Re: Sr-90 in wood ash?

[RADPROJECT@aol.com]

In a message dated 1/13/00 10:59:58 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
John.R.Laferriere@dupontpharma.com writes:

<< Subj:     Sr-90 in wood ash?
 Date:  1/13/00 10:59:58 AM Eastern Standard Time
 From:  John.R.Laferriere@dupontpharma.com (John R Laferriere)
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 Dear Radsafers:  
 
 I am aware of the presence of fairly easily detectable levels of Cs-137 in 
wood ash from trees in the northeast U.S. (and perhaps elsewhere) due to 
weapons fallout.  Has anyone ever heard about the presence of detectable 
levels of Sr-90 in wood ash?  If so could you steer me to the appropriate 
reference(s) or provide data (pCi or Bq/g ash, for example) that you are 
aware of?  Feel free to email me directly.  Thanks in advance for your 
assistance!
 
 Regards,
 
 John R. Laferriere, CHP
 DuPont Pharmaceuticals Co.
 Medical Imaging Division
 john.r.laferriere@dupontpharma.com
 (978) 671-8316   fax (978) 671-8149
  >>
=========
Hi John:
In the few Sr-90 measurements in woodash which I was able to have made at the 
then Yankee Environmental Lab back in 1990 when I initiated a national Cs-137 
in woodash survey, the Sr-90 values were as I recall higher than the Cs-137 
levels in these few samples.

This is to be expected, since the literature shows a much, much higher 
transfer factor for Sr-90 from soil to plant [by factors that can be 100 
times or more that claimed by the NRC to pertain to  Cs, which is routinely 
assumed to be about 0.01 per R.G. 1.109 but which can be much more depending 
on soil chemistry]  and the Cs/Sr ratio in weapons fallout having been about 
1.6 to 1.

It would take some real effort on my part to dig out the values from dead 
storage of the measurements I had made. Let me know how seriously you need 
them. Feel free to call if you have any questions

Happy New Year & Regards,

Stu
Stewart Farber
Consulting Scientist
Public Health Sciences
172 Old Orchard Way
Warren, VT 05674

(802) 496-3356
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