Calculated results are shown with the one-sigma radiowere calculated.
chemical counting statistic limits around each data point.
If limits are
symplotting
the
within
are
limits
counting
not shown, the radiochemical
bol.
Implications of Concentration Profiles
Airborne concentration profiles are the airborne concentrations in
either uCi/cm? or uCi/g as a function of height.
In some cases, airborne
concentration profiles of plutonium-239 and americium-241 can be interConcentration profiles
preted in terms of possible resuspension sources.
are influenced by the extent and variation of the resuspension source,
deposition between the resuspension source and sampling location, and by
meteorological parameters such as wind speed and atmospheric stability.
For example, the concentration profile for an infinite source would show
the pCi/em? decreasing with increasing height.
For an upwind source and
simultaneous airborne plume depletion by deposition, the maximum airborne
concentration in wCi/cm? will be at some elevated height.
Similarly for
airborne concentration profiles in uCi/g, the airborne concentration is
influenced by sampling both the soil from the contaminant resuspension
source as well as airborne soil transported from uncontaminated surfaces.
An attempt will be made to interpret the experimental concentration
profiles in terms of these possible sources.
Each interpretation of the
observed concentration profiles carries one qualification:
that these
average profiles are for samples collected for all wind speeds and
directions.
Thus, sources of airborne plutonium-239 and americium-241
cannot be identified with respect to direction from the air sampling
location.
Small Particle Concentration in uCi/cm?

Airborne concentrations in wCi/em? for "small" particles are shown in
Fig. 2.

The relative plutonium-239 and americium-241 concentrations for

"small" particles show distinctly different concentration profiles.

The

plutonium-239 airborne concentration was 1.4 x 107!7 yci/em? (maximum)
at 1.9 m and decreased with increasing height up to 91 m.
From 91 m to
122 m, the plutonium-239 concentration increased.
In contrast to the
decrease, there was a maximum americium-241 concentration of 9.6 x 107!7

uCi/em? at a 9l-m height.

It is unknown why the plutonium-239 airborne concentration in pCi/cem?

for "small" particles at 122 m was greater than at 91 m.

The increased

airborne concentration at 122 m is attributed in part to a greater

plutonium-239 yCi/g at 122 m than at 91m.
unexplained,

Although the increase is

an increased concentration was also observed

(Sehmel and

Lloyd, 1976) at Rocky Flats for sampling heights between 10 and 30 m.
In contrast to the plutonium-239 concentration profile,

the americium-241

concentration profile in wCi/em? for "small" particles suggests a surface
depletion of the airborne plume.
This concentration profile indicates
either an upwind resuspension source or an elevated release.
In any
event, the americium-241 source was not determined.

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