Plutonium isotopes in sediments from the Sudanese coast of the Red Sea

This paper presents the activity concentrations of Pu isotopes in surface m arine sediments collected from the Sudanese coast of the Red Sea. The follo wing concentration ranges were determined: Pu-238, 4.7-28.6 mBg/kg; Pu239+2 40, 53-343 mBq/kg dry weight. The average activity ratios of Pu-238/Pu239+2 40 (0.075+/-0.045 mBqk/kg) and Pu239+240/Cs-137 (0.026+/-0.025 mBq/kg) are appropriately comparable to the literature values that are characteristic o f the global fallout from the atmospheric nuclear weapon tests. However, Pu 239+240/Cs-137 ratio in sediments collected from the biologically rich frin ging reef is an order of magnitude higher compared to other sampling locati ons.