Transuranic and fission product determination in soils and sediments from Alpin Wetland, Boréon (France)

Laboratoire de Radiochimie et Radioécologie, Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, 28 avenue Valrose, 06108 Nice, France

Abstract

The study of an Alpine Wetland presented in this study can bring interesting answers to the problems of the environment management. The determination of the radionuclides in soils and sediments has allowed not only to establish the history of depositions and consequently the origin of the radionuclides, but also to evaluate the various transfers, which took place. The studied elements are plutonium 238, 239-240, americium 241, caesium 134, 137 and strontium 90. The detailed vertical study of sediment core shows the accumulation mode and gives information on the sedimentation rate of the small lake. The study of isotopic ratios allows understanding the origin and the environmental behaviour of the elements. Soil core inventory shows the activity on this region. The evolution of the activity versus the altitude is made.