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A multiple approach to the determination of radon fluxes from sediments

  • Radium and Radon Measurement
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Abstract

Determination of sedimentary fluxes of222Rn via diffusion was required as an input for a mass balance model of radon in a freshwater lake. We obtained these fluxes by: (1) direct measurement in the laboratory using a simulated sediment bed and water column; (2) a “sediment equilibration” technique; and (3) porewater modeling. The first method, analogous to an in situ benthic chamber approach, uses direct observation of the increasing222Rn activity in water overlying a sediment bed packed in plastic columns. This allows one to directly measure the fluxes and determine the effective wet bulk sediment diffusion coefficient (D s). Radon flux estimates using these three techniques agreed to within approximately 10–15%.

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Author notes

  1. P. H. Cable

    Present address: QST Environmental, Inc., 32602-1703, Gainesville, FL, USA

  2. S. B. Clark

    Present address: Department of Chemistry, Washington State University, 99164, Pullman, WA, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oceanography, Florida State University, Environmental Radioactivity Measurement Facility, 32306, Tallahassee, FL, USA

    D. R. Corbett, W. C. Burnett & P. H. Cable

  2. Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, 29802, Aiken, SC, USA

    S. B. Clark

Authors
  1. D. R. Corbett
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  2. W. C. Burnett
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  3. P. H. Cable
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  4. S. B. Clark
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Corbett, D.R., Burnett, W.C., Cable, P.H. et al. A multiple approach to the determination of radon fluxes from sediments. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 236, 247–253 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02386351

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02386351

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