Environmental radioactivity g) to that of the soil water (Bq ml). If the radioactivity is tightly bonded to by the minerals in the soil then less radioactivity can be absorbed by crops and grass growing in the soil. One dramatic source of man-made radioactivity is a nuclear weapons test. The glassy trinitite formed by the first atom bomb contains radioisotopes formed by neutron activation and nuclear fission. In addition some natural radioisotopes are present. A recent paper reports the levels of long-lived radioisotopes in the trinitite. The trinitite was formed from feldspar and quartz which were melted by the heat. Two samples
Radioactivity Fixatives Radioactivity Fixatives Radioactivity or radionuclide fixatives are specialized polymer coatings used to “fix” radioactive isotopes or radioactive material to surfaces. These fixatives, also known as permanent coatings in the radioactive contamination control field, have been used for many decades in facilities processing radioactive material to control radioactive contamination. There has been increased interest in these fixatives or coatings recently due to the growing concern of contamination from a radioactivity dispersal device (RDD also known as a dirty bomb) and because radioactivity fixatives in use today lose the ability to contain the radioactivity to the surface during a fire. Radioactivity fixatives