A review of the occurrence and behaviour of neptunium in the Irish Sea

Autor:	D.J. Assinder
Rok vydání:	1999
Předmět:	Radionuclide Health Toxicology and Mutagenesis Earth science Neptunium Low dose Low activity chemistry.chemical_element Mineralogy General Medicine Irish sea Pollution Transuranic waste chemistry Environmental Chemistry Environmental science Gradual increase Waste Management and Disposal
Zdroj:	Journal of Environmental Radioactivity. 44:335-347
ISSN:	0265-931X
DOI:	10.1016/s0265-931x(98)00139-8
Popis:	This paper presents a review of research into the occurrence and behaviour of neptunium, principally 237 Np, in the Irish Sea. This research has lagged behind that of other radionuclides due to the combination of 1. the relative difficulties in the analysis of 237 Np compared with other transuranic elements including separation problems and yield monitor selection and measurement; 2. the relatively low activity of 237 Np discharged to the Irish Sea particularly during the 1970s and 1980s when discharges of other radionuclides peaked; and 3. the consequent low dose risk from 237 Np in the short term. Consideration of the increasing proportion of 237 Np in the Sellafield discharges and the need for knowledge about this isotope for high level waste studies has seen a gradual increase in research during the late 1980s and 1990s. This research shows that 237 Np contamination is widespread throughout the Irish Sea and suggests that although neptunium is more mobile in the environment than other transuranics it is generally less bioavailable. Despite these studies, knowledge of 237 Np occurrence and behaviour in the Irish Sea is still very limited.
Databáze:	OpenAIRE
Externí odkaz:	https://explore.openaire.eu/search/publication?articleId=doi_________::4247a494733394669c86ea4ff1250869 https://doi.org/10.1016/s0265-931x(98)00139-8 Zobrazit plný text záznamu Full Text from ScienceDirect