Artificial radionuclides in the sediments of the Rhne river: a snapshot of the situation during winter 1994/95

Artificial radionuclides (⁶⁰Co, ¹⁰⁶Ru, ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs) produced in the nuclear power plants along the Rhne valley have been detected in most of the 35 sediment samples collected from the shores of the Rhne river in southern France. In one sample traces of ²⁴¹Am were found, suggesting the presence of transuranic elements. The wide use of river water for irrigation and the occasional big inundations of the Rhne have spread the artificial radionuclides over huge areas, quite far behind the river shores. Although artificial radionuclides are present in fields where food crops are collected, their activity is currently considerably lower than the activity of the natural radionuclides present in the river sediment.