129I in lakes of the Chernobyl fallout region and its environmental implications

Title: ¹²⁹I in lakes of the Chernobyl fallout region and its environmental implications

Author: N Buraglio, A Aldahan, G Possnert

Reference: Applied Radiation and Isotopes, Volume 55, Issue 5, November 2001, Pages 715-720

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0969-8043(00)00353-5

Keywords: Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS); Iodine; Deposition; Chernobyl; Reprocessing facilities

Abstract: We present seasonal results of ¹²⁹I in fresh-water lakes located in central Sweden, an area over which the amount of fallout deposition from the Chernobyl accident varied significantly (2–120 kBq/m² for ¹³⁷Cs). ¹²⁹I concentrations in the lakes ranged from 2.1 to 15.0×10⁸ atoms per liter and did not show elevated concentration in lakes located in regions of high Chernobyl fallout. Apparently, the studied region is strongly influenced by ¹²⁹I releases from the reprocessing facilities through precipitation. Desorption or resuspension of ¹²⁹I from soils and sediments does not seem to be an active process to increase the concentration of ¹²⁹I in the lakes.

URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0969804300003535

Determination of plutonium from different sources in environmental samples using alpha-spectrometry and AMS

Title: Determination of plutonium from different sources in environmental samples using alpha-spectrometry and AMS

Author:　Bisinger, T. ; Hippler, S. ; Michel, R. ; Wacker, L.; Synal, H.-A.

Reference: Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research, Section B (Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms) April 2010, vol.268, no.7-8, pp. 1269-72.

DOI: 10.1016/j.nimb.2009.10.150

Keywords: Plutonium; Chernobyl; Fallout; AMS; Alpha-spectrometry

Abstract: A reliable and sensitive method for the determination of plutonium in environmental samples by a combined use of alpha-spectrometry and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) is presented. Different environmental samples contaminated with plutonium from the Chernobyl accident and other sources were investigated using both methods. Plutonium was chemically separated using extraction chromatography. As a chemical yield tracer, ²⁴²Pu was applied for both AMS and alpha-spectrometry. After the alpha-spectrometric measurements, the samples were converted to targets suitable for the AMS measurements. AMS was especially chosen in addition to alpha-spectrometry, because it allows the determination of ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu isotopic ratios as well as detecting the beta-emitting radionuclide ²⁴¹Pu. Besides the generally used activity ratios of ²³⁸Pu/^239,240Pu, there are now further optional isotopic ratios available using this method. By combining AMS with alpha-spectrometry, all relevant plutonium isotopes can be measured. Thereby a reliable distinction of different sources of plutonium in the environment is possible.

URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168583X09011999

Analysis of 129I in lichens by accelerator mass spectrometry through a microwave-based sample preparation method

Title: Analysis of ¹²⁹I in lichens by accelerator mass spectrometry through a microwave-based sample preparation method

Author:　Go´mez-Guzma´n, J.M.; Lo´pez-Guti´errez, J.M.; Pinto, A.R.; Holm, M.E.; Garci´a-Leo´n, M.

Reference: Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research, Section B (Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms) April 2010, vol.268, no.7-8, pp. 1171-4.

DOI: 10.1016/j.nimb.2009.10.126

Keywords: Iodine-129; Lichen; Reprocessing plants; Fall-out; Chernobyl; AMS

Abstract: The presence of ¹²⁹I in the environment has been strongly influenced by the artificial nuclear emissions since the beginning of the nuclear era in the mid 20th century. In order to know more about the different sources and their relative impact in different zones, it is necessary to complete the amount of measurements of this radionuclide in environmental samples. In this work, ¹²⁹I has been determined in lichen samples (Cladonia alpestris) from Rogen Lake in Central Sweden. A method based on microwave digestion was developed for these measurements in order to improve speed and reduce contamination. Based on this method, ¹²⁹I concentrations in some lichen samples from Lake Rogen (Sweden) have been measured, showing the impact of the Chernobyl accident and nuclear fuel reprocessing plants.

URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168583X09011756

Iodine-129 in soils from Northern Ukraine and the retrospective dosimetry of the iodine-131 exposure after the Chernobyl accident

• Title: Iodine-129 in soils from Northern Ukraine and the retrospective dosimetry of the iodine-131 exposure after the Chernobyl accident

Author: Michel, R. / Handl, J. / Ernst, T. / Botsch, W. / Szidat, S. / Schmidt, A. / Jakob, D. / (…) / López-Gutiérrez, J.M.

Reference: Science of The Total Environment, 340 (1-3), p.35-55, Mar 2005

doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2004.08.006

Keywords: Iodine-129; Iodine-131; Accelerator mass spectrometry; Radiochemical neutron activation analysis; Retrospective dosimetry; Radionuclide migration

Abstract: Forty-eight soil profiles down to a depth of 40 cm were taken in Russia and Ukraine in 1995 and 1997, respectively, in order to investigate the feasibility of retrospective dosimetry of the ¹³¹I exposure after the Chernobyl accident via the long-lived ¹²⁹I. The sampling sites covered areas almost not affected by fallout from the Chernobyl accident such as Moscow/Russia and the Zhitomir district in Ukraine as well as the highly contaminated Korosten and Narodici districts in Ukraine.

URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004896970400590X