Investigation of dissolved uranium content in the watershed of Seine River (France).
A systematic survey of dissolved uranium activity was carried out in the Seine and the Marne over one year. A small watershed, the Grand Morin, included in the Seine one, was also investigated from stream to medium-sized rivers. The Melarchez stream exhibits low but variable dissolved 238U levels (3.3 +/- 2.0 mBq l(-1)). Thereafter, uranium activities show a rapid increase to reach, from the Grand Morin River, a rather constant range (8-11 mBq l(-1)). On the Marne before the confluence with the Seine, dissolved 238U is nearly invariable (9.1 +/- 0.8 mBq l(-1)), for flow rates comprised between 60 and 423 m3 s(-1). Dissolved 238U in the Seine corresponds to almost triple the global mean riverine uranium concentration. In the estuary of the Seine, uranium shows a gradual increase, resulting from conservative mixing of river with sea waters.
Schmidt
Sabine
S
IPSL-LSCE, UMR1572, 91 198 Gif sur Yvette, France. s.schmidt@epoc.u-bordeaux1.fr
D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005602:France; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D014501:Uranium / Q000032:analysis*
D014501:Uranium