Wet and dry deposition patterns of plutonium in Daejeon, Korea

Plutonium in wet and dry deposition samples collected monthly at the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS), Daejeon, Korea was determined during the period from January 2000 to August 2000. Monthly Pu-239,Pu-240 deposition in Korea showed a maximum in the spring season (March to May), which was several times greater than that in Japan and corresponds to a seasonal cycle of soil dust fallout originating from the East Asian and areas. The trajectory analysis of dust storms suggests that Pu-239,Pu-240 deposition in Korea in spring is originating from plutonium-bearing surface soil particles from the East Asian and areas. A significant part of the Pu-239,Pu-240 deposition in spring in Korea is attributable to dry deposition. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.