Abstract
Depth profiles and inventories of237Np in sediment cores from the Ribble Estuary in the Irish Sea have been studied along with those of Pu isotopes,241Am and137Cs, to allow a more detailed look of anomalously high237Np content observed in this estuary previously. The comprehensive data obtained showed that the depth profiles of both237Np contents and237Np/239,240Pu activity ratios were clearly different from those of239,240Pu,241Am, and137Cs and their activity ratios. As much as 80–90% of237Np inventories (0.32–1.06 kBq/m2), found in three cores, were estimated to be derived from a source other than Sellafield, on the basis of comparison of the237Np/239,240Pu inventory ratio (0.65–1.74%) found in the Ribble Estuary cores with those (0.10–0.16%) in the Ravenglass Estuary cores.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
BNFL, Annual Report on Radioactive Discharges and Monitoring of the Environment, 1978–1989, BNFL, Ristey, Warrington (1979–1990).
G.J. HUNT, Radioactivity in Surface and Coastal Waters of the British Isles, 1978–1989. Aquatic Environment Monitoring Reports, MAFF, Lowestoft, (1980–1990).
S.R. ASTON, D.J. ASSINDER, M. KELLY, Coastal and Shelf Sci., 20 (1985) 761.
D.J. ASSINDER, M. YAMAMOTO, C.K. KIM, R. SEKI, Y. TAKAKU, Y. YAMAUCHI, K. KOMURA, K. UENO, G.S. BOURNE, J. Environ. Radioact., 14 (1991) 135.
M. YAMAMOTO, K. CHATANI, K. KOMURA, K. UENO, Radiochim. Act., 47 (1989) 63.
M. YAMAMOTO, H. KOFUJI, A. TUMURA, S. YAMAZAKI, K. YUITA, M. KOMAMURA, K. KOMURA, K. UENO, Radiochim. Acta., in press.
S. BALLESTRA, D. VAS, J.J. LOPEZ, V. NOSHKIN, Report of the Intercomparison Run, IAEA-306, 307, 308, IAEA/AL/013/014/015 (1989).
D.J. ASSINDER, M. YAMAMOTO, C.K. KIM, R. SEKI, Y. TAKAKU, Y. YAMAUCHI, S. IGARASHI, K. KOMURA, K. UENO, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem., 170 (1993) 333.
P.J. KERSHAW, D.S. WOODHEAD, S.J. MALCOLM, D.J. ALLINGTON, M.B. LOVETT, J. Environ. Radioact., 12 (1990) 201.
J.D. EAKINS, A. MORGAN, G.M.N. BASTON, F.W. PRATLEY, L.P. STRANGE, P.J. BURTON, J. Environ. Radioact., 11 (1990) 37.
Y. YAMAUCHI, M. Sc. Thesis, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa Japan (1990).
M. MCCARTNEY, P.M. KERSHAW, D.J. ALLINGTON, A.K. YOUNG, D. TURNER, Radiat. Prot. Dos., 45 (1992) 711.
J. KUWABARA, M. YAMAMOTO, D.J. ASSINDER, in prep.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kuwabara, J., Yamamoto, M., Nagai, H. et al. Anomalously high237Np in intertidal sediments from the Ribble Estuary in the Irish Sea. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Articles 197, 369–385 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02036012
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02036012