Risk from Inhalation of the Long-Lived Radionuclides Uranium, Thorium, and Fallout Plutonium in the Atmosphere - Aerosols: Measurement, Dosimetry, and Health Effects - page 559

TABLE 22.3
Plutonium in TSP

Location Latitude Years Total ( μ Bq Pu m −3 )

Thule, Greenland 76°N 1963-1974 65.1

Moosonee, Ontario 51°N 1963-1985 71.0

New York, NY 40°N 1963-1985 98.9

Mauna Loa, HA 29°N 1963-1985 95.0

Miami, FL 25°N 1963-1985 82.5

Guayaquil, Eucador 2°S 1963-1976 10.3

Lima, Peru 12°S 1968-1985 11.6

Chalcaltaya, Chile 16°S 1963-1985 22.6

Santiago, Chile 33°S 1963-1985 30.3

Punta Arenas, Chile 53°S 1963-1985 6.5

Antarctica 64°S 1966-1975 3.4

Krakow, Poland 51°N 1990-2002 2.2 × 10 −4 -1.7 × 10 −2

Krakow/Bialystok, Poland 53°N 1990-2002 2.2 × 10 −4 -1.7 × 10 −2

Lublin 51°N 1993-1994 6.1 × 10 −2

1998-1999 9.1 ×10 −3

aerosol collections at ANL begun in 1973 and continuing to the present time are still analyzed for
Pu on a monthly basis, but the concentrations are nearly at the detection limit for the measurement.
In order to summarize this vast database, 11 sites were selected and the average annual
concentration of Pu for the years the site was operational was summed. The site, latitude, years in
operation, and the sum of the Pu concentrations measured in the TSP samples are shown in Table 22.3.
The distribution pattern of fallout Pu shows the highest concentrations in the Northern Hemisphere
mid-latitudes, a minimum in the equatorial region and an increase in the Southern Hemisphere mid-
latitudes. Most of the atomic weapons testing was carried out in the Northern Hemisphere but a few
test sites were located in the Southern Hemisphere. A summary of atmospheric weapons testing was
prepared by UNSCEAR (2000b).
Harley (1980) stated that the Pu inventory for the Northern Hemisphere decreased with a half-time
of 10 months until 1968 when the People's Republic of China began a series of atmospheric weapons
tests. The concentration of Pu in TSP collected in New York City is depicted in Figure 22.1. With no

Air concentrations in New York city

3.5

3

2.5

2

1.5

1

0.5

0

1965 1970 1975 1980 1985

Year

FIGURE 22.1 Plutonium in New York city aerosal samples.