Geochemistry of artificial actinide isotopes in west Cumbrian sediments

Francis R. Livens*, Olivia J. Marsden, Miranda J. Keith-Roach, Katherine Morris, L. Keith Fifield, Philip Day, Phillip S. Good All

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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    Abstract

    Authorised low level radioactive waste discharges to sea from the BNFL Sellafield reprocessing plant have led to the accumulation of a wide range of radionuclides in intertidal sediments. The distributions of Pu and Am suggest that these elements are largely immobile in the sediments. Little information can be obtained from most U isotopes but 236U shows a very clear pattern which can be related to changes in reprocessing operations at Sellafield. The profile distribution of 237Np appears not to reflect the likely discharge history, suggesting that this element is mobile. A more detailed study of transuranic element concentrations in sediment pore waters shows that only about 1% of the sediment inventories is in the solution phase. There is an annual cycle in dissolved Pu concentrations although there appears to be no trend in Np or Am.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)939-942
    Number of pages4
    JournalJournal of Nuclear Science and Technology
    Volume39
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Nov 2002

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