An investigation into the occurrence and migration of 239,240Pu in the Australian environment

Plutonium is a hazardous radioactive contaminant that persists in the soil as fallout from nuclear weapons testing and incidents at nuclear facilities. This thesis examines the plutonium present in Australian soils; the particles that are formed, how it is transported and the effects of specific climates. This data will help improve and validate radioecological models, risk characterisations and impact assessments for radiation protection in Australia and similar environments.