Accumulation and transport of soil plutonium in liquid waste discharge areas at Los Alamos
Plutonium inventory estimates for the upper 12.5 cm of sediment in Mortandad Canyon, Los Alamos, New Mexico, did not reflect all the Pu added to the canyon during a 7 month interval. The methods used in this study indicate that about 2 mCi $sup 238$Pu and 0 mCi $sup 239$$'$$sup 240$Pu were added to the canyon during the interval compared with known additions of 5.5 mCi $sup 238$Pu and 0.4 mCi $sup 239$$'$$sup 240$Pu. The discrepancy likely was the result of the large sampling variability indicating that inventory changes in this order (i.e. up to 17 percent) are not detectable with any certainty. However, factors other than sampling variability may be involved, including losses of plutonium to depths exceeding 12.5 cm. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos Scientific Lab., N.Mex. (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- NSA Number:
- NSA-33-005585
- OSTI ID:
- 4170690
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR--75-2061; CONF-751105--7
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
*PLUTONIUM 238-- DIFFUSION
*PLUTONIUM 239-- DIFFUSION
*PLUTONIUM 240-- DIFFUSION
510300* --Environmental Sciences
Terrestrial--Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
DEPTH
ERRORS
GROUND RELEASE
LIQUID WASTES
N44300* --Environmental & Earth Sciences--Radioactivity Monitoring & Transport
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
SAMPLING
SEDIMENTS
SOILS