Formation of freshwater Fe-Mn coatings on gravel and the behavior of 60Co, 90Sr,and 137Cs in a small watershed

Iron and manganese oxide coatings are actively forming on stream substrates in the White Oak Creek watershed in East Tennessee. Although oxidizing conditions are required for Fe-Mn oxide precipitation, coatings accumulate only if dissolved iron and manganese exceed 50 μg/L. Below this, coatings are lost by abrasion as fast as or faster than they form. Annual rates of formation of 3 mg/g on substrate (gravel) were observed. Manganese is dissolved from coatings between Eh values of 100 to 300 mV and below 1 mg/L dissolved O₂ at pH 6.5 to 7.5. Iron oxides can be precipitated under these conditions.Uncontaminated gravels with oxide coatings (composed of illite, quartz, and feldspar) adsorbed radionuclides rapidly from waters below MPC (Maximum Permissible Concentration) levels. Contaminated gravels placed in uncontaminated waters lost ⁶⁰Co by abrasion in oxidizing conditions and by dissolution of manganese coatings in reducing conditions. Exchangeable ⁹⁰Sr was completely lost after one month whereas nonexchangeable ⁹⁰Sr was lost more slowly; ¹³⁷Cs was totally retained by the gravels. Gravels such as these can be used to monitor the radionuclide content of waters in the environment.     

Ways of investigating radionuclide migration processes in the lithosphere and hydrosphere

In Russia, until recently, it was considered that groundwater was protected from surface radioactive contamination by soil and rocks in the zone aeration. Groundwater was not a subject of radiation control. The accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant showed, however, that groundwater is vulnerable to radioactive contamination. In this connection, the vulnerability of groundwater to and the problems of protecting groundwater from radioactive contamination became urgent. The assessment of natural protection of groundwater from radioactive contamination is now considered a top priority. The zone of aeration is generally considered to be the zone separating groundwater from surface contamination. In respect to radioactive contamination, soils that may fix a large quantity of radionuclides serve as a protection zone of a higher order. The mapping of protectibility was done for each radionuclide taking into consideration the specific structure of the flow medium and migration properties of a radionuclide.⁹⁰Sr and¹³⁷Cs have different mechanisms of transport; convective transport is characteristic of the former and diffusive transfer of the latter. This is conditioned by different physico-chemical properties of the radionuclides and principally by their sorption capacities. The coefficient of distribution of⁹⁰Sr is in many times less than the coefficient of distribution of¹³⁷Cs. The environmental protection problem in regions with nuclear power plants and in areas subjected to radioactive contamination may be solved using a monitoring, system including interrelated systems of observation and prediction of the lithosphere and the hydrosphere. The problem of mathematical modeling of migration processes is related to the complexities of modeling the processes of flow, mass transfer, and the accompanying physicochemical processes in zones of full and partial saturation, as well as difficulties in mathematical calculations.     

137Cs and 90Sr mobility in soils and transfer in soil–plant systems in the Novozybkov district affected by the Chernobyl accident

The Chernobyl radionuclides distribution and mobility in soils and uptake by plants have been studied in seminatural and agricultural moraine and in fluvioglacial landscapes typical for the areas of the Bryansk region affected by the accident.The major part of the Chernobyl ¹³⁷Cs accumulated in the topsoil is insoluble in water, 40 to 93% of this radionuclide is strongly fixed by soil, while 70 to 90% of the ⁹⁰Sr is present in water soluble, exchangeable and weak-acid soluble forms. Radionuclide vertical migration is most pronounced in local depressions with organic and gley soils in which both radionuclides are detected to the depth of 30–40 cm.In woodlands, most of the ¹³⁷Cs is still fixed in litter and the upper mineral soil layer. The concentration peak in litter has moved to the lower AOF layer. Concentration in topsoil leads to high radionuclide uptake by forest species with shallow root systems (bilberry, mushrooms, fern). Contaminated forest products may contribute considerably to the internal irradiation doses of the local population. On flood plain grasslands traditionally used by local populations for haycrops and grazing, radionuclides are more strongly fixed in soils with fine texture. Radioisotope uptake by plants decreases in the order: legumes>herbs>grasses. Transfer to grasses in local depressions is usually higher compared with the dry levees. Observed exclusions are assumed to be due to comparatively low mobility of ¹³⁷Cs and relatively high K content in soil. ¹³⁷Cs accumulation in potato tubers grown on sandy soddy podzolic watershed soils mainly corresponds to its total amount in soils; uptake of ⁹⁰Sr depends upon the percentage of its most mobile fraction.Pronounced relief is proved to cause different patterns in distribution and migration of radionuclides in soils and local food chains. The study showed it to be true for private farms situated in different landscape positions within the same settlement.The forest litter, topsoil and products, and flood plain pastures, especially localities in depressions are critical materials for the long-term radioecological monitoring of the contaminated landscapes of the study area and those of similar conditions. Population of the areas within the zone of contamination exceeding 15Ci/km² (555kBq/m²) should be recommended to exclude local forest products from their diets and to avoid cattle grazing on wet flood plain meadows without remediation.     

A model of radionuclide transfer by groundwater on the territory of the Russian Research Centre Kurchatov Institute

The convective transfer of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr by groundwater on the territory of the Russian Research Centre Kurchatov Institute (RRCKI) was modeled. Geological data on the RRCKI site and possible sources of radionuclides show that the uppermost aquifer, composed of Quaternary sediments, is the most probable region of spreading of radioactive contamination. Since the lateral migration of radionuclides is predominant, a 2D horizontal model was used for the forecasting of spreading of radioactive contaminants in the subsurface medium. Transient or long-term repositories of radioactive materials at the RRCKI site (concentrated sources) and aquifer rocks contaminated in the course of removal of radionuclides from these repositories (distributed source) are responsible for groundwater pollution. The initial ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr distributions used in the forecasting of radionuclide migration were determined from their contents in core samples taken from wells drilled in contaminated areas of the RRCKI site. The zone of radionuclide migration is limited by poorly permeable moraine loam from below and by the water table from above. To determine the upper and lower boundaries, these surfaces were mapped in plan view. The data of meteorological observations over a long period were used to map the intensity of precipitation in the studied territory. The density of rocks in the uppermost aquifer and partition coefficients of radionuclides between rocks and groundwater were estimated from the data of laboratory examination of the core samples. The available data on the permeability of rock samples and the results of test pumping out of some wells were involved in the consideration. The results obtained and the data on the water table allowed us to define a gauge problem for determining the distribution of the filtration coefficient in the uppermost aquifer. This problem was solved taking the intensity of precipitation into account. The properties of the uppermost aquifer and the initial radionuclide distribution therein were used as initial data for modeling ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr migration on the territory of the RRCKI over 50 years.     

Results of Marine Radioecological Study of Fjords of Western Spitsbergen

The patterns of the distribution of technogenic radionuclides ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr in the water mass and bottom deposits of three fjords of Western Spitsbergen (Isfjorden and its arms Grønfjorden and Billefjorden) were studied. The hydrological processes affecting migration of radionuclides in these water bodies were described. It was shown that the ice sheet of the archipelago that accumulates atmospheric precipitation is a source of radioactive contamination of the marine environment of the coast. Technogenic isotopes were accumulated during nuclear weapon testing in the second half of the twentieth century. The current climatic changes strengthen the role of glaciers in the contamination of arctic seas. It was noted that extrema of the ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr specific activity is mainly concentrated in the areas of glacier runoff discharge.

     

Environmental evaluation of elemental cesium and strontium contents and their isotopic activity concentrations in different soils of La Mancha (Central Spain)

Cesium and Strontium concentrations were analyzed in eight pedogenetic soil profiles developed on different rocks from a semiarid mediterranean region: La Mancha (Central Spain). Concentration activities of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr, as for some soil properties, were also measured. The results are presented in this document: Cs concentrations range between 0.4 and 18.3 mg kg⁻¹ and Sr varies widely between 11.0 and 3,384 mg kg⁻¹. Therefore, it is clear that there is a broad range of concentrations and there are also values significantly higher than the average values stated by several authors. Concentrations of long-life artificial radionuclides (¹³⁷Cs, ⁹⁰Sr) were determined in some of the same soils. The activity concentration mean values (Bq kg⁻¹) were ranging between 0.82 and 21.76 for ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr variations range between 6.73 and 0.35. There were no significant correlations between radionuclides and stable trace elements. The data indicate that the soils do not show significant radioactivity of these elements and therefore they do not pose a danger. By the same token, no risk of contamination by this activity was detected. Finally, spatial patterns seem to be affected by the soil type and some soil properties.     

Inventories and sorption-desorption trends of radiocesium and radiocobalt in James River estuary sediments

Anthropogenic radionuclides (¹³⁷Cs,¹³⁴Cs,⁶⁰Co) have been introduced to the James River estuary as a result of low-level releases from the Surry Reactor site since 1973 and worldwide atmospheric fallout from nuclear weapons tests since the early 1950s The total radionuclide burden in the estuary sediments has been estimated by integrating radionuclide activities in 29 box cores and extrapolating these integrated values over surface areas subdivided on the basis of sediment type, rates of accumulation, and proximity to the reactor release site. Our results indicate that 30% of the⁶⁰Co, but only 15% of the¹³⁴Cs released from the reactor site, has been retained in the estuary sediments, and about 40% of the¹³⁴Cs and⁶⁰Co sediment inventory is in areas that represent less than 5% of the total estuarine surface area. Depletion of the¹³⁴Cs in downstream sediments forms a noticeable trend in the James River estuary, and we postulate that seawater cation competition and exchange is primarily responsible.     

Annual cycle of radionuclide contamination on tide-washed pasture in the Mersey Estuary, NW England

The radionuclide burden of vegetation comprising a tide-washed pasture at Ince Marsh in the Mersey Estuary, U.K., derives mainly from adhered external particulates originating as suspended sediments in estuarine water. Radionuclide concentrations are dominated by the growth cycle of the vegetation, with the highest winter levels of contamination activity an order of magnitude greater than the lowest levels in mid-summer. A secondary effect due to sediment transfer during periods of severe flooding produces subsidiary features on this dominant seasonal profile. Radionuclide concentrations on vegetation are in the range¹³⁷Cs=8–191,¹³⁴Cs=0.3–0.9,²⁴¹Am=0.6–46,²³⁸Pu=0.1–1.5, and^239/240Pu=0.8–44 Bq kg⁻¹. These ranges reflect the relative concentrations of radionuclides in estuarine sediment (¹³⁷Cs=615,²⁴¹Am=202, and^239/240Pu=104 Bq kg⁻¹) rather than the values in filtered estuary water (¹³⁷Cs=0.4,²⁴¹Am=0.001, and^239/240Pu=0.001 Bq 1⁻¹). Median K_d values for these radionuclide species are Cs=1,400, Am=200,000, and Pu=80,000 1 kg⁻¹).     

Long-core profiles of137Cs,134Cs,60Co and210Pb in sediment near the Rhône River (Northwestern Mediterranean Sea)

Various anthropogenic radionuclides and²¹⁰Pb were analyzed in a 4.3-m-long core, sampled near the Rhône River mouth in March 1991, to evaluate the extent of industrial releases that accumulate in this area. The whole core was significantly marked by radionuclide inputs from the nuclear facilities located along the river (¹³⁷Cs,¹³⁴Cs,⁶⁰Co). Irregular profiles in natural and artificial radionuclides should be related to variations in their respective inputs from the Rhône River to the Mediterranean Sea. Minimum concentrations were found during high flow periods. Using both the¹³⁷Cs/¹³⁴Cs profile in the core and the range of this ratio in Rhône waters, mean apparent accumulation rates were estimated to range between 37 cm yr^?1 and 48 cm yr^?1. This core would then represent a sedimentary record over a 7–10 year period. However, the presence of a signal from the Chernobyl accident, which occurred on April 26, 1986, was not clearly observed in the core. Inventories of both artificial and natural radionuclides were greater than expected from atmospheric inputs. The increased sedimentation occurring in close vicinity to the mouth of the Rhône River is thus responsible for trapping of elements transported by the river to the Mediterranean Sea. In this area, inventories of artificial radionuclides are well in excess of aerial deposition from Chernobyl and atmospheric weapons tests and are linked primarily to industrial releases.     

Assessment of 137Cs and 90Sr fluxes in the Barents Sea

The annual balance of radionuclides inflow/outflow was assessed for ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr isotopes in the Barents Sea, taking into account the atmospheric precipitation, inflow from the Norwegian and the White seas, as well as riverine discharge, liquid radioactive waste disposal (LRWD), and outflow to the adjacent seas. The original and published data for the period of 1950–2009 were analyzed. According to the multiyear dynamics (1960–2009), the inflow of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr into the Barents Sea was significantly preconditioned by the Norwegian Sea currents; and precipitation played a major role in the 1950s, 1960s, and in 1986. Currently, the trans-border redeposition of ⁹⁰Sr prevails over ¹³⁷Cs redeposition in the Barents Sea, and constitutes about 99% of inflow of each element.     

Plutonium and radiocesium in the water column of the Hudson River estuary

Isotopes of plutonium (Pu), cesium (Cs), and cobalt (Co) introduced into the Hudson River Estuary from fallout deposition, the erosion of fallout-contaminated surface soils, and nuclear reactor effluent (isotopes of Cs and Co only) have been measured in water column samples collected from 1975 to 1980 Isotopic measurements conducted independently by two research groups utilizing different sampling and analytical techniques have been summarized. The major conclusions drawn from the work are that for water samples collected by the two laboratories over similar time periods, the mean concentrations of nonfilterable^239,240Pu (<0.45 μm) were identical at 0.13 fCi/l, mean concentrations of both¹³⁷Cs and^239,240Pu in suspended particulates were more divergent at 2,270±920 pCi/kg (±1 SD) and 1,430±430 pCi/kg for¹³⁷Cs, and 19±8 pCi/kg and 12±4 pCi/kg for^239,240Pu The behavior of^239,240Pu and¹³⁷Cs within the water column is shown to diverge within brackish waters Specifically, the magnitude of the¹³⁷Cs distribution coefficient (K _d ) can be expressed as an inverse power function of the chloride ion concentrations for chlorinities between 0.1 and 4 g Cl⁻/l No difference in the^239,240PuK _d has been observed between fresh and brackish waters Based on the expected inventories of^239,240Pu and¹³⁷Cs within watershed soils, the current downstream transport of these radionuclides represents fractional mobilization rates on the order of 1–4 (×10⁻⁴) per year     

Influence of temperature decrease and soil drought on the geochemical fractionation of 60Co and 137Cs in fluvisol and cambisol soils

Consideration of the impact of substantial changes in soil temperature or moisture regime on the geochemical forms of radionuclides is important for more accurate assessment of the environmental risk posed by radionuclide migration and potential biological availability, especially in the first months after their release into the environment. This paper presents the results from a study of the influence of cooling, freezing and soil drought on the migration and potential bioavailability of ⁶⁰Co and ¹³⁷Cs in two soils (a fluvisol and a cambisol, according to the World Reference Base for Soil Resources/FAO) from Bulgaria. The changes in the geochemical fractionation of ⁶⁰Co, the exchangeable ¹³⁷Cs and water-soluble forms of both radionuclides were examined under different storage conditions up to 5 months after their introduction into the soils in solution form. Freezing or soil drought resulted in a significant increase of the water-soluble forms of ⁶⁰Co in the fluvisol soil, defining higher mobility and potential bioavailability. No influence of the storing conditions on the water-solubility of ⁶⁰Co in the cambisol soil was established. The cooling, freezing and soil drought caused an increase of the exchangeable ¹³⁷Cs in both soils.     

Application of Chitin and Zeolite adsorbents for treatment of low level radioactive liquid wastes

Two types of Shrimp Chitin derivatives and two types of Iranian natural Zeolite derivatives (Firuzkooh Clinoptiliolite) were studied for adsorption and treatment of low-level radioactive liquid waste (LLW). Chitin with lowers than 10% and Chtiosan with higher than 90% deacetylation factor were selected as natural organic adsorbents. Natural Cliniptilolite of Firuzkooh area and Na form derivatives of it were selected as natural inorganic adsorbents. The static and dynamic ion exchange experimental results show that the adadsorption efficiency depend on particle size, PH, adsorbent type, deacetylation factor (in Chitin adsorbents) and cation type. The best Cs adsorption occurred in Na form Clinoptilolite. Nevertheless Chitin derivatives, particularly Chitosan, are more efficient than Zeolite adsorbents for removing of radionuclides such as ¹³⁷Cs, ⁵⁴Mn, ⁹⁰Sr and ⁶⁰Co. Adsorption performance was discussed and compared with each other.     

Strontium-90 in surface and groundwater of the reclamation systems at the Chernobyl exclusion zone

The left bank of the Pripiat' river, opposite of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP) is covered with a developed network of drainage canals, built for the reclamation of the swampy floodplain. This area is highly contaminated after the disaster in 1986. Concentrations of the most mobile radionuclide, ⁹⁰Sr, are comparable with ¹³⁷Cs, and reach many MBq m^-2. Their ratio in the upper 10 cm of soil is about 1. The high surface contamination as well as precipitation and flooding have been responsible for the water pollution in this area. Some specifics of ⁹⁰Sr behaviour in surface and groundwater, controlled by the hydrological regime, are described.     

环境生态系统散落核素示踪研究新进展

环境生态系统中的放射性核素既具有生态毒性,对生物和人体健康产生重要影响,又具有稳定的衰变函数和输入通量,对环境生态系统具有重要示踪价值。人类可利用放射性核素来认识环境生态系统:①环境生态系统中放射性核素的基准:放射性强度与环境生态系统之间的平衡关系;②环境生态系统中放射性核素的行为:在环境生态系统不同宿体和组分间的运移关系。考察放射性核素在生态系统不同环节中比活度的变化有助于认识环境生态过程生物地球化学作用的影响。       

A note on partition coefficient distributions

Much interest has been generated in assessing the possible risks of contamination for humans and marine life resulting from the dumping of nuclear waste in Arctic Seas by the former Soviet Union. Models are being used to predict the transport of radionuclides released from the dumping grounds. A key parameter in these models is the partition coefficient representing the uptake potential of marine sediments and seawater for radioactive contaminants. Partition coefficients are dependent upon the independent variables of sediment concentration and the sediment/water radionuclide distribution coefficients. Modelers must use estimated average values for the independent variables because data for these variables are lacking for the Arctic environment. In this note, we illustrate the differences between assuming that partition coefficients can be computed solely from the average values of the independent variables vs. exact probability distributions, and illustrate the technique for one of the radioactive contaminants,¹³⁷Cs. In general, errors in the sediment partition coefficient can be as high as 67% using average values; for¹³⁷Cs. the error is about 37%.     

长江河口水下三角洲137Cs地球化学分布特征

文章通过对长江口水下三角洲采集的10个柱状样放射性核素¹³⁷Cs的分析可以得知,长江口水下三角洲¹³⁷Cs剖面中均存在清晰的最大蓄积峰,其峰值比活度介于5.68±1.03～21.74±1.39Bq/kg之间,平均值为14.11±1.10Bq/kg,最大蓄积峰所处的深度为55～117cm。剖面中¹³⁷Cs最大蓄积峰应该与1963年的¹³⁷Cs散落沉降相对应。长江口水下三角洲的表层沉积物中的¹³⁷Cs比活度范围介于0～9.19±1.12Bq/kg之间,并且与长江流域其他地区的表层¹³⁷Cs比活度相一致。长江口水下三角洲可探测到的¹³⁷Cs比活度的最大深度范围在88～160cm的范围内变化,¹³⁷Cs蓄积总量为2361.30±174.38～17714.94±262.14Bq/m²,平均值为9664.97±100.05Bq/m²,¹³⁷Cs比活度的最大深度及¹³⁷Cs蓄积总量均表现出从岸向海逐渐增加的趋势。实测的¹³⁷Cs总量均大于长江流域的¹³⁷Cs背景值,说明了长江口水下三角洲的¹³⁷Cs蓄积既有大气散落直接沉降的来源,又有流域侵蚀带来的¹³⁷Cs输入,并且主要以后者为主。通过放射性核素示踪模型分析长江口水下三角洲¹³⁷Cs散落蓄积特征可以得知,长江口水下三角洲¹³⁷Cs的蓄积以长江流域来源为主,说明了放射性核素¹³⁷Cs在长江口水下三角洲沉积物中的蓄积主要受流域侵蚀因素的影响。     

Geochemical and environmental processes affecting radionuclide migration from a formerly used seepage trench

The disposal of liquid waste, containing about 0.3 million curies (10⁷ GBq) of fission nuclides, activation products, actinides and transuranics, in a shallow land seepage trench from 1962 to 1966, provided a field opportunity for investigating the chemical, geological, and hydrological processes which affect contaminant migration in soils and weathered bedrock. Gamma-log profiles of wells near the trench indicate that the waste liquids seeped along discrete layers parallel to bedding and along the strikes of faults and folds. Most of the radioactivity measured in the groundwaters consisted of ³H, ⁹⁹Tc, ⁶⁰Co, and ²³³U. The mobility of ⁹⁹Tc, ⁶⁰Co, and ²³³U has been attributed to low molecular weight anionic complexing. Concentrations of ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs in the groundwaters were extremely low because of the chemical treatments and precautions taken to establish and maintain an alkaline environment near the trench, which allows for ⁹⁰Sr sorption and precipitation, and because of the strong tendency for ¹³⁷Cs to be selectively sorbed by illite. Plutonium isotopic ratios indicate that much of the plutonium contamination near the trench results from the migration of ²⁴²Cm and ²⁴⁴Cm and their subsequent decay to ²³⁸Pu and ²⁴⁰Pu.Radionuclide concentrations in the groundwaters near the north end of the trench undergo seasonal variations, with the highest activities occurring in the spring and after prolonged rainfall. This suggests that contamination may be leached from the trench or from the relict waste migration layers when the groundwater level rises to saturate these zones or when precipitation infiltrates into the trench or along these relict migration layers during drainage. Suspected transport pathways from the trench to a nearby seep area appear to be associated with fault zones and limbs of a plunging limestone fold.     

Radionuclide partitioning across great lakes natural interfaces

Several water and surface microlayer samples from Lake St. Clair, the Niagara River, and the North Shore of Lake Ontario collected during 1983–1986 have been assayed for a variety of radionuclides. In addition, the foam accumulating in the pool just below Niagara Falls was also analyzed and found to be the most efficient aqueous phase collector of¹³⁷Cs,²¹⁰Pb, and²²⁶Ra.The order of radioisotope specific activities from highest to lowest is: Lake Ontario sediment, Niagara River suspended solids, Niagara River foam, surface microlayer water, and subsurface water. Radiological dose rates to the sediments from¹³⁷Cs,²²⁶Ra, and²²⁸Th total about 5 mGy/y.     

Records of radionuclide deposition in two salt marshes in the United Kingdom with contrasting redox and accumulation conditions

Single cores from two salt marshes in the United Kingdom located near different nuclear facilities were investigated to compare chronostratigraphic estimates derived from the natural radionuclide ²¹⁰Pb_excess with estimates from the known times of introduction of artificial radionuclides to the environment. Both cores selected had clear visual indications of redox zonation, and evidence for diagenetic redox perturbation of the radionuclide records was also sought. In the core from Beaulieu Marsh on the south coast of England, the redox zonation was revealed by the profiles of the redox-sensitive elements Mn + I, Fe + P + As, and S, and the records of nuclear discharges were entirely contained within oxidized conditions in the upper 40 cm. The constant flux/constant sedimentation ²¹⁰Pb_excess accumulation estimate was 76% of that derived from the 1963 fallout ¹³⁷Cs level (0.35 vs. 0.46 g cm⁻² yr⁻¹ dry mass), but the constant flux ²¹⁰Pb_excess method indicated that accumulation rates were lower at Beaulieu before ∼1950. On any timescale, ¹³⁷Cs appears earlier in the sediment record than its introduction to the environment, but although downward diffusion of ¹³⁷Cs relative to ²⁴¹Am has clearly occurred, the ¹³⁷Cs peak still appeared in place and there was negligible penetration of ¹³⁷Cs into underlying reduced conditions. This core also contained a peak of the ⁶⁰Co discharges from either or both the Winfrith and La Hague nuclear plants that peaked in 1980 and 1984, respectively. The sediments in the core from Wyre Marsh on the eastern coast of the Irish Sea had accumulated more rapidly than those at Beaulieu, and in this case the redox zonation could be established only from Mn and S profiles. Here, the constant initial activity ²¹⁰Pb_excess accumulation rate estimate was 125% of that derived from the ¹³⁷Cs peak correlated with the 1975 Sellafield discharge maximum (0.79 vs. 0.64 g cm⁻² yr⁻¹). Sellafield discharge ¹³⁷Cs swamps fallout or Chernobyl ¹³⁷Cs signals in this core, but the ¹³⁷Cs and ²⁴¹Am sediment records are well separated and remain consistent with the slightly different discharge patterns over time. This is so despite the fact that the maximum activity levels of both isotopes are now located well into reducing conditions out of which Mn must have migrated. The ²¹⁰Pb profile appeared similarly unaffected by the oxidized/reduced boundary in this case. This core was too short to define the limits of any downward ¹³⁷Cs migration. ²¹⁰Pb_excess accumulation rate estimates for salt marshes should be viewed with some caution because of the steady-state assumptions inherent in all ²¹⁰Pb_excess methods and the potential for fluctuating accumulation conditions and open system behavior in salt marshes.