Fallout of Cesium-137 on a Forest Ecosystem in the Vicinity of A Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing Plant
- 1 March 1981
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wolters Kluwer Health in Health Physics
- Vol. 40 (3) , 369-376
- https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-198103000-00011
Abstract
Forest canopies intercepted airborne radionuclide-bearing particles released by a nuclear fuel reprocessing plant at the Savannah River Plant [USA] producing higher concentrations and accumulations of 137Cs, 238Pu and 239,240Pu in the forest floor litter and mineral soil. This impact resulted in 137Cs contents more than double that for control samples not influenced by plant release. Variations in accumulation and distribution patterns of 137Cs, 238Pu and 239,240Pu were caused by greater mobility of I37Cs in soil profile and time of Pu isotope deposition. The use of 137Cs as an environmental analog for Pu appeared questionable as indicated by inconsistent relationships in samples between 137Cs and 238Pu or 137Cs and 239,240Pu. Its use in situations in which erosional transport determines mobility of radionuclides might be possible.This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit:
- Aerial Deposition of Plutonium in Mixed Forest Stands from Nuclear Fuel ReprocessingJournal of Environmental Quality, 1977