Distributions of transuranium nuclides in sediments and biota of the North Atlantic Ocean

Conference · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1975

OSTI ID:7267109

Bowen, V T; Livingston, H D; Burke, J C

The effects of the interaction of marine sediments with their biotic population on the penetration, redistribution, sediment association and biotic availability of delivered transuranium nuclides are discussed as a function of both sedimentation regimes and in-fauna populations. Data on the penetration and redistribution patterns of fallout transuranium nuclides in the shallow sediments of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, are discussed in terms of the known parameters of sedimentation and in sediment biological activity. In this (and most common) type of sedimentation regime, translocation of bioturbationally downmixed transuranium nuclides back toward (and probable loss from) the sediment surface is demonstrated. Various biological and biochemical mechanisms are advanced that may act on these nuclides within sediments. The increased availability to marine biota of sediment transuranium nuclides by these remobilization processes is indicated by data showing accumulations of these nuclides in marine invertebrates and fish. Data are included on the distribution of /sup 239/Pu, /sup 240/Pu, /sup 241/Am, /sup 137/Cs, and /sup 55/Fe in the samples. (CH)

• Research Organization: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Mass. (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7267109
• Report Number(s): COO-3563-34; COO-2379-7; CONF-751105-21
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520300* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1989)
520302 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- Aquatic Ecosystems & Food Chains-- (-1987)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
AMERICIUM 241
AMERICIUM ISOTOPES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ATLANTIC OCEAN
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CESIUM 137
CESIUM ISOTOPES
DIFFUSION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ECOSYSTEMS
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FALLOUT
FALLOUT DEPOSITS
FISHES
HEAVY NUCLEI
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INVERTEBRATES
IRON 55
IRON ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MASS TRANSFER
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
PLUTONIUM 239
PLUTONIUM 240
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
SAMPLING
SEAS
SEDIMENTS
SURFACE WATERS
VERTEBRATES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES