Title: Plutonium and americium in soils of Bikini Atoll Author(s): Nevissi, A.; Seattle (USA). Coll. Schell, W.R.; of Fisheries; Nelson, V.A. (Washington Univ., Washington Univ., Seattle (USA). Lab. of Radiation Ecology) Title: Transuranium nuclides in the environment Conference Title: IAEA international symposium on transuranium nuelides in the environment Conference Location: San Francisco, CA, USA Conference Date: 17 Nov 1975 Publisher: International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna Publication Date: 1976 p 691-700 ‘ Note: See CONF-751105-Document Type: Analytic of a Book; Conference literature Language: English Journal Announcement: EDB7712 Subfile: ERA (Energy Research Abstracts); AIX (non-US Atomindex input). Country of Origin: United States Country of Publication: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Abstract: A study has been made to determine the concentrations of plutonium and americium in surface soils and in soil profiles on Bikini Atoll. The soils consist of calcareous materials and a thin layer of organic matter, which has produced a shallow, organically rich horizon suitable for certain plant growth. During the testing period from 1946 through 1958 Bikini Atoll was the site of 23 nuclear detonations, which contaminated the islands of the atoll with radioactive fall-out, including the transuranium elements. Plutonium and americium measurements of surface soil samples collected on 6 of the 26 islands of the atoll show that sup(239,240)Pu values vary from 0.5 to 360 pCi/g and /sup 241/Am values from 1.2 to 45 pCi/g. The vertical distribution of plutonium in soil varies from area to area. Although about 98% of the plutonium is retained in the top 25 cm in one core profile, the remaining 2% is detectable as deep as 100 cm. The suspension and resuspension of plutonium and plutonium-bearing particles by rainwater (150 to 175 cm/a) seems to be the principal mode of plutonium transport in the soil. Plutonium is found associated with the algal crust of the atoll soils. The present concentrations of sup(239,240)Pu and their distribution at Bikini are not likely to change significantly, whereas /sup 241/Am concentrations will increase by /sup 241/Pu decay and will approach a maximum value in about 50 years.; Major Descriptors: *AMERICIUM 241 -- TRANSLOCATION; CONTAMINATION; TRANSLOCATION; *BIKINI -- *PLUTONIUM 239 -- TRANSLOCATION; *PLUTONIUM 240 *SOILS -- RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION -- Descriptors: STRONTIUM 90 Broader Terms: ACTINIDE ISOTOPES; ACTINIDE NUCLEI; ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES; ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES; AMERICIUM ISOTOPES; BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES ; BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES; ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT; EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI; EVEN-ODD NUCLEI; HEAVY NUCLEI; INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI; ISLANDS; ISOTOPES; MARSHALL ISLANDS; MASS TRANSFER; NUCLEI; ODD-EVEN NUCLEI; PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES; RADIOISOTOPES; STRONTIUM ISOTOPES% YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES Subject Categories: 510301* -- Environment, Terrestrial ~- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport -- Soil -- INIS Subject Categories: B31* 10/5/3964 -- Land (Item 664 from file: (-1987) 103) 00329433 AIX-08-332350; ERA-03-010968; EDB-~78-018060 Title: Plutonium radionuclides in the groundwaters at Enewetak Atoll Author(s): Noshkin, V.E.; Wong, K.M.; Marsh, K.; Eagle, R.; Holladay, G. (California Univ., Livermore (USA). Lawrence Livermore Lab.); Buddemeier, R.W. (Hawaii Univ., Honolulu (USA)) Title: Transuranium nuclides in the environment Conference Title: Symposium on transuranium nuclides in the environment Conference Location: San Francisco, Calif., USA Conference Date: 17 - 21 Nov 1975 Publisher: IAEA,Vienna Publication Date: 1976 p 517-542 Document Type: Analytic of a Book; Conference literature 500u8b1