Wind resuspension of trace amounts of plutonium particles from soil in a semi-arid climate
This study of resuspension of soil containing minute amounts of plutonium (Pu-239) has been in progress at the Rocky Flats (RF) Plant since 1978. It is one of several studies initiated after wind relocated small amounts of soil-borne Pu-239 during cleanup of an outdoor storage area. The Pu-239-settled field is now sparsely covered with prairie grass typical of the area. Past studies were limited to comparisons of bulk soil activity with total activity in the airborne dust. This work covers the physics of the particle resuspension process. This report covers the following: (1) Pu-239 resuspension rate versus wind speed, (2) mechanisms of soil particle resuspension, (3) vertical concentration profile of Pu-239 particles, (4) Pu-239 and host particle size distribution and activity concentration. 5 references, 1 table.
- Research Organization:
- Rockwell International Corp., Golden, CO (USA). Rocky Flats Plant
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP03533
- OSTI ID:
- 6149293
- Report Number(s):
- RFP-3633; ON: DE85003910
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
Atmospheric-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
510301 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- Soil-- (-1987)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
DATA
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HEAVY NUCLEI
INFORMATION
ISOTOPES
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEI
NUMERICAL DATA
PARTICLE RESUSPENSION
PARTICLE SIZE
PLUTONIUM 239
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
RADIOISOTOPES
ROCKY FLATS PLANT
SIZE
SOILS
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WIND
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES