Radioecological Studies of the Hudson River Page: 9
94 p. : ill., ports. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this book.
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Desorption of radiocesium from bottom sediment probably con-
tributed less activity to water samples during 1973 than in 1972 for
at least two reasons. Firstly, concentrations of 137Cs and
134Cs in the surface layers of sediment have been reduced by
dispersion and sediment deposition during the intervening year.
Secondly, there is considerable evidence that cesium becomes
more firmly bound (more resistant to desorption) to clay
minerals as contact time increases. This effect is presumed to
be the result of migration of cesium atoms from ion exchange
sites on the mineral surfaces into the mineral lattice
structure (6,7).
We have continued our examination of the effect of salinity
upon the distribution of cesium between the suspended and dissolved
phases of Hudson River water. The distribution coefficients*
determined for 137Cs in continuous water samples at Verplanck
during 1973 (Table 6) are greater than those measured during
1971 (Figure 4). This observation is a reflection of the
fact that radiocesium released during the relatively large
reactor discharges of 1971 was not at equilibrium with the
environmental pool of cesium at the time of sampling. Confirmation
of this non-equilibrium was obtained by comparing the distribution
coefficients of stable cesium and 137Cs in grab water samples
collected during 1971 between Newburgh Bay and the George
Washington Bridge (Figure 4). Note that the Cs-137 distribution
coefficients in the 1971 samples are related as a power function
Cs-137 Suspended (pCi/g dry)
*Distribution coefficient =
Cs-137 Dissolved (pCi/ml)- 9 -
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New York University. Medical Center. Institute of Environmental Medicine. Radioecological Studies of the Hudson River, book, 1973; New York. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc29392/m1/13/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; .