Response of the Savannah River impactor-type alpha continuous air monitor to plutonium and radon progeny
The Savannah River Site (SRS) impactor-type alpha continuous air monitor (CAM) is an innovative, high-volume, real-time alpha air monitoring system. It was developed at SRS and has been routinely used for many years. At the request of the Westinghouse Savannah River Company, we have independently evaluated the ability of this CAM to meet the 8-DAC-h sensitivity recommendation of the U.S. Department of Energy Radiological Control Manual. The evaluation included flow calibration and radioactivity counting tests of the impactor CAM, measurements of aerosol collection efficiency and homogeneity, and challenges with plutonium aerosols in the absence and presence of radon progeny. Tests with radioactivity aerosols included a direct comparison of the response of the impactor CAM to that of an Eberline Alpha-6A CAM (Eberline Instrument Corporation, Sante Fe, NM) equipped with a remote inline sampling head. Results were confirmed by retrospective analyses of fixed air filters.
- Research Organization:
- Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Inst., Albuquerque, NM (United States). Inhalation Toxicology Research Inst.
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76EV01013
- OSTI ID:
- 54788
- Report Number(s):
- ITRI--144; ON: DE95007526
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Radon and radon progeny in the Carlsbad Caverns
Response of the Eberline Alpha 6 to low level releases of plutonium: Laboratory tests and workplace experience