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Natural and artificial radioactivity levels in Livingston Island (Antarctic regions)

Journal Article · · Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
; ;  [1]; ; ;  [2]
  1. Univ. of Extremadura, Caceres (Spain)
  2. Univ. of Valencia (Spain)
Radioactive contamination of the sea and land is due, on the one hand, to fallout from atmospheric atomic explosions since 1945, and, on the other, to emissions produced by nuclear and radioactive facilities. Given its geographic position far distant from the aforementioned main sources of radioactive contamination, Antarctica should have the lowest levels that can be measured on the Earth of artificial radionuclides in the various receptor media which are characteristic of the trophic chain. In the case of Antarctica, these are melt-water, sea-water, mosses, algae, and lichens. With the aim of contributing basic information on the radiation levels present in the Antarctic ecosystem, we have identified and measured for the first time the radioactive levels of natural emitters (of cosmic and terrestrial origin) and man-made emitters in the aforementioned receptor media, in the vicinity of the Spanish Antarctic Base, Juan Carlos I, situated on Livingston Island in the South Shetland archipelago, Antarctic region. 22 refs., 1 fig., 3 tabs.
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
35742
Journal Information:
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, Journal Name: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 52; ISSN 0007-4861; ISSN BECTA6
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English