Contamination of the earth's surface by plutonium and uranium fallout

Abstract

The239,240Pu/238U ratios in nature determined by previous and present workers have been used to evaluate the extent of plutonium and uranium fallout contamination on the earth's surface. The contamination of the earth's surface due to radioactive fallout of plutonium and uranium varies between 0.01 and 24%. The overall results show that the whole globe is affected by the fallout, thus explaining the high239,240Pu/238U ratios found in our environment today.