Vertical distribution of anthropogenic radionuclides in cores from contaminated floodplains of the Yenisey River.
The Mining and Chemical Industrial Combine, Zheleznogorsk (MCIC, previously known as Krasnoyarsk-26) on the River Yenisey has contaminated the surrounding environment with anthropogenic radionuclides as a result of discharges of radioactive wastes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the vertical distribution of anthropogenic contamination ((137)Cs and plutonium) within floodplain areas at different distances from the discharge point. Sites were chosen that display different characteristics with respect to periodic inundation with river water. Cs-137 activity concentrations were in the range 23-3770 Bq/kg (dry weight, d.w.); Pu-239,240 activity concentrations were in the range <0.01-14.2 Bq/kg (d.w.). Numerous sample cores exhibited sub-surface maxima which may be related to the historical discharges from the MCIC. Possible evidence indicating the deposition of earlier discharges at MCIC in deeper core layers was observed in the (238)Pu:(239,240)Pu activity ratio data: a Pu signal discernible from global fallout could be observed in numerous samples. Cs-137 and Pu-239,240 activity concentrations were correlated with the silt fraction (% by mass <63 microm) though no significant correlation was observed between (grain-size) normalised (137)Cs activity concentrations and distance downstream from the MCIC.
Standring
W J F
WJ
Emergency Preparedness and Environmental Radioactivity, Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, N-1332 Østerås, Norway. william.standring@nrpa.no
Brown
J E
JE
Dowdall
M
M
Korobova
E M
EM
Linnik
V G
VG
Volosov
A G
AG
D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D055868:Floods; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011005:Plutonium / Q000032:analysis; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011850:Radioactive Waste; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D045483:Rivers; D012426:Russia; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes; D011850:Radioactive Waste; D011868:Radioisotopes; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive; D011005:Plutonium