Limiting Wind-Induced Resuspension of Radioactively Contaminated Particles to Enhance First Responder, Early Phase Worker and Public Safety—Part 1
An accidental radiological release or the operation of a radiological dispersal device (RDD) may lead to the contamination of a large area. Such scenarios may lead to health and safety risks associated with the resuspension of contaminated particles due to aeolian (wind-induced) soil erosion and tra...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/5/2463 |
| _version_ | 1797475682429698048 |
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| author | Hadas Raveh-Amit Avi Sharon Itzhak Katra Terry Stilman Shannon Serre John Archer Matthew Magnuson |
| author_facet | Hadas Raveh-Amit Avi Sharon Itzhak Katra Terry Stilman Shannon Serre John Archer Matthew Magnuson |
| author_sort | Hadas Raveh-Amit |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | An accidental radiological release or the operation of a radiological dispersal device (RDD) may lead to the contamination of a large area. Such scenarios may lead to health and safety risks associated with the resuspension of contaminated particles due to aeolian (wind-induced) soil erosion and tracking activities. Stabilization technologies limiting resuspension are therefore needed to avoid spreading contamination and to reduce exposures to first responders and decontamination workers. Resuspension testing was performed on soils from two sites of the Negev Desert following treatment with three different stabilization materials: calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, and saltwater from the Dead Sea in Israel. Two and six weeks post-treatment, resuspension was examined by inducing wind-driven resuspension and quantitatively measuring particle emission from the soils using a boundary-layer wind tunnel system. Experiments were conducted under typical wind velocities of this region. Treating the soils reduced resuspension fluxes of particulate matter < 10 µm (PM<sub>10</sub>) and saltating (sand-sized) particles to around background levels. Resuspension suppression efficiencies from the treated soils were a minimum of 94% for all three stabilizers, and the Dead Sea salt solution yielded 100% efficiency over all wind velocities tested. The impact of the salt solutions (brine) was directly related to the salt treatment rather than the wetting of the soils. Stabilization was still observed six weeks post-treatment, supporting that this technique can effectively limit resuspension for a prolonged duration, allowing sufficient time for decision making and management of further actions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:47:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3cef62fef8ae470da2b61dbcd8563571 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:47:28Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-3cef62fef8ae470da2b61dbcd85635712023-11-23T22:41:14ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172022-02-01125246310.3390/app12052463Limiting Wind-Induced Resuspension of Radioactively Contaminated Particles to Enhance First Responder, Early Phase Worker and Public Safety—Part 1Hadas Raveh-Amit0Avi Sharon1Itzhak Katra2Terry Stilman3Shannon Serre4John Archer5Matthew Magnuson6Department of Chemistry, Nuclear Research Centre Negev, P.O. Box 9001, Beer Sheva 8419000, IsraelEnvironmental Research Unit, Nuclear Research Centre Negev, P.O. Box 9001, Beer Sheva 8419000, IsraelDepartment of Geography and Environmental Development, Ben-Gurion University, P.O. Box 653, Beer Sheva 8410501, IsraelEPA Region 4, Atlanta, GA 30303, USAEPA Office of Land and Emergency Management, Washington, DC 20002, USAEPA Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USAEPA Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USAAn accidental radiological release or the operation of a radiological dispersal device (RDD) may lead to the contamination of a large area. Such scenarios may lead to health and safety risks associated with the resuspension of contaminated particles due to aeolian (wind-induced) soil erosion and tracking activities. Stabilization technologies limiting resuspension are therefore needed to avoid spreading contamination and to reduce exposures to first responders and decontamination workers. Resuspension testing was performed on soils from two sites of the Negev Desert following treatment with three different stabilization materials: calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, and saltwater from the Dead Sea in Israel. Two and six weeks post-treatment, resuspension was examined by inducing wind-driven resuspension and quantitatively measuring particle emission from the soils using a boundary-layer wind tunnel system. Experiments were conducted under typical wind velocities of this region. Treating the soils reduced resuspension fluxes of particulate matter < 10 µm (PM<sub>10</sub>) and saltating (sand-sized) particles to around background levels. Resuspension suppression efficiencies from the treated soils were a minimum of 94% for all three stabilizers, and the Dead Sea salt solution yielded 100% efficiency over all wind velocities tested. The impact of the salt solutions (brine) was directly related to the salt treatment rather than the wetting of the soils. Stabilization was still observed six weeks post-treatment, supporting that this technique can effectively limit resuspension for a prolonged duration, allowing sufficient time for decision making and management of further actions.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/5/2463soil resuspensionstabilization materialsoil contaminationDead Sea saltwaterdust emissionsoil erosion |
| spellingShingle | Hadas Raveh-Amit Avi Sharon Itzhak Katra Terry Stilman Shannon Serre John Archer Matthew Magnuson Limiting Wind-Induced Resuspension of Radioactively Contaminated Particles to Enhance First Responder, Early Phase Worker and Public Safety—Part 1 Applied Sciences soil resuspension stabilization material soil contamination Dead Sea saltwater dust emission soil erosion |
| title | Limiting Wind-Induced Resuspension of Radioactively Contaminated Particles to Enhance First Responder, Early Phase Worker and Public Safety—Part 1 |
| title_full | Limiting Wind-Induced Resuspension of Radioactively Contaminated Particles to Enhance First Responder, Early Phase Worker and Public Safety—Part 1 |
| title_fullStr | Limiting Wind-Induced Resuspension of Radioactively Contaminated Particles to Enhance First Responder, Early Phase Worker and Public Safety—Part 1 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Limiting Wind-Induced Resuspension of Radioactively Contaminated Particles to Enhance First Responder, Early Phase Worker and Public Safety—Part 1 |
| title_short | Limiting Wind-Induced Resuspension of Radioactively Contaminated Particles to Enhance First Responder, Early Phase Worker and Public Safety—Part 1 |
| title_sort | limiting wind induced resuspension of radioactively contaminated particles to enhance first responder early phase worker and public safety part 1 |
| topic | soil resuspension stabilization material soil contamination Dead Sea saltwater dust emission soil erosion |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/5/2463 |
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