Nature 278, 617 - 620 (12 April 1979); doi:10.1038/278617a0

Transfer of actinides from the English Channel into the southern North Sea

C. N. Murray^*, H. Kautsky & H. F. Eicke

Deutsches Hydrographisches Institut, 2000 Hamburg 4, FRG
^*Present address: Commission of the European Communities, JRC Ispra Establishment, Chemistry Division, 21020 Ispra (Varese), Italy.

Results are presented for ²³⁸Pu, ^239+240Pu, ²⁴¹Pu, ²⁴¹Am, ²⁴²Cm and ²⁴⁴Cm in waters of the English Channel and southern North Sea. Based on actinide concentration ratios in these waters compared with expected fallout values, the activities measured are considered to be mainly due to releases of low-level waste from the La Hague fuel reprocessing plant. Measurements made on ²⁴²Cm indicate that any support by ^242mAm would be minimal.

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