Accumulation and potential dissolution of Chernobyl-derived radionuclides in river bottom sediment

Title: Accumulation and potential dissolution of Chernobyl-derived radionuclides in river bottom sediment

Author: Sanada, Yukihisa / Matsunaga, Takeshi / Yanase, Nobuyuki / Nagao, Seiya / Amano, Hikaru / Takada, Hideshige / Tkachenko, Yuri

Reference: Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 56 (5), p.751-760, May 2002

DOI: 10.1016/S0969-8043(01)00274-3

Keywords: Chernobyl; River bottom sediment; Sequential selective extraction; ¹³⁷Cs; ⁹⁰Sr; ^239,240Pu; ²⁴¹Am

Abstract: Areas contaminated with radionuclides from the Chernobyl nuclear accident have been identified in Pripyat River near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. The river bottom sediment cores contained ¹³⁷Cs ( 10⁵– 10⁶ Bq/m²) within 0–30 cm depth, whose concentration is comparable to that in the ground soil in the vicinity of the nuclear power plant (the Exclusion Zone). The sediment cores also accumulated ⁹⁰Sr ( 10⁵ Bq/m²), ^239,240Pu ( 10⁴ Bq/m²) and ²⁴¹Am ( 10⁴ Bq/m²) derived from the accident. Several nuclear fuel particles have been preserved at 20–25 cm depth that is the peak area of the concentrations of the radionuclides. Th ese inventories in the bottom sediments were compared with those of the released radionuclides during the accident. An analysis using a selective sequential extraction technique was applied for the radionuclides in the sediments. Results suggest that the possibility of release of ¹³⁷Cs and ^239,240Pu from the bottom sediment was low compared with ⁹⁰Sr. The potential dissolution and subsequent transport of ⁹⁰Sr from the river bottom sediment should be taken into account with respect to the long-term radiological influence on the aquatic environment.

URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0969804301002743

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