Radioactive isotopes of strontium, caesium and plutonium in sediments of the Northern Adriatic Sea

Sediment samples of different strata (0-3 and 12-15 cm) were collected between 1990 and 1992 during seasonal cruises in the Northern Adriatic Sea. A complete mapping of the Sr-90, Cs-137, Pu-238 and Pu-239(240) concentrations was obtained for samples covering a wide area, stretching from the Gulf of Trieste towards the Ancona shoreline. Sr-90 concentrations varied between 1.5 and 6.5 Bq kg-1 dw, Cs-137 was in the range 0.9-38.9 Bq kg-1 dw, Pu-239(240) in the range 0.08-1.5 Bq kg-1 dw and Pu-238 around 0.03 Bq kg-1 dw. Special reference was also put on the comparison between the off-shore environment and data obtained from samples collected inside the Po river delta. In spite of the major accumulation of Cs-137 inside the estuarine environment, higher concentrations of strontium and plutonium isotopes were detected in the offshore environment.