Underwater gamma surveys of Mururoa and Fangataufa lagoons

Underwater gamma-ray spectrometry is an effective alternative or complement to traditional sampling and laboratory analyses for applications such as c ontamination assessment in emergency situations, long-term monitoring of ra dioactive releases or investigation of sunken radioactive objects. This tec hnique was recently used in a seabed contamination study undertaken at the South Pacific nuclear weapons test sites of the Mururoa and Fangataufa atol ls in order to guide and focus sediment core sampling in the areas with hig hest gamma-emitting radionuclide levels. Co-60 inventories estimated on the basis of the underwater gamma-ray spectrometry survey were in good agreeme nt with results previously obtained by traditional sediment sampling and la boratory analysis. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.