What happens to plutonium when it enters the environment?
• Plutonium released during atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons, which ended in 1980, is the source of most of the plutonium in the environment worldwide. • Plutonium is also released to the environment from research facilities, waste disposal, nuclear fuel reprocessing facilities, nuclear weapons production facilities, and accidents at facilities where plutonium is used. • Plutonium can be transported in the atmosphere usually when it is attached to particles in the air. • It can be deposited on land or water by settling or by rain. • Plutonium can stick to particles in soil, sediment, and water. • Plutonium isotopes will undergo radioactive decay in the environment.
