- Lichen Radionuclide Baseline Research
L.
Griffeth1, J. Kelley1, D. Dasher2, and S. Read2. (1) University
of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, USA. (2) Department
of Environmental Conservation, Fairbanks, Alaska 99709, USA. http://www.ims.uaf.edu/NEWNET/
Abstract: Nuclear accidents
leading to the release of radioactivity into the atmosphere may
have adverse effects on the environment due to atmospheric fallout.
Within Alaska, such an occurrence would effect many communities
and villages that maintain a subsistence lifestyle. Lichen has
a high absorbance capacity for radionuclides, which varies depending
on the species of lichen (Hanson 1968). As a major source of food
for caribou during the winter months, radionuclides contained
in the lichen transfer to the caribou and concentrate within their
tissue. As a subsistence food, many communities and villages depend
on caribou meat for nutrition and other subsistence uses. Consumption
of caribou concentrates radionuclides in human tissue. Since humans
are primarily at the top of the food chain, the concentrated radionuclides
remain within their tissue until it completes the cycle of its
decaying process.
Download: pdf
(450 KB),
- Neighborhood Environmental Watch Network
W.
Splain Undergraduate Student, NEWNET Program, University of Alaska
Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA.
Abstract : The Neighborhood Environmental Watch
Network (NEWNET) project extends as far north as Alaska. There
are five NEWNET monitoring stations located throughout Alaska,
including one located on the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF)
Campus. At UAF, many students have been learning about the NEWNET
project, in particular, a group of students that form a local
college chapter of the national organization called the American
Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES). Formed in 1976
by a group of American Indian scientist and engineers, the National
AISES organization is a private, non-profit organization, which
nurtures building of community by bridging science and technology
with traditional native values. NEWNET is one of the many projects
that the nationally recognized UAF chapter of AISES is involved
in. The student involvement in the NEWNET project extends to the
communities surrounding the stations as well. Some of the stations
utilize volunteer station managers that live in the area that
the data is gathered. These station managers are trained in the
operation of the station components and can perform basic maintenance
procedures and act as a liaison to each community.
Download: pdf
(206 KB), ppt (268 KB)
- NEWNET at the Univeristy of Alaska Fairbanks
A.
Orr1, L. Griffeth1, W. Splain1, J. Kelley1,V. Sonwalkar1, S. Read2,
and D. Dasher2. (1) University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks,
Alaska 99775, USA. (2) Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation,
Fairbanks, Alaska 99709, USA. http://www.ims.uaf.edu/NEWNET
Abstract: Arctic areas of Alaska are especially vulnerable to
nuclear accidents releasing radioactivity into the atmosphere
within the circumpolar north. Atmospheric fallout and the resultant
bioconcentration in the lichen-caribou-human food chain are of
great concern for those living a subsistence lifestyle. A project,
Neighborhood Environmental Watch Network (NEWNET), was initiated
to provide an opportunity for Alaska Native undergraduate college
students to participate in environmental monitoring, research,
and communication of the results through the American Indian Science
and Engineering Society (AISES) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Download: pdf
(459 KB), ppt (5.8 MB)
- Radiation in the Environment
Griffeth,
L.1, Orr, A.1, Splain, W.1, Kelley, J.1, Dasher, D.2, Read, S.2
(1) Institute of Marine Science, University of Alaska Fairbanks,
Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, (2) Department of Environmental Conservation,
Fairbanks, Alaska. http://www.ims.uaf.edu/NEWNET/
Abstract: RADIATION. For many, the word conjures
up frightening images, such as Chernobyl, Hiroshima, and deadly
cancers. In reality, radiation surrounds us and most forms do
not cause us harm. It is in the foods we eat and the air we breathe.
We touch it, play with it, use it. On warm sunny days, we bask
in it. It has the potential to destroy lives but it is also used
to save lives. What is Radiation, really?
Download: pdf
(202 KB), ppt (2.2
MB)
- Status of Transboundary Radiation Monitoring in Alaska
L.
Griffeth1, J. Kelley1, D. Dasher2, and S. Read2. (1) University
of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, USA. (2) Department
of Environmental Conservation, Fairbanks, Alaska 99709, USA. http://www.ims.uaf.edu/NEWNET/
Abstract: Nuclear accidents
leading to the release of radioactivity into the atmosphere may
have adverse effects on the environment due to atmospheric fallout.
Within Alaska, such an occurrence would effect many communities
and villages that maintain a subsistence lifestyle. Lichen has
a high absorbance capacity for radionuclides, which varies depending
on the species of lichen (Hanson 1968). As a major source of food
for caribou during the winter months, radionuclides contained
in the lichen transfer to the caribou and concentrate within their
tissue. As a subsistence food, many communities and villages depend
on caribou meat for nutrition and other subsistence uses. Consumption
of caribou concentrates radionuclides in human tissue. Since humans
are primarily at the top of the food chain, the concentrated radionuclides
remain within their tissue until it completes the cycle of its
decaying process.
Download: pdf
(434 KB), ppt (3.6
MB)
- ORION at the Univeristy of Alaska Fairbanks
M. Cysewski1, R. David1, J. Nakai1, A. Orr1, L. Griffeth1, W. Splain1, J. Kelley1,V. Sonwalkar1, S. Read2, and D. Dasher2. (1) University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, USA. (2) Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Fairbanks, Alaska 99709, USA. http://www.ims.uaf.edu/NEWNET
Abstract: Arctic areas of Alaska are especially vulnerable to nuclear accidents. Atmospheric fallout and the resultant bioconcentration in the lichen-caribou-human food chain are of great concern for those living a subsistence lifestyle. Observing Radiation In Our North (ORION) was initiated to provide an opportunity for Alaska Native undergraduate college students to participate in environmental monitoring, research, and communication of the results through the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Download: pdf (313 KB), ppt (7.9 MB)
- Radionuclides and Contaminants in Arctic and Subarctic Regions
M. Cysewski, R. David, J. Nakai, L. Griffeth, J. Kelley, S. Read, and D. Dasher. University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, USA. http://www.ims.uaf.edu/orion
Abstract: Alaska shares a common global atmosphere and ocean. Alaska Natives who are dependent upon subsistence foods are now concerned that their food may contain contaminants, such as radionuclides, as a result of past nuclear testing and nuclear waste. ORION (Observing Radiation In Our North) was initiated by the U.S. Department of Energy to monitor radioactivity in the atmosphere at several locations in Alaska. ORION also provides Alaska Native college students an opportunity to engage in environmental monitoring and public outreach.
Download: pdf (163 KB), ppt (6.1 MB)
Presentations:
- NEWNET Ionizing Radiation Source Analysis
Griffeth,
L. and Sonwalkar, V. Institute of Marine Science, University of
Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775. http://www.ims.uaf.edu/NEWNET/
Abstract: Data products include fifteen-minute averages throughout
the day as well as more frequent intervals (5 seconds). The latter
are screened for anomalous values, which may reflect high radiation
from natural events. The project introduces AISES students to
modern techniques of computer-assisted data processing useful
in other areas of research interests. Data are currently compared
to long and short wave X-rays.
Download: pdf
(217 KB), ppt
(2.7 MB)
- Lichen Radionuclide Baseline Research
Griffeth, L. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, USA.
Abstract: Nuclear accidents leading to the release
of radioactivity into the atmosphere may have adverse effects
on the environment due to atmospheric fallout. Within Alaska,
such an occurrence would affect many communities and villages
that maintain a subsistence lifestyle. Baseline radionuclide concentrations,
particularly 137cesium and 235uranium, were measured in lichen
and soil samples collected throughout arctic and subarctic Alaska.
For both radionuclides, preliminary results showed an increase
in activity with an increase in latitude. Lichen samples generally
had higher activity for both 137cesium and 235uranium than the
soil samples. 235Uranium activity generally increased to the west,
with the Bethel samples having the highest activity. These are
preliminary results.
Download: ppt
(14 MB)
- Neighborhood Environmental Watch Network at the University of
Alaska Fairbanks, 2000
Orr,
A. Institute of Marine Science, University of Alaska Fairbanks,
Fairbanks, Alaska 99775. http://www.ims.uaf.edu/NEWNET/
Abstract: Arctic areas of Alaska are especially
vulnerable to nuclear accidents releasing radioactivity into the
atmosphere within the circumpolar north. Atmospheric fallout and
the resultant bioconcentration in the lichen-caribou-human food
chain are of great concern for those living a subsistence lifestyle.
A project, Neighborhood Environmental Watch Network (NEWNET),
was initiated to provide an opportunity for Alaska Native undergraduate
college students to participate in environmental monitoring, research,
and communication of the results through the American Indian Science
and Engineering Society (AISES) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Download: pdf
(124 KB)
- Neighborhood Environmental Watch Network at the University of
Alaska Fairbanks, 2001
Orr,
A. and Griffeth, L. Institute of Marine Science, University of
Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775. http://www.ims.uaf.edu/NEWNET/
Abstract: Arctic areas of Alaska are especially
vulnerable to nuclear accidents releasing radioactivity into the
atmosphere within the circumpolar north. Atmospheric fallout and
the resultant bioconcentration in the lichen-caribou-human food
chain are of great concern for those living a subsistence lifestyle.
A project, Neighborhood Environmental Watch Network (NEWNET),
was initiated to provide an opportunity for Alaska Native undergraduate
college students to participate in environmental monitoring, research,
and communication of the results through the American Indian Science
and Engineering Society (AISES) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Download: pdf
(2.9 MB)
- NEWNET at the University of Alaska Fairbanks
Splain, W. University of
Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, USA. http://www.ims.uaf.edu/NEWNET.
Download: pdf
(2.4 MB)
- Radioactivity: Past and Present Contamination
S.
Read1 and L. Griffeth2. (1) Alaska Department of Environmental
Conservation, Fairbanks, Alaska 99709, USA. (2) University of
Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, USA. http://www.ims.uaf.edu/NEWNET.
Download: pdf
(2.9 MB), ppt
(18.6 MB)
- Evidence of Climate Change in Glacier Ice and Sea Ice
J. Kelley. Institute of Marine Science, University of
Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, USA. http://www.ims.uaf.edu/NEWNET.
Download: pdf
(1.8 MB), ppt
(2.0 MB)