Variations in Pu isotopic composition in soils from the Spitsbergen (Norway): Three potential pollution sources of the Arctic region.
Although the polar regions have not been industrialised, numerous contaminants originating from human activity are detectable in the Arctic environment. This study reports evidence of240Pu/239Pu atomic ratios in the tundra and initial soils from different parts of west and central Spitsbergen and recognizes possible environmental inputs of non-global fallout Pu. The average atomic ratio of240Pu/239Pu equal to 0.179 (ranging between 0.129 and 0.201) in tundra soils are comparable to the characteristic ratio for global fallout (0.180). However, the240Pu/239Pu atomic ratios in the initial soils from proglacial zone of glaciers change within wide range between 0.1281 and 0.234 with the mean value of 0.169. By combining alpha and mass spectrometry, the three-sources model was used to identify the Pu sources in initial soils. Our study indicated that the main source of Pu is nuclear tests and that a second source with lower Pu ratio may come from weapons grade Pu (unexploded weapons grade Pu ie. material from bomb which didn't undergo nuclear explosions for example for security tests). Additionally, we found samples with high238Pu/239+240Pu activity ratios and with typical global fallout240Pu/239Pu atomic ratios, which are associated with separate sources of pure238Pu from the SNAP-9A satellite burn up in the atmosphere.
Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Radzikowskiego 152, 31-342, Krakow, Poland. Electronic address: Edyta.Lokas@ifj.edu.pl.
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Łokas
Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences, Senacka 1, 31-002, Krakow, Poland.
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Anczkiewicz
Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Radzikowskiego 152, 31-342, Krakow, Poland.
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Kierepko
Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Radzikowskiego 152, 31-342, Krakow, Poland.
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Mietelski
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D001110:Arctic Regions; D046448:Ice Cover / Q000737:chemistry; D009664:Norway; D054043:Nuclear Weapons; D011005:Plutonium / Q000032:analysis*; D011847:Radioactive Fallout / Q000032:analysis; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D018531:Spacecraft; D013538:Svalbard
D000393:Air Pollutants; D011847:Radioactive Fallout; D012987:Soil; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive; D011005:Plutonium
(240)Pu/(239)Pu; Arctic; Atomic ratio; Initial soil; Source identification; Tundra