Composition of Radioactive and Nonradioactive Elements in Samples of Atmospheric Aerosols and Near-Earth Surface Precipitation

Abstract

Highly sensitive determination is performed of the content and composition of radioactive and nonradioactive elements in atmospheric aerosols and precipitation deposited in special analytical filtering materials near the Earth’s surface. The composition of nonradioactive elements in the samples is determined via neutron activation analysis. The samples are irradiated by neutrons using the IN-LUE photoneutron source based on the linear electron accelerator at the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute for Nuclear Research. Sample activities are measured using a low-background gamma spectrometer. Time dependences are obtained for the activities of U and Th series, Be-7, and K-40 in near-Earth surface layers. The composition of nonradioactive atmospheric aerosols and precipitation is studied. The suitability of different filtering materials for neutron activation analysis is considered.