Distribution of radionuclides in the guano sediments of Xisha Islands, South China Sea and its implication

Abstract

Several natural and anthropogenic radionuclides ( 210Pb, 226Ra and 137Cs) in guano-phosphatic coral sediments and pure guano particles collected from Ganquan, Guangjin, Jinqing and Jinyin Islands of the Xisha archipelago, South China Sea, were analyzed. The Constant Initial Concentration (CIC) model and the Constant Rate of Supply (CRS) model were applied for age calculation. The average supply rate of 210Pb was 126 Bq m −2 a −1, very close to the flux of northern hemisphere average (125 Bq m −2 a −1). The activities of anthropogenic radionuclides in the sediments were very low, indicating that human nuclear tests did not notably impact this region. The main source of radionuclides in the sediments was from atmospheric precipitation, and the organic matter derived from plant and produced by nutrient-rich guano could further enhance them.