Upgrade of Gamma Spectrometry Facility at the Environmental Isotope Geochemistry Laboratory of the University of Illinois at Chicago

伊利诺伊大学芝加哥分校环境同位素地球化学实验室伽马能谱测量设施升级

• 批准号: 0949404
• 负责人: Neil Sturchio
• 金额: $ 8.96万
• 依托单位: University of Illinois at Chicago
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-01-01 至 2012-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0949404&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Upgrade; Gamma; Spectrometry; Facility; Environmental

This award will enhance the capability for measurements of short-lived naturally-occurring and anthropogenic radionuclides in environmental materials and their scientific applications in a variety of research projects. Radionuclides of particular interest include members of the 238-U and 232-Th decay series, cosmogenic radionuclides such as 7-Be, and nuclear-weapons fallout radionuclides such as 137-Cs. Precise measurements of these radionuclides at environmental levels are useful in tracing reactions and kinetics of mass transport in geochemical systems. Emphasis will be given to ongoing projects involving multidisciplinary investigations of soil responses to climate change, the behavior of halogenated organic compounds in lake and river sediments, and the behavior of radionuclides in aerosols, soils, and aquifers. In addition, new research areas will be explored in which novel applications of short-lived radionuclides in earth and environmental sciences will be developed by a multidisciplinary team of researchers.Few universities in the United States have the capability for training in the precise measurement of environmental radioactivity and its applications in basic research in the earth and environmental sciences. The University of Illinois at Chicago provides this opportunity to one of the most diverse student populations in the nation. Interdisciplinary education and training in environmental radioactivity is valuable not only for basic research by which to better understand our world, but also it is increasingly pertinent to global energy needs and human sustainability. Basic research in nuclear power, a clean and cost-effective energy source, is being revived as part of the nation's strategy for energy independence and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Advances in the technologies of energy extraction, nuclear waste minimization and remediation, and long-term monitored storage will require a new workforce who can apply fundamental knowledge of radioactivity to solve urgent problems in the protection of environmental quality and realistic evaluations of public health risks.

该奖项将加强对环境材料中自然产生和人为产生的短寿命放射性核素的测量能力及其在各种研究项目中的科学应用。特别令人感兴趣的放射性核素包括238-U和232-Th衰变系列的成员，宇宙产生的放射性核素，如7-Be，以及核武器沉降放射性核素，如137-Cs。在环境水平上对这些放射性核素进行精确测量，有助于在地球化学系统中追踪反应和质量传递动力学。重点将放在正在进行的项目，涉及土壤对气候变化的反应、湖泊和河流沉积物中卤化有机化合物的行为以及气溶胶、土壤和含水层中放射性核素的行为等多学科调查。此外，将探索新的研究领域，其中一个多学科研究小组将开发短寿命放射性核素在地球和环境科学中的新应用。美国很少有大学有能力进行环境放射性的精确测量及其在地球和环境科学基础研究中的应用方面的培训。伊利诺伊大学芝加哥分校为全国最多样化的学生群体之一提供了这样的机会。环境放射性的跨学科教育和培训不仅对基础研究很有价值，可以更好地了解我们的世界，而且与全球能源需求和人类可持续发展也越来越相关。作为国家能源独立和减少温室气体排放战略的一部分，核能这一清洁且成本低廉的能源的基础研究正在恢复。能源开采、核废料最小化和补救以及长期监测储存技术的进步将需要新的工作人员，他们能够运用放射性的基本知识来解决保护环境质量和对公共健康风险进行现实评价方面的紧迫问题。