Isotopic evidence of natural uranium and spent fuel uranium releases into the environment.
Uranium and plutonium isotopes were measured in soils, sediments and waters in an area subject to the past and present discharges from the uranium conversion plant of Malvési (France). The isotopes (236)U and (239)Pu are well known activation products of uranium and they prove to be powerful tracers of spent fuel releases in soils and sediments. On the other hand (234)U and (238)U activities measured in waters can be used to distinguish between releases and background uranium sources. Such findings contribute to improve the monitoring of the actinides releases by nuclear fuel facilities (mining sites, conversion, enrichment and fuel plants, reprocessing plants).
Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire/Direction de l'Environnement et de l'Intervention, 31 rue de l'Ecluse, 78 1116 Le Vésinet, France. laurent.pourcelot@irsn.fr
L
L
Pourcelot
B
B
Boulet
C
C
Le Corre
J
J
Loyen
C
C
Fayolle
D
D
Tournieux
W
W
Van Hecke
B
B
Martinez
J
J
Petit
D008671:Actinoid Series Elements / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005602:France; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000032:analysis*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D009688:Nuclear Reactors; D011005:Plutonium / Q000032:analysis*; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D014501:Uranium / Q000032:analysis*
D008671:Actinoid Series Elements; D012987:Soil; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive; D014501:Uranium; D011005:Plutonium