title: Marine radioactivity assessment of Mururoa and Fangataufa atolls.
abstract: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) carried out an international project. 'The Study of the Radiological Situation at the Atolls of Mururoa and Fangataufa' with the aim of assessing the present and future radiological situation at the atolls and making recommendations for either monitoring or remedial actions if they are deemed necessary. The paper concentrates on marine radioactivity aspects and gives an estimation of present radionuclide concentrations in water, sediment and biota of the Mururoa and Fangataufa lagoons and the surrounding ocean. The dominant radionuclide in both lagoons is Pu in sediments (the total inventory is approximately 30 TBq). A decline in radionuclide concentrations has been observed in recent years in lagoon water, with the exception of 3H and 90Sr, for which a contribution from underground sources is to be expected. Radionuclide concentrations in biota from the lagoons and the surrounding ocean are low and consistent with previous measurements. The observed radionuclide concentrations in both lagoons imply that no radiological risk exists for hypothetical inhabitants of Mururoa and Fangataufa Atolls.
authors.affiliation: Marine Environment Laboratory, International Atomic Energy Agency, Monaco. p.povinec@iaea.org
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Povinec
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Woodhead
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blowers
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bonfield
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dahlgaard
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dovlete
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Froehlich
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gastaud
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gröning
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ikeuchi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kanisch
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krüger
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Kwong
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Morgenstern
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mulsow
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pettersson
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Smedley
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tinker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017753:Ecosystem; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D007391:International Cooperation; D009689:Nuclear Warfare; D010139:Pacific Islands; D010140:Pacific Ocean; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D014878:Water Pollution, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D011868:Radioisotopes; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive