Abstract
Plutonium isotopic ratios have been calculated in soils contaminated by the Palomares accident which occurred in 1966 (Almeria, Southeastem Spain). Contrasted techniques have been used to determine the radionuclide activities:238Pu and238+240Pu were analysed by α-spectrometry prior purification on anion-exchange resins, the ratio239Pu/240Pu was estimated by α-spectra deconvolution and241Pu was directly measured by liquid scintillation counting and indirectly through quantification of in-grown241Am from aged plutonium discs. The mean activity ratios238Pu/239Pu,239Pu/240Pu,241Pu/239Pu, backdated to 1966, were 0.027±0.002 (1σ), 4.5±0.2 (1σ) and 8.2±0.8 (1σ), respectively, characterizing the accident of Palomares as the source term of the measured plutonium.
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