ABSTRACT
Previous chapters in this book have described important methods for detecting and determining the quantity and radioisotopic composition of airborne radioactivity. This chapter describes a variety of additional methods that can be used in a graded approach to judiciously characterize a comprehensive array of physical, chemical, and biological properties of interest. Although nearly all standard aerosol sampling and characterization techniques can be applied to the measurement of radioactive gases and particles, there are practical limitations on the quantities or qualities of material that may be signicant or available. For example, the airborne particle number and associated mass of many radionuclides of concern may be below the limits of detection of optical monitoring devices that count the number of airborne particles per unit volume; piezoelectric monitoring
Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 341 Hierarchy of a Graded Approach ................................................................................................... 342
Initial Screening and Detection ............................................................................................ 342 Comprehensive Characterization and Assessment................................................................ 343 Routine Monitoring and Control .......................................................................................... 343
Methods for Comprehensive Aerosol Characterization .................................................................344 Optical Particle Counting......................................................................................................344 Particle Collection for Microscopy ....................................................................................... 347 Filtration ............................................................................................................................... 347 Inertial Sampling .................................................................................................................. 347 Measurement of Electrical Properties ................................................................................... 347 Volumetric Grab Samples, Impingers, Cold Traps, and Adsorbers ......................................348 Analytical Chemical Techniques ..........................................................................................348
Special Techniques for Radioactive Aerosols ................................................................................ 349 Detection of Individual Particles by Autoradiography ......................................................... 349 Particle Solubility Measurement to Infer Biological Behavior ............................................ 349 Density Measurement by Isopycnic Gradient Ultracentrifugation ....................................... 350 Surface Area Measurement by 85Kr Adsorption ................................................................... 351
Conclusions .................................................................................................................................... 351 References ...................................................................................................................................... 351
