Measurement of Trace I-129 Concentrations in CsI Powder and Organic Liquid Scintillator with Accelerator Mass Spectrometry

Levels of trace radiopurity in active detector materials is a subject of major concern in low-background experiments. Procedures were devised to measure trace concentrations of I-129 in the inorganic salt CsI as well as in organic liquid scintillator with Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) which leads to improvement in sensitivities by several orders of magnitude over other methods. No evidence of their existence in these materials were observed. Limits of < 6 X 10^{-13} g/g and < 2.6 X 10^{-17} g/g on the contaminations of I-129 in CsI and liquid scintillator, respectively, were derived.These are the first results in a research program whose goals are to develop techniques to measure trace radioactivity in detector materials by AMS.Comment: Proceedings of 10th International Conference on Accelerator Mass Spectrometr

Natural iodine and iodine-129 in mammalian thyroids and environmental samples taken from locations in the United States

From symposium on enviromnental surveillance around nuclear installation; Warsaw, Poland (5 Nov 1973). Bovine and other mammalian thyroids, air, precipitation, water, grass, and milk samples from selected locations were analyzed for their natural iodine and iodine-129 content. Particle filters and activated charcoal beds were used to collect the particulate and gaseous iodine fractions from the air. Anion exchange was used for the separation of iodine from liquid samples. Cumbustion methods were used for iodine separation from solid samples, anlon exchange resins, and air filters. Iodine-129 and natural iodine concentrations were determined by neutron activation analysis with a detection limit of about 10/sup 8/ atoms of iodine-129 per sample. Analytical results of both /sup 129/I concentrations and ratios of atoms of /sup 129/I per atom of /sup 127/I for these samples are summarized. The small radiation doses to human thyroids projected from these low /sup 129/I concentrations are also discussed. (auth

The Politics of Abortion in France and the United States: A Case Study on the Laws, Legislation, Activism, and Advocacy that Determined Abortion Laws Today

Abortion is one of the most pertinent issues to women’s health and reproductive rights. This paper aims first to provide the historical and legal context for abortion laws in both France and the United States, examining each country separately to understand the legal progression of abortion rights since the nineteenth century. This paper will then discuss the activism and advocacy for abortion and women’s rights in each country from the nineteenth century on, demonstrating how this led to the passing of abortion rights legislation in each country. Lastly, this paper will focus on differences in politics, religion, women’s rights, and women’s health between the two countries to analyze how their perspectives differ and why abortion laws have become what they are today. Overall, this paper demonstrates that abortion is an essential right for women all over the world, and that through looking at these two countries it is clear why abortion must be free, safe, and legal rather than continuing to be restricted

Determination of plutonium isotopic composition at sub-picogram levels. [Measurement of Pu-239, -240, -241, and -242 by. cap alpha. and mass spectroscopy]

A method was developed for the determination of plutonium isotopic composition at the sub-picogram level. Investigations of mass spectral backgrounds and of means of concentrating and purifying sample plutonium were conducted. Isotopic measurements were made by alpha energy analysis and mass spectrometric analysis. A technique for evaluating mass spectral background with a plutonium spike enriched in the mass 239 isotope to 99.98 atom percent is described. A combined alpha energy-mass analysis procedure for the determination of isotopic composition on a single sample mount is reported. The data presented demonstrate that sources of environmentally occurring plutonium could be differentiated by isotopic composition analysis with the developed method even at sub-picogram levels