POLLUTION HISTORY OF THE SAVANNAH RIVER ESTUARY

Records of natural and pollutant fluxes to the Savannah River estuarine system are found in some river and marsh deposits into which time frames can be introduced by 210Pb or plutonium geochronologies. Plutonium releases from the Savannah River Plant to the environment are evident in only one deposit and in marsh grass, both of which have elevated levels of the 238pu/239+240pu ratios in comparison to those expected from atmospheric fallout. The highest concentrations of metals were found in deposits upriver; in sediments of the estuary itself, lower concentrations of the metals resulted from their dilution through the entry of oceanic solid phases. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.