Concentrations of selected radionuclides and their spatial distribution in marine sediments from the northwestern Gulf, Kuwait

This study focuses on creating a baseline for 40K, 210Pb, 137Cs, 90Sr, 226Ra, 228Ra, 238U, 235U, 234U, 239 + 240Pu and 238Pu in marine sediments in the northwestern Gulf. The respective measured concentration ranges were 386-489, 32.3-48.8, 1.5-2.9, 4.53-5.42, 18.3-23.1, 18.8-23.0, 22.3-30.5, 0.99-1.33, 25.6-34.8, 0.30-0.93, and 0.0008-0.00018 Bq kg− 1. The levels of these radionuclides are generally comparable to values reported for other marine waters in the northern hemisphere. The 137Cs activity in the Gulf sediments offshore Kuwait is an order of magnitude lower compared to sediments from northeastern Iran. Other than that finding, no hot spots were observed in sediments adjacent to power and desalination plants, oil and gas industrial activities or wastewater treatment facilities. These data will serve as a baseline to gauge possible future inputs of radionuclides in the northern Gulf. The calculated average ratio of 235U/238U activity in the area is in agreement with the reported figure of the natural uranium ratio, suggesting the absence of depleted uranium (DU) at all the stations. The low concentration of 239 + 240Pu suggests that there is no significant source of plutonium except that from atmospheric fallout from weapon testing and possible dry deposition via long-range dust transport.