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Title: Plutonium Isotopes in the Terrestrial Environment at the Savannah River Site, USA. A Long-Term Study

Abstract

This work presents the findings of a long term plutonium study at Savannah River Site (SRS) conducted between 2003 and 2013. Terrestrial environmental samples were obtained at Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) in A-area. Plutonium content and isotopic abundances were measured over this time period by alpha spectrometry and three stage thermal ionization mass spectrometry (3STIMS). Here we detail the complete sample collection, radiochemical separation, and measurement procedure specifically targeted to trace plutonium in bulk environmental samples. Total plutonium activities were determined to be not significantly above atmospheric global fallout. However, the 238Pu/239+240Pu activity ratios attributed to SRS are above atmospheric global fallout ranges. The 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios are reasonably consistent from year to year and are lower than fallout, while the 242Pu/239Pu atom ratios are higher than fallout values. Overall, the plutonium signatures obtained in this study reflect a mixture of weapons-grade, higher burn-up, and fallout material. This study provides a blue print for long term low level monitoring of plutonium in the environment.

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1]
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  1. Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River National Lab. (SRNL)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1146964
Report Number(s):
SRNL-L2200-2014-00067
Journal ID: ISSN 0013-936X
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC09-08SR22470
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Environmental Science and Technology
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 49; Journal Issue: 3; Journal ID: ISSN 0013-936X
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Citation Formats

Armstrong, Christopher R., Nuessle, Patterson R., Brant, Heather A., Hall, Gregory, Halverson, Justin E., and Cadieux, James R. Plutonium Isotopes in the Terrestrial Environment at the Savannah River Site, USA. A Long-Term Study. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.1021/es504147d.
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Armstrong, Christopher R., Nuessle, Patterson R., Brant, Heather A., Hall, Gregory, Halverson, Justin E., & Cadieux, James R. Plutonium Isotopes in the Terrestrial Environment at the Savannah River Site, USA. A Long-Term Study. United States. https://doi.org/10.1021/es504147d
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Armstrong, Christopher R., Nuessle, Patterson R., Brant, Heather A., Hall, Gregory, Halverson, Justin E., and Cadieux, James R. Fri . "Plutonium Isotopes in the Terrestrial Environment at the Savannah River Site, USA. A Long-Term Study". United States. https://doi.org/10.1021/es504147d. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1146964.
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@article{osti_1146964,
title = {Plutonium Isotopes in the Terrestrial Environment at the Savannah River Site, USA. A Long-Term Study},
author = {Armstrong, Christopher R. and Nuessle, Patterson R. and Brant, Heather A. and Hall, Gregory and Halverson, Justin E. and Cadieux, James R.},
abstractNote = {This work presents the findings of a long term plutonium study at Savannah River Site (SRS) conducted between 2003 and 2013. Terrestrial environmental samples were obtained at Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) in A-area. Plutonium content and isotopic abundances were measured over this time period by alpha spectrometry and three stage thermal ionization mass spectrometry (3STIMS). Here we detail the complete sample collection, radiochemical separation, and measurement procedure specifically targeted to trace plutonium in bulk environmental samples. Total plutonium activities were determined to be not significantly above atmospheric global fallout. However, the 238Pu/239+240Pu activity ratios attributed to SRS are above atmospheric global fallout ranges. The 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios are reasonably consistent from year to year and are lower than fallout, while the 242Pu/239Pu atom ratios are higher than fallout values. Overall, the plutonium signatures obtained in this study reflect a mixture of weapons-grade, higher burn-up, and fallout material. This study provides a blue print for long term low level monitoring of plutonium in the environment.},
doi = {10.1021/es504147d},
journal = {Environmental Science and Technology},
number = 3,
volume = 49,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 16 00:00:00 EST 2015},
month = {Fri Jan 16 00:00:00 EST 2015}
}
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https://doi.org/10.1021/es504147d
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    Works referencing / citing this record:

    Anthropogenic plutonium-244 in the environment: Insights into plutonium’s longest-lived isotope
    journal, February 2016

    • Armstrong, Christopher R.; Brant, Heather A.; Nuessle, Patterson R.
    • Scientific Reports, Vol. 6, Issue 1
    • DOI: 10.1038/srep21512
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