Anomalous concentrations of atmospheric plutonium-238 over Paris |
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| Institution: | 1. Instituto de Geofísica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Unidad Michoacán, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro 8701, 58190, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico;2. CONACYT-Sección de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, ESIA Zacatenco, 07738, Mexico City, Mexico;3. Barcelona Supercomputing Center-Centro Nacional de Supercomputación, Nexus II Building, Jordi Girona 29, 08034, Barcelona, Spain;4. Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán, 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico;1. GEODUNES, 79 rue Pasteur 59240 Dunkirk, France;2. Laboratoire d’Océanologie et de Géosciences, UMR CNRS 8187, Université du Littoral Côte d’Opale, 32 Ave Foch, 62930 Wimereux, France;1. Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft NR33 0HT, United Kingdom;2. Food Standards Agency, London WC2B 6NH, United Kingdom |
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| Abstract: | Analysis of monthly rain samples collected in Paris reveals that 238Pu/ 239,240Pu activity ratios, usually about 0·04, the fallout value, rose suddenly to 25 in October 1982. Abnormal ratios continued to be observed during the following months. Excess 238Pu from atmospheric nuclear tests can be eliminated as a possible cause. No correlation was found either with identified satellite re-entries or with atmospheric radioactive anomalies already detected in Northern Europe prior to the Chernobyl accident. Different potential industrial sources are discussed here, but the authors remain unable to identify the origin of the abnormally high ratio. This study shows that a careful investigation of 238Pu fallout is needed if environmental processes are to be traced via plutonium activity ratios. |
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