Plutonium and radiocesium in the water column of the Hudson River Estuary

Journal Article · · Environ. Geol. Wat. Sci.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02509920· OSTI ID:5820221

Linsalata, P; Simpson, H J; Olsen, C R; Cohen, N; Trier, R M

Isotopes of plutonium (Pu), cesium (Cs), and cobalt (Co) introduced into the Hudson River Estuary from fallout deposition, the erosion of fallout-contaminated surface soils, and nuclear reactor effluent (isotopes of Cs and Co only) have been measured in water column samples collected from 1975 to 1980. The major conclusions drawn from the work are that: for water samples collected by the two laboratories over similar time periods, the mean concentrations of nonfilterable /sup 239,240/Pu (<0.45 ..mu..m) were identical at 0.13 fCi/I; mean concentrations of both /sup 137/Cs and /sup 239,240/Pu in suspended particulates were more divergent at 2270 +/- 920 pCi/kg (+/- 1 SD) and 1430 +/- 430 pCi/kg for /sup 137/Cs, and 19 +/- 8 pCi/kg and 12 +/- 4 pCi/kg for /sup 239,240/Pu. The behavior of /sup 239,240/Pu and /sup 137/Cs within the water column is shown to diverge within brackish waters. Specifically, the magnitude of the /sup 137/Cs distribution-coefficient (K/sub d/) can be expressed as an inverse power function of the chloride ion concentrations for chlorinities between 0.1 and 4 g Cl/sup -//l. No difference in the /sup 239,240/Pu k/sub d/ has been observed between fresh and brackish waters. Based on the expected inventories of /sup 239,240/Pu and /sup 137/Cs within watershed soils, the current downstream transport of these radionuclides represents fractional mobilization rates on the order of 1-4 (x 10/sup -4/) per year.

• Research Organization: New York Univ. Medical Center, Tuxedo
• OSTI ID: 5820221
• Journal Information: Environ. Geol. Wat. Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Geol. Wat. Sci.; (United States) Vol. 7:4; ISSN EGWSE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520301* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring &amp; Transport-- Water-- (1987)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CESIUM 137
CESIUM ISOTOPES
COBALT ISOTOPES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
ESTUARIES
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FALLOUT
HEAVY NUCLEI
HUDSON RIVER
ISOTOPES
MASS TRANSFER
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
PLUTONIUM 239
PLUTONIUM 240
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
RADIOISOTOPES
RIVERS
SALINITY
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
VARIATIONS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES