Response of the Eberline Alpha 6 to low level releases of plutonium: Laboratory tests and workplace experience

Technical Report · Fri Jun 21 04:00:00 EDT 1991

OSTI ID:5731914

Hoover, M D; Newton, G J

This report describes a series of laboratory tests conducted on the Eberline Alpha 6 continuous air monitor to document the results of a low level plutonium aerosol challenge. Specific questions addressed were: Will the Alpha 6 provide an accurate alarm for a slow accumulation of 8 DAC-h of plutonium in both the presence and the absence of radon progeny Will the Alpha 6 avoid reporting false alarms when a slow accumulation of less than 8 DAC-h of plutonium occurs Results indicate that the Alpha 6 can provide an accurate alarm for low level releases of plutonium, both in the presence of radon progeny on the filter and in the absence of radon progeny, such as immediately after a filter change. Low level releases could easily be seen on the spectral display before reaching the alarm setpoint. This suggests that remote data access of the entire alpha spectrum seen by the Alpha 6 would allow health protection staff to take protective action before alarm conditions are reached. 3 refs., 11 figs.

• Research Organization: Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Inst., Albuquerque, NM (USA). Inhalation Toxicology Research Inst.
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76EV01013
• OSTI ID: 5731914
• Report Number(s): ITRI-TR-910602; ON: DE91015390
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

054000* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Health & Safety
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
440101 -- Radiation Instrumentation-- General Detectors or Monitors & Radiometric Instruments
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ACTINIDES
AEROSOL MONITORING
AEROSOLS
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
COLLOIDS
CONTAMINATION
DAUGHTER PRODUCTS
DISPERSIONS
DOSES
ELEMENTS
FILTRATION
FLUIDS
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
GASES
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
ISOTOPES
MATERIALS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
METALS
MONITORING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NONMETALS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PILOT PLANTS
PLUTONIUM
POLLUTION
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION HAZARDS
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIATION PROTECTION
RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADON
RARE GASES
SAFETY
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLS
TESTING
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTES
WIPP