Characterisation of naturally occurring radionuclides in the lower Rhone River (France): Preliminary results from suspended solid monitoring

Abstract

Long term time series acquired in the frame of radioecological monitoring programmes are useful tools for exploring the variability of naturally occurring radionuclide contents. The data set was established in order to investigate the role of discharge, flood type and flood chronicles on such variability within the suspended sediments. Preliminary results show that radionuclide geochemical properties as well as suspended sediment nature and particle residence time may in some particular cases significantly affect the U-Th series nuclide equilibrium. © 2013 WIT Press.