Moessbauer Study of Iron-Containing Atmospheric Aerosol Collected During the Chernobyl Accident

摘要

During the Chernobyl accident a large quantity of radionuclides was released into the troposphere and contaminated a wide geographical area. The present study concentrates on atmospheric iron. The Moessbauer measurements were performed on the atmospheric aerosol collected during the accident on 27―30 April 1986 in Warsaw and in Legnica, Poland. Results were compared with the data obtained for samples collected at the same sites just before the accident. The observed increase in iron concentration determined by Moessbauer effect could be explained by the enrichment of natural iron in ~(57)Fe isotope in ~(56)Fe(n, γ)~(57)Fe reaction.