4
Standard Procedure for Air Sampling
Marshall Island's Radiological Safety Program
A.
Purpose
An air sampling program has been establishel to identify and quantify
radioactive aerosols on the village islands of iikini, Rongelap and UJcirik
Atolls.
It is felt that these aerosols are gen:rated primarily through
resuspension of radioactive materials in local .oils; and that resuspension
processes are mediated by the wind and by human activities. The program is
designed to characterize seasonal variations in airborne radioactivity, and
to determine annual average concentrations from which dose commitments via
the innalation pathway can be derived.
B.
Sample Types
Three types of air samples and associated s.mpling equipment will be
used in the air sampling program.
They are (1)
fixed station high-volume
samples, (2)
porcable high-volume samples and .3)
aerosol particle sizing
samples.
Each of these is discussed below:
1.
Fixed Scacion Hi Vol (or "HASL") Sample.
These samples will be used to assess tine averaged concentracions
of down-coming fallout and wind mediated re:iuspended aerosols.
The
sampling equipmenc consists of a Rootspositive displacement blower and
a l hp mocor powered by 110 vac Line source;, or by D.C. bactery banks
charged by wind-oowered electric generators
This equipment is an
adaptation of the HASL desizned air sampler used for world-wide fall-
out monitoring.
The sampling head consists of an 8" x 10'inch filter
holder coupled to four parallel Unico cyclone preseparators which remove
particulates greacers than about 5 pm MMAD.
A dry gas meter in the
sampling line incegractes the total flow during the sampling periods.
The samplers are designed to run semicontinuiously for 1 to 3 months
between sample changes
As of October 1977, fixed station samplers were installed at the
following field stations:
Location
Kwajalein Is., Bldg. 835
Roi-Namur Is., LOCB
Bikini Is., Community center
Rongelap Is., Athletic Field
Utirik Is., Athletic Field
-
Purpose
Control
Control
Expe'l
Expc'l
Expe'1
Power Source
A.C.
,
ALC.
D.C.
D.C.
D.C.
A sixth air sampler modified for aerosol particle sizing is available
to be operated as a temporary fixed-station sampler. This A.C. unit
is powered by a diesel eleceric generator.