Radionuclide partitioning across Great Lakes natural interfaces

Journal Article · · Environmental Geology and Water Sciences; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01705129· OSTI ID:5860047

Platford, R F; Joshi, S R ^[1]

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1. National Water Research Institute, Burlington, Ontario (Canada)

Several water and surface microlayer samples from Lake St. Clair, the Niagara River, and the North Shore of Lake Ontario collected during 1983-1986 have been assayed for a variety of radionuclides. In addition, the foam accumulating in the pool just below Niagara Falls was also analyzed and found to be the most efficient aqueous phase collector of {sup 137}Cs, {sup 210}Pb, and {sup 226}Ra. The order or radioisotope specific activities from highest to lowest is: Lake Ontario sediment, Niagara River suspended solids, Niagara River foam, surface microlayer water, and subsurface water. Radiological dose rates to the sediments from {sup 137}Cs, {sup 226}Ra, and {sup 228}Th total only about 5 mGy/y. None of the radionuclides in the Lake Ontario region occurs at unusually high activities; the dose rate to the sediments at the mouth of the Niagara River is 2-3 times that due to normal background radiation.

• OSTI ID: 5860047
• Journal Information: Environmental Geology and Water Sciences; (USA), Journal Name: Environmental Geology and Water Sciences; (USA) Vol. 14:3; ISSN 0177-5146; ISSN EGWSE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540330* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CANADA
CARBON 14 DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CESIUM 137
CESIUM ISOTOPES
CONTAMINATION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
GREAT LAKES
HEAVY ION DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
LAKE ONTARIO
LAKES
LEAD 210
LEAD ISOTOPES
MASS TRANSFER
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ONTARIO
POLLUTION
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
RADIUM 226
RADIUM ISOTOPES
RIVERS
SEDIMENTS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
THORIUM 228
THORIUM ISOTOPES
WATER POLLUTION
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES