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AGU: Water Resources Research

 

Index Terms

  • Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Geochemical cycles
  • Hydrology: Anthropogenic effects
  • Hydrology: Chemistry of fresh water

Abstract

WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH, VOL. 38, 1149, 10 PP., 2002
doi:10.1029/2001WR000622

Sources of iodine and iodine 129 in rivers

Jean E. Moran

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California, USA

Sarah D. Oktay

Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, Galveston, Texas, USA

Peter H. Santschi

Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, Galveston, Texas, USA

A spatial survey of iodine and its long-lived isotope, 129I, in 40 rivers of the USA, Canada, and western Europe, reveals that the ratio of 129I/I is a sensitive indicator for the influence of nuclear fuel reprocessing facilities. Rivers with point sources for 129I in their watersheds are drastically affected, while all rivers sampled show evidence for atmospherically transported 129I from the world's major nuclear fuel reprocessing facilities. Varying mixtures of oceanic cyclic salt and soil-derived iodine account for the observed spatial variation in iodine concentrations. A comparison of 129I concentrations in river and rainwater reveals concentration effects due to evapotranspiration.

Published 17 August 2002.

Citation: Moran, J. E., S. D. Oktay, and P. H. Santschi (2002), Sources of iodine and iodine 129 in rivers, Water Resour. Res., 38(8), 1149, doi:10.1029/2001WR000622.

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