Is plutonium/uranium being measured?
Thank you so much for your efforts. This is almost the only data on rain water contamination level we can find on the Web. I'm a Cal alumni (EECS 1997) and proud of the kind of work and public service you are doing. Is raidation leak from Unit 3 a concern for California residents? Thank you so much, TH.
We are looking for any
We are looking for any evidence of uranium and plutonium. We currently do not see any evidence of these gamma-ray signatures.
Is Gamma Ray detection the correct way to look for Pu?
Given the very long half-lives of most plutonium (and uranium) isotopes, is looking for the gamma ray signature the right way to go? Perhaps a mass spectrometer would be better. It might be time to call up your friends in the chemistry department.
Hi Jim, You are right.
Hi Jim,
You are right. Gamma spec is not the best route for detecting pu and u signatures and we do not expect to see any in our system. If we do, we know there is something seriously wrong. Mass spectroscopy would be the way to go and unfortunately we do not have access to one at this point. If our colleagues here in the department think that testing for heavy metals in our atmosphere is necessary, we will find a way.
mass spectroscopy
dr chiver has any one done this type of testing to your knowledge?
why test heres why
i mention this due to the knew data provided by tepco that arnie gunderson has so brilliantly discussed /.please see..april 18 report
http://hawaiinewsdaily.com/2011/04/arnie-gundersen-gently-reports-on-dan...
spectroscopy tests are detailed none for fukushima
http://www.spectroscopynow.com/coi/cda/landing.cda?type=Feature&chId=1
"If our colleagues here in
"If our colleagues here in the department think that testing for heavy metals in our atmosphere is necessary, we will find a way."
Why wouldn't it be necessary?
Primary reason to look for U and Pu
I think that testing for uranium and plutonium is an interesting way to assess the damage to fuel rods either in the core or in the spent fuel pools. It might even be possible to single out unit 3 and its MOX fuel, for example. Certainly the radiation from the U-238 which makes up the bulk of the mass of the fuel is not a health hazard from an ionizing radiation perspective.
What concentration factor are you getting with your rain water? Are you "boiling it down"? I wonder what concentration would be possible with ion-exchange resins that were tuned to U or Pu.
U/Pu
I am just a lay person here, but I agree with Jim. I had already been thinking this would be a good way to find out how far #3 had gone. Also because they have not been completely honest about the state of things, I do not think we can just rely on their word for anything at this point.
One more thought
I'm not sure of the sensistivity of this method, but it's more in your department... what about using a neutron source to induce fission?
That's interesting... In
That's interesting...
In your estimation, what amount of plutonium (or most likely PoU2 in our case) would be required for you to detect it in your current air / water samples?
Also, if you could provide some insight on the make up plutonium and PoU2 that would be appreciated. Do you expect them to reach the US at all, or just not in levels that would be detectable?
Thank you again for your time and effort.
Could you elaborate on this?
Could you elaborate on this?
Didn't the epa allready find
Didn't the epa allready find U http://www.epa.gov/radiation/docs/rert/radnet-cart-filter-final.pdf