Morphology of Actinide-Rich Particles Released from the BOMARC Accident and Collected from Soil Post Remediation

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bowen J ; Glover S ; Spitz, Henry
• Description:
  The physical, chemical, and radiological characteristics of material released to the environment from accidents involving nuclear weapon components are dependent upon many factors, especially the manner in which the material is released and delivered to the environment. These characteristics will also be influenced by physical and chemical effects associated with weathering if the material remains exposed to the environment for a long period of time. This study evaluates the morphological characteristics of particles released to the environment as a result of the 1960 BOMARC incident and compares these characteristics to those described following similar incidents at Thule, Greenland (1968) and Palomares, Spain (1966). Each of these incidents involved unique circumstances and conditions that distributed actinide-rich particles to the environment with a range of distinctive morphological characteristics. Morphological and surface elemental analyses were conducted on a set of discrete particles isolated from samples of post-remediated soil collected at McGuire Air Force Base, the site of the BOMARC incident. Scanning electron microscopy and complimentary energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used to perform the analyses. Non-destructive analysis of uranium and plutonium contained in each particle was measured using high-resolution gamma spectrometry. Unique characteristics of the BOMARC samples include some particles exhibiting a smooth, crystalline texture and varying elemental surface distribution of uranium and plutonium, dependent on the particle's morphology. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Emergency Responders Mental Health Mining Occupational Health Safety Stress, Psychological
• Keywords:
  Accidents Author Keywords: BOMARC Chemical Properties Environmental Exposure Exposure Levels Health Effects Morphology Nuclear Properties Particulates Physical Properties Plutonium Plutonium Compounds Radiological Hazards Sampling Scanning Electron Microscopy Soil Soil Analysis Soil Sampling Spectrographic Analysis Uranium Uranium Compounds X-rays

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• ISSN:
  0236-5731
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  296
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20050136
• Citation:
  J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2013 May; 296(2):853-857
• Contact Point Address:
  James Bowen, Nuclear & Radiological Engineering Program, School of Dynamic Systems, University of Cincinnati, 598 Rhodes Hall, Cincinnati, OH 45221
• Email:
  bowenjs@mail.uc.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Plutonium (CAS RN 7440-07-5) ; Uranium (CAS RN 7440-61-1)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2013
• Performing Organization:
  University of Cincinnati
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:03f24232abde37b59a47b931f325bea47ee649a3f5319888e1a046346d888e44b12c1617d094e7b7b67573a40acf619d00b13ea7b64f78562a3d6f30d17cd7c8
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/210616/cdc_210616_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 455.91 KB ]