Semiquantitative Measurement of Fission Produced Gamma Ray Radioactivity in Soils at Dubuque, Iowa

Authors

James A. Dockal, University of North Carolina at WilmingtonFollow
James A. Dockal Sr., University of North Carolina at WilmingtonFollow

Document Type

Research

Keywords

fission product contamination, fallout, cesium-137, Chernobyl

Abstract

Residual fission-product radionuclide contamination (fallout) in soils at Dubuque, Iowa was evaluated with an Exploration geometrics gamma ray scintillometer in 1985 and after the Chernobyl accident in 1986. Anomalous amounts of gamma ray radiation were found near where downspouts discharged storm runoff from the roof of a dwelling. The 1985 residual cesium-13 7 activity in the soils of the area was found to be 0.2 pCi/gram with an areal contamination of 16 ± nCi/m2. Activities associated with the soils near the discharge points of the downspouts ranged as high as 8 pCi/gram. This contamination seems to have occurred prior to 1970 and most probably during the period 1945 to 1963. The Chernobyl accident resulted in an additional soil activity of 0.05 pCi/gram or an areal contamination of 4 ± 0.1 nCi/m2.

Publication Date

September-December 1989

Journal Title

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science

Volume

96

Issue

3-4

First Page

92

Last Page

98

Copyright

© Copyright 1989 by the Iowa Academy of Science, Inc.

Language

EN

File Format

application/pdf

Recommended Citation

Dockal, James A. and Dockal, James A. Sr. (1989) "Semiquantitative Measurement of Fission Produced Gamma Ray Radioactivity in Soils at Dubuque, Iowa," Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS, 96(3-4), 92-98.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/jias/vol96/iss3/4