Cycling of fallout (Pu, 241 Am, 137 Cs) and natural (U, Th, 210 Pb) radionuclides in Washington continental slope sediments

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We report activity profiles of Pu isotopes, 241 Am, 137 Cs, 210 Pb, U and Th isotopes in Washington continental slope sediments from 332-1415 m water, identify major processes responsible for them, and compare results with those previously reported for Washington shelf sediments. Specific activities of all nuclides but 137 Cs are higher in slope surface sediments than shelf surface sediments. These higher specific activities, which are due to more efficient scavenging by finer grained particles and higher concentrations of dissolved nuclides in slope waters, do not cause proportionally higher slope sediment radionuclide inventories, because they are counterbalanced by 5-10 fold lower sediment accumulation rates on the slope. Profiles of natural U and Th series isotopes reveal that fallout nuclide profiles are not markedly affected by greater exchange of pore and overlying waters, but they are dependent upon rate and depth of solid phase mixing. 239,240 pu activities inventories in slope sediments correlate with those of excess 210 Pb, as in shelf sediments, but with higher ratios of 210 Pb / Pu in slope deposits. 241 Am / 239,240 Pu activity and inventory ratios in slope sediments average twice ratios in shelf sediments, due primarily to greater particle affinity and preferential downward transport of 241 Am. Am / Pu activity ratios change little with depth in slope sediments, suggesting insignificant separation of the two nuclides during diagenesis. 239,240 Pu / 137 Cs ratios are 2-3 times greater in slope than shelf sediments, due to a combination of preferential scavenging of Pu and greater 137 Cs loss by decay and desorption. Pu / Cs activity ratios decrease with depth in more porous slope sediments, due to downward migration of 137 Cs. 137 Cs is found in slope sediments from all water depths, even though it is barely detectable below about 700 m in North Pacific waters.

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