Natural radiation background of Utah: preliminary report on radionuclides in soils in populated areas

Technical Report · Wed Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5681252· OSTI ID:5681252

Beck, H. L.

External radiation exposure rates were measured at over 150 sites in 56 cities and towns in Utah using in situ field gamma-ray spectrometric and high pressure ionization chamber systems. These measurements are part of a more extensive radiological survey of Utah by this Laboratory to determine residual levels of fission products and transuranic nuclides in soils as a result of nuclear weapons tests at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) during 1950-58. Open field exposure rates from natural terrestrial gamma-ray sources are fairly uniform around the state and are comparable to the mean exposure rate for the US. However, exposure from cosmic-ray secondaries in Utah is about 50% higher than for most other US residents, due to the higher altitude. No significant difference was found in the population-weighted mean annual exposure from terrestrial gamma radiation to persons living in the part of the state that is closest to the NTS relative to those living in more distant counties, although the former receive, on average, a slightly greater cosmic-ray exposure.

• Research Organization: Department of Energy, New York (USA). Environmental Measurements Lab.
• OSTI ID: 5681252
• Report Number(s): EML-362
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

054000 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Health & Safety
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
510301* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- Soil-- (-1987)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BACKGROUND RADIATION
COSMIC RADIATION
DOSES
FISSION PRODUCTS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
ISOTOPES
NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY
NORTH AMERICA
POPULATIONS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATIONS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVITY
ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION
SOILS
URBAN AREAS
USA
UTAH