Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Activating Molecules, Ions, and Solid Particles with Acoustic Cavitation
Published on: April 11, 2014
Plutonium isotopes in seas around the Korean Peninsula
1Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety, P.O. Box 114, Yusong, Daejeon 305-338, South Korea. k216kck@kins.re.kr
Plutonium isotope (Pu) concentrations in Korean coastal seas were higher in winter and exceeded those in the western North Pacific. Elevated 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios suggest mixing with plutonium from the tropical Pacific.
Area of Science:
- Marine chemistry
- Radiochemistry
- Environmental science
Background:
- Plutonium isotopes (239+240Pu) are significant anthropogenic radionuclides in the marine environment.
- Understanding their distribution and sources is crucial for assessing potential environmental impacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine 239+240Pu concentrations and 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios in seas adjacent to the Korean Peninsula (1999-2002).
- To assess the current distribution of Pu isotopes and identify their sources.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 239+240Pu concentrations in surface and deep seawater samples.
- Measurement of 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios using mass spectrometry.
Main Results:
- 239+240Pu concentrations ranged from 3.1 to 22.3 mBq m(-3), higher in winter than summer.
- Seawater concentrations around Korea were greater than in the western North Pacific.
- 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios averaged 0.25+/-0.03, higher than global fallout, with some deep-sea ratios near Bikini Atoll values.
Conclusions:
- Higher 240Pu/239Pu ratios suggest dilution of global fallout plutonium by plutonium from the tropical Pacific Proving Grounds.
- Ocean currents play a significant role in transporting plutonium isotopes into the region.
More Related Videos
12:22Speciation and Bioavailability Measurements of Environmental Plutonium Using Diffusion in Thin Films
Published on: November 9, 2015
08:46Dose Uptake of Platinum- and Ruthenium-based Compound Exposure in Zebrafish by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry with Broader Applications
Published on: April 21, 2022
Related Concept Videos
Radioactivity and Nuclear Equations
A nuclide of an element has a specific number of protons and...
Nuclear Stability
To hold positively charged protons together in the...
Nuclear Power
Nuclear Fuels
Nuclear fuel consists of a fissile isotope, such as uranium-235, which must be present in sufficient quantity to provide a...
Nuclear Transmutation
Isotopes and Radioisotopes
An isotope containing more...
Diversity of Protists III