Plutonium aided reconstruction of caesium atmospheric fallout in European topsoils

Meusburger, Katrin;Evrard, Olivier;Alewell, Christine;Borrelli, Pasquale;Ballabio, Cristiano;et.al.
(2020) Scientific Reports — Vol. 10, n° 1, p. 11858 (2020)

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  • Meusburger, KatrinSwiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
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  • Evrard, OlivierLaboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement (LSCE-IPSL), UMR 8212 (CEA-CNRS-UVSQ), Université Paris-Saclay, CEA Saclay, l’Orme des Merisiers, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
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  • Alewell, ChristineEnvironmental Geosciences, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 30, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
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  • Borrelli, PasqualeEnvironmental Geosciences, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 30, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
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  • Van Oost, KristofUCLouvain
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  • Ballabio, CristianoEuropean Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027, Ispra, VA, Italy
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Abstract
Global nuclear weapon testing and the Chernobyl accident have released large amounts of radionuclides into the environment. However, to date, the spatial patterns of these fallout sources remain poorly constrained. Fallout radionuclides (137Cs, 239Pu, 240Pu) were measured in soil samples (n = 160) collected at flat, undisturbed grasslands in Western Europe in the framework of a harmonised European soil survey. We show that both fallout sources left a specific radionuclide imprint in European soils. Accordingly, we used plutonium to quantify contributions of global versus Chernobyl fallout to 137Cs found in European soils. Spatial prediction models allowed for a first assessment of the global versus Chernobyl fallout pattern across national boundaries. Understanding the magnitude of these fallout sources is crucial not only to establish a baseline in case of future radionuclide fallout but also to define a baseline for geomorphological reconstructions of soil redistribution due to soil erosion processes.
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Meusburger, K., Evrard, O., Alewell, C., Borrelli, P., Cinelli, G., Ketterer, M., Mabit, L., Panagos, P., Van Oost, K., & Ballabio, C. (2020). Plutonium aided reconstruction of caesium atmospheric fallout in European topsoils. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 11858. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-68736-2 (Original work published 2020)