Sedimentation studies relevant to low-level radioactive effluent dispersal in the Irish Sea. Part 1. Radionuclides in marine sediments

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:6880269

Smith, T J; Parker, W R; Kirby, R

Certain elements, particularly plutonium and americium, small quantities of which are routinely discharged into the marine environment from nuclear fuel reprocessing plants rapidly became associated with the sea bed sediments. This report examines the discharge of various radionuclides into the Irish Sea with particular reference to the interaction between the radionuclides and the sediments. A review of the relevant literature has revealed a variety of possible interaction mechanisms which are sensitive to many environmental parameters. Measurements of radionuclide distributions have previously been used to infer rates of sedimentary processes. The assumptions underlying these interpretations are considered and it is shown that a large amount of information on the sedimentological regime of a given area is required before confident interpretations of radionuclide distributions can be made. This background material is only partially available for the Irish Sea.

• Research Organization: Institute of Oceanographic Sciences, Godalming (UK)
• OSTI ID: 6880269
• Report Number(s): PB-84-145531
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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Aquatic-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACTINIDES
AMERICIUM
ATLANTIC OCEAN
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FUEL REPROCESSING PLANTS
IRISH SEA
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
METALS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
PLUTONIUM
RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOACTIVITY
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
SEAS
SEDIMENTATION
SURFACE WATERS
TRANSPLUTONIUM ELEMENTS
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
WASTES