Availability of Radioiodines in Fallout
Abstract
A review of the behavior of radioiodine in fallout according to diffusion limited fission product absorption is presented. It suggests that radioiodines are highly fractionated. The isotopes I-131 through I-135 vary from calculated surface loadings of about 70% for I-131 to about 100% for I-135 for silicate fallout. Coral fallout is expected to have even higher fractions of surface loading. Experiments have been performed to evaluate the vaporization and liquid leaching of iodides from fission recoil loaded samples and vapor loaded substrate. Liquid leaching has been demonstrated as fast for surface oriented iodine. Vapor leaching has been demonstrated as being slow with the exception that exposure to direct environmental conditions greatly accelerates the iodine release. The major effect is thought to be due to sunlight. Ion microprobe studies to observe fission products in a high specific activity fallout were unsuccessful. The instrument did prove capable of some valuable microprobe type studies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 1973
- Accession Number
- AD0772062
Entities
People
- John H. Norman