Preliminary measurements of surface removable NORM activity in the WIPP underground.
The results of correlating surface removable activity to that measured on a fixed air sampler is reported. It was found from over 40 smears taken during a two week period that surface removable activity from Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) can be predicted to be within a factor of 2 or 3 using either a fixed air sampler measurement or even another smear measurement from a specified surface. The method is being used to take credit for background surface removable activity in similar fashion to a background count for any other radiation detector. The utility of this technique is also discussed from an operational health physics perspective for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant.
Hayes
Robert
R
Westinghouse TRU Solutions LLC, Radiological Control, Carlsbad, NM 88221, USA. Robert.Hayes@WIPP.ws
Gadbury
Casey
C
Goff
Tom
T
D000398:Air Pollution, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011850:Radioactive Waste; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods*; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
D011850:Radioactive Waste