On seasonal variations of radiocesium speciation in the surface sediments of Lake Juodis, Lithuania

Data on radiocesium speciation measured seasonally in black silt surface sediments in the shallow terrace and in the deepest southern part of Lake Juodis (Lithuania) in 2004-2005 are presented. It is shown that seasonal variations of radiocesium exchangeable fractions in the sediments in the shallow terrace are mainly related to its redistribution due to the vital cycle of green algae covering bottom surfaces - processes of their growth and decomposition. A seasonal course of those fractions in surface sediments of the deepest bottom areas of the lake follows a distinct pattern and is annually recycling. It is maximum in winter and declines due to stagnant bottom water zone disruption in summer. It is shown that surface sediments in the deepest bottom areas of the lake are not a radiocesium source during the formation of the anaerobic zone in bottom water in winter, and act in that case as its acceptor. The radiocesium remobilization to the bottom water is seasonal and site-specific. It is suggested to be due to three main processes: its diffusion from deeper and more active sediments, its redistribution during decomposition of organics freshly accumulated in surface sediments and a radiocesium flux induced by the mechanism of the seasonal anaerobic zone formation in near-bottom water.     

On the mechanism of the enrichment in radiocesium of near-bottom water in Lake Juodis, Lithuania

Evidence of the thermodynamic origin of a mechanism for radiocesium enrichment of near-bottom water based on the analysis of vertical profiles of standard water variables (pH, temperature, oxygen concentrations and conductivity) in Lake Juodis is presented. This mechanism is shown to be related to disturbances in the thermohalinic stability (buoyancy effects) of sediment interstitial liquids inducing their interfacial transfer. The mechanism reveals itself even in aerobic waters during cooling processes in autumn under weather conditions inducing the formation of a steep temperature gradient in the surface sediments. These gradients may be formed due to intense sediment cooling as well as in cases of cooling interruptions owing to the arrival of warm air masses inducing temperature stratification of the water column. In the latter case, a sharp decrease in the heat flux from sediments through the stagnant water column promotes relative overheating of the sediment surface layer and the consequent initiation of buoyancy forces inducing interfacial transfer of sediment interstitial liquids enriched in dissolved material. Intrusions of interstitial liquids and their vertical thermodynamic transfer through the water column are followed by the formation of a specific vertical structure consisting of a set of evenly mixed water layers which are especially distinctly observable under ice cover in winter. The mechanism is responsible for lake water contamination by radiocesium and other pollutants dissolved in interstitial liquids. The investigation results explain the phenomenon of “super warm” lakes where temperatures of near-bottom waters under ice in winter are higher than 4 °C.     

Physico-chemical and toxicological characterization of the historic estuarine sediments: a multidisciplinary approach

The accumulation rates, the geochronology of metals and PAH contamination, and the Microtox toxicity are studied in five sediment cores (50 cm length) covering different areas of the Santander Bay, Northern Spain. Chronology given by (210)Pb and (137)Cs reveals significant differences in accumulation rates between sites (0.2-1.1 cm/year), as well as a variable degree of anthropogenic enrichment factors for Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni (from 1 to 15) and concentrations of summation Sigma 16PAHs (from 0.01 to 23.84 mg/kg dw) in sediments over the last 90 years. The results indicate the increasing contamination pressure from industrial and urban activities along the Bay. No toxic results from the Microtox test are obtained either with pore water or with normalised sediment aqueous extracts (European Norm EN 12457), suggesting low water solubility and low availability of contaminants in the studied sediments. However, the EC50 values from the Microtox Basic Solid Phase Test (BSPT) ranged from 0.03% to 2.35%, showing vertical toxicity profiles in accordance with metal and PAHs behaviour. The correlation degrees of Microtox BSPT toxicity to chemical concentration in sediment profiles are widely variable showing a high site-dependent toxicity. The oligochaete Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri has been used as a chronic bioassay over surface sediments of two of the studied sites, showing results coherent with the Microtox BSPT acute test results. Global results of the present work provide regional geochemical baselines for metals and PAHs and toxicological data now make it possible to obtain a preliminary quality assessment of the Santander Bay sediment profiles.     

Quantitative assessment of the long term behaviour of 90Sr in Lake Uruskul,Southern Urals,Russia

The present paper is aimed at assessing the long term behaviour of 90Sr migration from water to bottom sediments of Lake Uruskul, Southern Urals, Russia. The lake was contaminated following the nuclear accident at the Mayak nuclear complex in 1957 (the Kyshtym accident). Some transfer parameters relevant to the behaviour of 90Sr in the water-sediment system were evaluated: a) the radionuclide migration velocity from the water column to the bottom sediment, b) the radionuclide migration rate from bottom sediment to water, and c) the radionuclide migration rate from bottom sediment to deep sediment. The estimated values of the above parameters were 6.4 x 10(-1) m s(-1), 5.7 x 10(-10) s(-1) and 5.2 x 10(-10) s(-1), respectively. These values were compared with data obtained for some Italian lakes contaminated by 90Sr after the nuclear weapons tests fallout. The relatively low radionuclide migration from water to sediment of these lakes is reflected by the values of the ratio migration velocity/migration rate from sediment to water (4 m and 12 m) that are significantly lower than the corresponding value in the Russian lake (112 m). The peculiar hydrochemical conditions of Lake Uruskul (high pH, high mineralisation, etc.) are considered to be responsible for the high radionuclide migration from water to sediment.     

长江河口上边界床沙粒径的长期变化及其原因

大通水文站和泥沙观测断面位于长江河口的上边界。长江下游从大通（潮区界）至长江口门的距离长达680 km。20世纪80年代以来,长江流域日趋强烈的人类活动,显著改变了长江入海水文和泥沙数量和特性,从而对长江下游至河口动力地貌和动力沉积产生了显著影响。主要研究长江潮区界大通断面20世纪50年代以来床沙粒径的长期变化。1977~2004年床沙粒径 (〖WTBX〗d〖WTBZ〗50) 有一稳定增大的趋势,这主要是对上游河道悬沙来量持续减少的响应。值得注意的是床沙粗化过程是发生在该河床长期加积的背景上的。研究表明：导致床沙粒径粗化的原因,主要是上游河段进入本河段床沙粒径的增加和本河段冲淤过程中悬沙与床沙颗粒的交换。随着三峡水库的正常运行和其它大型水库的建设,预计未来几十年长江上游悬沙来量将进一步大幅度下降,可以预计,长江潮区界河段的床沙粒径将继续呈现增大的趋势。〖     

鄱阳湖丰水期不同底质类型下氮、磷含量分析

以2011年7月份(丰水期)鄱阳湖实测数据为基础,通过不同底质在遥感影像上的光谱特征,将鄱阳湖底质分为沙滩、泥滩和草洲3种类型,并就不同底质类型鄱阳湖水体和底泥总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)含量进行分析。结果表明:(1)底质类型不同时,鄱阳湖表层水体TN、TP含量以及底泥磷含量平均值:沙滩泥滩草洲。底泥TN含量平均值:草洲泥滩沙滩。(2)底质为沙滩的站点主要分布在饶河入湖口至都昌段、赣江北支入湖口至星子段和入江水道前段,饶河、赣江高含量氮、磷的输入,以及沿途陆源污染物的排放,可能是沙滩底质表层水体TN、TP含量较高的一个因素;泥滩底质的站点,有一部分分布在星子至湖口段,该区间陆源污染的影响是泥滩底质表层水体TN、TP含量居次原因之一;而底质为草洲时,草洲对水体中氮、磷的吸收使得草洲底质的站点表层水体TN、TP含量最低。     

鄱阳湖水体垂向分层状况调查研究

湖泊水体混合或分层对环境和生态具有显著指示意义,能够提高对未来湖泊水环境状况的评价与管理。针对洪泛鄱阳湖水位季节性变化显著等特点,基于剖面温度和稳定氢氧同位素的调查分析来探明多因素影响下鄱阳湖水体垂向分层或混合状况。结果发现:鄱阳湖枯水期和洪水期水体垂向温差大多处于0~1.0℃,大部分水域温差小于0.5℃,但偶见洪水期部分水域会达到1.5℃的较大温差。总体表明,在季节变化尺度上,鄱阳湖具有较为稳定的等温层,没有明显温度分层特征。同位素分析结果得出,枯水期和洪水期的氢氧稳定同位素值在深度剖面上呈均一分布,表明鄱阳湖水体混合状况较好或完全混合。虽然湖区气象条件和水文条件均是影响鄱阳湖水体分层或混合的重要因素,但鄱阳湖入流和出流等水文条件是影响鄱阳湖水体垂向混合的主要因素。鄱阳湖水体混合同时对湖泊水环境因子的垂向分布特征可能产生重要的影响或控制作用。首次基于大量野外监测有针对性地开展鄱阳湖水体分层研究,结果有助于对湖泊水流结构的深入认识,可为湖区水体污染物的输移模拟与作用机制阐释等方面提供科学参考。     

A new general mechanistic river model for radionuclides from single pulse fallouts which can be run by readily accessible driving variables

This paper presents a new general, process-based river model for substances such as radionuclides from single pulse fallouts. The new model has been critically tested using data from 13 European rivers contaminated by radiocesium from the Chernobyl accident. This modelling approach gives radionuclide concentrations in water (total, dissolved and particulate phases; and also concentrations in sediments and fish, but the latter aspects are not discussed in this paper) at defined river sites. The model is based on processes in the upstream river stretch and in the upstream catchment area. The catchment area is differentiated into inflow ( approximately dry land) areas and outflow ( approximately wetland) areas. The model also accounts for time-dependent fixation of substances in the catchment. The catchment area sub-model is based on a previous catchment model, which has been tested with very good results for radiocesium, radiostrontium and Ca-concentrations (from liming operations). The new river model is simple to apply in practice since all driving variables may be readily accessed from maps and standard monitoring programs. The driving variables are: latitude, altitude, continentality, catchment area, mean annual precipitation, soil type (percentages or organic and sandy soils), fallout and month of fallout. Modelled values have been compared to independent empirical data from 10 rivers sites (91 data on radiocesium in water) covering a wide domain (catchment areas from 4000 to 180 000 km(2), precipitation from 500 to 960 mm/yr and fallout from 1700 to 660 000 Bq/m(2)). The new model predicts very well--when modelled values are compared to empirical data, the slope is perfect (1.0) and the r(2)-value is 0.90. This is good giving the fact that there are also uncertainties in the empirical data, which set a limit to the achieved predictive power, as expressed by the r(2)-value.     

低溶解氧对苦草生长的影响

针对太湖梅梁湾生态净化示范区内重建的沉水植物存在的腐烂死亡问题及伴随的底层水体溶解氧偏低现象,在室外模拟生态系统内进行了低氧对沉水植物（苦草）生长的影响试验。结果表明：无论沉积物类型如何,一个月的低氧处理（溶解氧平均值为1.6 mg/L）对苦草株重、株高、分蘖数及叶片数等指标的影响均不明显,对块茎的影响则较显著,表现为块茎数量与重量显著下降。对岸边沉积物处理组而言,低氧对苦草根系的影响显著,表现为根须变细且数量增加,根系活力明显下降,中心沉积物处理组则不显著。同时,低氧处理使岸边沉积物处理组的沉积物氧化还原电位显著下降、水体营养盐浓度上升,尤其是磷酸盐浓度显著增加,中心沉积物处理组的环境理化因子变幅则相对较小。分析认为,低氧对苦草生长的影响虽不明显,但对其种群扩张有潜在的不利作用;梅梁湾生态净化示范区内沉水植物的腐烂死亡,低氧的作用是次要或间接的。     

东湖典型区域间隙水中营养盐的时空分布

以富营养化程度严重的浅水湖泊东湖为研究对象,通过持续采样调查,分析并比较了3个典型采样点柱状沉积物间隙水中营养盐的垂直分布和季节变化特征,结果表明东湖沉积物间隙水中营养盐浓度最高值一般出现在-5 cm以上,-5～-10 cm之间有一个快速降低的过程,-10～-26 cm之间趋于稳定,但也有小幅的波动;冬季间隙水中营养盐浓度明显低于其他季节,夏秋两季略高。分析认为沉积物间隙水中营养盐浓度受附近污染源直接影响较大,与上覆水水质有一定相关性,但不显著。间隙水中营养盐的季节变化主要因为冬季污染排放减少加速了间隙水中营养盐向上覆水的扩散、减少了水中营养盐在沉积物表层的沉积,以及温度降低导致微生物活动减少进而降低了有机物的矿化分解量。并且认为常规疏浚深度就可以有效移除东湖表层污染严重的沉积物     

Novel approach for assessing heavy metal pollution and ecotoxicological status of rivers by means of passive sampling methods

In order to study the pollution of fluvial ecosystems, it is necessary to analyze not only the levels of chemical contaminants in water, but also those accumulated in the sediment matrix, as well as to assess its ecotoxicological status. Eleven Catalan (Spain) river sections (one sampling point per river) located near urban and industrial areas were sampled during winter of 2009. Water pollutants were collected by using passive samplers as Diffusive Gradient in Thin-Films (DGTs) and Semi-Permeable Membrane Devices (SPMDs). Point water samples were also collected. The concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTE) in water, filtered water, DGTs and sediment samples were analyzed. Aqueous and organic solvent extracts of sediments samples and organic extracts of SPMDs were performed to assess acute toxicity to Vibrio fischeri by Microtox(?), and chronic toxicity to the green alga Pseudokirschneriella subcapitata. Microtox(?) test was also performed with DGT extracts. The results show that metals content of Catalan river waters are below the freshwater screening US EPA benchmarks, excepting some industrial areas (for Hg, Pb, and Zn). In contrast, sediments levels of some rivers were far above freshwater sediment screening US EPA benchmarks (for Zn, As, Cr, Pb, Ni, Hg, and Mn), particularly in the most industrialized areas. A good correlation was found between toxicity values of extracts (from sediments and DGTs) and PTE levels in sediments. The current results support the suitability of using combined point and passive sampling methods for assessing the chemical and ecotoxicological status of aqueous environments.     

A blind test of the MOIRA lake model for radiocesium for Lake Uruskul, Russia, contaminated by fallout from the Kyshtym accident in 1957

This paper presents results of a model-test carried out within the framework of the COMETES project (EU). The tested model is a new lake model for radiocesium to be used within the MOIRA decision support system (DSS; MOIRA and COMETES are acronyms for EU-projects). This model has previously been validated against independent data from many lakes covering a wide domain of lake characteristics and been demonstrated to yield excellent predictive power (see H?kanson, Modelling Radiocesium in Lakes and Coastal Areas. Kluwer, Dordrecht, 2000, 215 pp). However, the model has not been tested before for cases other than those related to the Chernobyl fallout in 1986, nor for lakes from this part of the world (Southern Urals) and nor for situations with such heavy fallout as this. The aims of this work were: (1) to carry out a blind test of the model for the case of continental Lake Uruskul, heavily contaminated with 90Sr and 137Cs as a result of the Kyshtym radiation accident (29 September 1957) in the Southern Urals, Russia, and (2) if these tests gave satisfactory results to reconstruct the radiocesium dynamics for fish, water and sediments in the lake. Can the model provide meaningful predictions in a situation such as this? The answer is yes, although there are reservations due to the scarcity of reliable empirical data. From the modelling calculations, it may be noted that the maximum levels of 137Cs in fish (here 400 g ww goldfish), water and sediments were about 100,000 Bq/kg ww, 600 Bq/l and 30,000 Bq/kg dw, respectively. The values in fish are comparable to or higher than the levels in fish in the cooling pond of the Chernobyl NPP. The model also predicts an interesting seasonal pattern in 137Cs levels in sediments. There is also a characteristic "three phase" development for the 137Cs levels in fish: first an initial stage when the 137Cs concentrations in fish approach a maximum value, then a phase with relatively short ecological half-lives followed by a final phase with long ecological half-lives more or less corresponding to the physical decay of radiocesium.     

239,240Pu, 241Am and 232Th in lakes: The effects of seasonal anoxia

A pond which undergoes seasonal anoxia as a result of thermal stratification was studied to assess the possible release of actinide elements from anoxic sediments to the pond waters. Concentration profiles of ^239,240Pu, ²⁴¹Am, ²³²Th, iron and manganese in the water column show significant increases in concentration for all elements in the anoxic deep waters. However, calculated total inventories of the elements in the pond water indicate no apparent input of actinide elements to the system during summer stratification. Similar inventory calculations for ^239,240Pu in a previously studied system support the results of this study. The lack of a significant increase in pond inventories of actinide elements coupled with a lack of correspondence of concentration profiles of the actinide elements to the seasonal Fe and Mn concentrations profiles argues that the increases in concentrations observed for these elements in anoxic bottom waters result from the downward transport of material already in the water column rather than release from the sediments.     

A general approach to transform a lake model for one radionuclide (radiocesium) to another (radiostrontium) and critical model tests using data for four Ural lakes contaminated by the fallout from the Kyshtym accident in 1957

This paper presents results of a model test carried out within the framework of the COMETES project (EU). The aim of the work was to change the structure of the MOIRA lake model for radiocesium so that it can be applied more generally for, in principle, all types of radionuclides and heavy metals. This general lake model is used within the MOIRA decision support system (DSS; MOIRA and COMETES are acronyms for EU-projects). The model is based on a set of differential equations and a specific modelling structure. It incorporates all important fluxes to, from and within lakes in a general manner. Yet the model is driven by a minimum of variables accessible from standard maps and monitoring programs. The model can be separated into two parts, a general part with equations applicable for all types of water pollutants and a substance-specific part. This model has previously been validated for 137Cs from many lakes covering a wide domain and yielded excellent predictive power. The alterations discussed in this work are meant to be general and radiostrontium is used as a typical element. Radiostrontium is known to be more mobile than radiocesium and all abiotic parts of the model handling fixation and mobility have been altered. The new model for 90Sr has been critically tested using data from four lakes heavily contaminated with 90Sr from the Kyshtym accident in the Southern Urals, Russia, using empirical data from a period from 1958 to 1995 for 90Sr in fish (here goldfish), water and sediments.     

Cs,Pu and Am in bottom sediments and surface water of Lake Päijänne,Finland

The concentrations and vertical distribution of ^239,240Pu, ²⁴¹Am and ¹³⁷Cs in the bottom sediments and water samples of Lake Päijänne were investigated. This lake is important, since the Päijänne area received a significant deposition from the Chernobyl fallout. Furthermore Lake Päijänne is the raw water source for the Helsinki metropolitan area. In addition no previous data on the distribution of plutonium and americium in the sediment profiles of Lake Päijänne exist. Only data covering the surface layer (0–1 cm) of the sediments are previously available. In the sediments the average total activities were 45 ± 15 Bq/m² and 20 ± 7 Bq/m² for ^239,240Pu and ²⁴¹Am, respectively. The average ²⁴¹Am/^239,240Pu ratio was 0.45 ± 0.14. The ²⁴¹Am/^239,240Pu ratio is lowest in the surface layer of the sediments and increases as a function of depth. The ²³⁸Pu/^239,240Pu ratio of the sediment samples varied between 0.012 ± 0.025 and 0.162 ± 0.079, decreasing as a function of depth. The average activity in water was 4.9 ± 0.9 mBq/m³ and 4.1 ± 0.2 mBq/m³ for ^239,240Pu and ²⁴¹Am, respectively. The ²⁴¹Am/^239,240Pu ratio of water samples was 0.82 ± 0.17. ^239,240Pu originating from the Chernobyl fallout calculated from the average total activities covers approximately 1.95 ± 0.01% of the total ^239,240Pu activity in the bottom sediments. The average total ¹³⁷Cs activity of sediment profiles was 100 ± 15 kBq/m² and 19.3 ± 1.4 Bq/m³ in water samples.     

Modeling 137Cs migration processes in lake sediments

Lake sediments can be considered as the "diary" of the lake: new layers are continuously deposited on top of the sediments. The migration behavior of radionuclides, particularly of (137)Cs, can be analyzed by modeling the input into and the vertical distribution within the sediment. For this purpose, a model consisting of sedimentation-diffusion equations was developed. Solved with a finite element method, this model can cover the time period from the nuclear weapons testing to the present. It takes into account fixation and redissolution, compaction of sediments, and the influence of competing ions on the retarded diffusion within the sediments. The outcome of the model is compared to water and sediment measurements from Lago Maggiore. The results of an optimization process can produce the sedimentation rate and (137)Cs distribution coefficients which determine the uptake of activity into the sediment and also the retarded diffusion within the sediment.     

Aggregation of cohesive sediments induced by internal shear rates with application to sedimentation

An improved model for aggregation and deposition of cohesive sediments in flowing water was formulated as a power function of the sediment concentration and the hydrodynamic forces prevailing in the water column and at the surface of the sediment bed. The aggregation mechanism was described by a removal rate coefficient and an exponent, both of which were expressed as functions of the internal shear rate, which is one of the key parameters influencing particle collisions. Comparison of model predictions with two sets of experimental data showed that the model was capable of adequately representing cohesive sediment removal from the water column. The model formulation was also incorporated into a two-dimensional, vertically-averaged finite element model of sediment transport. The depositional behavior of cohesive sediments was verified by simulating a flume experiment.     

Modelling the long-term behaviour of radiocaesium and radiostrontium in two Italian lakes

The present paper describes the application of a state-of-the-art model to two lakes in central Italy (Trasimeno and Monterosi) for the assessment of migration parameters of (137)Cs and (90)Sr (migration velocity to sediment, transfer rates from sediment to water and to bottom sediment). Applications of a compartment model and a model based on the diffusion equation to predict the behaviour of pollutants in water and through bottom sediment are presented and discussed. The application of the diffusion equation shows some difficulties of a general nature and typical of such a modelling approach. Moreover, there is no evidence of significant improvements of the model performances when the diffusion equation is applied. Very low levels of sedimentation rate of suspended matter in Lake Monterosi were evaluated by the quantitative assessment of radiocaesium migrating to bottom sediment. This suggests that, in this lake, the removal of radionuclide from the water column is mainly due to the turbulent mixing of bottom sediment causing radionuclide burial.     

Disequilibrium between uranium and its progeny in the Lake Issyk-Kul system (Kyrgyzstan) under a combined effect of natural and manmade processes

The Kadji-Sai abandoned field of U-bearing brown coal on the southern coast of Lake Issyk-Kul (Kyrgyzstan) poses a threat of radioactive pollution to the world's fifth deepest and second largest pristine highland lake. The valleys of ephemeral streams in the lake catchment are filled with coarse-grained sand and clay, with a background U--Ra activity of 35--55 Bqkg(-1). High activity areas vs. this background come from three sources: (1) scarce outcrops of uraniferous brown coal and mining wastes containing fragments of this coal with (238)U/(226)Ra ratios of 0.8 due to uranium losses through weathering; (2) manmade anomalies caused by a radioactive waste dump, where U was extracted from the ash of coal burnt at a coal-fired power plant. As a result, the (238)U/(226)Ra ratios become 0.15--0.25; (3) six catch pools terraced below the mine, where U activity decreases downslope, and (238)U/(226)Ra ratios reach 150--200. Uranium lost in the extraction process may have been retained on the terraces. The distribution pattern of radionuclides in the bottom sediments of the lake is controlled by water depth and offshore distance. The upper section of homogeneous limy--argillic deposits in the lake center remains undisturbed by currents, as indicated by regular sub-exponential distribution of atmospheric (137)Cs and (210)Pb(atm). Sedimentation rate in the lake center for the past century, found from (210)Pb, was 0.32 mmyr(-1). (238)U/(226)Ra in deep-water sediments was about 3. The activity of uranium adsorbed by sediments from the lake water was estimated by subtraction of the Ra-equilibrium component from the total U activity. Thus, the flux of dissolved U to the bottom sediments was as 2.07 x 10(-7)gcm(-2)yr(-1). The upper section of near-shore deposits was disturbed by currents, with (137)Cs and (210)Pb(atm) more or less uniformly distributed in this layer. Peaks of (226)Ra and (210)Pb occur at different depths from 5 to 20 cm below the sediment surface, with (238)U/(226)Ra ratios 0.28--0.44. The presence of mullite in these sediments indicated that radioactive ash penetrated into the lake in the past. At present, (226)Ra in the ash is buried under a non-radioactive cap.     

137Cs and (239+240)Pu levels in the Asia-Pacific regional seas

137Cs and (239+240)Pu data in seawater, sediment and biota from the regional seas of Asia-Pacific extending from 50 degrees N to 60 degrees S latitude and 60 degrees E to 180 degrees E longitude based on the Asia-Pacific Marine Radioactivity Database (ASPAMARD) are presented and discussed. 137Cs levels in surface seawater have been declining to its present median value of about 3 Bq/m3 due mainly to radioactive decay, transport processes, and the absence of new significant inputs. (239+240)Pu levels in surface seawater are much lower, with a median of about 6 mBq/m3. (239+240)Pu appears to be partly scavenged by particles and is therefore more readily transported down the water column. As with seawater, (239+240)Pu concentrations are lower than 137Cs in surface sediment. The median 137Cs concentration in surface sediment is 1.4 Bq/kg dry, while that of (239+240)Pu is only 0.2 Bq/kg dry. The vertical profiles of both 137Cs and (239+240)Pu in the sediment column of coastal areas are different from deep seas which can be attributed to the higher sedimentation rates and additional contribution of run-offs from terrestrial catchment areas in the coastal zone. Comparable data for biota are far less extensive than those for seawater and sediment. The median 137Cs concentration in fish (0.2 Bq/kg wet) is higher than in crustaceans (0.1 Bq/kg wet) or mollusks (0.1 Bq/kg wet). Benchmark values (as of 2001) for 137Cs and (239+240)Pu concentrations in seawater, sediment and biota are established to serve as reference values against which the impact of future anthropogenic inputs can be assessed. ASPAMARD represents one of the most comprehensive compilations of available data on 137Cs and (239+240)Pu in particular, and other anthropogenic as well as natural radionuclides in seawater, sediment and biota from the Asia-Pacific regional seas.