Fate of anthropogenic radionuclides (Sr-90, Cs-137, Pu-238, Pu-239, Pu-240, 241Am) in seawater in the northern Benguela upwelling system off Namibia

• A baseline study on anthropogenic radioactivity in the Namibian marine ecosystem, which is part of the northern Benguela upwelling system, known as one of the most productive ocean areas in the world, has been performed. A scientific cruise carried out in 2014 covering inshore and offshore areas, exhibiting different oceanographic features, has provided a basis for better understanding the distributions, ratios and inventories of six anthropogenic radionuclides (90Sr, 137Cs, 238Pu, 239Pu, 240Pu and 241Am) in seawater. Although 3H was also measured, due to extremely low levels, its behaviour was not studied. The main source of 90Sr, 137Cs, 239Pu, 240Pu and 241Am in the samples analysed was proven to be global fallout, a finding further confirmed by 240Pu/239Pu and 90Sr/137Cs ratios. Furthermore, the 238Pu SNAP-9A satellite accident signal was confirmed once again through the determination of the 238Pu/239+240Pu activity ratio. Inshore and offshore samples showed different patterns due to the unique oceanographic features of this upwelling system. The levels of anthropogenic radionuclides, comprehensively assessed for the first time in this region, are comparable with the few existing data and filled a critical gap for the Southern Atlantic Ocean.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap -- Annan geovetenskap och miljövetenskap (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences -- Other Earth and Related Environmental Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Namibian shelf; Conservative radionuclides; Particle reactive radionuclides; Activity ratio; Radionuclide inventory; Seawater profile

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)