Environmental $sup 129$I measurements

Conference · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1974

OSTI ID:4065254

Brauer, F P; Vogt, J R; Meyer, W ^[1]

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1. eds.

Iodine-129 from natural and man-made sources has been measured in the environment. The production of $sup 129$I in uranium ores by spontaneous fission and ($alpha$,n) induced fission was first measured by Purkayastha and Martin. Studier et al. initiated studies on the $sup 129$I content of biological and environmental samples. Their measurements of the iodine concentration and the $sup 129$I/$sup 127$I isotopic ratio were done by neutron activation analysis. The various processes which can release $sup 129$I to the environment have been summarized by Edwards and co-workers. The principal natural $sup 129$I production processes are spontaneous fission of uranium and cosmic-ray-produced spallation reactions with atmospheric xenon. Since the discovery of nuclear fission, man-produced fission reactions have resulted in $sup 129$I released to the environment. Radioactive iodine isotopes are produced by nuclear fission in reactors and nuclear weapons testing. Because of its volatility, iodine may be released to the atmosphere during nuclear reactor operation, irradiated fuel separation and nuclear waste handling. Once $sup 129$I is released to the environment it becomes a permanent contaminant as a result of its 1.6 x 10$sup 7$ year half-life. Measurement of $sup 129$I in environmental samples has been reported by several laboratories. $sup 129$I released to the environment can also be used as a tracer for various natural processes. The high analytical sensitivity for $sup 129$I by activation analysis permits concentration measurements at levels much below those required for radiation protection.

• Research Organization: Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA; Missouri Univ., Columbia (USA). Coll. of Engineering
• NSA Number: NSA-33-023286
• OSTI ID: 4065254
• Report Number(s): CONF-740701--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*AIR-- RADIATION MONITORING
*ENVIRONMENT-- RADIATION MONITORING
*IODINE 129-- RADIATION MONITORING
500300* --Environmental Sciences
Atmospheric--Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport
ABUNDANCE
ACTIVATION ANALYSIS
FISSION
IODINE 127
ISOTOPE RATIO
N44310* --Environmental & Earth Sciences--Radioactivity Monitoring & Transport--Atmosphere
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
NUCLEAR INDUSTRY
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
SAMPLING
SPALLATION
URANIUM ORES
XENON