Atmospheric radionuclide concentrations measured by Pacific Northwest Laboratory since 1961

• Main Authors: Young, J. A., Thomas, C. W.
• Other Authors: United States. Department of Energy.
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Pacific Northwest Laboratory 1981
• Subjects: Europe; Electron Capture Radioisotopes; Scandium Isotopes; Explosions; Isotopes; Even-Odd Nuclei; Alaska; Scandium 46; Brazil; Washington; National Organizations; Zinc Isotopes 540130* > Environment; Atmospheric > Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport > (1990-); Latin America; Radiation Monitoring; Pollution Control Equipment; Seconds Living Radioiso; Beta-Minus Decay Radioisotopes; Data; Even-Even Nuclei; Odd-Even Nuclei; Us Organizations; Heavy Ion Decay Radioisotopes; Nuclei; Alkali Metal Isotopes; Filters; Hanford Reservation; Barbados; Days Living Radioisotopes; Asia; Equipment; Actinide Isotopes; Iron Isotopes; Developed Countries; Actinide Nuclei; Strontium 90; Americium Isotopes; Alkaline Earth Isotopes; Cesium 134; Cesium 137; Hours Living Radioisotopes; Intermediate Mass Nuclei; 540150 > Environment; Atmospheric > Site Resources & Use Studies > (1990-); Cobalt Isotopes; Isomeric Transition Isotopes; Strontium Isotopes; Internal Conversion Radioisotopes; Alpha Decay Radioisotopes; Islands; Lesser Antilles; Ussr; Years Living Radioisotopes; Beta-Plus Decay Radioisotopes; Odd-Odd Nuclei; Us Doe; Cesium Isotopes; Radioisotopes; North America; Usa; Plutonium 238; Plutonium 239; Plutonium Isotopes; Americium 241; Beta Decay Radioisotopes; South America; Isomeric Transi; Silicon 32 Decay Radioisotopes; Spontaneous Fission Radioisotopes; Zinc 65; Gamma Spectroscopy; Cobalt 60; New Mexico; Spectroscopy; Iron 55; Reactors; Air Filters; Minutes Living Radioisotopes; Stratosphere; Us Erda; Earth Atmosphere; Numerical Data; Developing Countries; Nuclear Weapons; West Indies; Monitoring; Information; Years Living Radioisot; Compiled Data; 54 Environmental Sciences; Heavy Nuclei; Weapons; Pacific; Barrow
• Online Access: https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1200775/

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.