Skip to main content
Log in

First measurements of 238Pu and 238Pu/137Cs activity ratio in Montenegro soil

  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Plutonium-238 (238Pu) activity concentrations in soil samples from Montenegro (six samples from three localities) have been measured for the first time. The 238Pu/137Cs activity ratio was determined on the basis of alpha and gamma-spectrometric measurements, and found to be with an average of 0.0006 and standard deviation of 0.0003. By using the activity ratios determined in the present study, 238Pu activity concentrations were estimated for three localities in the central: one in the northern, and two in the eastern part of Montenegro.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

References

  1. Sarcevic L, Mihalj A, Kljajic R, Hasanbasic D, Horsic E, Milosevic Z (1983) Migration of Sr-90 and Cs-137 in soils depending on type of soil and altitude. In: Proceedings of the XII Yugoslav symposium on radiation protection, Ohrid, 31 May–3 June 1983, pp 124–127 (in Serbian)

  2. Vukotic P, Antovic N, Dapchevic S, Borisov GI, Kuzmich VV, Kulakov VM, Mirkovic M, Pajovic M, Svrkota R, Fustic B, Djuretic G, Dlabach A (1997) Background gamma-radiation in Montenegro. In: IRPA regional symposium—radiation protection in neighboring countries of central Europe, Prague, pp 477–479

  3. Andreev VV, Bykov VT, Vodin AN, Maksimenko NV, Olejnik SN, Rudak EA, Tulubtsov AJ (2005) The evaluation of plutonium emission in the aerosol form after the accident in the Chernobyl NNP. Preprint of Institute of Physics NAN B, 742, Minsk (in Russian)

  4. Kulakov VM, Kulazhko VG, Lisin SK (1990) Experimental determination of the correlation coefficient between plutonium isotopes and Ce-144 content in soil. Ser Nucl Phys Res 5:149–150 (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Antovic N, Rudak EA, Tulubtsov AJ, Vukotic P (2005) Correlations significant for estimation of transuranium isotopes activities. In: Proceedings of XXIII symposium of the Serbia and Montenegro radiation protection society, Donji Milanovac, Serbia, pp 157–160 (in Serbian)

  6. HASL-300 (1997) EML Procedures manual. Environmental measurements laboratory, US. Department of Energy, 28th edn

  7. Antovic NM, Vukotic P, Svrkota N, Andrukhovich SK (2012) Pu-239+240 and Cs-137 in Montenegro soil—their correlation and origin. J Environ Radioact (Submitted)

  8. Vesterbacka P, Vartti VP, Heikkinen T, Ikaheimonen TK (2010) High-grade radiochemical analyses act a basis for good assessment in radiation protection. In: Proceedings of the third European IRPA Congress, Helsinki, Finland. http://www.irpa2010europe.com/proceedings/P12/P12-10.pdf

  9. Hölgye Z, Schlesingerová E, Tecl J, Filgas R (2004) 238Pu, 239,240Pu, 241Am, 90Sr and 137Cs in soils around nuclear research centre Rez, near Prague. J Environ Radioact 71(2):115–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Baggoura B, Noureddine A, Benkrid M (1998) Level of natural and artificial radioactivity in Algeria. Appl Radiat Isot 49(7):867–873

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Al Hamarneh I, Wreikat A, Toukan K (2003) Radioactivity concentrations of 40K, 134Cs, 137Cs, 90Sr, 241Am, 238Pu and 239+240Pu radionuclides in Jordanian soil samples. J Environ Radioact 67(1):53–67

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Suplińska M, Adamczyk A (2009) Distribution of Cs-137, Pu-239,240, Pu-238, Sr-90, and Ra-226 in bottom sediments of southern Baltic Sea in 2008. Helsinki Commission HELCOM MORS-PRO 14/2009. Project group for monitoring of radioactive substances in the Baltic Sea (MORS), 14th meeting Stockholm, Sweden, 5–7 May

  13. Jia G, Testa C, Desideri D, Guerra F, Meli MA, Roselli C, Belli ME (1999) Soil concentration, vertical distribution and inventory of plutonium, 241Am, 90Sr and 137Cs in the Marche region of central Italy. Health Phys 77(1):52–61

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Popov L, Mihailova G, Naidenov I (2010) Determination of activity ratios of 238, 239+240,241Pu, 241Am, 134,137Cs and 90Sr in Bulgarian soils. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 285:223–237

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Eikenberg J, Bajo S, Hitz J, Wyer L (2001) Environmental radionuclide analyses around nuclear installations in northern Switzerland. http://www.lanl.gov/BAER-onference/BAERCon-47p-Eikenberg.pdf

  16. Danesi PR, Bleise A, Burkart W, Cabianca T, Campbell MJ, Makarewicz M, Moreno J, Tuniz C, Hotchkis M (2003) Isotopic composition and origin of uranium and plutonium in selected soil samples collected in Kosovo. J Environ Radioact 64(2–3):121–131

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Hardy EP, Krey PW, Volchok HL (1973) Global inventory and distribution of fallout plutonium. Nature 241:444–445

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Yamamoto M, Tsumura A, Katayama Y, Tsukatami T (1996) Plutonium isotopic composition in soil from the former semipalatinsk nuclear test site. Radiochim Acta 72:209–215

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Pavlotskaya FI, Myasoedov BF (1991) Plutonium in soils. Priroda 5:57–61 (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Carbol P, Solatie D, Erdmann N, Nylen T, Betti M (2003) Deposition and distribution of Chernobyl fallout fission products and actinides in a Russian soil profile. J Environ Radioact 68(1):27–46

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Irweck K, Wickie J (1998) Isotopic composition of plutonium emissions in Austria after the Chernobyl accident. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 227(1–2):133–136

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nevenka M. Antovic.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Antovic, N.M., Vukotic, P., Svrkota, N. et al. First measurements of 238Pu and 238Pu/137Cs activity ratio in Montenegro soil. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 293, 299–302 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-012-1661-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-012-1661-x

Keywords

Navigation