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Title: Atmospheric radionuclide concentrations measured by Pacific Northwest Laboratory since 1961

Abstract

The atmospheric concentrations of a wide spectrum of radionuclides produced by nuclear weapons, nuclear reactors, cosmic rays, radon and thoron decay and the SNAP-9A burn-up ({sup 238}Pu) have been measured at Richland, Washington, since 1961; at Barrow, Alaska, since 1964; and at other stations for shorter periods of time. There has been considerable concern over the health hazard presented by these radionuclides, but it has also been recognized that atmospheric mixing and deposition rates can be determined from their measurement. Therefore, Pacific Northwest Laboratory began the continuous measurement of the atmospheric concentrations of a wide spectrum of radionuclides produced by nuclear weapons, nuclear reactors, cosmic rays, and radon and thoron decay. This report will discuss the concentrations of the longer-lived radionuclides (T 1/2 > 12 days). The concentrations of shorter-lived radionuclides measured following Chinese nuclear tests since 1972 are discussed in another report.

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
10130035
Report Number(s):
PNL-3826
ON: DE93008062
DOE Contract Number:  
AC06-76RL01830
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Mar 1981
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; NEW MEXICO; RADIATION MONITORING; HANFORD RESERVATION; ALASKA; BARBADOS; BRAZIL; PLUTONIUM 238; CESIUM 137; EARTH ATMOSPHERE; SCANDIUM 46; IRON 55; COBALT 60; ZINC 65; CESIUM 134; REACTORS; USSR; EXPLOSIONS; NUCLEAR WEAPONS; WASHINGTON; AIR FILTERS; STRONTIUM 90; PLUTONIUM 239; AMERICIUM 241; GAMMA SPECTROSCOPY; STRATOSPHERE; COMPILED DATA; 540130; 540150; RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS MONITORING AND TRANSPORT; SITE RESOURCE AND USE STUDIES

Citation Formats

Young, J A, and Thomas, C W. Atmospheric radionuclide concentrations measured by Pacific Northwest Laboratory since 1961. United States: N. p., 1981. Web. doi:10.2172/10130035.
Young, J A, & Thomas, C W. Atmospheric radionuclide concentrations measured by Pacific Northwest Laboratory since 1961. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/10130035
Young, J A, and Thomas, C W. 1981. "Atmospheric radionuclide concentrations measured by Pacific Northwest Laboratory since 1961". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/10130035. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/10130035.
@article{osti_10130035,
title = {Atmospheric radionuclide concentrations measured by Pacific Northwest Laboratory since 1961},
author = {Young, J A and Thomas, C W},
abstractNote = {The atmospheric concentrations of a wide spectrum of radionuclides produced by nuclear weapons, nuclear reactors, cosmic rays, radon and thoron decay and the SNAP-9A burn-up ({sup 238}Pu) have been measured at Richland, Washington, since 1961; at Barrow, Alaska, since 1964; and at other stations for shorter periods of time. There has been considerable concern over the health hazard presented by these radionuclides, but it has also been recognized that atmospheric mixing and deposition rates can be determined from their measurement. Therefore, Pacific Northwest Laboratory began the continuous measurement of the atmospheric concentrations of a wide spectrum of radionuclides produced by nuclear weapons, nuclear reactors, cosmic rays, and radon and thoron decay. This report will discuss the concentrations of the longer-lived radionuclides (T 1/2 > 12 days). The concentrations of shorter-lived radionuclides measured following Chinese nuclear tests since 1972 are discussed in another report.},
doi = {10.2172/10130035},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/10130035}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1981},
month = {Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1981}
}