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Radioactivity in Norwegian Waters: Distribution in seawater and sediments, and uptake in marine organisms

Abstract

Prior to the detonation of the first thermonuclear bomb, small amounts of radioactivity, for example in mineral water, were considered to be health enriching. Negative experiences related to thermonuclear bombs and several nuclear accidents have, however, changed people's attitude towards radioactivity during the past 40-50 years. Today, there is a common concern for regular and potential accidental releases of radioactivity from sources such as Sellafield. Although this is important, incorrect assessments of the effects of these releases (e.g. created by uncritical journalism) have the potential to harm the country's fisheries and economy. Therefore, it is of major importance to document up-to-date levels of radioactive contamination of the marine environment, and be able to place these into the proper perspectives. The main topics of the thesis may be summarised as follows: (1) Distribution of Caesium-137, Plutonium-238, Plutonium-239,240 and Americium-241 in sediments with emphasis on the Spitsbergen-Bear Island area, (2) Uptake of Caesium-137 in phytoplankton representative for the Barents and Norwegian Seas phytoplankton communities (laboratory experiments), (3) Bioaccumulation of Caesium-137 in food webs in the Barents and Norwegian Seas, (4) Geographical variations of Caesium-137 in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) along the Norwegian coast, (5) Transport times for Technetium-99 from Sellafield to various  More>>
Publication Date:
Jul 01, 2001
Product Type:
Thesis/Dissertation
Report Number:
INIS-NO-001
Resource Relation:
Other Information: TH: Thesis (Dr. Scient.); 209 refs., 36 figs., 14 tabs; PBD: 2001
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; ARCTIC OCEAN; CESIUM 137; CETACEANS; COASTAL WATERS; ENVIRONMENT; ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT; NORWAY; RADIOACTIVITY; SELLAFIELD REPROCESSING PLANT; TECHNETIUM 99; TRANSFRONTIER CONTAMINATION
OSTI ID:
20272624
Research Organizations:
Bergen Univ. (Norway). Dept. of Chemistry
Country of Origin:
Norway
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Other: ISBN 82-7406-049-0; TRN: NO0200132036808
Availability:
Available from INIS in electronic form
Submitting Site:
NWN
Size:
[126] pages
Announcement Date:
Sep 11, 2002

Citation Formats

Heldal, Hilde Elise. Radioactivity in Norwegian Waters: Distribution in seawater and sediments, and uptake in marine organisms. Norway: N. p., 2001. Web.
Heldal, Hilde Elise. Radioactivity in Norwegian Waters: Distribution in seawater and sediments, and uptake in marine organisms. Norway.
Heldal, Hilde Elise. 2001. "Radioactivity in Norwegian Waters: Distribution in seawater and sediments, and uptake in marine organisms." Norway.
@misc{etde_20272624,
title = {Radioactivity in Norwegian Waters: Distribution in seawater and sediments, and uptake in marine organisms}
author = {Heldal, Hilde Elise}
abstractNote = {Prior to the detonation of the first thermonuclear bomb, small amounts of radioactivity, for example in mineral water, were considered to be health enriching. Negative experiences related to thermonuclear bombs and several nuclear accidents have, however, changed people's attitude towards radioactivity during the past 40-50 years. Today, there is a common concern for regular and potential accidental releases of radioactivity from sources such as Sellafield. Although this is important, incorrect assessments of the effects of these releases (e.g. created by uncritical journalism) have the potential to harm the country's fisheries and economy. Therefore, it is of major importance to document up-to-date levels of radioactive contamination of the marine environment, and be able to place these into the proper perspectives. The main topics of the thesis may be summarised as follows: (1) Distribution of Caesium-137, Plutonium-238, Plutonium-239,240 and Americium-241 in sediments with emphasis on the Spitsbergen-Bear Island area, (2) Uptake of Caesium-137 in phytoplankton representative for the Barents and Norwegian Seas phytoplankton communities (laboratory experiments), (3) Bioaccumulation of Caesium-137 in food webs in the Barents and Norwegian Seas, (4) Geographical variations of Caesium-137 in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) along the Norwegian coast, (5) Transport times for Technetium-99 from Sellafield to various locations along the Norwegian coast and the Arctic Ocean.}
place = {Norway}
year = {2001}
month = {Jul}
}