Validation Tests of Resuspension Models for a Finite and Infinite Site

Whicker, Jeffrey Jay; McNaughton, Michael; Ruedig, Elizabeth; Fuehne, David Patrick

doi:10.1097/HP.0000000000001078

Title: Validation Tests of Resuspension Models for a Finite and Infinite Site

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Abstract

Dose assessment for deposited radionuclides often requires estimates of air concentrations that are derived from measured soil concentrations. For this, dose assessors typically use literature resuspension values that while empirically based, can vary by orders of magnitude making it difficult to provide accurate dose estimates. Despite the complexities of the physical processes involved in resuspension, the models generally used for dose assessment are relatively simplistic and rarely are the models validated for a specific site, thus making prediction of air concentrations or airborne emissions highly uncertain. Additionally, the size of the contaminated area can have an impact on downwind concentrations, yet literature values do not account for smaller-sized contaminated sites adding additional uncertainty. To test resuspension models for soil-bound radionuclides at finite and infinite spatial scales, measurements of soil and air concentrations are made at 1) a location downwind of a former outfall where plutonium-239 was released into the environment ( a finite site), and 2) uncontaminated locations where regional air sampling provides background measurements of naturally occurring uranium-238 in sampled dust (an infinite site). Measured air concentrations were compared to those predicted using the Resuspension Factor Model and the Mass Loading Model. An Area Factor was applied to themore »« less

Authors:

Whicker, Jeffrey Jay ^[1]; McNaughton, Michael ^[1]; Ruedig, Elizabeth ^[1]; Fuehne, David Patrick ^[1]

Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Publication Date:: Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 2019

Research Org.:: Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE

OSTI Identifier:: 1570618

Report Number(s):: LA-UR-18-29416
Journal ID: ISSN 0017-9078; TRN: US2001190

Grant/Contract Number:: 89233218CNA000001

Resource Type:: Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:: Health Physics

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Volume: 117; Journal Issue: 4; Journal ID: ISSN 0017-9078

Publisher:: Health Physics Society

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS

Citation Formats


                    Whicker, Jeffrey Jay, McNaughton, Michael, Ruedig, Elizabeth, and Fuehne, David Patrick. Validation Tests of Resuspension Models for a Finite and Infinite Site.  United States: N. p., 2019. 
Web.  doi:10.1097/HP.0000000000001078.

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                    Whicker, Jeffrey Jay, McNaughton, Michael, Ruedig, Elizabeth, & Fuehne, David Patrick. Validation Tests of Resuspension Models for a Finite and Infinite Site.  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1097/HP.0000000000001078

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                    Whicker, Jeffrey Jay, McNaughton, Michael, Ruedig, Elizabeth, and Fuehne, David Patrick. Tue .  
"Validation Tests of Resuspension Models for a Finite and Infinite Site".  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1097/HP.0000000000001078.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1570618.

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@article{osti_1570618,

  title        = {Validation Tests of Resuspension Models for a Finite and Infinite Site},

  author       = {Whicker, Jeffrey Jay and McNaughton, Michael and Ruedig, Elizabeth and Fuehne, David Patrick},

  abstractNote = {Dose assessment for deposited radionuclides often requires estimates of air concentrations that are derived from measured soil concentrations. For this, dose assessors typically use literature resuspension values that while empirically based, can vary by orders of magnitude making it difficult to provide accurate dose estimates. Despite the complexities of the physical processes involved in resuspension, the models generally used for dose assessment are relatively simplistic and rarely are the models validated for a specific site, thus making prediction of air concentrations or airborne emissions highly uncertain. Additionally, the size of the contaminated area can have an impact on downwind concentrations, yet literature values do not account for smaller-sized contaminated sites adding additional uncertainty. To test resuspension models for soil-bound radionuclides at finite and infinite spatial scales, measurements of soil and air concentrations are made at 1) a location downwind of a former outfall where plutonium-239 was released into the environment ( a finite site), and 2) uncontaminated locations where regional air sampling provides background measurements of naturally occurring uranium-238 in sampled dust (an infinite site). Measured air concentrations were compared to those predicted using the Resuspension Factor Model and the Mass Loading Model. An Area Factor was applied to the smaller contaminated site to account for dilution of dust from the contaminated site with dust originating from offsite locations. Here, results show that when properly parameterized to site conditions, resuspension models can predict air concentrations to within a factor of ten.},

  doi          = {10.1097/HP.0000000000001078},

  journal      = {Health Physics},

  number       = 4,

  volume       = 117,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 2019},

  month        = {Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 2019}

}

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