The Distribution and History of Nuclear Weapons Related Contamination in Sediments from the Ob River, Siberia as Determined by Isotopic Ratios of Plutonium Neptunium, and Cesium

This thesis addresses the sources and transport of nuclear weapons related contamination in the Ob River region. The atom ratios 240Pu/239Pu, 237Np/239Pu, and 137Cs/240Pu, contained in sediments from the region and measured by magnetic-sector ICP-MS, are used to distinguish between global fallout an...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Kenna, Timothy C.
Other Authors: MASSACHUSETTS INST OF TECH CAMBRIDGE
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: 2002
Subjects:
Nuclear Weapons
Radiation Pollution and Control
*NUCLEAR WEAPONS
*RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION
RATIOS
THESES
CESIUM
ISOTOPES
RIVERS
SEDIMENTS
PLUTONIUM
SIBERIA
NEPTUNIUM
OB RIVER
ob river
Siberia
Online Access:http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA405869
http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA405869
Description
Summary:This thesis addresses the sources and transport of nuclear weapons related contamination in the Ob River region. The atom ratios 240Pu/239Pu, 237Np/239Pu, and 137Cs/240Pu, contained in sediments from the region and measured by magnetic-sector ICP-MS, are used to distinguish between global fallout and contamination derived from local sources. Data presented in this study demonstrate that non-fallout contamination has been transported the full length of the tributaries draining the nuclear facilities, Mayak, Semipalitinsk, and Tomsk-7. In some cases, contamination originating from one or more of these facilities has been transported as far as the Ob delta. Linear transport rate estimates (km yr-1) indicate that contaminated sediments transit between source tributaries and the Ob delta rapidly (i.e. 0 to 1 yr.), suggesting that a catastrophic release of contamination at fuel reprocessing facilities would result in measurable levels of contamination in the delta within 1-2 years. Sequential extraction experiments indicate that the majority of plutonium and neptunium (80 to 90 percent) are not truly refractory and likely associate with redox sensitive sedimentary components. Only a minor fraction of contamination is associated with acid leachable or acid degestible sedimentary phases. Sponsored in part by Grant EAR-98-07590. Prepared in cooperation with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, MA.

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