EFFECT OF PLUTONIUM-241 ON THE MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE CONCENTRATION IN AIR AND MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE BODY BURDEN FOR EXPERCTED ISOTOPIC MIXTURES OF PLUTONIUM

Technical Report · Fri Oct 14 04:00:00 EDT 1960

OSTI ID:4173636

Rouse, L C

The maximum permissible concentration in air and the maximum permissible body burden for Pu increases as the wt% of the Pu /sup 241/ increases. This occurs because the permissible limits for Pu /sup 241/ are less restrictive than those tor the Pu alpha emitters, in terms of activity. However, if the contribution of the Pu/sup 241/, a low energy BETA emitter, is not measured, the permissible limits for the Pu alpha emitters must be reduced in proportion to the percentage of Pu/sup 241/. To apply the correct permissible limits for Pu, the activity ot the Pu/sup 241/ must be measured or the wt% must be known. Recently installed liquid scintillation equipment will permit analysis of urine samples for Pu/sup 241/. At present no method is available for field use to measure the Pu/sup 241/ in air samples, and often the Pu composition will not be known for cases of air contamination. In view of this and other factors, continued use of 2 x 10/sup -12/ mu C/cc is recommended as the maximum permissible concentration in air for Pu. Plutonium containing varying high percentages of Pu/sup 241/ and Pu/sup 240/ will be a product of the Plutonium Recycle Test Reactor. (auth)

• Research Organization: General Electric Co. Hanford Atomic Products Operation, Richland, Wash.
• DOE Contract Number: AT(45-1)-1350
• NSA Number: NSA-18-000432
• OSTI ID: 4173636
• Report Number(s): HW-67197
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

AIR
ALPHA BEAMS
BETA PARTICLES
BODY
BREEDING
BURNUP
CONTAMINATION
EMISSION
ENRICHMENT
FUEL CYCLE
HEALTH AND SAFETY
LIQUIDS
MEASURED VALUES
PLUTONIUM
PLUTONIUM 240
PLUTONIUM 241
RADIATION DOSES
RADIOACTIVITY
REPROCESSING
RESEARCH REACTORS
SCINTILLATION COUNTERS
URINE
WEIGHT