Measurement of fallout radionuclides, (239)(,240)Pu and (137)Cs, in soil and creek sediment: Sydney Basin, Australia

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity
B S SmithA Zawadzki

Abstract

Soil and sediment samples from the Sydney basin were measured to ascertain fallout radionuclide activity concentrations and atom ratios. Caesium-137 ((137)Cs) was measured using gamma spectroscopy, and plutonium isotopes ((239)Pu and (240)Pu) were quantified using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). Fallout radionuclide activity concentrations were variable ranging from 0.6 to 26.1 Bq/kg for (137)Cs and 0.02-0.52 Bq/kg for (239+240)Pu. Radionuclides in creek sediment samples were an order of magnitude lower than in soils. (137)Cs and (239+240)Pu activity concentration in soils were well correlated (r(2) = 0.80) although some deviation was observed in samples collected at higher elevations. Soil ratios of (137)Cs/(239+240)Pu (decay corrected to 1/1/2014) ranged from 11.5 to 52.1 (average = 37.0 ± 12.4) and showed more variability than previous studies. (240)Pu/(239)Pu atom ratios ranged from 0.117 to 0.165 with an average of 0.146 (±0.013) and an error weighted mean of 0.138 (±0.001). These ratios are lower than a previously reported ratio for Sydney, and lower than the global average. However, these ratios are similar to those reported for other sites within Australia that are located away from former weapons testing sites and...Continue Reading

References

May 1, 1985·British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology·E M Symonds
Oct 28, 2009·Journal of Environmental Radioactivity·G J HancockR Haese
Jul 9, 2010·Journal of Environmental Radioactivity·Jennifer J HarrisonHenri K Y Wong
Jul 20, 2010·Journal of Environmental Radioactivity·W T HooN Mueller
Nov 22, 2013·Environmental Science & Technology·Timothy E PayneAtun Zawadzki

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