Feasibility of using dendroanalysis of uranium as a biomarker for environmental contamination |
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Authors: | T Mitchell P Sandwall B Rolfes M Lobaugh J Bowen J Elliston S E Glover H B Spitz |
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Institution: | (1) Nuclear and Radiological Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0072, USA;(2) Nuclear Radiation Center, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-1300, USA |
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Abstract: | A study was initiated to investigate the chronological deposition of uranium in certain species of trees growing on the site
of a former uranium metal processing facility. The Feed Materials Production Center (FMPC) is located in Fernald, Ohio, and
for roughly 40 years operated as a large scale uranium processing center. Core samples from several species of trees growing
in different locations throughout the site were extracted using a 12.5 mm incremental wood boring drill bit. After extraction,
each core sample was cut and packaged into individual sections representing 4 annual growth rings and submitted for instrumental
neutron activation analysis (INAA). The reaction 235U(n,f)140Ba→140La+γ was evaluated using high resolution germanium gamma-spectroscopy to detect the 1.596 MeV photon emission from the fission
product 140La following a minimum of a 3 week decay. A total of 106 samples representing 7 individual trees of 3 unique species were
irradiated. In addition to the tree-core samples, 18 quality control (QC) samples and 18 standard reference material (SRM)
Fly Ash samples were irradiated with the core samples for determining neutron flux. The activity in any one sample in a batch
was determined by comparison with the amount of natural uranium in the QC standards. No significantly measurable amount of
uranium was detected in any of the tree core samples, although 3 tree core samples were in excess of the minimum detectable
amount (30 ng). |
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