Radioactivity Exploration from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Part 2. Ymer-80 Expedition
(2015) In Acta Scientiarum Lundensia 2015(003). p.1-20- Abstract
- Abstract
Levels of natural radioactivity such as 222Rn (radon) and its long-lived daughters 210Pb and 210Po were
measured. The radon gas was trapped on cooled charcoal filters and the long-lived daughter products
sampled on fibre filters on a daily basis. In addition, short-lived progenies were followed continuously
on the filters in order to achieve a time resolution of about one hour. The average 222Rn concentration in
air measured during the Ymer-80 expedition in samples north of latitude 78.8 °N, was 33 ± 4 (one
standard error) mBq.m-3 during Leg 1 (July-Aug.) , and 105.3 ± 8.3 mBq.m-3 during leg 2 (Aug-Sept.).
During a two-week period of persistent polar winds, the... (More) - Abstract
Levels of natural radioactivity such as 222Rn (radon) and its long-lived daughters 210Pb and 210Po were
measured. The radon gas was trapped on cooled charcoal filters and the long-lived daughter products
sampled on fibre filters on a daily basis. In addition, short-lived progenies were followed continuously
on the filters in order to achieve a time resolution of about one hour. The average 222Rn concentration in
air measured during the Ymer-80 expedition in samples north of latitude 78.8 °N, was 33 ± 4 (one
standard error) mBq.m-3 during Leg 1 (July-Aug.) , and 105.3 ± 8.3 mBq.m-3 during leg 2 (Aug-Sept.).
During a two-week period of persistent polar winds, the mean radon concentration decreased to 19± 5
mBq.m-3.
During July, August and September, the monthly average concentrations of 210Pb in air at positions
north of 75 °N latitude were 31 ± 15, 89 ± 61 and 105± 57 μBq.m-3 respectively with a the grand average
for all 3 months of 75 ± 28 μBq.m-3.
An extensive radiochemistry program was also established to measure 134+137Cs and the trans-
uranium elements 238+239+240Pu and 241Am in water, sediment and biota.
The concentration of 137Cs in surface seawater along the Norwegian coast was quite constant about
157±7 Bq.m-3. At a latitude about 72 oN it stat do decrease exponentially at a rate of 0.43 deg.-1 to about
20 ± 10 Bq.m-3 above 78 oN.
The results of 137Cs in sediments indicate that the total integrated area-content of 137Cs in a 1000 m
water-column and sediment is about 12 kBq.m-2.
In biota, the highest activity concentration of 137Cs about 1000 Bq/kgdwt was found in lichens. The
activity concentration of 137Cs in polar bears was about 10 Bq/kgdwt, in seals about 1 Bq/kgdwt, and in
birds about 1-7 Bq/kgdwt. The activity-concentration of 137Cs in Fucus and Laminaria was about 1-2
Bq/kgdwt, and the algae/sea-water activity-concentration ratio was about 75.
The distribution of the trans-uranium element 239+240Pu in sea water decrease from 14 to 10
mBq.m-3 up to 73°N but increase again to 17 mBq.m-3 at high latitudes while 137Cs decrease.
The average 241Am/ 239+240Pu activity ratio was found to be 0.13 ±0.04 (2 S.E), of 31 samples with
the range 0.04 - 0.32 in surface water,
Deep-water samples have been sampled at latitudes around 80.4 ±1.4 °N and along longitudes 2°
W – 45.5 °E. The results of the salinity and activity concentration of 137Cs and 239+240Pu with depth of
water are indicate an exponential decrease with depth of both 137Cs and 239+240Pu.
In conclusion, about 25% of 137Cs present in the Arctic water and sediments originates from fall-
out specific to the area. Another 25% originates from mixing with Atlantic-water from latitudes with
higher fall-out. The remaining 50% might originate from European reprocessing facilities.
The levels of 241Am in the Svalbard area originate from in situ build-up due to the decay of 241Pu. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/8498165
- author
- Persson, Bertil R LU ; Holm, Elis LU ; Carlsson, Kjell-Åke ; Samuelsson, Christer LU ; Hallstadius, Lars ; Hedvall, Robert and Forkman, Bengt LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2015
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Ymer-80, air, water, sedimen, biota, 222Rn (radon), 210Pb, 210Po, 137Cs, 239+240Pu, 241Am
- in
- Acta Scientiarum Lundensia
- volume
- 2015
- issue
- 003
- pages
- 1 - 20
- publisher
- Bertil RR Persson, Medical Radiation Physics, 22185 Lund, Sweden
- ISSN
- 1651-5013
- DOI
- 10.13140/RG.2.1.3542.2164
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- db375b30-8f1c-4268-b330-66798083c237 (old id 8498165)
- alternative location
- https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Bertil_Persson
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 13:11:03
- date last changed
- 2018-11-21 20:13:10
@article{db375b30-8f1c-4268-b330-66798083c237, abstract = {{Abstract<br/><br> Levels of natural radioactivity such as 222Rn (radon) and its long-lived daughters 210Pb and 210Po were <br/><br> measured. The radon gas was trapped on cooled charcoal filters and the long-lived daughter products <br/><br> sampled on fibre filters on a daily basis. In addition, short-lived progenies were followed continuously <br/><br> on the filters in order to achieve a time resolution of about one hour. The average 222Rn concentration in <br/><br> air measured during the Ymer-80 expedition in samples north of latitude 78.8 °N, was 33 ± 4 (one <br/><br> standard error) mBq.m-3 during Leg 1 (July-Aug.) , and 105.3 ± 8.3 mBq.m-3 during leg 2 (Aug-Sept.). <br/><br> During a two-week period of persistent polar winds, the mean radon concentration decreased to 19± 5 <br/><br> mBq.m-3. <br/><br> During July, August and September, the monthly average concentrations of 210Pb in air at positions <br/><br> north of 75 °N latitude were 31 ± 15, 89 ± 61 and 105± 57 μBq.m-3 respectively with a the grand average <br/><br> for all 3 months of 75 ± 28 μBq.m-3. <br/><br> An extensive radiochemistry program was also established to measure 134+137Cs and the trans-<br/><br> uranium elements 238+239+240Pu and 241Am in water, sediment and biota.<br/><br> The concentration of 137Cs in surface seawater along the Norwegian coast was quite constant about <br/><br> 157±7 Bq.m-3. At a latitude about 72 oN it stat do decrease exponentially at a rate of 0.43 deg.-1 to about <br/><br> 20 ± 10 Bq.m-3 above 78 oN.<br/><br> The results of 137Cs in sediments indicate that the total integrated area-content of 137Cs in a 1000 m <br/><br> water-column and sediment is about 12 kBq.m-2. <br/><br> In biota, the highest activity concentration of 137Cs about 1000 Bq/kgdwt was found in lichens. The <br/><br> activity concentration of 137Cs in polar bears was about 10 Bq/kgdwt, in seals about 1 Bq/kgdwt, and in <br/><br> birds about 1-7 Bq/kgdwt. The activity-concentration of 137Cs in Fucus and Laminaria was about 1-2 <br/><br> Bq/kgdwt, and the algae/sea-water activity-concentration ratio was about 75. <br/><br> The distribution of the trans-uranium element 239+240Pu in sea water decrease from 14 to 10 <br/><br> mBq.m-3 up to 73°N but increase again to 17 mBq.m-3 at high latitudes while 137Cs decrease.<br/><br> The average 241Am/ 239+240Pu activity ratio was found to be 0.13 ±0.04 (2 S.E), of 31 samples with <br/><br> the range 0.04 - 0.32 in surface water,<br/><br> Deep-water samples have been sampled at latitudes around 80.4 ±1.4 °N and along longitudes 2°<br/><br> W – 45.5 °E. The results of the salinity and activity concentration of 137Cs and 239+240Pu with depth of <br/><br> water are indicate an exponential decrease with depth of both 137Cs and 239+240Pu.<br/><br> In conclusion, about 25% of 137Cs present in the Arctic water and sediments originates from fall-<br/><br> out specific to the area. Another 25% originates from mixing with Atlantic-water from latitudes with <br/><br> higher fall-out. The remaining 50% might originate from European reprocessing facilities.<br/><br> The levels of 241Am in the Svalbard area originate from in situ build-up due to the decay of 241Pu.}}, author = {{Persson, Bertil R and Holm, Elis and Carlsson, Kjell-Åke and Samuelsson, Christer and Hallstadius, Lars and Hedvall, Robert and Forkman, Bengt}}, issn = {{1651-5013}}, keywords = {{Ymer-80; air; water; sedimen; biota; 222Rn (radon); 210Pb; 210Po; 137Cs; 239+240Pu; 241Am}}, language = {{eng}}, number = {{003}}, pages = {{1--20}}, publisher = {{Bertil RR Persson, Medical Radiation Physics, 22185 Lund, Sweden}}, series = {{Acta Scientiarum Lundensia}}, title = {{Radioactivity Exploration from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Part 2. Ymer-80 Expedition}}, url = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/3208394/8498166.pdf}}, doi = {{10.13140/RG.2.1.3542.2164}}, volume = {{2015}}, year = {{2015}}, }