Abstract
Isotopes of plutonium (Pu), cesium (Cs), and cobalt (Co) introduced into the Hudson River Estuary from fallout deposition, the erosion of fallout-contaminated surface soils, and nuclear reactor effluent (isotopes of Cs and Co only) have been measured in water column samples collected from 1975 to 1980 Isotopic measurements conducted independently by two research groups utilizing different sampling and analytical techniques have been summarized. The major conclusions drawn from the work are that for water samples collected by the two laboratories over similar time periods, the mean concentrations of nonfilterable239,240Pu (<0.45 μm) were identical at 0.13 fCi/l, mean concentrations of both137Cs and239,240Pu in suspended particulates were more divergent at 2,270±920 pCi/kg (±1 SD) and 1,430±430 pCi/kg for137Cs, and 19±8 pCi/kg and 12±4 pCi/kg for239,240Pu
The behavior of239,240Pu and137Cs within the water column is shown to diverge within brackish waters Specifically, the magnitude of the137Cs distribution coefficient (K d ) can be expressed as an inverse power function of the chloride ion concentrations for chlorinities between 0.1 and 4 g Cl−/l No difference in the239,240PuK d has been observed between fresh and brackish waters
Based on the expected inventories of239,240Pu and137Cs within watershed soils, the current downstream transport of these radionuclides represents fractional mobilization rates on the order of 1–4 (×10−4) per year
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References Cited
Altshuler, B., and B. S. Pasternack, 1963, Statistical measures of the lower limit of detection of a radioactivity counter: Health Physics, v. 9, p. 293–298.
Battlle, 1981, Transuranium and other long-lived radionuclides in the terrestrial environs of nuclear power plants: Richland, Wash., Battelle, Pacific Northwest Laboratory, EA-2045, 103 pp.
Bennett, B. G., 1978. Environmental aspects of americium: Ph.D. dissertation, New York University, New York, 200 pp.
Consolidated Edison Company, Inc., 1980, Semi-annual effluent release reports for 1980
Currie, L. A., 1968, Limits for qualitative detection and quantitative determination: Application to radiochemistry: Anal. Chem., v 40, p. 586–593.
Environmental Measurements Laboratory, 1982, Q. Rep. EML-405: Department of Energy, 376 Hudson St, New York, NY.
EPRI, 1979, Activity levels of transuranic nuclides in low level solid wastes from U.S power reactors: Electric Power Research Institute, EPRI-NP-1052. Interim Report, 34 pp.
Hairr, L. 1974, An investigation of factors influencing radiocessium cycling in estuarine sediments of the Hudson River: Ph.D. thesis, New York University, New York, 183 pp.
Hardy, E. P., P. R. Krey, and H. L. Volchok, 1973, Global inventory and distribution of fallout plutonium: Nature, v. 241, p. 444–445
Jinks, S. M., and M. E. Wrenn, 1976, Radiocesium transport in the Hudson River Estuary,In M. W. Miller, and J. N. Stannard, eds.,Environmental toxicity of aquatic radionuclides. Models and mechanisms: Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor Sci., p. 207–227.
Lentsch, J. W., 1974, The fate of gamma-emitting radionuclide released into the Hudson River estuary and an evaluation of their environmental significance: Ph.D. thesis, New York University, New York, 608 pp.
Linsalata, P., M. E. Wrenn, N. Cohen, and N. P. Singh, 1980,239,240Pu and238Pu in sediments of the Hudson Riverestuary Environ. Sci. Technol., v. 14, p. 1519–1523.
Linsalata, P., and N. Cohen, 1982, Zirconium/Niobium−95 determined in Hudson River water. Health Physics, v. 43, p. 742–744.
Linsalata P., 1984, Sources, distribution and mobility of plutonium and radiocesium in soils, sediments and water of the Hudson River and watershed: Ph.D. thesis, New York University, New York, 400 pp.
Liuzzi, A., and B. S. Pasternak, 1967, Analysis of multichannel gamma ray spectrometer data with adjustment for gain and baseline discrepancies; Nucl. Instrm. Methods, v. 57, p. 229–236.
New York Power Authority, 1980, Semi-annual effluent release reports for 1980.
New York University Medical Center, 1973 and 1980, Radioecological studies of the Hudson River: Annual progress reports to the Consolidated Edison Co., Inc., New York, and the New York Power Authority.
Olsen, C. R., 1979, Radionuclides, sedimentation and the accumulation of pollutants in the Hudson estuary: Ph.D. thesis, Columbia University, New York, 343 pp.
Olsen, C. R., H. J. Simpson, R. F. Bopp, S. C. Williams, T.-H. Peng, and B. L. Deck, 1978, Geochemical analysis of the sediments and sedimentation in the Hudson estuary: J. Sed. Petrol. v. 48, p. 401–418
Olsen, C. R., H. J. Simpson, and R. M. Trier, 1981a. Plutonium, radiocesium and radiocobalt in sediments of the Hudson River estuary: Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., v. 55, p 377–392.
Olsen, C. R., H. J. Simpson, T.-H. Peng, R. F. Bopp and R. M. Trier, 1981b, Sediment mixing and accumulation rate effects on radionuclide depth profiles in Hudson estuary sediments: J. Geophys. Res. v. 86, p. 11,020–11,028.
Pigford, T. H., and K. P. Ang, 1975, The plutonium fuel cycles. Health Physics, v. 29, p. 451–468.
Sill, C. W., F. D. Hindman, and J. I Anderson, 1979, Simultaneous determination of alpha-emitting nuclides of radium through californium in large environmental and biological samples. Anal. Chem., v 51, p. 1307–1314.
Simpson, H. J., C. R. Olsen, R. M. Trier, and S. C. Williams, 1976, Man-made radionuclides and sedimentation in the Hudson River estuary. Science, v. 194, p. 179–183.
Simpson, H. J., C. R. Olsen, R. Bopp, R. M. Trier, and S. C. Williams, 1978, Cesium-137 as a tracer for reactive pollutants in estuarine sediments,in First American-Soviet symposium on chemical pollution of the marine environment: Gulf Breeze, FL, U.S. Environ. Protect Agency, EPA-600/9-78-038, p. 102–113.
Simpson, H. J., R. F. Bopp, B. L. Deck, and C. R. Olsen, 1980a, Fluxes and behavior of reactive materials in urban estuaries,in J. D. Burton, ed., Proceedings of river inputs to ocean systems: New York, United Nations, 343–351.
Simpson, H. J., R. M. Trier, and C. R. Olsen, 1980b, Transport of plutonium by rivers,in W. C. Hanson, ed., Transuranic elements in the environment: Washington, D.C., DOE/TIC-22800, Technical Information Center/U.S. Dept. of Energy, p. 684–690.
Simpson, H. J., R. M. Trier, C. R. Olsen, D. E. Hammond, A. Ege, L. Miller and J. M. Melack, 1980c, Fallout plutonium in an alkaline, saline lake: Science v. 207, p. 1071–1073.
Wong, K. M., 1971, Radiochemical determination of plutonium in sea water, sediments and organisms: Anal. Chim. Acta, v. 56, p. 355–364.
Wrenn, M. E., J. W. Lentsch, M. Eisenbud, G. J. Lauer, and G. P. Howells, 1971, Radiocesium distribution in water, sediment, and biota in the Hudson River estuary from 1964 through 1970,in Proc. 3rd Natl. Symp. on Radioecology: Oak Ridge, TN, p. 334.
Wrenn, M. E., S. M. Jinks, L. M. Hairr, A. S. Paschoa, and J. W. Lentsch, 1975, Natural activity in Hudson River estuary samples and their influence on the detection limits for gamma-emitting radionuclides using NaI gamma spectrometry,in Proc. 2nd Inter. Symp. on the Natural Radiation Environ: CONF-720805-P2, Houston, TX, p. 897–916.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Linsalata, P., Simpson, H.J., Olsen, C.R. et al. Plutonium and radiocesium in the water column of the Hudson River estuary. Environ. Geol. Water Sci 7, 193–204 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02509920
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02509920