An aerosol particle containing enriched uranium encountered in the remote upper troposphere

Author(s): D. M. Murphy, K. D. Froyd, E. Apel, D. Blake, N. Blake, N. Evangeliou, R. S. Hornbrook, J. Peischl, E. Ray, T. B. Ryerson, C. Thompson, A. Stohl
Abstract: We describe a submicron aerosol particle sampled at an altitude of 7 km near the Aleutian Islands that contained a small percentage of enriched uranium oxide. ²³⁵U was 3.1 ± 0.5% of ²³⁸U. During twenty years of aircraft sampling of millions of particles in the global atmosphere, we have rarely encountered a particle with a similarly high content of ²³⁸U and never a particle with enriched ²³⁵U. The bulk of the particle consisted of material consistent with combustion of heavy fuel oil. Analysis of wind trajectories and particle dispersion model results show that the particle could have originated from a variety of areas across Asia. The source of such a particle is unclear, and the particle is described here in case it indicates a novel source where enriched uranium was dispersed.
Organisation(s): Department of History, Department of Education, Department of Meteorology and Geophysics
External organisation(s): James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory, University of Colorado, Boulder, UCAR - University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), University of California, Irvine, Norwegian Institute for Air Research
Journal: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity
Volume: 184-185
Pages: 95-100
No. of pages: 6
ISSN: 0265-931X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.01.006
Publication date: 04-2018
Peer reviewed: Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012: 105206 Meteorology
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Environmental Chemistry, Waste Management and Disposal, Pollution, Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Portal url: https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/e73ecf12-3b4d-4ac3-b3bb-e98cface3204

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