Global fallout Pu recorded in lacustrine sediments in Lake Hongfeng, SW China

Studies on the distribution and isotope compositions of fallout Pu are important for source characterization of possible future non-fallout Pu contamination in aquatic environments, and useful for dating of recent sediments to understand the pollution history of environmental contaminants. We presen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental pollution (1987) 2008-03, Vol.152 (2), p.314-321
Main Authors: Zheng, Jian, Wu, Fengchang, Yamada, Masatoshi, Liao, Haiqing, Liu, Congqiang, Wan, Guojiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
atmospheric deposition
Atmospheric pollution
Cesium - analysis
China
Environmental Monitoring - methods
Exact sciences and technology
Fresh Water
Freshwater
Geologic Sediments - chemistry
Global fallout
Lacustrine sediments
Lake Hongfeng
lakes
plutonium
Plutonium - analysis
Pollutants physicochemistry study: properties, effects, reactions, transport and distribution
Pollution
Pu isotope pollution
Radiation Monitoring - methods
Radioactive Fallout - analysis
radionuclides
sediment contamination
SF-ICP-MS
Soil Pollutants, Radioactive - analysis
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Summary:Studies on the distribution and isotope compositions of fallout Pu are important for source characterization of possible future non-fallout Pu contamination in aquatic environments, and useful for dating of recent sediments to understand the pollution history of environmental contaminants. We present the historical record of atmospheric Pu fallout reconstructed from a sediment core from Lake Hongfeng, China. The Pu activity profile was in agreement with the 137Cs profile. Inventories were 50.7 Bq m −2 for 239+240Pu and 1586 Bq m −2 for 137Cs. The average 240Pu/ 239Pu atom ratio was 0.185 ± 0.009, indicating that Pu originated from global stratospheric fallout rather than from direct tropospheric or close-in fallout from the Chinese nuclear testing conducted in the 1970s. Our data suggested that Lake Hongfeng would be an ideal setting for monitoring atmospheric fallout and environmental changes in this region. Fallout Pu recorded in sediments can be used for quick dating of recent sediments to understand the pollution history of environmental contaminants.
ISSN:0269-7491
1873-6424
DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2007.06.027