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

Natural atmospheric particulate background at the Hanford Works

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6959159· OSTI ID:6959159

Outdoor air is never completely free of suspended solids, the presence of which is dependent mainly on factors such as meteorological conditions and the physical distrubrance of soils by cultivation and vehicular traffic. The presence of this natural atmospheric particulate particulate background often becomes of importance in relation to the techniques and interpretation of air sampling and also in the design of ventilation air cleaning systems where suspended effluent solids may subsequently pass through radioactive atmospheres and in turn become physically radioactive. The following report contains a discussion of several pertinent factors associated with this subject, mainly, the concentration of atmospheric dust as related to wind velocity, the settling rate of suspended solids, and the relationship of the mass of airborne dust to its particle count. From observation it appeared evident that one of the major factors influencing the level of natural dustiness was the intensity of the wind. 6 refs., 7 figs., 1 tab.

Research Organization:
Hanford Works, Richland, WA (USA)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE/DP
DOE Contract Number:
AC06-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
6959159
Report Number(s):
HW-29698; ON: DE90010802
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English