Citation

Hao WM, Baker S, Lincoln E, Hudson S, Lee SD, Lemieux P. J. Air Waste Manag. Assoc. (1995) 2018; 68(11): 1211-1223.

Affiliation

Decontamination and Consequence Management Division , National Homeland Security Research Center, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park , NC , USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Air and Waste Management Association, Publisher Informa- Taylor and Francis)

DOI

10.1080/10962247.2018.1493001

PMID

29953328

Abstract

If a radiological incident such as a nuclear power plant accident, a radiological dispersal device, or detonation of an improvised nuclear device occurs, significant areas may be contaminated. Initial cleanup priorities would likely focus on populated areas, leaving the forested areas to pass several seasons where the overhead canopy materials would fall to the forest floor. In the event of a wildfire in a radionuclide-contaminated forest, some radionuclides would be emitted in the air while the rest would remain in the ash. This paper reports on a laboratory simulation study that examines the partitioning of cesium-133 (a non-radioactive isotope of cesium) between airborne particulate matter and residual non-entrained ash when pine needles and peat are doped with cesium. Only 1-2.5 percent of the doped cesium in pine needles was emitted as particulate matter, and most of the cesium was concentrated in the particulate fraction greater than 10 µm in aerodynamic diameter. For peat fires, virtually all of the cesium remained in the ash. The results from this study will be used for modeling efforts to assess potential exposure risks to firefighters and the surrounding public.

Language: en

Keywords

IND; PM10; PM2.5; RDD; Radiological contamination; air emissions; cesium partitioning; forest; improvised nuclear device; nuclear power plant accident; radiological dispersal device; radionuclides; wildfire