Plutonium and Americium in Selected Biological Samples of Environment

Abstract

A large amount of radionuclides was distributed in environs of Chernobyl and in global fallout (nuclear weapon tests, man-made sources). Suitable biomonitors are used to estimate the outdoor levels of radiocontamination. Bioindicators such as mosses, lichens, plants and wild berries were analysed. Radionuclides of Pu and Am were separated by liquid extraction with Aliquat-336 and trioctylphosphine oxide and measured using a silicon-surface barrier detector ORTEC. Specific activities of ²⁴¹Am, ²³⁸Pu, ²³⁹Pu, and ²⁴⁰Pu in natural samples ranged between 0.01 0.01 and 3.46 0.33 Bq kg ¹ in dry matter. The -activity was measured with an HPGe ORTEC -detector. The specific activities of ⁴⁰K in the analysed samples varied from 203.78 to 2201.26 Bq kg ¹ in dry matter. The values of ¹³⁷Cs ranged from 5.73 to 390.27 Bq kg ¹ in dry matter. The results and methods are discussed.