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Four radionuclide dispersion models have been applied to simulate the transport and distribution of (137)Cs fallout from Chernobyl accident in the Baltic Sea. Models correspond to two categories: box models and hydrodynamic models which solve water circulation and then an advection/diffusion equation. In all cases, interactions of dissolved radionuclides with suspended matter and bed sediments are included. Model results have been compared with extensive field data obtained from HELCOM database. Inventories in the water column and seabed, as well as (137)Cs concentrations along 5 years in water and sediments of several sub-basins of the Baltic, have been used for model comparisons. Values predicted by the models for the target magnitudes are very similar and close to experimental values. Results suggest that some processes are not very relevant for radionuclide transport within the Baltic Sea, for instance the roles of the ice cover and, surprisingly, water stratification. Also, results confirm previous findings concerning multi-model applications., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Temporal variations of (7)Be, (210)Pb and (137)Cs activity concentrations in precipitation in Monaco from 1998 to 2010 showed that maxima of (7)Be and (210)Pb deposition fluxes coincide with the peaks of precipitation amounts observed in different months of a year, and most of (7)Be and (210)Pb was washout from the atmosphere by precipitation. The seasonal variations were not uniform from year to year, and the amount of precipitation controlled the deposition fluxes of (7)Be and (210)Pb, which was not the case for (137)Cs. The fractional deposition fluxes of (7)Be and (210)Pb in different seasons were in the order fall > spring > winter > summer, while the fractional amount of precipitation followed the order fall > winter > spring > summer. The fractional deposition fluxes of (137)Cs were found in the order spring > fall > summer > winter. The precipitation-normalized deposition fluxes of (7)Be, (210)Pb and (137)Cs were generally higher during summer. The highest (7)Be/(210)Pb activity ratio was observed in 2010, and the smallest one in 2001, following the influence of the modulation of cosmic rays on the production rates of (7)Be in the atmosphere by solar activity. Activity ratios of (7)Be/(210)Pb observed in winter and fall were generally higher than during summer and spring., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Results of analysis of (7)Be, (137)Cs and (210)Pb on aerosol filters carried out from 1998 to 2010 in Monaco show that a weak correlation between activity concentrations of these radionuclides in the atmosphere and meteorological parameters has been found for (7)Be and temperature (r = 0.50), (210)Pb and temperature and humidity (r = 0.43 and 0.41, respectively), and (137)Cs and precipitation (r = 0.51). The minimum and maximum (7)Be activity concentrations were observed during 2000 and 2009, corresponding with the maximum and minimum solar activity, respectively. The maximum (137)Cs activity concentration found in May-June 1998 was due to the accident at Algeciras in Spain. The deposition velocities of (7)Be, (137)Cs and (210)Pb depended on the precipitation rate, and attained maximum values during dry seasons. The investigated radionuclides may be used as atmospheric tracers, especially in long-term periods., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A new Certified Reference Material (CRM) for radionuclides in sediment (IAEA-385) is described and the results of the certification process are presented. Eleven radionuclides ((40)K, (137)Cs, (226)Ra, (228)Ra, (230)Th, (232)Th, (234)U, (238)U, (238)Pu, (239+240)Pu and (241)Am) have been certified and information mass activities with 95% confidence intervals are given for seven other radionuclides ((90)Sr, (210)Pb((210)Po), (235)U, (239)Pu, (240)Pu and (241)Pu). Results for less frequently reported radionuclides ((60)Co, (99)Tc, (134)Cs, (155)Eu, (224)Ra and (239)Np) and information on some activity and mass ratios are also reported. The CRM can be used for quality assurance/quality control of the analysis of radionuclides in sediment samples, for the development and validation of analytical methods and for training purposes.

The paper presents the results of the joint project carried out in Germany in order to assess the consequences in the marine environment from the dumping of nuclear wastes in the Kara and Barents Seas. The project consisted of experimental work on measurements of radionuclides in samples from the Arctic marine environment and numerical modelling of the potential pathways and dispersion of contaminants in the Arctic Ocean. Water and sediment samples were collected for determination of radionuclide such as 137Cs, 90Sr, 239 + 240Pu, 238Pu, and 241Am and various organic micropollutants. In addition, a few water and numerous surface sediment samples collected in the Kara Sea and from the Kola peninsula were taken by Russian colleagues and analysed for artificial radionuclide by the BSH laboratory. The role of transport by sea ice from the Kara Sea into the Arctic Ocean was assessed by a small subgroup at GEOMAR. This transport process might be considered as a rapid contribution due to entrainment of contaminated sediments into sea ice, following export from the Kara Sea into the transpolar ice drift and subsequent release in the Atlantic Ocean in the area of the East Greenland Current. Numerical modelling of dispersion of pollutants from the Kara and Barents Seas was carried out both on a local scale for the Barents and Kara Seas and for long range dispersion into the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans. Three-dimensional baroclinic circulation models were applied to trace the transport of pollutants. Experimental results were used to validate the model results such as the discharges from the nuclear reprocessing plant at Sellafield and subsequent contamination of the North Sea up the Arctic Seas.

Radionuclide impact of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident on the distribution of radionuclides in seawater of the NW Pacific Ocean is compared with global fallout from atmospheric tests of nuclear weapons. Surface and water column seawater samples collected during the international expedition in June 2011 were analyzed for 134Cs, 137Cs, 129I and ³H. The 137Cs, 129I and 3H levels in surface seawater offshore Fukushima varied between 0.002--3.5 Bq L-1, 0.01--0.8 µ Bq L-1, and 0.05--0.15 Bq L-1, respectively. At the sampling site about 40 km from the coast, where all three radionuclides were analyzed, the Fukushima impact on the levels of these three radionuclides represent an increase above the global fallout background by factors of about 1000, 30 and 3, respectively. The water column data indicate that the transport of Fukushimaderived radionuclides downward to the depth of 300 m has already occurred. The observed 137Cs levels in surface waters and in the water column are in reasonable agreement with predictions obtained from the Ocean General Circulation Model, which indicates that the radionuclides have been transported from the Fukushima coast eastward. The 137Cs inventory in the water column (the area from 34 to 37° N, and from 142 to 147° E) due to the Fukushima accident is estimated to be about 2.2 PBq. The amount of 129I and ³H released and deposited on the NW Pacific Ocean after the Fukushima accident was estimated to be about 7 GBq and 0.1 PBq, respectively. Due to a suitable residence time in the ocean, Fukushima-derived radionuclides will provide useful tracers for isotope oceanography studies on the transport of water masses in the NW Pacific Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Daily air monitoring of radionuclides in the Principality of Monaco (43°73′N, 7°43′E) after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident showed that only Iodine-131 (131I) and Caesium isotopes (134Cs and 137Cs) were detected. The peak of 131I varied and reached its maximum between March 29th and April 5th, meanwhile both peaks of 134Cs and 137Cs arrived later and attained a maximum between April 1st and 4th. Their maximum activity concentrations in air were 354, 30, and 37 μBq m−3 respectively. The 134Cs to 137Cs activity ratio was close to 1, which is different from that one observed after the Chernobyl accident (around 0.54). Up to 95% of caesium isotopes were washed out by wet scavenging during 27–28th of March, where the maximum deposition rates of 134Cs and 137Cs (13.7 and 19.1 mBq m−2 day−1, respectively) were observed. The significant input of 134Cs and 137Cs into the Mediterranean seawater column (30 m depth) was detected later, on the 24th of May. Radioisotopes of caesium and iodine were found far above the applied detection limits, but still with no concern for harmful radiation exposure and public health. The contamination gradually decreased in air and activity concentrations returned to background values after one or two months. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A brief overview of the current status on the subject of numerical modelling of radionuclide transport in the marine environment is given: main transport processes occurring in the sea, basic approaches to solve such processes numerically, up-to-date trends to deal with water/sediment interactions (in the case of non-conservative radionuclides), and topics in which work is currently in progress (like the integration of biological uptake models within marine transport models). A brief review of models applied to simulate Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant releases in the Pacific Ocean after the 2011 accident is also included, since the most recent modelling efforts have been focused in this problem. A discussion of the main sources of uncertainty in models is given, as well as the problems these uncertainties pose in relation to emergency modelling, which is one of the most relevant applications of dispersion models. • Types of marine transport models presented. • Present trends to describe water/sediment interactions and other processes commented. • Main sources of uncertainties in models described. • Opinion given on the use of emergency models to support decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]