Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sources of misinterpretation for environmental plutonium measurements

  • Determination of Actinide Elements in Environmental Materials
  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Analytical and statistical uncertainties associated with low-level measurements may lead to spurious conclusions regarding the behavior of some plutonium isotopes. The general aspect of the methodology used in sample collection, preparation, radiochemical separation and alpha spectroscopy analysis of plutonium is considered. Biases and experimental artifacts that may produce inaccurate results and improper conclusions are discussed with examples from our research and from the open literature.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. L. R. Anspaugh, L. R. Bauer, E. H. Essington, R. O. Gilbert, W. C. Hanson, S. A. Ibrahim, J. R. Kercher, C. A. Little, R. G. Schreckise, Report of a Workshop, US Department of Energy, Las Vegas, NV, 1990. UCRL-1D-110051, 1993.

  2. F. W. Whicker, S. A. Ibrahim, Final report to EG&G Rocky Flats. Department of Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  3. C. A. Little, F. W. Whicker, T. F. Winsor, J. Environ. Qual. 9 (1980) 350.

    Google Scholar 

  4. S. A. Ibrahim, S. B. Webb, F. W. Whicker, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 177 (1994) 127.

    Google Scholar 

  5. NCRP, National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, Report No. 45, 1975.

  6. UNSCEAR, United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effect of Atomic Radiation, New York, NY, 1977.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, 80523, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

    S. A. Ibrahim, S. B. Webb & A. Kattel

Authors
  1. S. A. Ibrahim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. B. Webb
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. Kattel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ibrahim, S.A., Webb, S.B. & Kattel, A. Sources of misinterpretation for environmental plutonium measurements. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Articles 194, 213–219 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02037630

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02037630

Keywords

Search

Navigation