Comparative study of Cs-137 partitioning between solid and liquid phases in Lakes Constance, Lugano and Vorsee

The methodology for estimating radiocaesium distribution between solid and liquid phases in lakes is applied for three prealpine lakes: Lake Constance (Germany), Lake Lugano (Switzerland) and Lake Vorsee (Germany). It is base d on use of the exchangeable distribution coefficient and application of th e exchangeable radiocaesium. interception potential (RIPex). The methodolog y was tested against experimental data. Good agreement was found between es timated and measured Cs-137 concentrations in Lake Constance and Lake Lugan o, whereas for Lake Vorsee a discrepancy was found. Bottom sediments in Lak e Vorsee are composed mainly of organic material and probably cannot be des cribed in terms of the specific sorption characteristics attributed to illi tic clay minerals. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.