Analysis and application of heavy isotopes in the environment

A growing number of AMS laboratories are pursuing applications of actinides. We discuss the basic requirements of the AMS technique of heavy (i.e., above ∼150 amu) isotopes, present the setup at the Vienna Environmental Research Accelerator (VERA) which is especially well suited for the isotope 236U, and give a comparison with other AMS facilities. Special emphasis will be put on elaborating the effective detection limits for environmental samples with respect to other mass spectrometric methods.At VERA, we have carried out measurements for radiation protection and environmental monitoring (236U, 239,240,241,242,244Pu), astrophysics (182Hf, 236U, 244Pu, 247Cm), nuclear physics, and a search for long-lived super-heavy elements (Z > 100). We are pursuing the environmental distribution of 236U, as a basis for geological applications of natural 236U.