Abstract
The distribution of134Cs,137Cs and214Am in surface and core sediments from areas in north Wales has been investigated. Coastal sites show a predominance of Sellafield-derived material for all three radionuclides whereas estuarine sites show an increased proportion of Chemobyl-derived caesium present. By the use of the134Cs/137Cs ratio, a mean proportion of Chemobyl-derived137Cs in surface sediments collected in 1991 fell from 34% at an estuarine site to 11% at a coastal site. In deeper sections of cores representing sedimentation dates near the Chemobyl accident, up to 90% of137Cs at the estuarine site and 26% at the coastal site can be attributed to Chemobyl. By using the position of the Chemobyl134Cs and137Cs peak in the cores, sedimentation rates of 0.7 mm·a−1 were calculated.
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Assinder, D.J., Robinson, C.D., Halsall, J. et al. The distribution and behaviour of artificial radionuclides in sediments of the north Wales coast, U.K.. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Articles 182, 225–235 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02037498
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02037498