Distribution characteristics of 137Cs, Pu isotopes and 241Am in soil in Korea

• The concentrations of 137Cs, Plutonium isotopes and 241Am were described in soils collected from Korea.
• Except this study, little information on the 241Am in soil in Korea has been known.
• The inventories of Cs-137, Plutonium isotopes and 241Am were estimated.
• Except this study, little information on 240Pu/239Pu atomic ratio in soil in Korea has been known.

Cesium-137, Plutonium isotopes and 241Am were studied in soil samples collected from Korea between 2006 and 2008 to provide information on the distribution and origin of Pu isotopes and 241Am. The vertical profiles of radionuclides showed higher activity concentrations at the surface layer and then gradually decreased with depth. A good correlation between 137Cs and 239,240Pu was observed, whereas a poor relationship between 137Cs and 241Am was found. The 238Pu/239,240Pu, 241Am/239,240Pu and 239,240Pu/137Cs activity ratios were concordant to those of the global fallout ratios. Furthermore, the atomic ratios of 240Pu/239Pu in the samples provided the information of Pu depositional history and the origin of Pu isotopes in Korea.