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Influence of Physicochemical Characteristics of Freshwater on Artificial Radioactivity Content
Author(s) -
Jiménez Antonio,
Montaña Rufo Ma
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143001x139290
Subject(s) - chemistry , strontium , dissolution , caesium , environmental chemistry , ammonium , radionuclide , potassium , radiochemistry , plutonium , magnesium , nuclear chemistry , inorganic chemistry , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics
An intensive study was designed to determine the activity of different radionuclides in water, including strontium‐90 ( 90 Sr), cesium‐134 ( 134 Cs), cesium‐137 ( 137 Cs), plutonium‐239 −240 ( 239+240 Pu), and tritium ( 3 H). Activity levels detected were between 0.6 and 21.3 mBq/L for 90 Sr; less than 0.5, 1.4, and 327 Bq/L for 134 Cs, 137 Cs, and 3 H, respectively; and between 0.14 and 21 μBq/L for 239+240 Pu. Other nonradioactive parameters were measured including pH; dry residue; conductivity; calcium concentration, [Ca ++ ]; magnesium concentration, [Mg ++ ]; potassium concentration, [K + ]; iron(II) and (III) concentration, [Fe 2+,3+ ]; and ammonium concentration [NH 4 + ]. Only the aquifer corresponding to the refrigeration reservoir of the nuclear power plant of Almaraz (Extremadura, Spain) showed greater‐than‐average concentrations of 3 H and 239+240 Pu compared with those found in the remaining aquifers. The greater presence of dissolved Fe in the waters analyzed clearly indicated greater activity associated with 90 Sr, 137 Cs, and 239+240 Pu in dissolution. In addition, the water samples that were highly mineralized aided the dissolution of 90 Sr and (to a lesser extent) 137 Cs and made dissolution of 239+240 Pu more difficult.