Simple little total activity question...

["Clement, Christopher" <clementc@aecl.ca>]

Radsafers:

This one has been bugging me for a while.

Say you have a sample which contains 1 Bq of U-238, plus all of it's
progeny in equilibrium, and no other radionuclides.  What is the total
activity of the sample?  Is it 14 Bq or 15 Bq?  I'm not really clear on
whether or not one should count Pa-234m and Pa-234 separately or as one.

------------------------------------------------------------
Christopher H. Clement
Scientific Specialist / Radiation Protection Program Manager
Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Office
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited
clementc@aecl.ca