Residual radionuclide concentrations and estimated radiation doses at the former French nuclear weapons test sites in Algeria.

In order to assess the level of residual radioactivity and evaluate the radiological conditions at the former French nuclear testing sites of Reggane and Taourirt Tan Afella in the south of Algeria, the International Atomic Energy Agency, at the request of the government of Algeria, conducted a field mission to the sites in 1999. At these locations, France conducted a number of nuclear tests in the early 1960s. At the ground zero locality of the ''Gerboise Blanche'' atmospheric test (Reggane) and in the vicinity of a tunnel where radioactive lava was ejected during a poorly contained explosion (Taourirt Tan Afella), non-negligible levels of radioactive material could still be measured. Using the information collected and using realistic potential exposure scenarios, radiation doses to potential occupants and visitors to the sites were estimated.

Long-term flux of Chernobyl-derived 137Cs from soil to French rivers: a study on sediment and biological indicators.

Sediment and aquatic plants were collected annually since the early 1990s in the main French rivers, upstream of nuclear power plants. These time series were used in order to assess the parameters of a compartmental model describing the Chernobyl-derived (137)Cs flux from soil to rivers. In order to reduce the dispersal of (137)Cs measured activities in sediment samples due to the granulometric heterogeneity, a correction method was set up using sediment test-fractions artificially enriched with specific diameter particles. The method was based on (137)Cs affinity for fine particles, especially clays, and thus clay and fine silt contents of each sample was analysed. Corrected sediment data showed (1) that the method efficiently reduced the variability; and (2) that (137)Cs activities in French rivers decreased with a half-life of 4 to 6 years since 1987 (after correction by radioactive decay). A similar half-life value was obtained for aquatic plants pointing out that this half-life is related to the gradual decay of the flux from soil to rivers, not to the indicator itself. Comparing our results with similar ones published by other authors, it appeared possible that this kinetic varies with the time period over which the study is conducted, the longer the period the lower is the kinetic.