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Title: Lead-210 and polonium-210 in the surface water of the Pacific

Journal Article · · Geochem. J. (Nagoya), v. 5, no. 4, pp. 165-173

>/sup 210/Pb and /sup 210/Po in sea water of the Pacific. were determined and applied to make clear the behavior of lead in the surface water of the ocean. The concentration of /sup 210/Pb in the surfuce water was much smaller than the expected value, if it were soluble in seawater. Its geographical distribution showed a latitudinal variation that presented higher values in both mid-latitudes of the Pacific and lower values in the tropical Pacific and the southern South Pacific. These facts suggest that lead is settling with the velocity of (1-5) x 10/sup -4/ cm/sec in the surface layer. However, it is very unlikely that the lead exists as pure solid phase of lead oxide. The lead probably forms an eutectic solid phase with other host metals such as manganese oxide. The ratios of /sup 210/Po to /sup 210/Pb in surface water were larger than those in meteoric precipitation, but most of thera were smaller than unity. (auth) Data are presented as a basis of evaluating the increase in activity of waters in the vicinity of Jaslovske Bohunice due to startup of the nuclear power plant. The monitoring of radioactivity of waters on the territory of western Slovakia conducted between 1968 and l970 showed that the average annual values were constant and that annual fluctuations were due to an increased fallout and to meteorological conditions. (INIS)

Research Organization:
Hokkaido Univ., Hakodate, Japan
NSA Number:
NSA-29-015639
OSTI ID:
4346419
Journal Information:
Geochem. J. (Nagoya), v. 5, no. 4, pp. 165-173, Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 30-JUN-74; Bib. Info. Source: JA (JA)
Country of Publication:
Japan
Language:
English