Published 1998
| Version v1
Journal article
Current levels of Pu isotopes and 137Cs at the former Soviet Union's Semipalantisk nuclear test site
Creators
- 1. Kanazawa Univ., Ishikawa (Japan). Low Level Radioactivity Laboratory
- 2. National Inst. of Agro-Environmental Sciences, Ibaraki (Japan)
- 3. Kyoto Univ. (Japan). Kyoto Institute of Economic Research
Description
This paper is a report on our survey of residual radioactivity in the soil of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site in the former USSR. The soil was sampled at approximately 30 sites along the roads connecting Kurchatov City, ground zero for the first USSR nuclear test, Balapan, Degelen Mountain and Salzhal settlement. The radioactivity levels of 137Cs, 238Pu and 239,240Pu as well as the 240Pu/239Pu atomic ratios in the soil were determined. Although 137Cs was within typical environmental levels except for an area near ground zero, 239,240Pu was at elevated levels contaminated with weapons-grade plutonium in all areas we visited. (orig.)
Additional details
Publishing Information
- Journal Title
- Radiochimica Acta
- Journal Volume
- 81
- Journal Issue
- 1
- Journal Page Range
- p. 21-28
- ISSN
- 0033-8230
- CODEN
- RAACAP
INIS
- Country of Publication
- Germany
- Country of Input or Organization
- Germany
- INIS RN
- 29054098
- Subject category
- S54: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES;
- Descriptors DEI
- ALPHA SPECTROSCOPY; CESIUM 137; GAMMA SPECTROSCOPY; LAND POLLUTION CONTROL; PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES; SEMIPALATINSK TEST SITE; SOILS
- Descriptors DEC
- BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES; BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES; CESIUM ISOTOPES; CONTROL; INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI; ISOTOPES; NUCLEI; ODD-EVEN NUCLEI; POLLUTION CONTROL; RADIOISOTOPES; SPECTROSCOPY; YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES