137Cs, 239+240Pu concentrations and the 240Pu/239Pu atom ratio in a sediment core from the sub-aqueous delta of Yangtze River estuary

A sediment core collected from the sub-aqueous delta of the Yangtze River estuary was subjected to analyses of 137Cs and plutonium (Pu) isotopes. The 137Cs was measured using γ-spectrometry at the laboratories at the Nanjing University and Pu isotopes were determined with Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS), measurements made at the Australian National University. The results show considerable structure in the depth concentration profiles of the 137Cs and 239+240Pu. The shape of the vertical 137Cs distribution in the sediment core was similar to that of the Pu. The maximum 137Cs and 239+240Pu concentrations were 16.21 ± 0.95 mBq/g and 0.716 ± 0.030 mBq/g, respectively, and appear at same depth. The average 240Pu/239Pu atom ratio was 0.238 ± 0.007 in the sediment core, slightly higher than the average global fallout value. The changes in the 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios in the sediment core indicate the presence of at least two different Pu sources, i.e., global fallout and another source, most likely close-in fallout from the Pacific Proving Grounds (PPG) in the Marshall Islands, and suggest the possibility that Pu isotopes are useful as a geochronological tool for coastal sediment studies. The 137Cs and 239+240Pu inventories were estimated to be 7100 ± 1200 Bq/m2 and 407 ± 27 Bq/m2, respectively. Approximately 40% of the 239+240Pu inventory originated from the PPG close-in fallout and about 50% has derived from land-origin global fallout transported to the estuary by the river. This study confirms that AMS is a useful tool to measure 240Pu/239Pu atom ratio and can provide valuable information on sedimentary processes in the coastal environment.