Resuspension of radionuclides

Non-volatile radionuclides transported as aerosols out of the containment are partly washed down during steam condensation in the annuli, as was already mentioned above. The temperatures of the sumps here are well below the boiling point, so that a noticeable resuspension of radionuclides by droplet carry-over is not to be assumed. However, a small resuspension of non-volatile radionuclides cannot be ruled out under these conditions, with the mechanism for this being the formation of small droplets by the action of the air flow. As was discussed in Section 6.2.2., experimental studies have yielded a very small carry-over of non-volatiles to the air flow. Due to the differences in the conditions, the results of these investigations cannot be directly applied to the release from sumps in the annuli or in the auxiliary building, but it can be assumed that the experimental values obtained in... 

Depending on the nature of the release, it may be advisable to set up ground based air samplers after a release has occurred to monitor for the presence of fallout and resuspended radionuclides. The resuspension of radionuclides does not usually give rise to an important pathway of exposure however, it can do so for plutonium or other actinides. 

Evaporation or airborne resuspension of radionuclides from the released... 

Garger EK, Hoffman FO, Miller CW. Model testing using Chernobyl data ni. Atmospheric resuspension of radionuclides in Ukranian regions impacted by Chernobyl fallout. Health Phys 1996 70 18-24. 

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