Rapid monitoring of soil, water, and air dusts by direct large-area alpha spectrometry

Journal Article · Sat Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Health Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-199507000-00004· OSTI ID:379216

Sill, C W ^[1]

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1. Idaho National Engineering Lab., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

During retrieval and disposition of wastes containing transuranium elements, continuous monitoring of the air, water, and soil for alpha emitters was required to ensure that safety limits were not exceeded and the waste itself was not disturbed unknowingly. Direct measurements by alpha spectrometry were particularly promising because of their potential speed, sensitivity, and their ability to identify transuranium radionuclides under field conditions. Soil samples or settled dusts were finely ground, suspended in 80% ethanol, sprayed onto circular stainless steel pans, and dried on a hotplate. Water samples were mounted directly by spraying. Air dusts were collected with a high-volume air sampler on 20- by 25-cm membrane filters. The samples were then analyzed directly in a large pressurized gridded ionization chamber without further sample preparation. 8 refs., 12 figs., 1 tab.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-94ID13223
• OSTI ID: 379216
• Journal Information: Health Physics, Journal Name: Health Physics Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 69; ISSN HLTPAO; ISSN 0017-9078
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR
ALPHA DETECTION
ALPHA SPECTROMETERS
ALPHA-BEARING WASTES
DUSTS
FILTERS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
PROGENY
RADIATION MONITORING
RADON
SOILS
WASTE RETRIEVAL