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)

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