Distribution of artificial radionuclides in the Baltic seaside environment

Abstract

Investigation on ¹³⁷Cs and ^239,240Pu activity concentration was undertaken in a coastal zone of the Baltic Sea on the Lithuanian territory to study the vertical distribution of radionuclides (down to 30 cm). The Baltic seaside is one of the regions where the highest radionuclide concentrations after the Chernobyl NPP accident were detected. Moreover, this area is a significant recreational zone, therefore, peculiarities of radionuclide spreading in the environmental ecosystem are important from the radioecological point of view. The obtained results of vertical distribution of ¹³⁷Cs and ^239,240Pu in sand and forest soil suggest that the radionuclide downward migration depends on the structure of matrix and its chemical composition. Besides, the results of radionuclide distribution on the stripe between the Baltic Sea and the Curronian Lagoon indicate that the sea is a possible source of radioactive contaminants.
Keywords: plutonium, radiocesium, activity concentration, sand, forest soil, migration, organic matter
PACS: 28.60.+s, 82.80.-d, 89.40.Cc, 89.60.Ecr