Summary
The activity concentration of natural radionuclides and 137Cs in the bottom sediments cores from Kuwait Bay have been determined by γ-ray spectrometry. Particular attention was devoted to the exact determination of two uranium isotopes: 235U and 238U in order to find any presence of depleted uranium dispersed during the 1991 Gulf War. The calculated 238U/235U activity ratios for all the surface (15 cm) as well as the core profile (up to 70 cm in depth) samples were within the limit of one standard deviation close to the value of 21.5 for natural uranium. Simultaneous instrumental determination of the unsupported 210Pb and 226Ra in a few sediment core profiles was used for quantification of sediment accumulation rates. The calculated sedimentation rates (for the constant atmospheric 210Pb flux rate - CRS model) ranged from 0.2 to 0.6 cm . y-1 and were close to the data calculated by the Weibull distribution of 137Cs in undisturbed sediment cores.