Assessing Radiation Fallout in Public Zones near the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS): A Recent Study.

IF 1 4区 医学 Q4 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Health physics Pub Date : 2025-01-01 Epub Date: 2024-09-02 DOI:10.1097/HP.0000000000001889
Krishnakumar Divakar Nangeelil, Haven Searcy, Beverly Parker, Zaijing Sun
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Abstract

Abstract: A comprehensive radiological study was conducted in the surrounding public zones of the Nevada National Security Site to identify traces of resuspended radioactivity and heavy elemental contamination that might have resulted from various activities. The study used passive and active nuclear methods, specifically gamma spectrometry and instrumental neutron activation analysis, respectively. Passive gamma spectra analysis of air filter papers from various Community Environmental Monitoring Program stations conclusively verified the presence of radionuclides exclusively originating from the natural decay series of 238 U and 232 Th. Furthermore, gamma spectrometry and instrumental neutron activation analysis of plant samples from surrounding areas of the Nevada National Security Site revealed the absence of any unusual elemental contamination in the environment. These results demonstrated that there was no measurable radiological impact on the public zones surrounding the site resulting from the spread of radioactive materials or toxic heavy metals associated with previous or ongoing activities at Nevada National Security Site. Therefore, the safety of public zones concerning retained radioactivity and harmful elemental contamination arising from Nevada National Security Site operations is negligible. The significance of this study is further pronounced in the current geopolitical context, as it establishes the baseline elemental composition for various desert plants for future reference.

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评估内华达国家安全基地 (NNSS) 附近公共区域的辐射沉降物:最新研究。
摘要:对内华达国家安全场址周围的公共区域进行了一次全面的放射性研究,以确定各种活动可能造成的再悬浮放射性和重元素污染的痕迹。研究采用了被动和主动核方法,特别是伽马能谱分析法和仪器中子活化分析法。对社区环境监测计划各监测站的空气滤纸进行的被动伽马能谱分析最终证实,这些滤纸中的放射性核素完全来自 238U 和 232Th 的天然衰变系列。此外,对内华达国家安全场址周边地区的植物样本进行的伽马能谱分析和仪器中子活化分析表明,环境中没有任何异常的元素污染。这些结果表明,与内华达国家安全场址以前或正在进行的活动有关的放射性物质或有毒重金属的扩散对场址周围的公共区域没有可测量的辐射影响。因此,内华达国家安全场址运行过程中产生的残留放射性和有害元素污染对公共区域的安全影响可以忽略不计。在当前的地缘政治背景下,这项研究的意义更加明显,因为它确定了各种沙漠植物的基线元素组成,以供未来参考。
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来源期刊
Health physics
Health physics 医学-公共卫生、环境卫生与职业卫生
CiteScore
4.20
自引率
0.00%
发文量
324
审稿时长
3-8 weeks
期刊介绍: Health Physics, first published in 1958, provides the latest research to a wide variety of radiation safety professionals including health physicists, nuclear chemists, medical physicists, and radiation safety officers with interests in nuclear and radiation science. The Journal allows professionals in these and other disciplines in science and engineering to stay on the cutting edge of scientific and technological advances in the field of radiation safety. The Journal publishes original papers, technical notes, articles on advances in practical applications, editorials, and correspondence. Journal articles report on the latest findings in theoretical, practical, and applied disciplines of epidemiology and radiation effects, radiation biology and radiation science, radiation ecology, and related fields.
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