A survey of present levels of radiocesium in Swedish pulp mill liquors and the implications for wood radiocesium transfer factors. Using Kraft mill liquors as an indicator of wood radiocesium contamination

A survey was initiated to depict and compare the present activity levels in pulp mill liquors from various mill locations. The 137Cs levels in pulp mill liquors were compared with the mill location and the deposition pattern of the Chernobyl fallout and nuclear weapons fallout. The large input of wood (about 2500 m3 per day) to an average Nordic Kraft mill and the relatively long-term retention time for radiocesium in the Kraft mill recovery cycle enables representative sampling of substances directly related to the activity concentration in wood. (author)