MEASUREMENTS OF AIRBORNE RADIONUCLIDES
219
Table 6— CONCENTRATIONS OF 72Na AND *%4Nqa IN RAINWATER*
Dis/min per liter
Date
Sample volume, liters
June 15, 1964
60
4Na
22Na
0.70 + 0.138
0.36 + 0.03
June 17, 1964
6.64
2.22 + 0,25
0,25 + 0.04
June 18, 1964
14.32
0.59 + 0.09
0.19 + 0.02
*The plus or minus values are the standard deviations.
Measurements of radionuclides such as these during the course of
a rain would provide useful information for calculating rainout and
washout coefficients of the normal atmospheric aerosols.
BIOSPHERIC DISTRIBUTION OF 22Na
Like BiCg “Na distributes itself through the biosphere, andit
can be measured in many biological materials by direct counting of
the sample ash on the multidimensional analyzer. Measurements of
its distribution through the food chain and its calculated concentration
in man based on bioassay measurements are given in Table 7. These
data point out the usefulness of **Na as a tracer of weapons-testing
debris.
Table 7— DISTRIBUTION OF #2Na IN FOODS, BIOASSAY SAMPLES, AND MAN
Sample
Location
Date obtained
22Na, dis/min
per liter
Western United States
Elk
Bass
Quinault, Wash.
Columbia River
May 1964
April 1964
Beef
Local food store,
Washington
March 1964
Milk
Wheat
Beef
Washington
Washington
Local food store,
Washington
Corn
Oregon
Green beans
Urine*
Oregon
Washington
Lettuce
Carrots
Potatoes
Mant
March 1964
August 1963
May 1964
74,4
8.3
6.2
3.31
2.47
0.52
April 1964
~0.04
April 1964
~0.20
1.45
California
California
Idaho
March 1964
April 1964
April 1964
Washington
November 1963
0.16
~0.07
0.68
39.57
(Table 7 continues on page 220)