Discovery of a 137Cs hot particle in municipal wastewater treatment sludge.
Analysis of primary treatment sludge from a municipal wastewater treatment plant revealed elevated 137Cs concentrations in one sample. This elevated activity was associated with a radioactive particle that, when isolated and quantified, was found to contain 1.82 kBq of 137Cs. Additional analysis indicated an absence of alpha activity, and energetic beta radiation, if present, was less than the 137Cs activity. The particle was approximately 50 microns in diameter, appeared not to be an aggregate, and was nonmetallic.
Larsen
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Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, TN 37831-6036.
Lee
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Boston
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Stetar
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D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011850:Radioactive Waste; D012722:Sewage / Q000032:analysis*; D014881:Water Supply
D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes; D011850:Radioactive Waste; D012722:Sewage