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Effects of polonium-210 on determination of atmospheric gross alpha-radioactivity

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry volume 161, pages 465–474 (1992)Cite this article

Abstract

Ingrowth and decay of210Po on air filters used for gross alpha-determination can lead to errors in estimation of long-lived airborne radioactivity. Interferences are present to some degree in all samples and change with time, making the gross alpha-technique quantitatively invalid. However, since the degree of equilibrium between210Po and its parent210Pb can be calculated at any time after filter collection, it should be possible to use the gross alpha-method to estimate past atmospheric concentrations of210Pb. Measurements on filters after elapsed times of up to 15 years show that such determinations are feasible.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Southwest Missouri State University, 65804, Springfield, MO, (USA)

    R. W. Sheets & C. C. Thompson

Authors
  1. R. W. Sheets
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  2. C. C. Thompson
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Sheets, R.W., Thompson, C.C. Effects of polonium-210 on determination of atmospheric gross alpha-radioactivity. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Articles 161, 465–474 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02040493

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02040493

Keywords

  • Physical Chemistry
  • Inorganic Chemistry
  • Elapse Time
  • Atmospheric Concentration
  • Filter Collection