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U.S. Department of Energy
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Radioactive fallout: Annual progress report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6864328

The concentrations of Sr/sup 89/, Sr/sup 90/, Ba/sup 140/, Ce/sup 141/ and Ce/sup 144/ in individual samples of rain and snow were measured radiochemically at Fayetteville, Arkansas, for several years. Certain features of the isotopes ratio data may be explained as due to atmospheric fractionation of nuclear debris taking place on a global scale. High concentrations of Mn/sup 54/, Sb/sup 124/ and Sb/sup 125/ were observed in air filter samples collected in connection with the Project Star Dust in 1962 and 1963. The Sb/sup 125//Sr/sup 90/ ratio in 1963 samples was found to correspond to values reported for the production ratio in thermonuclear explosions, but some samples collected at high northern altitudes in 1962 showed an excess of Sb/sup 125/. It appears that Sb/sup 125/ was partly produced through second order neutron capture in Sb/sup 123/. Debris from the nuclear explosion of October 16, 1964 reached Fayetteville, Arkansas, within several days and the fission products in rain water collected on October 26, 1964 were examined radiochemically.

Research Organization:
Arkansas Univ., Fayetteville (USA). Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry
DOE Contract Number:
AS05-76EV02529
OSTI ID:
6864328
Report Number(s):
DOE/EV/02529-T4; ON: DE87007990
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English