title: Plutonium isotopes in the atmosphere of Central Europe: Isotopic composition and time evolution vs. circulation factors.
abstract: This paper reports evidence of Pu isotopes in the lower part of the troposphere of Central Europe. The data were obtained based on atmospheric aerosol fraction samples collected from four places in three countries (participating in the informal European network known as the Ring of Five (Ro5)) forming a cell with a surface area of about 200,000km(2). We compared our original data sets from Krakow (Poland, 1990-2007) and Bialystok (Poland, 1991-2007) with the results from two other locations, Prague (Czech Republic; 1997-2004) and Braunschweig (Germany; 1990-2003) to find time evolution of the Pu isotopes. The levels of the activity concentration for (238)Pu and for ((239+240))Pu were estimated to be a few and some tens of nBqm(-3), respectively. However, we also noted some results were much higher (even about 70 times higher) than the average concentration of (238)Pu in the atmosphere. The achieved complex data sets were used to test a new approach to the problem of solving mixing isotopic traces from various sources (here up to three) in one sample. Results of our model, supported by mesoscale atmospheric circulation parameters, suggest that Pu from nuclear weapon accidents or tests and nuclear burnt-up fuel are present in the air.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland. Electronic address: Renata.Kierepko@ifj.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kierepko
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Jerzy W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Mietelski
authors.affiliation: Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland; Institute of Meteorology and Water Management, National Research Institute, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ustrnul
authors.affiliation: Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Anczkiewicz
authors.affiliation: Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wershofen
authors.affiliation: National Radiation Protection Institute, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Zoltan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Holgye
authors.affiliation: Medical University of Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kapała
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory for Radiological Protection, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Isajenko
mesh_terms: D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D001272:Atmosphere / Q000032:analysis; D018153:Czech Republic; D005858:Germany; D011005:Plutonium / Q000032:analysis*; D011044:Poland; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D014887:Weather
chemical_list: D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive; D011868:Radioisotopes; D011005:Plutonium
keywords: Atmospheric aerosols; Atmospheric circulation parameters; Plutonium effective dose; Plutonium in the atmosphere; Three sources model (3SM); Two sources model (2SM)