plutonium detection

["DAVE GILMORE" <DGILMORE@navajo.astate.edu>]

I'm often cautious about showing my ignorance, but I think I know 
most of what I need to carry out my university RSO duties.  
Nvertheless, I have a question.

 BobCherry wrote about:

> LOS ALAMOS, N.M. (AP) - Small amounts of plutonium were found on the clothing
of four Los Alamos National Laboratory workers after the radioactive element
leaked from a container they were cleaning.
The release was ``somewhere between pollen and a particle of cigarette
smoke,'' Danneskiold said.>

How is plutonium contamination routinely checked for?  My 
understanding is that those big 'ol alphas have trouble getting 
through air.  I know that when I do wipe tests for alpha emitters I 
have to use a vacuum chamber.  How are these minute amounts of 
material checked for?

HANDBELL PEOPLE have all gone campan-

David F. Gilmore
Assistant Professor of Environmental Biology   
P.O. Box 599, Dept. of Biological Sciences  
Arkansas State University 
State University, AR 72467
dgilmore@navajo.astate.edu
ph  501-972-3082    fax 501-972-2638