A note on 207Bi in environmental samples.
Traces of the radionuclide (207)Bi were identified in soil and cryoconite (glacier sediment) samples from Alpine regions of Austria. This nuclide has been produced in thermonuclear explosions mainly in the early 1960s and subsequently dispersed in the atmosphere. Activity concentrations up to 22 Bq/kg d.m. have been found. The ratio (207)Bi:(137)Cs(global fallout) equals (1.70+/-0.12)10(-3), which is in accordance with literature data. When low levels of (207)Bi are assessed by gamma spectrometry, corrections must be made for a gamma line produced in the lead shield by neutron activation due to cosmic neutrons.
Bossew
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European Commission, DG Joint Research Centre, Institute of Environment and Sustainability, Radioactivity Environmental Monitoring Group, Via Fermi 1, I-21020 Ispra (VA), Italy. peter.bossew@jrc.it
Lettner
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H
Hubmer
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D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D001729:Bismuth / Q000032:analysis*; D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis; D004777:Environment; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis
D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive; D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes; D011868:Radioisotopes; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive; D001729:Bismuth