title: On the presence of enriched amounts of 235U in hot particles from the terrestrial area affected by the Palomares accident (Spain).
abstract: The characterisation by ICP-MS of an isolated Pu-U hot particle originating from the nuclear weapons accident in Palomares (Spain) shows, for the first time, that its uranium content is highly enriched in (235)U. The enrichment has been confirmed by independent analyses of two surface soil samples collected in a heavily contaminated area close to the impact point of one of the bombs. This finding clarifies better the composition of the weapons involved in the accident and is of importance when the inventory of U and Pu in the contaminated area are to be calculated.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Física Aplicada II, E.T.S.A., Applied Nuclear Physics Group, University of Seville, Avenida Reina Mercedes-2, 41012 Sevilla, Spain.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Ramos
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: García-Tenorio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: García-León
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vioque
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Manjón
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D011005:Plutonium / Q000032:analysis; D018788:Radioactive Hazard Release; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D013030:Spain; D014501:Uranium / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive; D014501:Uranium; D011005:Plutonium