Use of passive alpha detectors to screen for uranium contamination in a field at Fernald, Ohio
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
- Landauer, Inc., Glenwood, IL (United States)
- Rad Elec, Inc., Frederick, MD (United States)
This paper reports the results from a field test of newly developed techniques for inexpensive, in situ screening of soil for alpha contamination. Passive alpha detectors that are commercially available for the detection indoor airborne alpha activity (i.e., {sup 222}Rn) have been modified so they can be applied to the detection of alpha contamination on surfaces or in soils. Results reported here are from an intercomparison involving several different techniques during the summer of 1994. All measurements were made in a field near the formerly used uranium processing facility at Fernald, Ohio. The results for two types of passive alpha detector show that the quality of calibration is improved if soils samples are milled to increase homogeneity within the soil matrices. The field evaluation of passive alpha detectors revealed that using short-exposure, screening protocols resulted in a lower limit of detection comparable to the mean uranium concentration occurring at the site, causing much scatter in the data. The bias seen in the screening results probably results from moisture and other artifacts adversely affecting the measurements. The total cost per measurement for either type of passive alpha detector is probably less than $25 and should provide a cost-effective means for site managers to develop the information needed to find areas with remaining alpha contamination so resources can be allocated efficiently.
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 276418
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-950209--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
1994 Fernald field characterization demonstration program data report
Contaminant uranium phases and leaching at the Fernald site in Ohio