Biological pathways and chemical behavior of plutonium and other actinides in the environment

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976 · ACS Symp. Ser.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/bk-1976-0035.ch004· OSTI ID:7292490

Dahlman, R C; Bondietti, E A; Eyman, L D

The principal long-lived actinide elements that may enter the environment from either U or Pu fuel cycles are Pu, Am, Cm, and Np. Approximately 25% of the alpha activity estimated to be released to the atmosphere from the LMFBR fuel cycle will be contributed by /sup 241/Am, /sup 242/Cm, and /sup 244/Cm. The balance of the alpha activity will come from Pu isotopes. Activities of /sup 242/Cm, /sup 244/Cm, /sup 241/Am, /sup 243/Am, and /sup 237/Np in waste may exceed concentrations of Pu isotopes in waste after various periods of decay. Thorium and uranium isotopes may also be released by operations of the thorium fuel cycle. Environmental actinides are discussed under the following headings: sources of man-made actinide elements; pathways of exposure; environmental chemistry of actinides; uptake of actinides by plants; distribution of actinides in components of White Oak Lake; entry of actinides into terrestrial food chains; relationship between chemical behavior and uptake of actinides by organisms; and behavior of Pu in freshwater and marine food chains. (HLW)

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN
• OSTI ID: 7292490
• Journal Information: ACS Symp. Ser.; (United States), Journal Name: ACS Symp. Ser.; (United States) Vol. 35; ISSN ACSMC
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510300 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
520300* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
ALPHA PARTICLES
AMERICIUM 241
AMERICIUM 243
AMERICIUM ISOTOPES
BIOMASS
BREEDER REACTORS
CHARGED PARTICLES
CURIUM 242
CURIUM 244
CURIUM ISOTOPES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
FOOD CHAINS
FUEL CYCLE
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
LAKES
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
LMFBR TYPE REACTORS
MASS TRANSFER
NEPTUNIUM 237
NEPTUNIUM ISOTOPES
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
PLANTS
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
REACTORS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SURFACE WATERS
THORIUM ISOTOPES
WASTES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES