Potential impact of releases from a new Molybdenum-99 production facility on regional measurements of airborne xenon isotopes

Journal Article · Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 2014 · Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 129:43-47

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2013.11.012· OSTI ID:1194307

Bowyer, Ted W.; Eslinger, Paul W.; Cameron, Ian M.; Friese, Judah I.; Hayes, James C.; Metz, Lori A.; Miley, Harry S.

The monitoring of the radioactive xenon isotopes 131mXe, 133Xe, 133mXe, and 135Xe is important for the detection of nuclear explosions. While backgrounds of the xenon isotopes are short-lived, they are constantly replenished from activities dominated by the fission-based production of 99Mo used for medical procedures. One of the most critical locations on earth for the monitoring of nuclear explosions is the Korean peninsula, where the Democratic Republic of North Korea (DPRK) has announced that it had conducted three nuclear tests between 2009 and 2013. This paper explores the backgrounds that would be caused by the medium to large scale production of 99Mo in the region of the Korean peninsula.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1194307
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-98834; 830403000
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 129:43-47, Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 129:43-47
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
CTBT
International Monitoring System
IMS
Medical isotopes
radioxenon
nuclear explosions