Biofilm growth in water-cooling towers as collection platforms for airborne radionuclides

Abstract

Given its history of nuclear material processing, the Savannah River Site (SRS) was used to evaluate whether biofilms growing in water-cooling towers (WCTs) are effective passive collectors for environmental radionuclide surveillance. Uranium and plutonium analyses suggest WCT-sourced biofilms are efficient, indigenous, constantly running samplers that can be used for environmental monitoring, as their isotopic compositions are distinct from natural or atmospheric fallout and representative of SRS historical activities. The ubiquity of WCTs worldwide and demonstrated ability to detect nuclear material processing and constrain specific activities based on biofilm actinide isotopic compositions make WCT biofilms a promising means to improve monitoring.