Iodine-129: Its Occurrence in Nature and Its Utility as a Tracer

Journal/Book: Reprinted from Science September 14 1962 Vol. 137 No. 3533 pages 851-853. 1962;

Abstract: Nuclear Science and Engineering Corporation P.O. Box 10901 Pittsburgh 36 Pennsylvania Abstract Natural production raten of the 16 million-year iodine-129 from spontaneous fission and from cosmic-ray reactions are estimated to contribute a steady-state concentration of more than 10-14 gram of I129 per gram of I127 to the hydrosphere the atmosphere and the biosphere. These concentrations are expected to be detectable by neutron-activation analysis in natural materials that concentrate iodine. Substantial additional contributions have been made by fission-produced I129 in fallout serving as an intrinsic tracer for natural iodine kinetics. Iodine-129 activation analysis has advantages as a tracer technique. . . .

Zurück | Weiter