Isotopic determination of U, Pu and Cs in environmental waters following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident

• DOI: 10.2343/geochemj.2.0216
• Publication Date: 2013-11-07T22:53:33Z
• Authors: AYA SAKAGUCHI; AKINOBU KADOKURA; PETER STEIER; KAZUYA TANAKA; YOSHIO TAKAHASHI; HARUKA CHIGA; AKIHITO MATSUSHIMA; SATORU NAKASHIMA; YUICHI ONDA
• Keywords: Accelerator mass spectrometry; Nuclide

Concentrations of the radionuclides, U, Pu, and Cs were measured in water samples (10-20 L) to study analyte dispersion migration following Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident. A total 8 including oceanic paddy-field collected vicinity plant. Determinations Pu isotopes performed by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), inductively coupled plasma (ICP-MS), γ-ray spectrometry. The 236U/238U atom ratio was range 1.83-8.20 × 10-9 for fresh around 0.57 seawater while concentration 236U about 104-105 106 atoms/kg, respectively. Plutonium (239,240Pu) detected one riverine sample marine at very low levels with large uncertainty. concentrations 137Cs 0.02-0.46 Bq/kg which are more than three orders magnitude larger global fallout level. As within 80 km offshore FDNPP, 10-20 times higher that Japan Sea water. Also 134Cs similar all samples. results show volatile refractory nuclides such as Cs, U exist dissolved phase, can be readily assimilated plants/humans. However environmental impact FDNPP is considered comparison radionuclide Cs.