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|  Radiological Safety Training for Plutonium Facilities
DOEHDBK11452001
Instructor's Guide
IV. External and Internal Hazards
A. External exposure hazards
Obj. 4
Identify the radiological
1. Alpha radiation
hazards of plutonium.
Alpha radiation is not an external dose concern
because it will not penetrate the dead layer of
skin. Alpha radiation is primarily a concern if it
is introduced inside the body.
2. Gamma and x-ray radiation
Show OT 15.
All plutonium nuclides emit large quantities of
17-20 keV
low-energy x-rays, and the "in growth" of
Am-241 emits higher-energy gamma rays.
60 keV
These contribute to external exposure and
especially extremity exposure.
3. Neutron radiation
Show OT 16.
Several plutonium nuclides emit neutron
radiation through spontaneous fission
(notably from Pu-238, Pu-240, and Pu-242).
The rate at which these neutrons are
emitted is different with different nuclides of
the plutonium.
Neutron radiation is also produced by an
Define an alpha-neutron
alpha-neutron reaction. When alpha
reaction
particles interact with the nucleus of an atom
of a lighter element (such as beryllium or
lithium), the nucleus is left in an excited
state. To return to the ground state, the
atom emits a neutron with an energy of
about 2.5 MeV.
An alpha particle emitted by a plutonium
Show OT 17.
atom may penetrate the nucleus of a fluorine
atom in the compound PuF4. The excited
PuO2 is the most common
nucleus decays by emitting a neutron. The
chemical compound of Pu.
PuF4 is an intermediate
neutron yield and energy of the alpha-
compound in the fuel cycle.
neutron reaction are dependent on the alpha
energy and the material.
10
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