NORM in Glass Manufacturing

["Leo M. Lowe" <llowe@senes.on.ca>]

This is directed to anyone having any information on NORM or TENORM in the
glass manufacturing industry.

Specifically in this case , the raw materials used in the process all show
typical background levels (< 2 to 5 ppm U and Th) but the furnace "ash"
from the process is enhanced in Ra-226 (about 3 Bq/g), Ra-228 (about 0.5
Bq/g) and the more volatile radionuclides Pb-210 and Po-210 (about 1 Bq/g).
 The U (10 ppm) and Th (4 ppm) are also marginally enhanced.

What mechanism(s) could cause this enhancement of the radium relative to U
and Th?   Is it related to the lower boiling point of radium?

I would appreciate hearing about any references, papers, etc. on this topic.

Thank you.
 

Leo M. Lowe, Ph.D.
Principal, Senior Health and
Environmental Physicist

SENES Consultants Limited
121 Granton Drive, Unit 12
RICHMOND HILL, Ontario
Canada L4B 3N4
Tel:  (905) 764-9380
Fax:  (905) 764-9386
Email Address:  llowe@senes.on.ca
Web Site:  http://www.senes.on.ca/
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