De Bortoli, M.

Gaglione, P.

Malvicini, A.

Van Der Stricht, E.

Archive of European Integration

by M. DE BORTOLI P. GAGLIONE A. MALVICINI E. VAN DER STRICHT 1963 'Γ7|*Τί Joint Nuclear Research Centre Ispra Establishment (Italy) Health Protection Service ! 1 hw. dwfcn^&xiáifriÊSvk Reprinted from SCIENCE Vol. 139, No. 3561 - 1963 4«if:i'· Smm KM Mli ï! 113 LEGAL NOTICE This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the Commission Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM). Neither the EURATOM Commission, its contractors nor any person acting on their behalf : Transi t[*rt*)i I o — Make any warranty or representation, express or implied, with respect to the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of the information contained in this documant, or tha t the use of any information, apparatus, method, or process disclosed in this document may not infringe privately owned rights ; or 2° — Assume any liability with respect to the use of, or for damages resulting from the use of any information, apparatus, method or process disclosed in this document. The authors ' names are listed in alphabetical order. liti* . m 7H!1ÎÎ i i!fti*pj!$!li This reprint is intended for restricted distribution only. It reproduces· by kind permission of the publisher, an article from „SCIENCE", Vol. 139, No. 3561 ­ 1963, 1287­1288. For further copies phase apply to National Publishing Co., 301 Ν Street N.E. — Washington 2, D.C., USA. •Jr-RiT^lfeiçSSHJ. «¿i- ¡>H#r¡fí ΙΑΟΠΝΙ "¡tø ■i'!:, ;■?':■;.'.■,'■>> WCiWsB · W ' i' Dieser Sonderdruck ist für eine beschränkte Verteilung bestimmt. Die Wiedergabe des vorliegenden in „SCIENCE", Vol. 139, Nr. 3561 ­1963, 1287­1288 erschienenen Aufsatzes erfolgt mit freundlicher Geneh­migung des Herausgebers. Bestellungen weiterer Exemplare sind an National Publishing Co., 301 Ν Street N.E. — Washington 2, D.C., USA, zu richten. Ce tiré­à­part est exclusivement destiné à une diffusion restreinte. Il reprend, avec l'aimable autorisation de l'éditeur, un article publié dans «SCIENCE», Vol. 139, N° 3561 ­ 1963, 1287­1288. Tout autre exem­plaire de cet article, doit être demandé à National Publishing Co., 301 Ν Street N.E. — Washington 2, D.C., USA. Questo estratto è destinato esclusivamente ad una diffusione limitata. Esso è stato riprodotto, per gentile concessione dell'Editore, da «SCIEN­CE », Voi. 139, N° 3561 ­ 1963, 1287­1288. Ulteriori copie dell'articolo debbono essere richieste a National Publishing Co., 301 Ν Street N.E. — Washington 2, D.C., USA. Deze overdruk is slechts voor beperkte verspreiding bestemd. Het artikel is met welwillende toestemming van de uitgever overgenomen uit „SCIENCE", Vol. 139, no. 3561 ­ 1963, 1287­1288. Meer exemplaren kunnen besteld worden bij National Publishing Co., 301 Ν Street N.E. — Washington 2, D.C., USA. KIS»«* 41 ' , tlttUfctii E U R 1 5 5 . e R E P R I N T YTTRIUM-88 ON HIGH-ACTIVITY-ZIRCONIUM-95 FALLOUT P A R T I -CLES by (in alphabetical order) M. D E BORTOLI , P . GAGLIONE, A. MAL-VICINI and E. VAN D E R STRICHT. European Atomic Energy Community - EURATOM Joint Nuclear Research Centre Ispra Establishment (Italy) Health Protection Service Reprinted from ,,Science", Vol. 139, No. 3561 - 1963, pages 1287-1288. Yt t r ium 88 has been identified, by gamma spectroscopy, in residues of grass samples gathered in the neighborhood of the Eura tom Research Center, Ispra, I taly. The yt tr ium-88 is associated with zirconium-95. E U R 1 5 5 . e R E P R I N T YTTRIUM-88 ON HIGH-ACTlVITY-ZIRCONIUM-95 FALLOUT P A R T I -CLES by (in alphabetical order) M. DE BORTOLI , P . GAGLIONE, A. MAL-VICINI and E. VAN D E R STRICHT. European Atomic Energy Community - EURATOM Joint Nuclear Research Centre Ispra Establishment (Italy) Health Protection Service Reprinted from „Science", Vol. 139, No. 3561 - 1963, pages 1287-1288. Yt t r ium 88 has been identified, by gamma spectroscopy, in residues of grass samples gathered in the neighborhood of the Eura tom Research Center, Ispra, I taly. The yttr ium-88 is associated with zirconium-9õ. E U R 1 5 5 . e R E P R I N T YTTRIUM-88 ON HIGH-ACTlVITY-ZIRCONIUM-95 FALLOUT PA RT I -CLES by (in alphabetical order) M. DE BORTOLI , P. GAGLIONE, A. MAL-VICINI and E. VAN D E R STRICHT. European Atomic Energy Community - EURATOM Joint Nuclear Research Centre Ispra Establishment (Italy) Health Protection Service Reprinted from „Science", Vol. 139, No. 3561 - 1963, pages 1287-1288. Yt t r ium 88 has been identified, by gamma spectroscopy, in residues of grass samples gathered in the neighborhood of the Eura tom Research Center, Ispra, I taly. The yttr ium-88 is associated with zirconium-95. Reprinted from Science, March 29, 1963, Vol. 139, No. 3561, pages 1287­1288 Copyright © 1963 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science Yttrium-88 on High-Activity Zirconium-95 Fallout Particles Abstract. Yttrium 88 lias been iden­tified, by samma spectroscopy, in resi­dues of grass samples gathered in the neighborhood of the Euratom Research Center, Ispra, Italy. The yttrium­88 is associated with zirconium­95. The gamma spectra of samples of grass from the neighborhood of the Eu­ratom Nuclear Center at Ispra showed a photopeak at 1.85 Mev. This peak was observed for the first time when samples were collected for examination during the last week of July and the first week of August 1962. Because this peak was associated with another at 0.90 Mev, the radiation could be attributed to yttrium­88. This hy­pothesis was fully confirmed when yt­trium (Y) was isolated by chemical methods. The activity accompanied the yttrium carrier during the various steps of the analysis, which included oxalate precip­itations of the rare earths and solvent extraction with tributyl phosphate. The spectrum, measured on 24 August 1962, of hay and the spectrum of the sepa­rated Y" are shown in Figs. 1 and 2 respectively. Because of the difficulties encoun­tered in dissolving the active compo­nent, we believed that the activity was concentrated on single particles, the bulk of which might be zirconium oxide. Fusion in mixtures of potassium and sodium carbonate were unsuccess­ful. The active component was dis­solved finally with hydrofluoric and ni­tric acid. Other samples were fractionated be­fore chemical treatment with the hope of isolating a single particle that con­tained all the activity. With the aid of the gamma spectrom­eter we separated such a residue, of which the dimensions were less than 0.1 by 0.5 mm, from each of the samples treated. Our work was greatly facili­tated by the presence of a combined activity of (ZrTO + Nb"r') which was 10 to 20 times greater than the usual Ys ' activity encountered. Figure 3 shows a spectrum obtained with a particle. Other gamma emitters commonly found in fission products are absent. On one occasion only, there was some activity at 0.14 Mev, prob­ably attributable to the isotopes cerium­141 and 144. The ratio of the activities of (Zrœ + Nb°') to Υω varies in the rather narrow range of (1 :10 to 1 :20). On 1 October the activity of the "hottest" particle was 2000 pc (ZrM + Nb""% whereas the oth­er particles all showed half this activity. Although we were not able to identify the particles by microscopy, we suc­ceeded in isolating an active fragment of inorganic material, the diameter of which did not exceed 10 μ. That local contamination is the source of Y1"" is not likely for several reasons. There is no experimental work on YH here, nor does any work at the Center result in production of Ym; none of the devices run for routine control of en­vironmental radioactivity (air monitors, pot samples for fallout and so forth) showed Yw activity: two samples taken at a distance of 75 km from here and in a direction where fallout of airborne 000 ¡ 800­i 603 L j 40C 2 0 0 Ce141. Ce*· \ .» \ / ι v. ._ ·~>-^ Y, Energy (M?;) Fig. 1. Spectrum of hay sample, 24 August 1962. 10 IS Energy (Mev) Fig. 2. Spectrum of YM, separated from hay. Zr"»Ntr contamination from work at the Center is highly improbable, were contami­nated with Y**. The high specific activity of these particles makes them of interest to the health physicist even if he does not know whether they originated in some new material incorporated in nuclear bombs or in an uncontrolled release from a nuclear establishment. A. MALVICINI, M. D E BORTOLI P. GAGLIONE, E. VAN DER STRICHT Service de Protection, Centre commun de recherche, Euratom, Ispra, Italy 30 November 1962 Fig. 3. Spectrum of a particle separated mechanically. rrr^ff* 

YTTRIUM-88 ON HIGH-ACTIVITY-ZIRCONIUM-95 FALLOUT PARTICLES. 155.e

by 
M. DE BORTOLI P. GAGLIONE 
A. MALVICINI E. VAN DER STRICHT 
1963 
'Γ7|*Τί 
Joint Nuclear Research Centre 
Ispra Establishment (Italy) 
Health Protection Service 
! 
1 hw. dwfcn^&xiáifriÊSvk 
Reprinted from 
SCIENCE 
Vol. 139, No. 3561 - 1963 
4«if:i'· 
Smm 
KM 
Mli 
ï! 113 
LEGAL NOTICE 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the Commission 
Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM). 
Neither the EURATOM Commission, its contractors nor any person acting on their behalf : 
Transi t[*rt*)i 
I o — Make any warranty or representation, express or implied, with respect to the accuracy, 
completeness, or usefulness of the information contained in this documant, or tha t the use 
of any information, apparatus, method, or process disclosed in this document may not 
infringe privately owned rights ; or 
2° — Assume any liability with respect to the use of, or for damages resulting from the use of 
any information, apparatus, method or process disclosed in this document. 
The authors ' names are listed in alphabetical order. 
liti* 
. 
m 
7H!1ÎÎ i 
i!fti*pj!$!li 
This reprint is intended for restricted distribution only. It reproduces· 
by kind permission of the publisher, an article from „SCIENCE", 
Vol. 139, No. 3561 ­ 1963, 1287­1288. For further copies phase apply 
to National Publishing Co., 301 Ν Street N.E. — Washington 2, D.C., 
USA. 
•Jr-RiT^lfeiçSSHJ. «¿i- ¡>H#r¡fí ΙΑΟΠΝΙ "¡tø 
■i'!:, ;■?':■;.'.■,'■>> WCiWsB · W ' i' 
Dieser Sonderdruck ist für eine beschränkte Verteilung bestimmt. Die 
Wiedergabe des vorliegenden in „SCIENCE", Vol. 139, Nr. 3561 ­
1963, 1287­1288 erschienenen Aufsatzes erfolgt mit freundlicher Geneh­
migung des Herausgebers. Bestellungen weiterer Exemplare sind an 
National Publishing Co., 301 Ν Street N.E. — Washington 2, D.C., 
USA, zu richten. 
Ce tiré­à­part est exclusivement destiné à une diffusion restreinte. Il 
reprend, avec l'aimable autorisation de l'éditeur, un article publié dans 
«SCIENCE», Vol. 139, N° 3561 ­ 1963, 1287­1288. Tout autre exem­
plaire de cet article, doit être demandé à National Publishing Co., 
301 Ν Street N.E. — Washington 2, D.C., USA. 
Questo estratto è destinato esclusivamente ad una diffusione limitata. 
Esso è stato riprodotto, per gentile concessione dell'Editore, da «SCIEN­
CE », Voi. 139, N° 3561 ­ 1963, 1287­1288. Ulteriori copie dell'articolo 
debbono essere richieste a National Publishing Co., 301 Ν Street N.E. 
— Washington 2, D.C., USA. 
Deze overdruk is slechts voor beperkte verspreiding bestemd. Het artikel 
is met welwillende toestemming van de uitgever overgenomen uit 
„SCIENCE", Vol. 139, no. 3561 ­ 1963, 1287­1288. Meer exemplaren 
kunnen besteld worden bij National Publishing Co., 301 Ν Street N.E. 
— Washington 2, D.C., USA. 
KIS»«* 
41 ' , tlttUfctii 
E U R 1 5 5 . e 
R E P R I N T 
YTTRIUM-88 ON HIGH-ACTIVITY-ZIRCONIUM-95 FALLOUT P A R T I -
CLES by (in alphabetical order) M. D E BORTOLI , P . GAGLIONE, A. MAL-
VICINI and E. VAN D E R STRICHT. 
European Atomic Energy Community - EURATOM 
Joint Nuclear Research Centre 
Ispra Establishment (Italy) 
Health Protection Service 
Reprinted from ,,Science", Vol. 139, No. 3561 - 1963, pages 1287-1288. 
Yt t r ium 88 has been identified, by gamma spectroscopy, in residues of grass 
samples gathered in the neighborhood of the Eura tom Research Center, Ispra, 
I taly. The yt tr ium-88 is associated with zirconium-95. 
E U R 1 5 5 . e 
R E P R I N T 
YTTRIUM-88 ON HIGH-ACTlVITY-ZIRCONIUM-95 FALLOUT P A R T I -
CLES by (in alphabetical order) M. DE BORTOLI , P . GAGLIONE, A. MAL-
VICINI and E. VAN D E R STRICHT. 
European Atomic Energy Community - EURATOM 
Joint Nuclear Research Centre 
Ispra Establishment (Italy) 
Health Protection Service 
Reprinted from „Science", Vol. 139, No. 3561 - 1963, pages 1287-1288. 
Yt t r ium 88 has been identified, by gamma spectroscopy, in residues of grass 
samples gathered in the neighborhood of the Eura tom Research Center, Ispra, 
I taly. The yttr ium-88 is associated with zirconium-9õ. 
E U R 1 5 5 . e 
R E P R I N T 
YTTRIUM-88 ON HIGH-ACTlVITY-ZIRCONIUM-95 FALLOUT PA RT I -
CLES by (in alphabetical order) M. DE BORTOLI , P. GAGLIONE, A. MAL-
VICINI and E. VAN D E R STRICHT. 
European Atomic Energy Community - EURATOM 
Joint Nuclear Research Centre 
Ispra Establishment (Italy) 
Health Protection Service 
Reprinted from „Science", Vol. 139, No. 3561 - 1963, pages 1287-1288. 
Yt t r ium 88 has been identified, by gamma spectroscopy, in residues of grass 
samples gathered in the neighborhood of the Eura tom Research Center, Ispra, 
I taly. The yttr ium-88 is associated with zirconium-95. 

Reprinted from Science, March 29, 1963, Vol. 139, No. 3561, pages 1287­1288 
Copyright © 1963 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science 
Yttrium-88 on High-Activity 
Zirconium-95 Fallout Particles 
Abstract. Yttrium 88 lias been iden­
tified, by samma spectroscopy, in resi­
dues of grass samples gathered in the 
neighborhood of the Euratom Research 
Center, Ispra, Italy. The yttrium­88 is 
associated with zirconium­95. 
The gamma spectra of samples of 
grass from the neighborhood of the Eu­
ratom Nuclear Center at Ispra showed 
a photopeak at 1.85 Mev. This peak 
was observed for the first time when 
samples were collected for examination 
during the last week of July and the 
first week of August 1962. 
Because this peak was associated with 
another at 0.90 Mev, the radiation could 
be attributed to yttrium­88. This hy­
pothesis was fully confirmed when yt­
trium (Y) was isolated by chemical 
methods. 
The activity accompanied the yttrium 
carrier during the various steps of the 
analysis, which included oxalate precip­
itations of the rare earths and solvent 
extraction with tributyl phosphate. The 
spectrum, measured on 24 August 1962, 
of hay and the spectrum of the sepa­
rated Y" are shown in Figs. 1 and 2 
respectively. 
Because of the difficulties encoun­
tered in dissolving the active compo­
nent, we believed that the activity was 
concentrated on single particles, the 
bulk of which might be zirconium 
oxide. Fusion in mixtures of potassium 
and sodium carbonate were unsuccess­
ful. The active component was dis­
solved finally with hydrofluoric and ni­
tric acid. 
Other samples were fractionated be­
fore chemical treatment with the hope 
of isolating a single particle that con­
tained all the activity. 
With the aid of the gamma spectrom­
eter we separated such a residue, of 
which the dimensions were less than 0.1 
by 0.5 mm, from each of the samples 
treated. Our work was greatly facili­
tated by the presence of a combined 
activity of (ZrTO + Nb"r') which was 10 
to 20 times greater than the usual Ys ' 
activity encountered. 
Figure 3 shows a spectrum obtained 
with a particle. Other gamma emitters 
commonly found in fission products are 
absent. On one occasion only, there 
was some activity at 0.14 Mev, prob­
ably attributable to the isotopes cerium­
141 and 144. 
The ratio of the activities of (Zrœ + 
Nb°') to Υω varies in the rather narrow 
range of (1 :10 to 1 :20). On 1 October 
the activity of the "hottest" particle was 
2000 pc (ZrM + Nb""% whereas the oth­
er particles all showed half this activity. 
Although we were not able to identify 
the particles by microscopy, we suc­
ceeded in isolating an active fragment 
of inorganic material, the diameter of 
which did not exceed 10 μ. 
That local contamination is the source 
of Y1"" is not likely for several reasons. 
There is no experimental work on YH 
here, nor does any work at the Center 
result in production of Ym; none of the 
devices run for routine control of en­
vironmental radioactivity (air monitors, 
pot samples for fallout and so forth) 
showed Yw activity: two samples taken 
at a distance of 75 km from here and in 
a direction where fallout of airborne 
000 
¡ 800­
i 603 
L 
j 40C 
2 0 0 
Ce141. Ce*· 
\ 
.» \ / ι v. ._ ·~>-^ Y, 
Energy (M?;) 
Fig. 1. Spectrum of hay sample, 24 August 
1962. 
10 IS 
Energy (Mev) 
Fig. 2. Spectrum of YM, separated from 
hay. 
Zr"»Ntr 
contamination from work at the Center 
is highly improbable, were contami­
nated with Y**. 
The high specific activity of these 
particles makes them of interest to the 
health physicist even if he does not 
know whether they originated in some 
new material incorporated in nuclear 
bombs or in an uncontrolled release 
from a nuclear establishment. 
A. MALVICINI, M. D E BORTOLI 
P. GAGLIONE, E. VAN DER STRICHT 
Service de Protection, 
Centre commun de recherche, 
Euratom, Ispra, Italy 
30 November 1962 
Fig. 3. Spectrum of a particle separated 
mechanically. 

rrr^ff* 



YTTRIUM-88 ON HIGH-ACTIVITY-ZIRCONIUM-95 FALLOUT PARTICLES. 155.e

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