Measurements of actinide nuclides in water samples from the primary circuit of a nuclear power plant.

Weekly, consecutive primary coolant samples from a boiling water ractor have been analyzed for 239,240Pu, 238Pu +241Am, 242Cm and 244Cm for about two years, and for 238Pu, 241Pu and 241Am for one year. Concentration ranges are reported. Samples were prepared for counting either directly by evaporation or by chemical separation on BioRad AG 1X4 resin and subsequent electrolysis, and were counted in 20 cm dia Frisch grid ionization chambers. Procedures are described. For most actinide nuclides, activity ratios in primary coolant were found to be different from those in worldwide fallout, thus allowing an identification of origin in the case, that actinides should be detected in the vicinity of a nuclear power station