Measurement of transuranic elements,chiefly 237Np (by neutron activation analysis), in the physical and biological compartments of the French shore of the English channel

The behaviour of transuranic elements in the marine environment has been studied via both in situ sampling and laboratory tracer experiments. In particular, the radionuclide ²³⁷Np was investigated and techniques for its quantitative determination are described. In the field investigations, a preliminary separation of Np from samples was performed prior to neutron activation analysis, with subsequent γ-ray spectrometry of ²³⁸Np. In the laboratory studies, ²³⁷Np was determined by a radiochemical method followed by α-spectrometry. The results obtained from the in situ study in the English Channel (sea water, seaweed, molluscs) and from laboratory-uptake experiments (water and mussels) are described. Levels of Pu, Am and Np are compared and the characteristics of neptunium transfer to molluscs are discussed.