Strontium-90 and cesium-137 in sea sediments from July, 1981, to January, 1982

Sediment was collected in the same area as that of sea water sampling, taking the following criteria into account: the depth of water exceeds 1 m at low tide, no significant sedimental movement is observed in the vicinity of concern, mud, silt and fine sand are preferable. A conventional sediment sampling device was used for collecting a top few cm of surface sediment. Approximately 4 kg of the sample in wet weight was spread on a large porcelain dish and dried in an electric oven to a constant weight. After removal of pebbles, shells and other foreign matters, the sediment sample was dried in a hot air oven, and ground finely with a mortar. The sample was passed through a 20 mesh sieve, and heated in the presence of strontium and cesium carriers with sodium hydroxide. Then it was heated with hydrochloric acid, and the radiochemical separation of strontium-90 and cesium-137 was performed. The mounted precipitates were counted for activity, and after the correction of net counting rates, concentrations of these nuclides were calculated. The maximum values obtained were 22 pCi/kg of Sr-90 and 220 pCi/kg of Sc-137 in Mutsu-bay in August, 1981. (Kako, I.)