First study on 236U in environmental samples from Bangladesh by ICP-MS/MS prior to the operation of its first nuclear power plant

For the first time, using ICP-MS/MS, the U-234, U-235, U-236, and U-238 in the sediment samples from coastal region, Bangladesh, were measured as 5.13-5.48, 0.234-0.252, (2.70-4.59) x 10(-5), and 4.92-5.31 Bq kg(-1), and the U-236/U-238 atom ratios were (2.87-4.57) x 10(-8), indicating the predominate influence of global fallout on U-236. For the rock samples from hilly area, the corresponding concentrations were much higher as 18.7-4023, 0.902-173, 9.58 x 10(-5)-1.29 x 10(-2), and 18.8-2279 Bq kg(-1), but the U-236/U-238 atom ratios were in the same range of (1.52-3.04) x 10(-8), indicating the U-236 was primarily due to the natural nuclear reactions.

Automated summary

The study found that in the coastal region of Bangladesh, U-236 is mainly influenced by global fallout, while in the hilly area, U-236 primarily comes from natural nuclear reactions.