Gamma emitters survey im soils of the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina

M. L. MONTES; R. C. MERCADER; M. A. TAYLOR; J. RUNCO; P. A. IMBELLONE; P. C. RIVAS; J. DESIMONI

Mérida

Congreso; IV International Congress on Energy and Environment Engineering and Management; 2011

Because of the lack of systematic information about the natural and anthropogenic activities baselines, the controversies concerning the nuclide transport in soil and the reactivation of the nuclear program in Argentina [1, 2], we have started a long term project to contribute to the gamma emitter activity nuclide determination in soils of the Province of Buenos Aires. This is an important agricultural and industrial area where nuclear power plants and research nuclear reactors are located, adding to the natural inventory small amounts of activities of anthropogenic nuclides. Despite the long period of nuclear of activity in the region, no systematic study has been carried out until now to establish the actual conditions. We present here, activities depth profiles down to 50 cm from the surface of the natural chains (238U, and 232Th, 40K), and 137Cs of unperturbed soil of the neighbourhood of La Plata city. Mössbauer Effect, pH, texture and organic carbon content measurements have been added.