Study on anthropogenic uranium isotope U-236 in the environment - Application for oceanic circulation tracer

Abstract

Recently, the anthropogenic uranium isotope 236U has been recognized as one of the "environmental uranium (U) isotopes". With the development of instruments and detection techniques of sufficient abundance sensitivity, the applications that use 236 U as a proxy/tool for environmental and geochemical uranium studies are expanding. The origin and level of 236 U in the vicinity area of the Japan Sea were deduced from measurements of 236 U and 137 Cs in surface soils, seawater, suspended particulate matter and oceanic bottom sediments. This study also presents the feasibility of 236 U use as an oceanic circulation tracer. © 2013 The Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry.