Determination of90Sr and137Cs in mushrooms following the Chernobyl fallout

After the Chernobyl accident high concentrations of radionuclides were found in Sweden in mushrooms and the contents of⁹⁰Sr and¹³⁷Cs were measured. The level of⁹⁰Sr was generally low and, in proportion to¹³⁷Cs, 2–3 orders of magnitude lower than in the fallut. The contents of¹³⁷Cs varied among species and extreme local variations occurred. The ratio¹³⁴Cs/¹³⁷Cs diverged from other biological samples leading to the conclusion that old fallout was involved in the uptake.     

A study on radionuclide association with soil components using a sequential extraction procedure

Measurements performed in 1986–1988 demonstrate that most of the radiocesium isotopes (¹³⁷Cs and¹³⁴Cs) deposited after the Chernobyl accident are still located in the upper soil layers (0–2 cm). The vertical migration appears to be slow, and only a small fraction of the radiocesium has been transferred into the biological cycle. Sequential extraction techniques have been utilized in order to investigate the degree of binding or association between deposited radionuclides (¹³⁷Cs,¹³⁴Cs and⁹⁰Sr) and components in soil. The results indicate that a major fraction of the radiocesium is associated strongly with organic and mineral materials in the litter or upper soil layers: less than 10% is easily leachable. The distribution of¹³⁷Cs throughout the fractions was similar to that determined for naturally occurring stable cesium (¹³³Cs), implying that isotopic exchange had been extensive. For⁹⁰Sr, the results show a relatively high leachable fraction. Therefore, present results indicate that radiocesium should be less mobile, and less available for root uptake, than⁹⁰Sr in soil.     

Determination of137Cs,90Sr and fallout Pu in the volcanic soil of Korea

The cumulative depositions of¹³⁷Cs,⁹⁰Sr and fallout Pu in the volcanic ash soil of Korea were determined. The average accumulated depositions of¹³⁷Cs,⁹⁰Sr and fallout Pu in the volcanic soil were much higher than those in other forest sites of Korea. From depth profiles, it was found that¹³⁷Cs,⁹⁰Sr and^239,240Pu in the volcanic soil are more mobile than those in other forest sites of Korea, and that the downward movement of⁹⁰Sr is faster than¹³⁷Cs and^239,240Pu. A significant correlation was found between the concentration of¹³⁷Cs and those of⁹⁰Sr and^239,240Pu. The activity ratios of²³⁸Pu/^239,240Pu and²⁴¹Pu/^239,240Pu in soils are close to those observed in the cumulative deposit from the global fallout of nuclear weapon testings.     

Artificial radioactive contamination of sediment samples along the Romanian sector of the Danube river and the Black Sea coast

The concentrations of¹³⁷Cs were determined by in 11 sediment samples, collected along the Romanian sector of the Danube river and the Black Sea coast during 1994 γ-ray spectrometry. The concentrations of⁹⁰Sr in the same sediment samples were determined by β-counting of the⁹⁰Y oxalate, precipitated after strontium separation using a strontium extraction chromatography column. The concentration distributions of¹³⁷Cs and⁹⁰Sr are compared with the²³⁸Pu and^239,240Pu concentration distributions in the same samples, reported in a previous paper. The accumulation potential of¹³⁷Cs,⁹⁰Sr and plutonium isotopes in the river and sea sediments analysed is discussed.     

Deposition of90Sr and plutonium isotopes derived from the Chernobyl accident in Japan

To clarify environmental effects of the Chemobyl radionuclides, long-lived Chernobyl radioactivity (^239,240Pu,²³⁸Pu,²⁴¹Pu and⁹⁰Sr) in deposition samples in May 1986 was measured at 11 stations in Japan. Temporal variation of weekly deposition of⁹⁰Sr differed from that of volatile radionuclides such as¹³¹I and¹³⁷Cs, which may reflect the released process at Chernobyl. On the other hand, the geographical distributions of the monthly deposition of long-lived radionuclides were similar to those of volatile radionuclides, in which maximum deposits of⁹⁰Sr and plutonium were observed in Akita, a northwestern Japan Sea coast site of Honshu Island. Higher²⁴¹Pu deposition in most of the stations, as well as high²³⁸Pu/^239,240Pu activity ratios were observed. The²⁴¹Pu/²³⁸Pu activity ratios in deposition samples were nearly equal to that in the total release, which is clear evidence that Chernobyl-derived plutonium was transported to Japan in May 1986 together with volatile radionuclides although the contribution of Chernobyl Pu was about three orders of magnitude lower than¹³⁷Cs.     

Radioanalytical determination of137Cs and89Sr in milk

Separation of Cs, Sr and Ca from their mixture was studied using solvent extraction and ion exchange techniques. More than 90% separation efficiency was achieved for Ca–Sr separation using ion exchange resin (Doulite C-20) while solvent extraction amounted to 88%. A proposed technique for determination of¹³⁷Cs and⁸⁹Sr in milk (after removal of organic matter) showed more than 80% accuracy for⁸⁹Sr determination and more than 90% for¹³⁷Cs determination.     

Sequential estimation of106Ru,137Cs,and90Sr in urine

A sequential method has been developed for the estimation of¹⁰⁶Ru,¹³⁷Cs, and⁹⁰Sr in urine using beta counting. After completely destroying the organic matter in urine,¹⁰⁶Ru is oxidized to volatile ruthenium tetroxide and allowed to reactin-situ with polyethylene powder;¹³⁷Cs is concentrated on ammonium phosphomolybdate and estimated as tetraphenylborate;⁹⁰Sr is coprecipitated as strontium sulphate and converted to carbonate. The recoveries have been found to be better than 83% for all of the radionuclides. The minimum detection limits are 0.16, 0.85, and 0.14 Bq/dm³ for¹⁰⁶Ru,¹³⁷Cs, and⁹⁰Sr, respectively. Yttrium-90 fraction of⁹⁰Sr is also estimated using sodium nitroprusside as reagent, after allowing it to grow for 14 days.This work forms part of the doctoral work of SRIM.V.R. PRASAD to be submitted to the University of Madras, under the supervision of DR. O.M. SREEDHARAN.     

Geochemical studies on the Chernobyl radioactivity in environmental samples

Artificial radionuclides in deposition and airborne dust samples in 1986 were measured at Tsukuba and 11 stations in Japan. In May 1986, the Chernobyl radioactivity was observed in rain and air samples in Japan. The Chernobyl-derived Pu isotopes, which are characterized by higher²³⁸Pu/^239,240Pu (85) and²⁴¹Pu/²³⁸Pu (0.5) activity ratios than those of the nuclear test-derived Pu and⁹⁰Sr, were detected in deposition and airborne dust samples in Japan, as well as volatile radionuclides such as¹³¹I and¹³⁷Cs. However, the activities of Pu isotopes and⁹⁰Sr observed in Japan were about two and three orders of magnitude lower than those expected from the activity ratios in the total release at Chernobyl, which means that the residence time of Pu in the air was shorter than that of¹³⁷Cs. In order to understand the fractionation between the Chernobyl radionuclides we studied about individual wet and dry deposition. The results suggest that this cause is due to the difference of the particle size of radionuclide-bearing particles, which may be related to the release process of Chernobyl radionuclides.     

Surface and depth fallout distribution of137Cs and90Sr in soils of Caceres (Spain). Dose commitments due to external irradiation

An analysis has been made of the surface distribution of¹³⁷Cs and⁹⁰Sr in soils of the province of Cáceres (Spain), of some 20.000 km² area, situated on the frontier with Portugal. From the distribution of depth profiles of concentrations of these radionuclides and their fit to a negative exponential, determination was made of the mean values of the respective inventories and of the corresponding¹³⁷Cs/⁹⁰Sr ratio. The external dose rates from the presence of these man-made isotopes in the soil are calculated and compared with that originating from the concentrations of natural radioisotopes.     

Radioactivity of cattle fodder and milk after the Chernobyl accident

The radioactivities of⁹⁰Sr,¹³⁷Cs and¹³⁴Cs have been measured in soil, fodder and milk from the south-western region of Slovenia, Yugoslavia after the Chernobyl accident. Maximal concentrations of Sr-isotopes in samples and the rate of their decrease in a period up to two years after the accident are given. The transfer of radionuclides from soil to grass and from fodder to milk is discussed.     

Determination of137Cs and90Sr in milk by the static method with an ion exchanger

This paper presents the method of⁹⁰Sr and¹³⁷Cs determination from 10 litres of milk. The preconcentration is made by the static method with a strong acid cation exchanger (OSTION KS).¹³⁷Cs from the eluent (8M HCl) is selectively eliminated with ammonium molybdophosphate and then the^137mBa gamma activity measured, using NaI(T1) detector.⁹⁰Sr as⁹⁰Y is determined after achievement of the radioactive equilibrium and measured by flow proportional counter. The method appears to be accurate, reproducible and permits to determine³² mBq¹³⁷Cs and 13 mBq⁹⁰Sr in the samples.     

Assessment of intake of a complex radionuclide bearing dust formed at a nuclear power plant

The aim of this work was to provide an experimental basis for assessing intakes of an industrial actinide-bearing dust from measurements of⁶⁰Co and¹³⁷Cs in the body or urine. Whilst these radionuclides comprised 72% and 19% of the radioactivity present, greater than 90% of the committed effective dose will result from the low concentrations of the actinides present, 0.4%. To assess the dose coefficient for the dust and predict the biokinetics of⁶⁰Co and¹³⁷Cs in workers, absorption parameters for transfer from lungs to blood obtained from an animal study were combined with information on particle deposition and clearance from the ICRP human respiratory tract model and with tissue distribution and excretion data from the most recent systemic models. All other radionuclides were assumed to have Type M absorption characteristics. The dose coefficient for the dust, 1.29·10^–7 Sv·Bq^–1 was estimated to contain 113 kBq⁶⁰Co, 29 kBq¹³⁷Cs and 0.64 kBq of the actinides. The predicted retention and excretion characteristics of⁶⁰Co and¹³⁷Cs in workers after acute or chronic exposure to the dust suggested that measurements of these radionuclides in the body or urine could detect intakes equivalent to a few percent of an annual dose limit of 20 mSv·y^–1.     

Depth distribution of137cesium,90strontium and210lead in sediments of lake Mondsee,Austria

¹³⁷Cs,⁹⁰Sr and²¹⁰Pb were determined in sediment cores from lake Mondsee /Austria/. The depth profiles show that¹³⁷Cs remains undisturbed, i.e. its distribution corresponds to the fallout deposition pattern.⁹⁰Sr, however, has been transported into the upper sediment layers. In this upper zone nearly constant levels of⁹⁰Sr and also of²¹⁰Pb/²¹⁰Po/were found. Comparison of the⁹⁰Sr and¹³⁷Cs profiles indicates that chemical processes must be responsible for the translocation of⁹⁰Sr as well as²¹⁰Pb, and not bioturbation, i.e. mixing of upper sediment layers by benthic organisms.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Karl Schlögl, University of Vienna, for his 60th birthday.     

Influence of plant roots upon the mobility of radionuclides in soil, with respect to location of contamination below the surface

The movement of⁸⁵Sr,¹³⁷Cs,⁵⁴Mn and⁶⁰Co in the 50 cm soil profile was studied with and without the presence of plant roots (triticum aestivum) in order to investigate the influence of roots and depth contamination upon the migration of radionuclides. The water table was maintained manually at 3 cm from the bottom. The physiochemical characteristics (E_h Fe^–2, NH ₄ ⁺ , pH and moisture content) as well as the total and extractable radioactivity were investigated. In the discrete contamination, where the location of contamination varied within the soil profile (0–5, 25–30 or 45–50 cm from the top), the influence of location upon the movement of these radionuclides was also studied. It was found that the changes in the soil physicochemical characteristics influenced the mobility of the four radionuclides. The extractability of⁵⁴Mn and⁶⁰Co was significantly increased in the reducing region of the soil, whereas that of⁸⁵Sr,¹³⁷Cs was not. Plant roots excerted significant effects upon the soil characteristics, via, reducing the E_h pH and moisture content of the soil; increasing the extractability of both⁵⁴Mn and⁶⁰Co from the depth of 35 cm downwards. Radionuclide migration occurred via physicochemical and biological transport. The biological transport via plant roots was of particular importance for¹³⁷Cs. Location of contamination had a significant influence upon the mobility of radionuclides. The migration of radionuclides was in the sequence of contamination in middle>bottom>top. The degree of the influence varied with radionuclides concemed. In the top layer contamination, the rank of the migration from the contamination layers, on the other hand⁵⁴Mn,⁶⁰Co and¹³⁷Cs were more mobile and the movement was:⁸⁵Sr⁵⁴Mn⁶⁰Co>¹³⁷Cs. In the middle and bottom contamination layers, on the other hand,⁵⁴Mn and⁶⁰Co and¹³⁷Cs were more mobile and the movement was⁸⁵Sr⁵⁴Mn⁶⁰Co>¹³⁷Cs. The results provide evidence conceming the soil-root interaction influencing the transfer efficiency of radionuclides from below the soil surface into the human food chain.     

Depth profiles of long lived radionuclides in Chernobyl soils sampled around 10 years after the accident

Depth profiles of the long-lived radionuclides, ¹³⁷Cs, ⁹⁰Sr, Pu isotopes and ²⁴¹Am were examined in undisturbed sandy, peaty and Podsol soils in the Chernobyl 30 km exclusion zone sampled around 10 years after the accident. Two Podsol soils, which have different radioactive deposition characteristics, have also been examined. Activity ratios of ^239,240Pu/¹³⁷Cs, ⁹⁰Sr/¹³⁷Cs, and ²⁴¹Am/¹³⁷Cs in the 0-1 cm layer of the two Podsol soils differed very much. Speciation of the radionuclides by sequential selective extraction was examined in the soils. Depth profiles of the soils have been analyzed according to the speciation results and soil characteristics.     

Some aspects of determination of radionuclides at the former Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site

There is investigated a radionuclide composition of the soil samples, selected in various parts of former Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site (SNTS). The gamma-spectrometric method was used for determination of¹³⁷Cs and²⁴¹Am. For determination of⁹⁰Sr and isotopes of plutonium a radiochemical separation was used. The results of determinations show a distinction in distribution of radionuclides on depth for various investigated areas and for various size fractions of surface layers. The study of the size fractions has shown an enrichment of a magnetic faction by²⁴¹Am.     

Low-level measurement of alpha-particle emitting nuclei in ceramics and lead

The operationally defined bioavailable fraction from a commonly used sequential extraction (SE) procedure was compared to biological availability represented by plant uptake of¹³⁷Cs and⁹⁰Sr. Experiments were conducted at two locations in the Ukraine and at several field locations on the Savannah River Site, South Carolina. A significant regression existed between plant uptake and the ammonium acetate fraction (r ²=0.65), however, ratios of predicted uptake from the SE procedure to observed plant uptake ranged from 0.03 to 5.2 Data suggest that SE procedure was useful for qualitative interpretations of biological availability but lacked sufficient rigor to be useful for quantitative predictions.     

The distribution and behaviour of artificial radionuclides in sediments of the north Wales coast,U.K.

The distribution of¹³⁴Cs,¹³⁷Cs and²¹⁴Am in surface and core sediments from areas in north Wales has been investigated. Coastal sites show a predominance of Sellafield-derived material for all three radionuclides whereas estuarine sites show an increased proportion of Chemobyl-derived caesium present. By the use of the¹³⁴Cs/¹³⁷Cs ratio, a mean proportion of Chemobyl-derived¹³⁷Cs in surface sediments collected in 1991 fell from 34% at an estuarine site to 11% at a coastal site. In deeper sections of cores representing sedimentation dates near the Chemobyl accident, up to 90% of¹³⁷Cs at the estuarine site and 26% at the coastal site can be attributed to Chemobyl. By using the position of the Chemobyl¹³⁴Cs and¹³⁷Cs peak in the cores, sedimentation rates of 0.7 mm·a^–1 were calculated.     

Chemical study on the separation and purification of promethium-147

A chemical process for the separation of¹⁴⁷Nd/¹⁴⁷Pm from fission products of synthetic radioactive waste solution has been developed. The process includes: (1) denitration, (2) removal of high concentration of uranium by 30% TBP/kerosene extraction, (3) removal of⁹⁵Nb,¹⁰³Ru,¹³⁷Cs and part of⁹⁰Sr by 50% TBP/dodecane extraction, (4) separation of¹⁴⁷Nd/¹⁴⁷Pm from part of⁹⁰Sr and⁹⁵Zr by oxalic acid precipitation, and (5) removal of¹⁴⁴Ce by mixture of 0.4M D2EHPA and 0.2M TBP extraction. Experimental results indicate that the recovery of¹⁴⁷Nd/¹⁴⁷Pm in the final separated solution is about 90%. The purification of¹⁴⁷Nd and¹⁴⁷Pm from some other rare earth elements, viz.¹⁵³Sm,¹⁵⁴Eu and¹⁴⁴Ce was further investigated by using a Dowex 50W×8 ion-exchanger. Parameters of flow rate, eluent concentration and pH were examined. The results show that the recovery and radionuclide purity of¹⁴⁷Nd plus¹⁴⁷Pm under the present separation conditions are 77.8% and 98.6% for diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) and 87.3% and 99.5% for nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), respectively.     

Modified and reverse radiometric flow injection analysis

Determination of¹³⁷Cs and⁶⁰Co by using modified and reverse radiometric flow injection analysis is described. Two component RFIA was also realized using⁶⁰Co and¹³⁷Cs radionuclides.