Plutonium measurements in the environment of the nuclear site of Marcoule

A contamination of ground higher than the national average has been measured on a 25 km2 surface around the site. This corresponds to: 3 giga-becquerels of plutonium distributed on this surface that represents a surface activity of 120 Bq/m2. In France this average activity of the plutonium is about 50 Bq/m2; 0.6 giga-becquerels of americium 241, distributed on this same surface, that is to say a surface activity about 24 Bq/m2. In France this average surface activity (of Am 241) is in the order of 20 Bq/m2. The low quantities of plutonium cannot induce to a significant exposure for the populations of concerned communes (the calculated doses are inferior to 0.001 mSv by year). (N.C.)