Uranium concentrations in surface air at rural and urban localities within New York State

McEachern, P.; Myers, Willard G.; White, F. A.

doi:10.1021/es60055a002

Cited by 21 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 6 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The concentration (pCi/m3) of uranium measured at station 105 ranged between 4.31 x lO"'* ± 4.3 x ±0~5 ^nd 2.52 X 10"3 ± 2.5 x lO"'*. This entire range is above the previously reported background concentrations for regions of New York (McEachern 1971) and the Chicago area (Sedlet et al 1973). We surmise that this higher concentration may be partially a result of the higher mineralization of soil in this region of New Mexico (Fig.…”

Section: Comparison Of Continuous and High Volume Samplingmentioning

confidence: 55%

“…Sedlet et al (1973) as 1.2 x 10"** pCi/m3 for U-238 and U-2345 and 0.45 x 10"^ pCi/m3 for Th-230, with a soil uranium concentration of 1.5 pCi/g. McEachern et al (1971) reported an average uranium concentration of about 4 X 10"'* pCi/m3 from measurements at several sites within the State of New York. Breslin and Glauberman (1970) measured an airborne uranium concentration of 1 pCi/m3 in the vicinity of one uranium mill tailings pile.…”

Section: Comparison Of Continuous and High Volume Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Measured concentrations of radioactive particles in air in the vicinity of the Anaconda Uranium Mill

Momeni¹,

Kisieleski²

1980

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Concentrations of radioactive particles (U-238, Tln-230, Ra-226, and Pb-210) in air were measured in the vicinity of the Anaconda Uranium Mill, Bluewater, New Mexico. Airborne particles were collected at three stations for about two-thirds of a year using a continuous collection method at a sampling rate of 10 L/min, and also were measured in monthly composites collected periodically at four stations using "high volume" air samplers at a sampling rate of 1400 L/min. The ratios of concentrations of each radionuclide to the concentrations of U-238 indicate that the concentrations of the radionuclides are influenced principally by the proximity of the major sources of emission and the direction of the wind. In all cases, the concentration of Pb-210 exceeded that of U-238. The ratio of Pb-2|0/U-238 was 12.3 and 13.3 for stations dominated by the emissions from the tailings and ore pads, but was only 1.6 for the station dominated by the yellowcake stack emission. The ratio of the radionuclide concentrations measured by the two methods of sample collection was between 0.8 and 1.2 for uranium, radium, and lead at station 104, but was 0.28 to 1.7 for thorium, radium, and lead at stations 101 and 102. The average concentrations calculated from the measurements made in this study suggest that releases from the Anaconda mill were well within the existing limits of the maximum permissible concentrations for inhalation exposure of the general public (10 CFR Part 20, Appendix B).

show abstract

Section: Comparison Of Continuous and High Volume Samplingmentioning

confidence: 55%

Section: Comparison Of Continuous and High Volume Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Measured concentrations of radioactive particles in air in the vicinity of the Anaconda Uranium Mill

Momeni¹,

Kisieleski²

1980

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The mean uranium concentration of 19 sediment samples from within 12 km of NLI, analysed by X-ray fluorescence for the NURE programme (USGS 2004), was 0.6 µg g , or 5 µg g -1 of total suspended particulate (concentrated relative to sediments), within the range of those reported from elsewhere in New York State (McEachern et al 1971). Vegetation in the area includes deciduous and coniferous woodlands, and the native Albany Pine Bush ecosystem including pitch pine (Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission 2005).…”

Section: Environmental Settingmentioning

confidence: 60%

The distribution of depleted uranium contamination in Colonie, NY, USA

Lloyd

Chenery

Parrish

2009

Science of The Total Environment

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Uranium oxide particulates were dispersed into the environment from a factory in Colonie (NY, USA) by prevailing winds during the 1960's and '70's. Uranium concentration and isotope ratios from bulk soil samples have been accurately measured using inductively coupled plasma quadrupole mass spectrometry (ICP-QMS) without the need for analyte separation chemistry. The natural range of uranium concentrations in the Colonie soils has been estimated as 0.7 -2.1 µg g -1 , with a geometric mean of 1 µg g -1 ; the contaminated soil samples comprise uranium up to 500 ± 40 µg g -1. A plot of 236 U/ 238 U against 235 U/ 238 U isotopes ratios describes a mixing line between natural uranium and depleted uranium (DU) in bulk soil samples; scatter from this line can be accounted for by heterogeneity in the DU particulate. The end-member of DU compositions aggregated in these bulk samples comprises (2.05 ± 0.06) x10 -3 235 U/ 238 U, (3.2 ± 0.1) x10 -5 236 U/ 238 U, and (7.1 ± 0.3) x10 -6 234 U/ 238 U. The analytical method is sensitive to as little as 50 ng g -1 DU mixed with the natural uranium occurring in these soils. The contamination footprint has been mapped northward from site, and at least one third of the uranium in a soil sample from the surface 5 cm, collected 5.1 km NNW of the site, is DU. The distribution of contamination within the surface soil horizon follows a trend of exponential decrease with depth, which can be approximated by a simple diffusion model. Bioturbation by earthworms can account for dispersal of contaminant from the soil surface, in the form of primary uranium oxide particulates and uranyl species that are sorbed to organic matter. Considering this distribution, the total mass of uranium contamination emitted from the factory is estimated to be c. 4.8 tonnes.

show abstract

“…A potential additional source of U in this area is the cement production plant at Hope, Derbyshire. 2 Despite having similar U concentrations to Drax, U/Th ratios were significantly higher near the Capenhurst facility, indicating little or no Th emission. The highest U/Th values were recorded at Springfields.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…It was noted almost 40 years ago 1 that levels of environmental radioactivity could be greater in the vicinity of coal-fired power stations than nuclear generators, due to the relatively high concentration of U and Th present in coal. This observation was developed by McEachern et al 2 who recorded U concentrations in airborne particulate matter in New York state, indicating conventional industries as the dominant source. Emissions resulting from nuclear fuel reprocessing were, however, identified through measurement of the 235 U/ 238 U isotope ratio, which deviated from the natural value of 0.00725 demonstrating the principle of source characterisation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 74%

Characterisation of airborne uranium and thorium contamination in Northern England through measurement of U, Th and 235U/238U in tree bark

Bellis

McLeod

2001

J. Environ. Monitor.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Samples of tree bark were collected from four locations in Northern England (a typical rural site, a coal-fired power station, a uranium (isotopic) enrichment plant and a nuclear fuel fabrication facility), to assess the nature and extent of airborne uranium and thorium contamination. The U and Th concentrations of bark were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry after conventional nebulisation of bark digests, whilst measurement of 235U/238U isotopic ratio utilised high efficiency nebulisation. Uranium concentrations varied between and within the sites (range, 0.01-12 micrograms g-1), with maximum values recorded within 1 km of the nuclear fuel fabrication plant (Springfields). In comparison, the concentration of Th in bark was low (mean, 0.018 microgram g-1) at all sites with the exception of the area affected by coal combustion (0.2-0.8 microgram g-1). The U/Th ratio varied from 0.5 to 3900 compared with the average crustal ratio of 0.3. Low values (< 2) were recorded at the 'coal' and 'rural' sites whilst Capenhurst and Springfields showed high values indicating the relative magnitude of uranium elevation. Significant enrichment of the natural 235U/238U ratio (0.00725) was observed near the nuclear installations, in particular, the enrichment plant (Capenhurst).

show abstract

Uranium concentrations in surface air at rural and urban localities within New York State

Cited by 21 publications

References 6 publications

Measured concentrations of radioactive particles in air in the vicinity of the Anaconda Uranium Mill

Measured concentrations of radioactive particles in air in the vicinity of the Anaconda Uranium Mill

The distribution of depleted uranium contamination in Colonie, NY, USA

Characterisation of airborne uranium and thorium contamination in Northern England through measurement of U, Th and 235U/238U in tree bark

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About