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At least 1,693 records · Page 94Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Contributions of Rocky Flats releases to the total plutonium in regional soils.

Total 239,240Pu and the 240Pu:239Pu atom ratio were measured in soil samples from around the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site (RFETS) during 1992-1994. Mass isotopic data provided a sensitive technique to resolve low levels of RFETS 239,240Pu superimposed on plutonium from global fallout. Concentrations of 239,240Pu within this sample set ranged from 1.1 Bq kg(-1) offsite to 57 Bq kg(-1) onsite, and the 240Pu:239Pu atom ratio increased from 0.055 onsite to 0.123 at approximately 19 km east of the RFETS boundary. The relationship between 24OPu:239Pu atom ratios and distance indicated that a measurable RFETS contribution may have extended to > or = 19 km offsite in the easterly direction. Although the RFETS contribution to total plutonium at the offsite locations ranged from 24-90%, the overall inventory was relatively small. Total inventory estimates, for one transect, based on 239,240Pu and from 240Pu:239Pu atom ratio measurements were not significantly different.

Colorado↗
PubMed1989

Seasonal variation of soil-to-plant transfer of K and fallout 134,137Cs in peatland vegetation.

For three plants from a peat bog (Trichophorum caespitosum, Molinia coerulea, Calluna vulgaris) the concentration of 137Cs, the ratio 137Cs:134Cs, and stable K was determined in intervals of about 14 d from June to November 1987. The results show that for two grasses, Trichophorum caespitosum and Molinia coerulea (which have only perennial roots but sprout every year while the old leaves wither), the concentration of 137Cs decreased considerably during the growing season (1800-240, respectively, 4000-320 Bq kg-1 dry weight). A remarkably similar behavior was observed for the seasonal variability of K and radiocesium in the two grass species, which resulted in a nearly constant ratio of 137Cs:K during the year. In contrast, for the evergreen plant Calluna vulgaris (heather) which was contaminated surficially by the Chernobyl fallout, the concentrations of K and 137Cs were rather constant during 1987 (leaves about 10,000; stems about 5000 Bq kg-1 dry weight), even though radiocesium was taken up by the leaves and transported within the plant. For the two grasses, the plant:soil concentration ratios (CR) were obtained separately for total 137Cs, 137Cs from the global fallout, and Chernobyl-derived 137Cs. The CR of 137Cs from the global fallout decreased for Trichophorum caespitosum from 1.9 in the spring to 0.08 in the autumn, and for Chernobyl-derived 137Cs from 1.4 to 0.2. For Molinia coerulea, a similar behavior was observed. Possible reasons for the seasonal variability of the CR values and the different behavior of 137Cs from the global fallout and from the Chernobyl debris are discussed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cesium Radioisotopes↗
PubMed2005

Evaluation of 38 years of radiological environmental data for the nuclear research facility in South Africa.

Environmental monitoring has been conducted at the South African National Nuclear Research Facility (Necsa site) for the past 38 years. Included in this monitoring programme was the assessment of water, fish and sediment samples. The objective of this project was to review the data of these assessments to establish if the Necsa activities had any impact on the environment. An assessment of the management of discharge limits was included in the review. Fluctuations in the data reviewed can partly be ascribed to errors in sampling techniques and analysis methods, but mostly to external factors. Two main external factors identified during the review were: dilution effects based on the flowrate in the Crocodile River and the percentage of full capacity of the Hartbeespoort Dam, and the atmospheric fallout from nuclear weapons testing. In this project, the impact of these factors were investigated with the help of correlation coefficient calculations and graphs. It was concluded that the flowrate of the Crocodile River and percentage full capacity of the Hartbeespoort Dam did have an impact on the beta activity measured in water and fish samples, and the (nat)U activities measured in water samples. The measured fallout from nuclear weapons testing in the southern hemisphere also had an impact on the beta activity in water. The assessment of the environmental monitoring data also showed that accidental releases were measurable in the environment. The added routine impact to a member of the public downstream from Necsa was on average an annual dose of 0.54 microSv more than that to a person living upstream from Necsa, which is considered insignificant in international radiation protection norms. The conclusion can be made that the monitoring programme is successful in satisfying its main objective, which is to determine the effects of the discharges on the environment and the immediate population.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Vertical distributions of 210Pb excess, 7Be and 137Cs in selected grass covered soils in Southeast Queensland, Australia.

Net accumulated areal activity densities and profiles of (210)Pb(ex), (7)Be and (137)Cs in the surface 10 cm of the soil are reported for eight sites in Southeast Queensland, Australia. Areal activity densities of (210)Pb(ex) and (7)Be varied from 1,080 to 4,100 Bqm(-2) and from 176 to 778 Bqm(-2), respectively. A significant (p < 0.001) portion of the variance (R(2) > 0.99) in their vertical distributions was explained by depth in the profile using an exponential function. Around 85% of accumulated (210)Pb(ex) was present in the surface 10 cm of the soil. Beryllium-7 was mainly confined to the grass and surface 2 cm of the soil. Average penetration half-depths of 3.6 +/- 0.2 and 0.3 +/- 0.1cm were determined for (210)Pb(ex) and (7)Be, respectively. Areal activity densities of global fallout (137)Cs varied from 10 to 361 Bqm(-2). Its signal was well mixed within the surface 10 cm. Comparison of the measured (137)Cs values to the estimated input value for the region ( approximately 490 Bqm(-2)) and profiling of a 1m deep soil core suggests a vertical migration of (137)Cs over the past decades. The paleo-radon activity flux determined from the (210)Pb(ex) areal activity density (5.1 +/- 0.9 mBqm(-2) s(-1)) was not statistically different to that measured using activated charcoal cups (5.5 +/- 0.4 mBqm(-2) s(-1)), tending to suggest that Southeast Queensland is neither a net source nor a net sink of (210)Pb-bearing aerosols.

Australia↗
PubMed1996

The distribution of fallout 137Cs in Costa Rica.

Baseline levels of 137Cs on different sites throughout the Costa Rican territory are presented in this study from local and undisturbed soils. They are believed to represent the fallout input to the land surface. Seventy samples were collected from September 1991 to December 1993, and analyzed by gamma spectroscopy. The territory was divided in three regions, Caribbean, Pacific, and Central, based on meteorological and geographical conditions to study spatial distribution of cesium. The results show a higher activity in the Caribbean region perhaps due to the wind influence and higher rain precipitation throughout the year. No relevant time variation of the activity levels for each location was found. The highest value of 17.6 Bq kg(-1) of 137Cs is compared with its generalized derived limit, being only 1.97% of the generalized derived limit value. The mean country activity value ranges from 0.4 to 17.8 Bq kg(-1) with an average of 3.7 Bq kg(-1).

Cesium Radioisotopes↗
PubMed1999

Resolving Nevada test site and global fallout plutonium in attic dust and soils using 137Cs/239+240Pu activity ratios.

A simple equation using only 137Cs/239+240Pu activity ratios was developed and evaluated as a means of resolving the plutonium in attic dust and soil from Nevada and Utah that came from Nevada Test Site fallout from that which came from global fallout. Applied to an historical data set of 137Cs and 239+240Pu activity concentrations in soils from Nevada and Utah, the activity ratio method gives results similar to the traditional 240Pu/239Pu isotope mass ratio method. Considering the difficulty and expense of determining the 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios, this activity ratio method is simpler, faster, and less costly, and may be useful for detecting and/or monitoring plutonium contamination in soils. Applied to samples of attic dust and soil collected from throughout southern Nevada and Utah during 1996 and 1997, it was found that all sites surveyed showed the presence of Nevada Test Site plutonium. Over 90% of the plutonium found in the samples from Beatty, Tonopah, and Queen City Summit, Nevada, can be attributed to the Nevada Test Site.

Cesium Radioisotopes↗
PubMed1992

Small-scale variation in deposition of radiocaesium from the Chernobyl fallout on cultivated grasslands in Norway.

Soil samples from nine field experiments on cultivated grassland showed a variation in deposition of radiocaesium, expressed as the relative standard deviation, from 11 to 111% within an area of 16.5 x 10 m2. At the site with the highest variability, situated in a mountainous region of south eastern Norway, a further study was performed. Double sampling including surface measurements with in situ gamma-spectrometry using a portable multi-channel analyser (3 x 3 in Nal detector) and limited soil sampling gave the same average deposition and standard error as an extensive soil sampling. There were no trends in the deposition within the experimental field and most of the variation was found within plots (1.5 x 2.5 m2). 'Hot spots' were found in connection with small depressions (2-5 cm) in the terrain, and the area of a hot spot was estimated to be 100 cm2 from field measurements with a Geiger-Müller counter.

Accidents↗
PubMed2001

Geographical mapping and associated fractal analysis of the long-lived Chernobyl fallout radionuclides in Greece.

Immediately after the Chernobyl accident, a soil sampling programme was undertaken in order to detect and quantitatively analyse the long-lived radionuclides in the Chernobyl fallout. Soil samples (1242 in number) of 1 cm thick surface soil were collected in Greece during the period from May-November 1986. The samples were counted and analysed using Ge detector set-ups. The 137Cs fallout data have already been analysed, mapped and published. In an attempt to improve this analysis and also to extent it to other fallout radionuclides, an in-house unix-based data base/geographical information system (DBGIS) was developed. Multifractal analyses of the deposition patterns have also been performed. In the present work, an analysis of the results of the deposition of 137Cs, 134Cs, 144Ce, 141Ce, 125Sb, 110mAg, 106Ru, 103Ru, 95Zr and 54Mn are presented together with relevant fractal analysis and three characteristic contour maps. The maximum detected values of the above-mentioned radionuclides were 149.5 +/- 0.1, 76.1 +/- 0.1, 32.9 +/- 0.2, 46 +/- 2, 4.56 +/- 0.02, 7.98 +/- 0.02, 79.1 +/- 0.4, 337 +/- 2, 20.1 +/- 0.2 and 3.02 +/- 0.02 kBq m-2, respectively. Furthermore, a statistical technique to compare contour maps was introduced and applied to explain the differences which appeared in the maps of the above-mentioned radionuclides.

Fractals↗