[ RadSafe ] California Bills on DU Screening Awareness-SB1720Senate Bill - Bill Analysis

Thu Aug 17 15:22:47 CDT 2006

In natural uranium, U-238 and U-234 are in secular equilibrium.  While
U-234 atoms are only a small fraction of the total uranium atoms present
in a sample, the activity of U-234 is theoretically exactly equal to
that of U-238.  (Yes, there are lots of exceptions).  U-235 makes up
0.7% of the total uranium, which is roughly 2.3% of the uranium
activity.

Activity fractions for natural U are approximately 
U234: 49%; U-235 2.3%, U-238: 49%
Atomic fractions are 
U-234: 0.005%; U-235: 0.72%, U-238: >99%

At 3% enrichment, activity fractions are approximately
U-234: 84%; U-235: 2.1%; U-238: 14%
Atomic fractions are approximately
U-234: .03%; U-235: 3%; U-238: 97%

(Please excuse any typos)

There are several good references on this.  A good one is DOE STD
1136-2004, Guide of Good Practices for Occupational Radiation Protection
in Uranium Facilities

Glenn 

-----Original Message-----
From: David Wesley [mailto:david.wesley at ucr.edu] 
Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2006 3:20 PM
To: radsafelist
Subject: RE: [ RadSafe ] California Bills on DU Screening
Awareness-SB1720Senate Bill - Bill Analysis

In U-nat the breakdown of activity is as follows:

U-234:  0.0001%
U-235:  4.4561%
U-238: 95.5438%

        David Wesley, CHP
        Radiation Safety Officer
        Environmental Health and Safety
        University of California
        Riverside, CA  92521-0306

        david.wesley at ucr.edu

        951-827-5746 Direct
        951-827-5528 Admin
        951-827-5122 Fax

        http://www.ehs.ucr.edu

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] On
Behalf Of Glenn R. Marshall
Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2006 11:18 AM
To: John R Johnson; Roger Helbig; radsafelist
Subject: RE: [ RadSafe ] California Bills on DU Screening Awareness
-SB1720Senate Bill - Bill Analysis

It's also useful for fishing, as you don't have to use those highly
toxic lead weights.

The U-235 contribution to the total radioactivity is always trivial,
regardless of enrichment.

In DU, most of the radioactivity is from U-238.  In U-nat, it's 49% each
from U-234 and U-238 (balance from U-235).  In highly enriched U, nearly
all the radioactivity is from U-234.

Glenn Marshall, CHP

-----Original Message-----
From: John R Johnson [mailto:idias at interchange.ubc.ca] 
Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2006 12:35 PM
To: Roger Helbig; radsafelist
Subject: RE: [ RadSafe ] California Bills on DU Screening Awareness -
SB1720Senate Bill - Bill Analysis

Roger

Would you forward this to Chuck.

DU is useful as a counter weight, so I wouldn't call it a waste product.
The
activity in DU is mainly from U-234 with a half-life of 0.45 years and
U-235
with a half-life of 0.71 billion years.

Thanks in advance

John
 _________________
John R Johnson, Ph.D.
*****
President, IDIAS, Inc
4535 West 9-Th Ave
Vancouver B. C.
V6R 2E2
(604) 222-9840
idias at interchange.ubc.ca
*****

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl]On
Behalf Of Roger Helbig
Sent: August 17, 2006 2:05 AM
To: radsafelist
Subject: [ RadSafe ] California Bills on DU Screening Awareness - SB
1720Senate Bill - Bill Analysis

Feel free to contact Chuck Nicol and make him aware of the errors in his
analysis below which has been provided to members of the California
State
Assembly

Purpose  . DU is a chemically toxic, radioactive heavy metal waste
          product that has a half-life of 4.5 billion years, may cause
          genetic mutations, damage the kidneys and lungs, and may be
          cancerous when inhaled or ingested. Exposure to DU has been
          identified as a possible cause of Gulf War syndrome/illness.
          While the scientific understanding of DU's effect on health is
          still evolving, there appears to be ample evidence that there
          are some health risks associated with DU being embedded in the
          body.  As a result, this bill seeks to ensure that California
          veterans are notified of the availability of federally
screening
          for DU exposure.

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916)
319-2081

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/sen/sb_1701-1750/sb_1720_cfa_20060815
_163
344_asm_comm.html

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