Geochemical and radiological characterization of soils from former radium processing sites

E. R. Landa

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USGS · 70013926

Geochemical and radiological characterization of soils from former radium processing sites

E. R. Landa

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Abstract

Soil samples were collected from former radium processing sites in Denver, CO, and East Orange, NJ. Particle-size separations and radiochemical analyses of selected samples showed that while the greatest contents of both 226Ra and U were generally found in the finest (< 45 ??m) fraction, the pattern was not always of progressive increase in radionuclide content with decreasing particle size. Leaching tests on these samples showed a large portion of the 225Ra and U to be soluble in dilute hydrochloric acid. Radon-emanation coefficients measured for bulk samples of contaminated soil were about 20%. Recovery of residual uranium and vanadium, as an adjunct to any remedial action program, appears unlikely due to economic considerations.

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E. R. Landa. 1984. Geochemical and radiological characterization of soils from former radium processing sites. https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/70013926

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