Ultrasensitive Radionuclide Analysis in Water and Sediments for Environmental Radiological Assessment near the Decommissioning Garigliano Nuclear Power Plant (Italy)

We report a high sensitivity study of actinides content in water and sediment matrices performed for the first time along Garigliano river, near nuclear power plant currently undergoing decommissioning, marine environment surrounding river mouth up to depth 100 m. Ultrasensitive accelerator mass spectrometry measurements were carried out estimate absolute values 236U, 238U, 239Pu, 240Pu concentrations 236U/238U, 239Pu/240Pu ratios. The accuracy spatial distribution radionuclides enable us discriminate anthropogenic from natural radionuclide’s contribution environmental radioactivity. results indicate that contamination past operations is, most examined compartments, negligible compared fallout. High resolution γ-ray 137Cs 40K show interesting correlations with results.