Oxidation and dispersion of HT in the environment: The August 1986 field experiment at Chalk River

Journal Article · Thu Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Health Physics; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-199002000-00004· OSTI ID:7028203

Brown, R M; Ogram, G L; Spencer, F S ^[1]

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1. Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories, Ontario (Canada)

The short-range environmental dispersion and oxidation of a release of tritiated hydrogen (HT) to the atmosphere has been studied in a field experiment. Emphasis was placed on the processes leading to the appearance of tritiated water (HTO) vapor in the atmosphere because HTO is much more radiotoxic than HT. The following conclusions were reached: No evidence was found for the rapid conversion of HT to HTO in the atmosphere; HTO observed in air, during and after the release, arose mainly from HT oxidation in the soil followed by emission of HTO; HT deposition velocities to soil ranged from 0.041 cm s-1 to 0.13 cm s-1, consistent with previous chamber measurements; the rate of HTO loss from soil, averaged over 21 d, was less than 1% h-1; and HTO concentrations in vegetation water initially increased with time after the release, then by 48 h decreased exponentially at a rate similar to soils.

• OSTI ID: 7028203
• Journal Information: Health Physics; (USA), Journal Name: Health Physics; (USA) Vol. 58:2; ISSN 0017-9078; ISSN HLTPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540130* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
540230 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AEROSOLS
AIR POLLUTION
CANADA
COLLOIDS
CONTAMINATION
DISPERSIONS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
FLUIDS
GASES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
METEOROLOGY
MONITORING
NORTH AMERICA
ONTARIO
POLLUTION
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIOACTIVE AEROSOLS
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
SOILS
SOLS
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
VAPORS
WATER VAPOR