Evidence for tritium persistence as organically bound forms in river sediments since the past nuclear weapon tests.

ABSTRACT: Tritium of artificial origin was initially introduced to the environment from the global atmospheric fallout after nuclear weapons tests. Its level was increased in rainwaters by a factor 1000 during peak emissions in 1963 within the whole northern hemisphere. Here we demonstrate that tritium from global atmospheric fallout stored in sedimentary reservoir for decades as organically bound forms in recalcitrant organic matter while tritium released by nuclear industries in rivers escape from such storages. Additionally, we highlight that organically bound tritium concentrations in riverine sediments culminate several years after peaking emission in the atmosphere due to the transit time of organic matter from soils to river systems. These results were acquired by measuring both free and boun

SUBMITTER: Eyrolle F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6686018 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature