The behavior of actinides in the environments

A review of actinide behavior in the environment is presented with emphasis on chemical, physical, and biological factors that influence actinide mobility in ecosystems. Available data from terrestrial and fresh water ecosystems suggest that physical processes which result in the transport of soils and sediments dominate in the translational movement of plutonium and, as well, dominate in the transport of this element through lower trophic levels. Exceptions to that statement occur in arctic ecosystems and in deep oceans. Regardless of mode of transport, plutonium levels in higher trophic levels including man are very low indicating the low solubility of this element in the environment. Very few data on the behavior of the other actinides in the environment are currently available although theoretical considerations and limited laboratory experiments suggest that many of the actinides are more mobile than plutonium. (orig.)