Simple little total activity question...answered

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

Radsafers:

Thanks everyone for your answers to my question.  My misunderstanding is
a result of an error in the uranium decay series in "The Health Physics
and Radiological Health Handbook" by Shleien.  For those of you relying
on this reference beware!  (There's little doubt in my mind that the
correct answer is 14 Bq.)

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


> ----------
> From: 	Clement, Christopher
> Sent: 	June 19, 1998 3:58 PM
> To: 	'RADSAFE'
> Subject: 	Simple little total activity question...
> 
> 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
>