SPECIATION OF RADIONUCLIDES IN THE ENVIRONMENT

Methods for the determination of the speciation of radionuclides in ae rosols, in aquatic solutions, in sediments, soils and rocks are review ed. At present, most of the results about speciation are deduced from model calculations, model experiments, and separation of species (form s) of radionuclides, e.g., by sequential extraction procedures. Method s of direct determination of speciation of radionuclides (e.g., by las er induced spectroscopy) are in general not yet sensitive enough for a measurement of the very low concentrations of radionuclides in the en vironment. The methodological part of this paper is followed by a revi ew of the very abundant literature about speciation of important radio nuclides in the environment, i.e., in the atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere. The review does not include the biosphere. Literature up to spring 1993 is included (with a few more recent additions).