Tracing anthropogenic nuclear activity with 129I in lake sediment

E. Englund; A. Aldahan; G. Possnert

doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2007.07.010

Tracing anthropogenic nuclear activity with ¹²⁹I in lake sediment

E. Englund, A. Aldahan, G. Possnert

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study reports the first data of ¹²⁹I fallout in Scandinavia, covering the last 80 years. The investigation is based on sediment sections from a lake in central Sweden. In addition to analysis of ¹²⁹I, a combination of several radionuclides (²¹⁰Pb, ¹³⁷Cs and ¹⁴C) was used to establish an accurate chronology of the sediment profile. The concentration of ¹²⁹I exhibits an increasing trend (∼10⁷ to ∼10⁹ atoms/g) during the last 40 years, suggesting a significant atmospheric input from the nuclear reprocessing facilities in Sellafield (UK) and La Hague (France). A peak corresponding to fallout from the Chernobyl accident (1986) is clearly distinguishable, whereas the impact of fallout from the nuclear weapons' tests since the early 1950s is not distinguished.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	219-229
Number of pages	11
Journal	Journal of Environmental Radioactivity
Volume	99
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2007.07.010
Publication status	Published - Feb 2008
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Chernobyl
Iodine-129
Nuclear reprocessing
Sediment
Tracer

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Environmental Chemistry
Waste Management and Disposal
Pollution
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Access to Document

10.1016/j.jenvrad.2007.07.010

Cite this

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title = "Tracing anthropogenic nuclear activity with 129I in lake sediment",

abstract = "This study reports the first data of 129I fallout in Scandinavia, covering the last 80 years. The investigation is based on sediment sections from a lake in central Sweden. In addition to analysis of 129I, a combination of several radionuclides (210Pb, 137Cs and 14C) was used to establish an accurate chronology of the sediment profile. The concentration of 129I exhibits an increasing trend (∼107 to ∼109 atoms/g) during the last 40 years, suggesting a significant atmospheric input from the nuclear reprocessing facilities in Sellafield (UK) and La Hague (France). A peak corresponding to fallout from the Chernobyl accident (1986) is clearly distinguishable, whereas the impact of fallout from the nuclear weapons' tests since the early 1950s is not distinguished.",

keywords = "Chernobyl, Iodine-129, Nuclear reprocessing, Sediment, Tracer",

author = "E. Englund and A. Aldahan and G. Possnert",

note = "Funding Information: This study was made possible through financial support from Carl Tryggers Foundation for Scientific Research and the Swedish Radiation Protection Authority. We also wish to acknowledge Anders Broberg from Uppsala University, for his help with measurements of 137 Cs, Sin{\'e}ad Keogh from the University College, Dublin for the measurement of 127 I, and Per Roos, the Ris{\"o} National Laboratory, Denmark, for discussing the 210 Pb results. We thank the five anonymous JER reviewers for constructive comments.",

year = "2008",

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AU - Englund, E.

AU - Aldahan, A.

AU - Possnert, G.

N1 - Funding Information: This study was made possible through financial support from Carl Tryggers Foundation for Scientific Research and the Swedish Radiation Protection Authority. We also wish to acknowledge Anders Broberg from Uppsala University, for his help with measurements of 137 Cs, Sinéad Keogh from the University College, Dublin for the measurement of 127 I, and Per Roos, the Risö National Laboratory, Denmark, for discussing the 210 Pb results. We thank the five anonymous JER reviewers for constructive comments.

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N2 - This study reports the first data of 129I fallout in Scandinavia, covering the last 80 years. The investigation is based on sediment sections from a lake in central Sweden. In addition to analysis of 129I, a combination of several radionuclides (210Pb, 137Cs and 14C) was used to establish an accurate chronology of the sediment profile. The concentration of 129I exhibits an increasing trend (∼107 to ∼109 atoms/g) during the last 40 years, suggesting a significant atmospheric input from the nuclear reprocessing facilities in Sellafield (UK) and La Hague (France). A peak corresponding to fallout from the Chernobyl accident (1986) is clearly distinguishable, whereas the impact of fallout from the nuclear weapons' tests since the early 1950s is not distinguished.

AB - This study reports the first data of 129I fallout in Scandinavia, covering the last 80 years. The investigation is based on sediment sections from a lake in central Sweden. In addition to analysis of 129I, a combination of several radionuclides (210Pb, 137Cs and 14C) was used to establish an accurate chronology of the sediment profile. The concentration of 129I exhibits an increasing trend (∼107 to ∼109 atoms/g) during the last 40 years, suggesting a significant atmospheric input from the nuclear reprocessing facilities in Sellafield (UK) and La Hague (France). A peak corresponding to fallout from the Chernobyl accident (1986) is clearly distinguishable, whereas the impact of fallout from the nuclear weapons' tests since the early 1950s is not distinguished.

KW - Chernobyl

KW - Iodine-129

KW - Nuclear reprocessing

KW - Sediment

KW - Tracer

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