Radioactive Aerosols (eBook)

Constantin Papastefanou (Autor)

eBook Download: PDF

2011 | 1. Auflage
186 Seiten
Elsevier Science (Verlag)
978-0-08-055598-0 (ISBN)

Infos

Whenever radioactivity is released to the atmosphere, for example by the detonation of nuclear weapons or the testing of nuclear weapons or from nuclear reactor accidents that fraction of it which remains airborne for more than a few hours is liable to be attached to aerosol particles. The resulting radioactive aerosols are carried by atmospheric mixing processes until they settle out or are scavenged by precipitation. The radiation exposure pathway of maximum concern to humans is by inhalation of aerosols and their deposition in the respiratory tract. In this context, it is important to note that radioactive aerosols are commonly of natural origin alos. In particular, the associated radionuclides can be of natural terrestrial origin, such as the decay products of radon gas, or they can e cosmogenic, such as beryllium-7. The exposure of miners of uranium and other ores and minerals to radon and its aerosol-borne decay products is of major significance. The book describes the formation of aerosols, their aerodynamic size distribution, their atmospheric residence time, their sampling and measurement, the range of radioactive aerosols found and studied thus far, including man-made nuclides and radon decay products and their interaction with man, including deposition in the lung and subsequent health effects.

* Learn first hand from a recognised expert in the field
* Keep informed and up to date on all topics related to the development of radioactive aerosal
* Equip yourself with the knowledge needed for future development, research and innovation

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Whenever radioactivity is released to the atmosphere, for example by the detonation of nuclear weapons or the testing of nuclear weapons or from nuclear reactor accidents that fraction of it which remains airborne for more than a few hours is liable to be attached to aerosol particles. The resulting radioactive aerosols are carried by atmospheric mixing processes until they settle out or are scavenged by precipitation. The radiation exposure pathway of maximum concern to humans is by inhalation of aerosols and their deposition in the respiratory tract. In this context, it is important to note that radioactive aerosols are commonly of natural origin alos. In particular, the associated radionuclides can be of natural terrestrial origin, such as the decay products of radon gas, or they can e cosmogenic, such as beryllium-7. The exposure of miners of uranium and other ores and minerals to radon and its aerosol-borne decay products is of major significance. The book describes the formation of aerosols, their aerodynamic size distribution, their atmospheric residence time, their sampling and measurement, the range of radioactive aerosols found and studied thus far, including man-made nuclides and radon decay products and their interaction with man, including deposition in the lung and subsequent health effects. - Advanced level science handbook for researchers, scientists and academics- Covers all aspects of radiation exposure in humans, including subsequent health implications- Presents the latest findings and analysis in this highly topical area

Inhalt

Cover 1
Contributions 8
Contents 12
Foreword 16
Chapter 1. Atmospheric aerosol particles 18
1. Introduction and definitions 18
2. The size distribution of atmospheric aerosol particles 19
3. Aerosols and radiation: Generation of radioactive aerosols 21
4. Aerodynamic size distribution of radionuclide-associated aerosol particles (radioactive aerosols) 22
5. Mechanisms of formation and growth of aerosol particles 23
References 24
Chapter 2. Radioactive aerosols 26
1. Introduction 26
2. Radioactive aerosols associated with the cosmic-ray produced radionuclides 26
3. Radon and thoron decay product aerosols 31
4. Mine aerosols 53
5. Fission product radionuclide aerosols 55
6. Radioactive aerosols associated with the operation of high-energy accelerators 64
7. Plutonium aerosols due to nuclear weapons testing or nuclear reactor accidents 67
References 69
Chapter 3. Radioactive nuclides as tracers of environmental processes 74
1. Radioactivity in the environment 74
2. Atmospheric particle deposition 76
3. Resuspension 81
4. Air-to-vegetation transfer of radionuclides associated with submicron aerosols 82
References 84
Chapter 4. Residence time of tropospheric aerosols in association with radioactive nuclides 86
1. Residence time of aerosol particles 86
2. Residence time of tropospheric aerosol particles associated with the cosmic ray produced 7Be 88
3. Residence time of tropospheric aerosol particles associated with the radon decay product radionuclides 210Pb, 210Bi, 210Po and the fission product radionuclides 89Sr, 90Sr, and 140Ba and their activity ratios 90
4. Residence time of tropospheric aerosol particles associated with the fission product radionuclides 89Sr, 90Sr, 140Ba and their activity ratios 94
5. Residence times of sulfate aerosols in the atmosphere 95
References 97
Chapter 5. Radioactive particles and human subjects 100
1. Introduction 100
2. Radioactive dose from inhalation of radon decay product aerosols 100
3. Deposition of radioactive aerosol particles in the lung 117
4. Risk assessment due to inhalation of radon decay product aerosols 121
References 125
Chapter 6. Aerosol sampling and measurement techniques 128
1. Introduction 128
2. Cascade impactors 131
3. Inertial impactors 132
4. Andersen cascade impactors 136
5. Online alpha-impactor 145
6. A micro-orifice uniform deposit cascade impactor (MOUDI impactor) 150
7. Particle trap impactor 154
8. The diffusion battery method for aerosol particle size determination 156
9. Condensation particle counter battery 161
10. The Mercer-style impactor 163
11. Berner-type impactor 165
12. Dichotomous sampler 166
13. Compact multistage cascade impactor 168
14. K-JIST 5-stage cascade impactor 169
References 172
Appendices 176
Subject index 184

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 28.7.2011
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Medizin / Pharmazie ► Gesundheitsfachberufe
• Themenwelt: Medizin / Pharmazie ► Medizinische Fachgebiete ► Arbeits- / Sozial- / Umweltmedizin
• Themenwelt: Studium ► 2. Studienabschnitt (Klinik) ► Pharmakologie / Toxikologie
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Geowissenschaften ► Geologie
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Physik / Astronomie
• Themenwelt: Technik ► Umwelttechnik / Biotechnologie
• ISBN-10: 0-08-055598-5 / 0080555985
• ISBN-13: 978-0-08-055598-0 / 9780080555980