Plutonium from Chernobyl in Poland

Samples of coniferous forest litter collected in POland, of known γ-emitters activity, have been analysed for α emitting plutonium isotopes. Specific as well as surface activities of the samples have been determined. Chernobyl and global fallout components have been distinguished for each sample. The observed maximum surface activity for Chernobyl fallout is above 25 Bq m−2 (for all α-emitting Pu isotopes), and up to 30% of expected global fallout values are also present in some samples. Chernobyl component is well correlated with the previously determined 144Ce activity, which supports the model of small fuel-like hot particles precipitation. The radiochemical procedure and the method of analysis of spectra are described. Dosimetric interpretation of the results is presented.