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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Americium-241 in surface soil associated with the Hanford site and vicinity

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6424540· OSTI ID:6424540

Various kinds of surface soil samples were collected and analyzed for Americium-241 (/sup 241/Am) to examine the feasibility of improving soil sample data for the Hanford Surface Environmental Surveillance Program. Results do not indicate that a major improvement would occur if procedures were changed from the current practices. Conclusions from this study are somewhat tempered by the very low levels of /sup 241/Am (< 0.10 pCi/g dry weight) detected in surface soil samples and by the fact that statistical significance depended on the type of statistical tests used. In general, the average concentration of /sup 241/Am in soil crust (0 to 1.0 cm deep) was greater than the corresponding subsurface layer (1.0 to 2.5 cm deep), and the average concentration of /sup 241/Am in some onsite samples collected near the PUREX facility was greater than comparable samples collected 60 km upwind at an offsite location.

Research Organization:
Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC06-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
6424540
Report Number(s):
PNL-3731; ON: DE81024264
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English