Biomaterial Database

Underwater gamma surveys of Mururoa and Fangataufa lagoons. 1999

I Osvath, and P Povinec, and L Huynh-Ngoc, and J F Comanducci

International Atomic Energy Agency, Marine Environment Laboratory, Monaco. i.osvath@iaea.org

Underwater gamma-ray spectrometry is an effective alternative or complement to traditional sampling and laboratory analyses for applications such as contamination assessment in emergency situations, long-term monitoring of radioactive releases or investigation of sunken radioactive objects. This technique was recently used in a seabed contamination study undertaken at the South Pacific nuclear weapons test sites of the Mururoa and Fangataufa atolls in order to guide and focus sediment core sampling in the areas with highest gamma-emitting radionuclide levels. 60Co inventories estimated on the basis of the underwater gamma-ray spectrometry survey were in good agreement with results previously obtained by traditional sediment sampling and laboratory analysis.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009689	Nuclear Warfare	Warfare involving the use of NUCLEAR WEAPONS.	Atomic Warfare,Warfare, Atomic,Warfare, Nuclear
D010139	Pacific Islands	The islands of the Pacific Ocean divided into MICRONESIA; MELANESIA; and POLYNESIA (including NEW ZEALAND). The collective name Oceania includes the aforenamed islands, adding AUSTRALIA; NEW ZEALAND; and the Malay Archipelago (INDONESIA). (Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p910, 880)	Pacific Island,Micronesia-Polynesia
D010140	Pacific Ocean	Body of water between Asia and South America, extending from the Arctic circle to the Equator and from the Equator to the Antarctic.
D011834	Radiation Monitoring	The observation, either continuously or at intervals, of the levels of radiation in a given area, generally for the purpose of assuring that they have not exceeded prescribed amounts or, in case of radiation already present in the area, assuring that the levels have returned to those meeting acceptable safety standards.	Monitoring, Radiation
D011847	Radioactive Fallout	The material that descends to the earth or water well beyond the site of a surface or subsurface nuclear explosion. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Chemical and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Fallout, Radioactive,Fallouts, Radioactive,Radioactive Fallouts
D011868	Radioisotopes	Isotopes that exhibit radioactivity and undergo radioactive decay. (From Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed & McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Daughter Isotope,Daughter Nuclide,Radioactive Isotope,Radioactive Isotopes,Radiogenic Isotope,Radioisotope,Radionuclide,Radionuclides,Daughter Nuclides,Daugter Isotopes,Radiogenic Isotopes,Isotope, Daughter,Isotope, Radioactive,Isotope, Radiogenic,Isotopes, Daugter,Isotopes, Radioactive,Isotopes, Radiogenic,Nuclide, Daughter,Nuclides, Daughter
D012623	Seawater	The salinated water of OCEANS AND SEAS that provides habitat for marine organisms.	Sea Water,Sea Waters,Seawaters,Water, Sea,Waters, Sea
D013051	Spectrometry, Gamma	Determination of the energy distribution of gamma rays emitted by nuclei. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Gamma Spectrophotometry,Gamma Spectrometry,Spectrophotometry, Gamma
D014875	Water Pollutants, Radioactive	Pollutants, present in water or bodies of water, which exhibit radioactivity.	Pollutants, Radioactive Water,Radioactive Water Pollutants
D014878	Water Pollution, Radioactive	Contamination of water with radioactive materials and/or substances.	Pollution, Radioactive Water,Radioactive Water Pollution