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Environmental radioactivity in Caithness and Sutherland. Pt. 1: Food-chain model validation and the attribution of radionuclide sources to deposition

Abstract

This study is part of a continuing programme investigating the behaviour of environmental radioactivity in the vicinity of the AEA Technology establishment at Dounreay, Caithness and Sutherland. The study aims were to assess the applicability of a National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) food-chain model to the Caithness and Sutherland area, and to determine the contribution of different radionuclide sources to activities in measured total deposition in the same region. The NRPB model predicts the movement of radionuclides through the food-chain, and in this study was validated by comparing model outputs with measured crop data (ryegrass and clover). Five radionuclides ({sup 137}Cs, {sup 90}Sr, {sup 239+240}Pu, {sup 238}Pu, {sup 241}Am) were considered. The contribution of different radionuclide sources to activities in total deposition were divided into three categories: Dounreay stack inputs, sea-to-land transfer, and the combined contribution from nuclear weapons testing and Chernobyl fallout. The analyses indicated that the contribution of the Dounreay stack to total deposition was very small for the radionuclides studied. The Chernobyl accident made a large impact on the total deposition of {sup 137}Cs in the study area, and {sup 90}Sr deposition was also affected by this, but to a much lesser extent. The Chernobyl accident appeared  More>>
Authors:
Rose, C L; Halliwell, C M [1] 
  1. AEA Technology, Culham (United Kingdom)
Publication Date:
Jun 01, 1995
Product Type:
Journal Article
Reference Number:
SCA: 540230; PA: AIX-26:059332; EDB-95:131844; SN: 95001462161
Resource Relation:
Journal Name: Nuclear Energy; Journal Volume: 34; Journal Issue: 3; Other Information: PBD: Jun 1995
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; AMERICIUM 241; RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION; CESIUM 137; PLUTONIUM 238; PLUTONIUM 239; PLUTONIUM 240; STRONTIUM 90; UNITED KINGDOM; RADIOACTIVITY; CHERNOBYLSK-4 REACTOR; CLOVER; ENVIRONMENT; FOOD CHAINS; MATHEMATICAL MODELS; NRPB; RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS; REACTOR ACCIDENTS; RELIABILITY; RYE; UKAEA
OSTI ID:
101569
Country of Origin:
United Kingdom
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Journal ID: NEBSDV; ISSN 0140-4067; TRN: GB9501326059332
Submitting Site:
GBN
Size:
pp. 171-192
Announcement Date:
Oct 06, 1995

Citation Formats

Rose, C L, and Halliwell, C M. Environmental radioactivity in Caithness and Sutherland. Pt. 1: Food-chain model validation and the attribution of radionuclide sources to deposition. United Kingdom: N. p., 1995. Web.
Rose, C L, & Halliwell, C M. Environmental radioactivity in Caithness and Sutherland. Pt. 1: Food-chain model validation and the attribution of radionuclide sources to deposition. United Kingdom.
Rose, C L, and Halliwell, C M. 1995. "Environmental radioactivity in Caithness and Sutherland. Pt. 1: Food-chain model validation and the attribution of radionuclide sources to deposition." United Kingdom.
@misc{etde_101569,
title = {Environmental radioactivity in Caithness and Sutherland. Pt. 1: Food-chain model validation and the attribution of radionuclide sources to deposition}
author = {Rose, C L, and Halliwell, C M}
abstractNote = {This study is part of a continuing programme investigating the behaviour of environmental radioactivity in the vicinity of the AEA Technology establishment at Dounreay, Caithness and Sutherland. The study aims were to assess the applicability of a National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) food-chain model to the Caithness and Sutherland area, and to determine the contribution of different radionuclide sources to activities in measured total deposition in the same region. The NRPB model predicts the movement of radionuclides through the food-chain, and in this study was validated by comparing model outputs with measured crop data (ryegrass and clover). Five radionuclides ({sup 137}Cs, {sup 90}Sr, {sup 239+240}Pu, {sup 238}Pu, {sup 241}Am) were considered. The contribution of different radionuclide sources to activities in total deposition were divided into three categories: Dounreay stack inputs, sea-to-land transfer, and the combined contribution from nuclear weapons testing and Chernobyl fallout. The analyses indicated that the contribution of the Dounreay stack to total deposition was very small for the radionuclides studied. The Chernobyl accident made a large impact on the total deposition of {sup 137}Cs in the study area, and {sup 90}Sr deposition was also affected by this, but to a much lesser extent. The Chernobyl accident appeared to have no effect on total Pu deposition in the region. The cessation of nuclear weapons testing and the length of time since Chernobyl meant that actual {sup 137}Cs and {sup 90}Sr deposition as a result of weapons/Chernobyl inputs had reached a low level by the end of the study period (summer 1987). It became evident that a contribution to total deposition was being made by additional factors, thought to be local resuspension of large particles for {sup 137}Cs, and possibly deposition of plant material for {sup 90}Sr. For Pu, sea-to-land transfer was probably an important contributor at coastal sites. (Author).}
journal = []
issue = {3}
volume = {34}
journal type = {AC}
place = {United Kingdom}
year = {1995}
month = {Jun}
}