Aerial deposition of plutonium in mixed forest stands from nuclear fuel reprocessing
Concentrations of /sup 238/Pu and /sup 239/,/sup 240/Pu were determined in bark, organic matter, and soil samples collected in the summer of 1975 from pine (Pinus taeda) and hardwood (Quercus falcata; Carya tormentosa) stands near a nuclear fuel reprocessing plant at the U.S. Energy Res. and Dev. Admin.'s Savannah River Plant near Aiken, S.C. The results indicated that tree crowns intercepted fallout Pu (Pu-bearing particles) and produced higher Pu concentrations in the organic matter and soil under tree crowns. Higher /sup 239/,/sup 240/Pu concentrations were found under pines than under hardwoods. Plutonium concentrations in the O1 (litter, A/sub 00/) and O2 (organic matter, A/sub 0/) layers were higher than those in mineral soil, but most of the Pu was contained in the mineral soil. Higher contents of /sup 239/,/sup 240/Pu were observed near the tree stems than in locations outside of the tree crowns. In pines these values were 163 and 80 nCi /sup 239/,/sup 240/Pu/m/sub 2/, and in hardwoods, 122 and 80 nCi /sup 239/,/sup 240/Pu/m/sub 2/, for the respective locations, from the litter to the 15-cm depth. The proportion of /sup 238/Pu contained in foliage, litter, and organic matter was greater than for /sup 239/,/sup 240/Pu. However, the latter radionuclides had a greater proportion contained in the mineral soil. This observation is consistent with the more recent releases containing a higher percentage of /sup 238/Pu from reprocessing operation. Plutonium concentrations in the 5 to 15 cm depth indicated limited Pu mobility in soil, but /sup 238/,/sup 240/Pu concentrations at this depth were higher near tree stems, suggesting greater mobility perhaps as a result of stem flow.
- Research Organization:
- Savannah River Ecology Lab., Aiken, SC
- OSTI ID:
- 5040962
- Journal Information:
- J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Vol. 6:3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
PLUTONIUM 238
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
PLUTONIUM 239
PLUTONIUM 240
DEPOSITION
FOREST LITTER
FORESTS
FUEL REPROCESSING PLANTS
HUMUS
LEAVES
OAKS
PINES
PLANT STEMS
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
SOILS
TREES
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOMASS
CONIFERS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
MASS TRANSFER
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEI
PLANTS
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
RADIOISOTOPES
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
US AEC
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
510301* - Environment
Terrestrial- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- Soil- (-1987)
560173 - Radiation Effects- Nuclide Kinetics & Toxicology- Plants- (-1987)
510302 - Environment
Terrestrial- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- Terrestrial Ecosystems & Food Chains- (-1987)