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The effects of the marine biosphere and hydrosphere upon the specific activity of contaminant radionuclides

Abstract

Fusion and fission products as well as neutron induced radionuclides will be produced by the use of nuclear explosives for excavation. Stable elements from the geological matrix which are vaporized at the time of detonation will be vented in the same form as the radionuclides and will dilute the radionuclides to different specific activities depending upon the yield and design of the explosive, the neutron flux, neutron cross-sections for the stable elements and the homogeneity of the rock. Radionuclides in the cloud and fallout may be further diluted by pulverized rock on which they plate although the chemical forms may or may not be the same. This fallout material may be deposited into the sea and will react with sea water and its contained salts to precipitate or co-precipitate some radionuclides and release others as colloids or solutes where they will be subject to further dilution by the stable elements in sea water. The radionuclides will be subjected to varying amounts of physical and chemical dilution according to the physical environmental parameters. In some estuarine and upwelling areas of high biological productivity, the radionuclides and corresponding stable elements may become incorporated into cycles involving the biosphere, hydrosphere and bottom sediments  More>>
Authors:
Lowman, F G [1] 
  1. Puerto Rico Nuclear Center, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico)
Publication Date:
Jul 01, 1969
Product Type:
Conference
Report Number:
INIS-XA-N-193; PB-187349; SWRHL-82
Resource Relation:
Conference: Symposium on public health aspects of peaceful uses of nuclear explosives, Las Vegas, NV (United States), 7-11 Apr 1969; Other Information: 19 refs, 6 figs, 1 tab; Related Information: In: Proceedings for the symposium on public health aspects of peaceful uses of nuclear explosives, 719 pages.
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; BIOSPHERE; COLLOIDS; CROSS SECTIONS; DILUTION; FALLOUT DEPOSITS; FISSION PRODUCTS; HYDROSPHERE; NEUTRON FLUX; NEUTRONS; NUCLEAR EXPLOSIVES; ROCKS; SEAS; SEDIMENTS; UPWELLING
Sponsoring Organizations:
Southwestern Radiological Health Laboratory, Bureau of Radiological Health (United States)
OSTI ID:
20699897
Research Organizations:
U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, Consumer Protection and Environmental Health Service, Environmental Control Administration (United States)
Country of Origin:
IAEA
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
TRN: XA04N2198015899
Availability:
Available from INIS in electronic form
Submitting Site:
INIS
Size:
page(s) 436-459
Announcement Date:
Apr 10, 2006

Citation Formats

Lowman, F G. The effects of the marine biosphere and hydrosphere upon the specific activity of contaminant radionuclides. IAEA: N. p., 1969. Web.
Lowman, F G. The effects of the marine biosphere and hydrosphere upon the specific activity of contaminant radionuclides. IAEA.
Lowman, F G. 1969. "The effects of the marine biosphere and hydrosphere upon the specific activity of contaminant radionuclides." IAEA.
@misc{etde_20699897,
title = {The effects of the marine biosphere and hydrosphere upon the specific activity of contaminant radionuclides}
author = {Lowman, F G}
abstractNote = {Fusion and fission products as well as neutron induced radionuclides will be produced by the use of nuclear explosives for excavation. Stable elements from the geological matrix which are vaporized at the time of detonation will be vented in the same form as the radionuclides and will dilute the radionuclides to different specific activities depending upon the yield and design of the explosive, the neutron flux, neutron cross-sections for the stable elements and the homogeneity of the rock. Radionuclides in the cloud and fallout may be further diluted by pulverized rock on which they plate although the chemical forms may or may not be the same. This fallout material may be deposited into the sea and will react with sea water and its contained salts to precipitate or co-precipitate some radionuclides and release others as colloids or solutes where they will be subject to further dilution by the stable elements in sea water. The radionuclides will be subjected to varying amounts of physical and chemical dilution according to the physical environmental parameters. In some estuarine and upwelling areas of high biological productivity, the radionuclides and corresponding stable elements may become incorporated into cycles involving the biosphere, hydrosphere and bottom sediments in which the added material will remain in the area for longer periods of time than that expected from physical mixing and dilution. (author)}
place = {IAEA}
year = {1969}
month = {Jul}
}