in the lower basin. The 238Pu/239,240Pu ratios suggest contributions from both historical Sellafield discharges and global fallout Pu. The uniform sediment distributions of Pu and Am, which do not reflect Sellafield historical discharges, suggest the existence of a homogenous secondary source. This could be the offshore 'mud patch' in the vicinity of Sellafield from which the supply of radionuclides reflects time-integrated Sellafield discharges. This source could also account for the continuing supply of Cs to Loch Etive, even after substantial reductions in discharge from the Sellafield site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamza Al-Qasmi
- Centre for Radiochemistry Research, School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Gareth T W Law
- Centre for Radiochemistry Research, School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - L Keith Fifield
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics and Engineering, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
| | - John A Howe
- Scottish Association for Marine Science, Oban, Argyll, PA37 1QA, UK
| | - Tim Brand
- Scottish Association for Marine Science, Oban, Argyll, PA37 1QA, UK
| | - Gregory L Cowie
- School of Geosciences, The University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3FE, UK
| | - Kathleen A Law
- Centre for Radiochemistry Research, School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Francis R Livens
- Centre for Radiochemistry Research, School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
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14
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García-León M. Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) in Radioecology. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2018; 186:116-123. [PMID: 28882579 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.06.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2017] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) provides with an excellent sensitivity for the determination of radionuclides in the environment. In fact, conventional radiometric techniques can hardly compete with AMS in the solution of many problems involving the measurement of very low levels of radioactivity in Nature. For that reason, during the last years AMS has become a powerful tool for Radioecology studies. In this paper a review is done on the evolution of AMS applications to the measurement of environmental radioactivity and, therefore, its contribution to the understanding of radionuclide behavior in Nature. For that, the advantages of using AMS to determine key nuclides as 129I, 14C, Pu-isotopes and others in different natural compartments will be discussed. The content of the paper is illustrated with the contributions to these studies of the Spanish National Center for Accelerators (CNA) AMS systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- M García-León
- Universidad de Sevilla, Centro Nacional de Aceleradores, Avda. T. A. Edison, 7, 41092 Sevilla, Spain.
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15
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López-Lora M, Chamizo E, Villa-Alfageme M, Hurtado-Bermúdez S, Casacuberta N, García-León M. Isolation of 236U and 239,240Pu from seawater samples and its determination by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry. Talanta 2018; 178:202-210. [DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2017.09.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2017] [Revised: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/10/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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16
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Development and application of mass spectrometric techniques for ultra-trace determination of 236U in environmental samples-A review. Anal Chim Acta 2017; 995:1-20. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2017.09.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Revised: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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17
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Zebracki M, Cagnat X, Gairoard S, Cariou N, Eyrolle-Boyer F, Boulet B, Antonelli C. U isotopes distribution in the Lower Rhone River and its implication on radionuclides disequilibrium within the decay series. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2017; 178-179:279-289. [PMID: 28926792 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2017] [Revised: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/03/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The large rivers are main pathways for the delivery of suspended sediments into coastal environments, affecting the biogeochemical fluxes and the ecosystem functioning. The radionuclides from 238U and 232Th-series can be used to understand the dynamic processes affecting both catchment soil erosion and sediment delivery to oceans. Based on annual water discharge the Rhone River represents the largest river of the Mediterranean Sea. The Rhone valley also represents the largest concentration in nuclear power plants in Europe. A radioactive disequilibrium between particulate 226Ra(p) and 238U(p) was observed in the suspended sediment discharged by the Lower Rhone River (Eyrolle et al. 2012), and a fraction of particulate 234Th was shown to derive from dissolved 238U(d) (Zebracki et al. 2013). This extensive study has investigated the dissolved U isotopes distribution in the Lower Rhone River and its implication on particulate radionuclides disequilibrium within the decay series. The suspended sediment and filtered river waters were collected at low and high water discharges. During the 4-months of the study, two flood events generated by the Rhone southern tributaries were monitored. In river waters, the total U(d) concentration and U isotopes distribution were obtained through Q-ICP-MS measurements. The Lower Rhone River has displayed non-conservative U-behavior, and the variations in U(d) concentration between southern tributaries were related to the differences in bedrock lithology. The artificially occurring 236U was detected in the Rhone River at low water discharges, and was attributed to the liquid releases from nuclear industries located along the river. The (235U/238U)(d) activity ratio (=AR) in river waters was representative of the 235U natural abundance on Earth. The (226Ra/238U)(p) AR in suspended sediment has indicated a radioactive disequilibrium (average 1.3 ± 0.1). The excess of 234Th in suspended sediment =(234Thxs(p)) was apparent solely at low water discharges. The activity of 234Thxs(p) was calculated through gamma measurements and ranged from unquantifiable to 56 ± 14 Bq kg-1. The possibility of using 234Th as a tracer for the suspended sediment dynamics in large Mediterranean river was then discussed.
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Casacuberta N, Christl M, Buesseler KO, Lau Y, Vockenhuber C, Castrillejo M, Synal HA, Masqué P. Potential Releases of 129I, 236U, and Pu Isotopes from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plants to the Ocean from 2013 to 2015. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2017; 51:9826-9835. [PMID: 28726397 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b03057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
After the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear accident, many efforts were put into the determination of the presence of 137Cs, 134Cs, 131I, and other gamma-emitting radionuclides in the ocean, but minor work was done regarding the monitoring of less volatile radionuclides, pure beta-ray emitters or simply radionuclides with very long half-lives. In this study we document the temporal evolution of 129I, 236U, and Pu isotopes (239Pu and 240Pu) in seawater sampled during four different cruises performed 2, 3, and 4 years after the accident, and we compare the results to 137Cs collected at the same stations and depths. Our results show that concentrations of 129I are systematically above the nuclear weapon test levels at stations located close to the FDNPP, with a maximum value of 790 × 107 at·kg-1, that exceeds all previously reported 129I concentrations in the Pacific Ocean. Yet, the total amount of 129I released after the accident in the time 2011-2015 was calculated from the 129I/137Cs ratio of the ongoing 137Cs releases and estimated to be about 100 g (which adds to the 1 kg released during the accident in 2011). No clear evidence of Fukushima-derived 236U and Pu isotopes has been found in this study, although further monitoring is encouraged to elucidate the origin of the highest 240Pu/239Pu atom ratio of 0.293 ± 0.028 we found close to FDNPP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Núria Casacuberta
- Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics, ETH Zürich , CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland
- Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, Environmental Physics, ETH Zürich , CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Marcus Christl
- Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics, ETH Zürich , CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Ken O Buesseler
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution , Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - YikSze Lau
- Lancaster Environmental Center, University of Lancaster , Lancaster LA1 4YQ, England
| | | | - Maxi Castrillejo
- Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals & Departament de Física, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona , 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Hans-Arno Synal
- Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics, ETH Zürich , CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Pere Masqué
- Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals & Departament de Física, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona , 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
- Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, School of Science, Edith Cowan University , Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia
- Oceans Institute & School of Physics, The University of Western Australia , Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
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19
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Castrillejo M, Casacuberta N, Christl M, Garcia-Orellana J, Vockenhuber C, Synal HA, Masqué P. Anthropogenic 236U and 129I in the Mediterranean Sea: First comprehensive distribution and constrain of their sources. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 593-594:745-759. [PMID: 28364609 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.03.201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2017] [Revised: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The first basin-wide distribution of 236U/238U atom ratios and 129I concentrations is presented for the Mediterranean Sea. During the GEOTRACES GA04S-MedSeA expedition in 2013 seawater was collected from 10 vertical profiles covering the principal sub-basins of the Mediterranean Sea. The main objective was to understand the distributions of 236U and 129I in relation to the water masses, and to constrain their sources in this region. The 236U/238U atom ratios and the 129I concentrations ranged from (710±40)×10-12 to (2220±60)×10-12 and from (4.0±0.1)×107 to (13.8±0.3)×107at·kg-1, respectively. The results show that radionuclide-poor Atlantic Water is entering at the surface through the Strait of Gibraltar whereas comparably radionuclide-enriched Levantine Intermediate Water is sinking in the Eastern Basin and flowing westward at intermediate depths. Low radionuclide levels were found in the oldest water masses at about 1000-2000m depth in the Eastern Basin. At greater depths, waters were relatively enriched in 236U and 129I due to dense water formation occurring in both, the Eastern and Western Basins. The inventories of 236U and 129I cannot be explained only by global fallout from atmospheric nuclear bomb testings carried out in the 1950s and 1960s. We estimate that the liquid input of 236U from the nuclear reprocessing facility of Marcoule (France), via the Rhône river, was of the same order of magnitude than the contribution from global fallout, whereas liquid and gaseous releases of 129I from Marcoule were up to two orders of magnitude higher than global fallout. For both radionuclides, the contribution from the Chernobyl accident is found to be minor.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Castrillejo
- Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals & Departament de Física, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain.
| | - N Casacuberta
- Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics, ETH-Zurich, Otto Stern Weg 5, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland; Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, Environmental Physics, ETH-Zurich, Universitätstrasse 16, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - M Christl
- Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics, ETH-Zurich, Otto Stern Weg 5, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - J Garcia-Orellana
- Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals & Departament de Física, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain
| | - C Vockenhuber
- Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics, ETH-Zurich, Otto Stern Weg 5, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - H-A Synal
- Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics, ETH-Zurich, Otto Stern Weg 5, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - P Masqué
- Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals & Departament de Física, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain; School of Science, Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia; Oceans Institute and School of Physics, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
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20
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Qiao J, Steier P, Nielsen S, Hou X, Roos P, Golser R. Anthropogenic 236U in Danish Seawater: Global Fallout versus Reprocessing Discharge. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2017; 51:6867-6876. [PMID: 28505439 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b00504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
This work focuses on the occurrence of 236U in seawater along Danish coasts, which is the sole water-exchange region between the North Sea-Atlantic Ocean and the Baltic Sea. Seawater collected in 2013 and 2014 were analyzed for 236U (as well as 238U and 137Cs). Our results indicate that 236U concentrations in Danish seawater are distributed within a relatively narrow range of (3.6-8.2) × 107 atom/L and, to a certain extent, independent of salinity. 236U/238U atomic ratios in Danish seawater are more than 4 times higher than the estimated global fallout value of 1× 10-9. The levels of 236U/238U atomic ratios obtained are comparable to those reported for the open North Sea and much higher than several other open oceans worldwide. This indicates that besides the global fallout input, the discharges from the two major European nuclear reprocessing plants are dominating sources of 236U in Danish seawater. However, unexpectedly high 236U/238U ratios as well as high 236U concentrations were observed at low-salinity locations of the Baltic Sea. While this feature might be interpreted as a clue for another significant 236U input in the Baltic Sea, it may also be caused by the complexity of water currents or slow turnover rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jixin Qiao
- Center for Nuclear Technologies, Technical University of Denmark , DTU Risø Campus, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Peter Steier
- VERA Laboratory, Faculty of Physics, Isotope Research, University of Vienna , Währinger Straße 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Sven Nielsen
- Center for Nuclear Technologies, Technical University of Denmark , DTU Risø Campus, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Xiaolin Hou
- Center for Nuclear Technologies, Technical University of Denmark , DTU Risø Campus, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Per Roos
- Center for Nuclear Technologies, Technical University of Denmark , DTU Risø Campus, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Robin Golser
- VERA Laboratory, Faculty of Physics, Isotope Research, University of Vienna , Währinger Straße 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
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21
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Determination of plutonium isotopes in environmental samples with triisooctylamine and alpha spectrometry. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-016-4897-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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22
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Eigl R, Steier P, Winkler SR, Sakata K, Sakaguchi A. First study on 236U in the Northeast Pacific Ocean using a new target preparation procedure for AMS measurements. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2016; 162-163:244-250. [PMID: 27289064 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.05.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2016] [Revised: 05/19/2016] [Accepted: 05/23/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
We succeeded in obtaining the depth profile of 236U for a sampling station in the Northeast Pacific Ocean using only one litre of seawater sample from each depth. For this purpose, a new procedure was developed that allowed for the preparation of accelerator mass spectrometry targets for trace uranium using only 100 μg of iron carrier material. The 236U concentrations in water samples from the Northeast Pacific Ocean showed large variations from (9.26 ± 0.42) × 106 atoms/kg at 60 m depth to (0.08 ± 0.02) × 106 atoms/kg at a depth of 3000 m. The high 236U concentrations in surface water reflect the input of 236U by global and local fallout from nuclear weapons tests. The low 236U concentrations in seawater from 1500 m and below are an indicator for the low vertical diffusion of surface water to deeper layers in the North Pacific Ocean. The total inventory of 236U on the water column was (8.35 ± 0.23) × 1012 atoms/m2, which is lower compared to those of other ocean regions solely affected by global fallout on comparable latitudes. This study represents the first dataset for 236U in the Pacific Ocean and shows the possibility of downsizing sample volumes which may help in future applications of 236U as tracer for large ocean areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Eigl
- Department of Earth and Planetary Systems Science, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, 739-8526, Japan.
| | - P Steier
- VERA-Laboratory, Faculty of Physics - Isotope Research, University of Vienna, Währinger Str. 17, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - S R Winkler
- VERA-Laboratory, Faculty of Physics - Isotope Research, University of Vienna, Währinger Str. 17, 1090, Vienna, Austria; iThembaLABS (Gauteng), National Research Foundation, Private Bag 11, WITS 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - K Sakata
- Department of Earth and Planetary Systems Science, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, 739-8526, Japan
| | - A Sakaguchi
- Center for Research in Isotopes and Environmental Dynamics, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8577, Japan
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23
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Chamizo E, López-Lora M, Bressac M, Levy I, Pham MK. Excess of (236)U in the northwest Mediterranean Sea. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 565:767-776. [PMID: 27262827 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.04.142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2016] [Revised: 04/19/2016] [Accepted: 04/20/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
In this work, we present first (236)U results in the northwestern Mediterranean. (236)U is studied in a seawater column sampled at DYFAMED (Dynamics of Atmospheric Fluxes in the Mediterranean Sea) station (Ligurian Sea, 43°25'N, 07°52'E). The obtained (236)U/(238)U atom ratios in the dissolved phase, ranging from about 2×10(-9) at 100m depth to about 1.5×10(-9) at 2350m depth, indicate that anthropogenic (236)U dominates the whole seawater column. The corresponding deep-water column inventory (12.6ng/m(2) or 32.1×10(12) atoms/m(2)) exceeds by a factor of 2.5 the expected one for global fallout at similar latitudes (5ng/m(2) or 13×10(12) atoms/m(2)), evidencing the influence of local or regional (236)U sources in the western Mediterranean basin. On the other hand, the input of (236)U associated to Saharan dust outbreaks is evaluated. An additional (236)U annual deposition of about 0.2pg/m(2) based on the study of atmospheric particles collected in Monaco during different Saharan dust intrusions is estimated. The obtained results in the corresponding suspended solids collected at DYFAMED station indicate that about 64% of that (236)U stays in solution in seawater. Overall, this source accounts for about 0.1% of the (236)U inventory excess observed at DYFAMED station. The influence of the so-called Chernobyl fallout and the radioactive effluents produced by the different nuclear installations allocated to the Mediterranean basin, might explain the inventory gap, however, further studies are necessary to come to a conclusion about its origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Chamizo
- Centro Nacional de Aceleradores, Universidad de Sevilla, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Junta de Andalucía, Thomas Alva Edison 7, 41092 Seville, Spain.
| | - M López-Lora
- Centro Nacional de Aceleradores, Universidad de Sevilla, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Junta de Andalucía, Thomas Alva Edison 7, 41092 Seville, Spain.
| | - M Bressac
- IAEA-Environment Laboratories, Monte Carlo 98000, Monaco; Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
| | - I Levy
- IAEA-Environment Laboratories, Monte Carlo 98000, Monaco.
| | - M K Pham
- IAEA-Environment Laboratories, Monte Carlo 98000, Monaco.
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24
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Cao L, Bu W, Zheng J, Pan S, Wang Z, Uchida S. Plutonium determination in seawater by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry: A review. Talanta 2016; 151:30-41. [DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2016.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2015] [Revised: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 01/08/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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25
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Wood JR, Gill GA, Kuo LJ, Strivens JE, Choe KY. Comparison of Analytical Methods for the Determination of Uranium in Seawater Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. Ind Eng Chem Res 2016. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.5b03680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jordana R. Wood
- Marine Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Sequim, Washington 98382, United States
| | - Gary A. Gill
- Marine Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Sequim, Washington 98382, United States
| | - Li-Jung Kuo
- Marine Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Sequim, Washington 98382, United States
| | - Jonathan E. Strivens
- Marine Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Sequim, Washington 98382, United States
| | - Key-Young Choe
- Marine Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Sequim, Washington 98382, United States
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26
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Froehlich MB, Steier P, Wallner G, Fifield LK. European roe deer antlers as an environmental archive for fallout (236)U and (239)Pu. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2016; 151 Pt 3:587-592. [PMID: 26119579 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2015] [Revised: 06/04/2015] [Accepted: 06/09/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic (236)U and (239)Pu were measured in European roe deer antlers hunted between 1955 and 1977 which covers and extends beyond the period of intensive nuclear weapons testing (1954-1962). The antlers were hunting trophies, and hence the hunting area, the year of shooting and the approximate age of each animal is given. Uranium and plutonium are known to deposit in skeletal tissue. Since antler histology is similar to bone, both elements were expected in antlers. Furthermore, roe deer shed their antlers annually, and hence antlers may provide a time-resolved environmental archive for fallout radionuclides. The radiochemical procedure is based on a Pu separation step by anion exchange (Dowex 1 × 8) and a subsequent U purification by extraction chromatography using UTEVA(®). The samples were measured by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry at the VERA facility (University of Vienna). In addition to the (236)U and (239)Pu concentrations, the (240)Pu/(239)Pu isotopic ratios were determined with a mean value of 0.172 ± 0.023 which is in agreement with the ratio of global fallout (∼0.18). Rather high (236)U/(238)U ratios of the order of 10(-6) were observed. These measured ratios, where the (236)U arises only from global fallout, have implications for the use of the (236)U/(238)U ratio as a fingerprint for nuclear accidents or releases from nuclear facilities. Our investigations have shown the potential to use antlers as a temporally resolved archive for the uptake of actinides from the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- M B Froehlich
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria; Department of Nuclear Physics, Australian National University, Building 57, Garran Road, ACT 2601, Australia.
| | - P Steier
- VERA Institute, Faculty of Physics, Isotope Research, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - G Wallner
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - L K Fifield
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Australian National University, Building 57, Garran Road, ACT 2601, Australia
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27
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Al-Qasmi H, Law GTW, Fifield LK, Livens FR. Origin of artificial radionuclides in soil and sediment from North Wales. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2016; 151 Pt 1:244-249. [PMID: 26529492 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2015] [Revised: 10/15/2015] [Accepted: 10/15/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
During the operations at the Sellafield nuclear fuel reprocessing complex, artificial radionuclides are discharged to the Irish Sea under authorisation, where they are dispersed. In this study, the southern distribution and transport of Sellafield derived radionuclides have been investigated. Both natural and artificial radionuclides have been studied in a soil core from the riverbank of the Afon Goch in Anglesey, North Wales. Particulate input is dominant for all artificial radionuclides (including the more soluble (137)Cs and (236)U) with an estimated lag time of about a decade. The preferential northward seawater movement in the NE Irish Sea limits solution input of (137)Cs and (236)U to the areas south of Sellafield. The relatively long lag time reflects both the water circulation pattern and distance between the study site in north Wales and the source point in Cumbria. Two redox active zones are observed in the top and the bottom of this core, although there is no evidence for any redistribution of Pu and natural uranium by these redox processes. However, (236)U, derived from irradiated uranium, showed variable distribution in the core. This could be a potential response to the geochemical conditions, showing that (236)U may be a promising tracer for the environmental processes and a signature of the Sellafield historical discharges of irradiated uranium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamza Al-Qasmi
- Centre for Radiochemistry Research, School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Gareth T W Law
- Centre for Radiochemistry Research, School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - L Keith Fifield
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics and Engineering, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
| | - Francis R Livens
- Centre for Radiochemistry Research, School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
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28
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Qiao J, Hou X, Steier P, Nielsen S, Golser R. Method for (236)U Determination in Seawater Using Flow Injection Extraction Chromatography and Accelerator Mass Spectrometry. Anal Chem 2015; 87:7411-7. [PMID: 26105019 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5b01608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
An automated analytical method implemented in a flow injection (FI) system was developed for rapid determination of (236)U in 10 L seawater samples. (238)U was used as a chemical yield tracer for the whole procedure, in which extraction chromatography (UTEVA) was exploited to purify uranium, after an effective iron hydroxide coprecipitation. Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) was applied for quantifying the (236)U/(238)U ratio, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) was used to determine the absolute concentration of (238)U; thus, the concentration of (236)U can be calculated. The key experimental parameters affecting the analytical effectiveness were investigated and optimized in order to achieve high chemical yields and simple and rapid analysis as well as low procedure background. Besides, the operational conditions for the target preparation prior to the AMS measurement were optimized, on the basis of studying the coprecipitation behavior of uranium with iron hydroxide. The analytical results indicate that the developed method is simple and robust, providing satisfactory chemical yields (80-100%) and high analysis speed (4 h/sample), which could be an appealing alternative to conventional manual methods for (236)U determination in its tracer application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jixin Qiao
- †Center of Nuclear Technologies, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Risø Campus, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Xiaolin Hou
- †Center of Nuclear Technologies, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Risø Campus, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.,§Xi'an AMS Center, SKLLQG, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710075, China
| | - Peter Steier
- ‡VERA Laboratory, Faculty of Physics - Isotope Research, University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Sven Nielsen
- †Center of Nuclear Technologies, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Risø Campus, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Robin Golser
- ‡VERA Laboratory, Faculty of Physics - Isotope Research, University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
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29
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Quinto F, Golser R, Lagos M, Plaschke M, Schäfer T, Steier P, Geckeis H. Accelerator Mass Spectrometry of Actinides in Ground- and Seawater: An Innovative Method Allowing for the Simultaneous Analysis of U, Np, Pu, Am, and Cm Isotopes below ppq Levels. Anal Chem 2015; 87:5766-73. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5b00980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Quinto
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute
for Nuclear Waste Disposal (INE), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Robin Golser
- VERA
Laboratory, Faculty of Physics-Isotope Research and Nuclear Physics, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Markus Lagos
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute
for Nuclear Waste Disposal (INE), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Markus Plaschke
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute
for Nuclear Waste Disposal (INE), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Thorsten Schäfer
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute
for Nuclear Waste Disposal (INE), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Peter Steier
- VERA
Laboratory, Faculty of Physics-Isotope Research and Nuclear Physics, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Horst Geckeis
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute
for Nuclear Waste Disposal (INE), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein Leopoldshafen, Germany
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Qiao J, Shi K, Hou X, Nielsen S, Roos P. Rapid multisample analysis for simultaneous determination of anthropogenic radionuclides in marine environment. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2014; 48:3935-3942. [PMID: 24617716 DOI: 10.1021/es404584b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
An automated multisample processing flow injection (FI) system was developed for simultaneous determination of technetium, neptunium, plutonium, and uranium in large volume (200 L) seawater. Ferrous hydroxide coprecipitation was used for the preliminary sample treatment providing the merit of simultaneous preconcentration of all target radionuclides. Technetium was separated from the actinides via valence control of technetium (as Tc(VII)) in a ferric hydroxide coprecipitation. A novel preseparation protocol between uranium and neptunium/plutonium fractions was developed based on the observation of nearly quantitative dissolution of uranium in 6 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution. Automated extraction (TEVA for technetium and UTEVA for uranium) and anion exchange (AGMP-1 M for plutonium and neptunium) chromatographic separations were performed for further purification of each analyte within the FI system where four samples were processed in parallel. Analytical results indicate that the proposed method is robust and straightforward, providing chemical yields of 50-70% and improved sample throughput (3-4 d/sample). Detection limits were 8 mBq/m(3) (0.013 pg/L), 0.26 μBq/m(3) (0.010 fg/L), 23 μBq/m(3) (0.010 fg/L), 84 μBq/m(3) (0.010 fg/L) and 0.6 mBq/m(3) (0.048 ng/L) for (99)Tc, (237)Np, (239)Pu, (240)Pu and (238)U for 200 L seawater, respectively. The unique feature of multiradionuclide and multisample simultaneous processing vitalizes the developed method as a powerful tool in obtaining reliable data with reduced analytical cost in both radioecology studies and nuclear emergency preparedness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jixin Qiao
- Center for Nuclear Technologies, Technical University of Denmark , DTU Risø Campus, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
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Mola M, Nieto A, Peñalver A, Borrull F, Aguilar C. Uranium and thorium sequential separation from norm samples by using a SIA system. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2014; 127:82-87. [PMID: 24172603 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2013.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2013] [Revised: 10/07/2013] [Accepted: 10/08/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
This study presents a sequential radiochemical separation method for uranium and thorium isotopes using a novel Sequential Injection Analysis (SIA) system with an extraction chromatographic resin (UTEVA). After the separation, uranium and thorium isotopes have been quantified by using alpha-particle spectrometry. The developed method has been tested by analyzing an intercomparison sample (phosphogypsum sample) from International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with better recoveries for uranium and thorium than the obtained by using a classical method (93% for uranium using the new methodology and 82% with the classical method, and in the case of thorium the recoveries were 70% for the semi-automated method and 60% for the classical strategy). Afterwards, the method was successfully applied to different Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) samples, in particular sludge samples taken from a drinking water treatment plant (DWTP) and also sediment samples taken from an area of influence of the dicalcium phosphate (DCP) factory located close to the Ebro river reservoir in Flix (Catalonia). The obtained results have also been compared with the obtained by the classical method and from that comparison it has been demonstrated that the presented strategy is a good alternative to existing methods offering some advantages as minimization of sample handling, reduction of solvents volume and also an important reduction of the time per analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Mola
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Marcel·lí Domingo s/n, 43007 Tarragona, Spain; Unitat de Radioquímica Ambiental i Sanitària (URAIS), Consorci d'Aigües de Tarragona (CAT), Ctra Nacional 340, km 1094, 43895 L'Ampolla, Spain
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Qiao J, Hou X, Steier P, Golser R. Sequential Injection Method for Rapid and Simultaneous Determination of 236U, 237Np, and Pu Isotopes in Seawater. Anal Chem 2013; 85:11026-33. [DOI: 10.1021/ac402673p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jixin Qiao
- Center
of Nuclear Technologies, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Risø Campus, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Xiaolin Hou
- Center
of Nuclear Technologies, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Risø Campus, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
- Xi’an
AMS Center and SKLLQG, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Science, Xi’an 710075, China
| | - Peter Steier
- VERA
Laboratory, Faculty of Physics—Isotope Research and Nuclear Physics, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Robin Golser
- VERA
Laboratory, Faculty of Physics—Isotope Research and Nuclear Physics, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
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Wendel CC, Oughton DH, Lind OC, Skipperud L, Fifield LK, Isaksson E, Tims SG, Salbu B. Chronology of Pu isotopes and 236U in an Arctic ice core. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2013; 461-462:734-741. [PMID: 23770554 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.05.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2013] [Revised: 05/16/2013] [Accepted: 05/18/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
In the present work, state of the art isotopic fingerprinting techniques are applied to an Arctic ice core in order to quantify deposition of U and Pu, and to identify possible tropospheric transport of debris from former Soviet Union test sites Semipalatinsk (Central Asia) and Novaya Zemlya (Arctic Ocean). An ice core chronology of (236)U, (239)Pu, and (240)Pu concentrations, and atom ratios, measured by accelerator mass spectrometry in a 28.6m deep ice core from the Austfonna glacier at Nordaustlandet, Svalbard is presented. The ice core chronology corresponds to the period 1949 to 1999. The main sources of Pu and (236)U contamination in the Arctic were the atmospheric nuclear detonations in the period 1945 to 1980, as global fallout, and tropospheric fallout from the former Soviet Union test sites Novaya Zemlya and Semipalatinsk. Activity concentrations of (239+240)Pu ranged from 0.008 to 0.254 mBq cm(-2) and (236)U from 0.0039 to 0.053 μBq cm(-2). Concentrations varied in concordance with (137)Cs concentrations in the same ice core. In contrast to previous published results, the concentrations of Pu and (236)U were found to be higher at depths corresponding to the pre-moratorium period (1949 to 1959) than to the post-moratorium period (1961 and 1962). The (240)Pu/(239)Pu ratio ranged from 0.15 to 0.19, and (236)U/(239)Pu ranged from 0.18 to 1.4. The Pu atom ratios ranged within the limits of global fallout in the most intensive period of nuclear atmospheric testing (1952 to 1962). To the best knowledge of the authors the present work is the first publication on biogeochemical cycles with respect to (236)U concentrations and (236)U/(239)Pu atom ratios in the Arctic and in ice cores.
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Affiliation(s)
- C C Wendel
- Isotope Laboratory, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Agricultural University of Norway, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Aas, Norway.
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Quinto F, Hrnecek E, Krachler M, Shotyk W, Steier P, Winkler SR. Measurements of ²³⁶U in ancient and modern peat samples and implications for postdepositional migration of fallout radionuclides. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2013; 47:5243-5250. [PMID: 23614536 DOI: 10.1021/es400026m] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
(236)U was analyzed in an ombrotrophic peat core representing the last 80 years of atmospheric deposition and a minerotrophic peat sample from the last interglacial period. The determination of (236)U at levels of 10(7) atoms/g was possible by using ultraclean laboratory procedures and accelerator mass spectrometry. The vertical profile of the (236)U/(238)U isotopic ratio along the ombrotrophic peat core represents the first observation of the (236)U bomb peak in a terrestrial environment. A constant level of anthropogenic (236)U with an average (236)U/(238)U isotopic ratio of (1.24 ± 0.08) × 10(-6) in the top layers of the core was observed. Comparing the abundances of the global fallout derived (236)U and (239)Pu along the peat core, the post depositional migration of plutonium clearly exceeds that of uranium. However, the cumulative (236)U/(239)Pu ratio of 0.62 ± 0.31 is in agreement with previous studies on the global fallout uranium and plutonium. In the interglacial peat samples a (236)U/(238)U isotopic ratio of (3.3 ± 0.7) × 10(-12) was detected; although this measurement is an upper limit, it constitutes a significant step forward in the experimental determination of the natural (236)U abundance and represents a true background sample for the ombrotrophic peat core.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Quinto
- European Commission Joint Research Centre, Institute for Transuranium Elements, PO Box 2340, 76125 Karlsruhe, Germany.
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