A pertinent question which remains unsettled is the variation Jn fallout
from place to place in a given locality. A satisfactory oregr:
replication has not been possible up to the present time. how
Logan, Utah, we did collact replicates from two pastures about one mii
apart, The total radiostrontium assay of these soils was ,22
Gd 28 d/min/zm.

Retention by Gummed Films of Particulates in
oimilated Rain
An experiment was designed to measure the rention by

of radioactive particulates suspended in raindrops,

d films

When we f rst began

to use gummed sampling media in our fallout studies, field
that the activity collected by gummed paper was comparable
ducible than the results obtained using trays desimgmed for
of the rain water. However, reliable controlled data have
previously, The following procedure was adopted:

tas 8 demondtrated
+0, and more reprs=
to
co1iecuan
no been availabls

Normal radioactive debris was simulated by finely divided pilsef irradiated

iron having a mass median diameter of 3A.

To suspend the iro

a few milligrams were added to two liters of distilled water

Particle size control over the suspended particulates was obt
alutriation of the original suspension. At a given time, 700
at the top of the cylinder was decanted into a sprinkling arr

(Figure 5) which provides for continued agitation of the suspe

the sample enters a capillary tube from which droplets are perpi

fall to the gummed film.

Under the conditions reported here,

of "rainfall" was 1" per hour. The retention of the gummed fi
expressed as the percentage of suspended activity recovered by

A cumulative frequency curve of particle size versus time was
using Stokes Law (with Cunningham's correction as necessary).
curve, and the data on retention at various times, Figure 6 w

alculated,
From this
developed,

The retention of the gummed films in these tests was not as high as was
expected. This may be because of the heavy rate of simulated
Similar tests at lower rainfall rates are being planned out ha
yet gotten under way.

Experiments to determine the effect of 24 hours of temperature conditions
of the gummed papers are given in Table 3. Conditioning at 5° and at
85°C do not appear to significantly influence the retentivity f the films.
In order to datermine if the iron was going into solution, s
suspensions of various ages were passed through a Millipore fi

Essentially 100% of the activity was recovered on the filters,] indicating

Nita

that solubility is not a factor in the above procedure.

anal

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