Migration of 239, 240PU and 233U from a low-level radioactive waste site

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dc.contributor.authorHarrison, JJen_AU
dc.contributor.authorPayne, TEen_AU
dc.contributor.authorChild, DPen_AU
dc.contributor.authorHotchkis, MACen_AU
dc.contributor.authorJohansen, MPen_AU
dc.contributor.authorThiruvoth, Sen_AU
dc.contributor.authorZawadzki, Aen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2023-01-27T01:30:34Zen_AU
dc.date.available2023-01-27T01:30:34Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2022-11-23en_AU
dc.date.statistics2023-01-20en_AU
dc.description.abstractLow-level measurements of 239,240Pu and 233U have been used to investigate the migration pathways of these radionuclides in the vicinity of a legacy waste site near Sydney, Australia. Between the years of 1960 to 1968 mixed wastes, including laboratory waste, were disposed at the site in shallow, unlined trenches, and disposal records indicate that the waste contained small masses of plutonium (several grams) and other long-lived radionuclides, including 233U. Measurements of 239,240Pu and 233U in environmental matrices of soil, sediment, water, and vegetation have been made using a combination of accelerator mass spectrometry and alpha spectrometry techniques. Both 239,240Pu and 233U concentrations and 240/239Pu atom ratios have been used to assess the migration of these actinides. A site specific 240/239Pu atom ratio has been established (0.084) which is distinctly different from the ratio found elsewhere in the Sydney Basin due to nuclear weapons testing fallout thereby providing an indicator of plutonium originating from the site. 233U has very low abundance in nuclear weapons test fallout therefore the only plausible source of elevated 233U in the environment at and around this site is uranium migration from the disposal site. The concentrations of 239,240Pu and 233U typically decrease with distance from the disposal trenches. The 239,240Pu concentrations in soils and sediments at distance are within the range seen elsewhere in Australia due to atmospheric nuclear weapons fallout. However, the presence of 233U and the influence of the site specific 240/239Pu atom ratio on the local plutonium isotopic signature indicates that these actinides are persistent in soils, sediments and waters hundreds of metres away and vegetation tens of metres away from the disposal trenches. Multiple migration mechanisms have been considered for actinides derived from the site, including surface water flow from the disposal trenches, particulate transport during heavy rainfall events, vegetation uptake, contamination which may have occurred during disposal operations and airborne particulate transport.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationHarrison, J., Payne, T., Child, D., Hotchkis, M., Johansen, M,m Thiruvoth, S., & Zawadzki, A. (2022). Migration of 239, 240PU and 233U from a low-level radioactive waste site. Paper presented to SPERA 2022 - Connecting People, developing solutions for a Changing Environment, 28-30 November 2022, Chrischurch, New Zealand, (pp. 40). Retrieved from: https://au-admin.eventscloud.com/file_uploads/baa6bb17538b457fbd436f1552075bea_SPERA2022e-handbook.pdfen_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceenddate30 November 2022en_AU
dc.identifier.conferencenameSPERA 2022 - Connecting people, developing solutions for a changing environmenten_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceplaceChristchurch, New Zealanden_AU
dc.identifier.conferencestartdate28 November 2022en_AU
dc.identifier.pagination40en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://au-admin.eventscloud.com/file_uploads/baa6bb17538b457fbd436f1552075bea_SPERA2022e-handbook.pdfen_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/14550en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherSouth Pacific Environmental Radioactivity Associationen_AU
dc.subjectPlutonium 239en_AU
dc.subjectPlutonium 240en_AU
dc.subjectUranium 233en_AU
dc.subjectRadioisotopesen_AU
dc.subjectRadionuclide migrationen_AU
dc.subjectRadioactive wastesen_AU
dc.subjectRadioactive waste disposalen_AU
dc.subjectUnderground disposalen_AU
dc.subjectSpectroscopyen_AU
dc.subjectRecords managementen_AU
dc.subjectSoilsen_AU
dc.subjectSedimentsen_AU
dc.titleMigration of 239, 240PU and 233U from a low-level radioactive waste siteen_AU
dc.typeConference Abstracten_AU
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