ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVE BACKGROUND SURVEY FOR THE AIR FORCE NUCLEAR ENGINEERING TEST FACILITY
Abstract
The environmental radioactive background survey was an attempt to establish a base line of the normally occurring radioactivity in the fauna and flora of a particular area subsequent to the operation of a reactor which will release additional radioactivity to the environment. The Health Physics Office of the AF NETF has collected samples of water, soil, air, sewage, milk, biological life and vegetation in a 20 mile radius of the AF NETF site and analyzed the samples for alpha, beta and gamma activity. The results of the analyses over the period of the report are given in graphic form to facilitate making comparison of the fluctuations in the normal background. The wide variations were due to the atom bomb testing not only in the United States but throughout the world. The tests especially noticeable are the result of the last half quarter of 1958 when the atom bomb testing was at a peak. Future samples taken from the same areas will be analyzed when the reactor becomes operational. Comparison then can be made to determine any increased activity which may be attributable to the AF Nuclear Reactor operation. In order to obtain certain quantitative analyses of the radioactive content of the various samples collected a contract was awarded the Nuclear Science and Engineering Corporation of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The result of their work will be found in Appendix II of the report.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0630605
Entities
People
- David O. Lintz
Organizations
- Flight Dynamics Laboratory