Atmospheric radionuclide concentrations measured by Pacific Northwest Laboratory since 1961

• Main Authors: Young, J.A., Thomas, C.W.
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; NEW MEXICO; RADIATION MONITORING; HANFORD RESERVATION; ALASKA; BARBADOS; BRAZIL; PLUTONIUM 238; CESIUM 137; EARTH ATMOSPHERE; SCANDIUM 46; IRON 55; COBALT 60; ZINC 65; CESIUM 134; REACTORS; USSR; EXPLOSIONS; NUCLEAR WEAPONS; WASHINGTON; AIR FILTERS; STRONTIUM 90; PLUTONIUM 239; AMERICIUM 241; GAMMA SPECTROSCOPY; STRATOSPHERE; COMPILED DATA; Pacific; Barrow; Alaska
• Online Access: http://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/10130035; https://www.osti.gov/biblio/10130035; https://doi.org/10.2172/10130035

The atmospheric concentrations of a wide spectrum of radionuclides produced by nuclear weapons, nuclear reactors, cosmic rays, radon and thoron decay and the SNAP-9A burn-up ({sup 238}Pu) have been measured at Richland, Washington, since 1961; at Barrow, Alaska, since 1964; and at other stations for shorter periods of time. There has been considerable concern over the health hazard presented by these radionuclides, but it has also been recognized that atmospheric mixing and deposition rates can be determined from their measurement. Therefore, Pacific Northwest Laboratory began the continuous measurement of the atmospheric concentrations of a wide spectrum of radionuclides produced by nuclear weapons, nuclear reactors, cosmic rays, and radon and thoron decay. This report will discuss the concentrations of the longer-lived radionuclides (T 1/2 > 12 days). The concentrations of shorter-lived radionuclides measured following Chinese nuclear tests since 1972 are discussed in another report.