Measurements of plutonium, ²³⁷Np, and ¹³⁷Cs in the BCR 482 lichen reference material

Journal Article · Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-015-4497-3· OSTI ID:1236711

Lavelle, Kevin B. ^[1]; Miller, Jeffrey L. ^[2]; Hanson, Susan K. ^[2]; Connick, William B. ^[1]; Spitz, Henry B. ^[1]; Glover, Samuel E. ^[1]; Oldham, Warren J. ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH (United States)
2. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Select anthropogenic radionuclides were measured in lichen reference material, BCR 482. This material was originally collected in Axalp, Switzerland in 1991 and is composed of the epiphytic lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea. Samples from three separate bottles of BCR 482 were analyzed for uranium, neptunium, and plutonium isotopes by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and analyzed for cesium-137 by gamma-ray spectrometry. The isotopic composition of the radionuclides measured in BCR 482 suggests contributions from both global fallout resulting from historical nuclear weapons testing and more volatile materials released following the Chernobyl accident.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: 20120459ER; 2012-DN-130-NF001; AC52-06NA25396
• OSTI ID: 1236711
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-15-23054; PII: 4497
• Journal Information: Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Journal Name: Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry; ISSN 0236-5731
• Publisher: Springer
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
lichen
BCR 482
global fallout
Chernobyl