What was the extent of soil contamination in the 903 Area?
Scientists estimated that each barrel contained about 0.2 to 2 grams (approximately 0.007 to 0.07 ounces) of plutonium and that between 20 and 200 grams (or 1.4 and 15 Ci) of plutonium had leaked onto the soil. An estimated 261,000 square feet of soil in the 903 Area were contaminated during the leakage, based on analysis of photographs, interviews and records from the period. The highest plutonium concentrations were in the top inch of soil. How did winds move the plutonium particles in the environment? High winds caused suspension of particles in the air. After these particles settled onto the ground some distance away, they were sometimes picked up (“resuspended”) and carried farther away by later windstorms. When present, vegetation, rain and snow reduced the amounts of blowing dust. The researchers located wind speed and direction information from the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (both in Boulder, Colorado)
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- What was the extent of soil contamination in the 903 Area?
