Aerosols: unexpected disequilibrium phenomena between airborne radio activities of lead-210 and its progenies bismuth-210 and polonium-210.

For the first time, concentrations of the long lived radon progenies (210)Pb, (210)Bi and (210)Po were measured in the mine atmosphere of the so called "healing gallery" in Badgastein, Austria, a region famous for its radioactive springs. These investigations were performed in order to study the radioactive equilibrium between the (210)Pb-(210)Bi and the (210)Pb-(210)Po pairs so as to gain more information about the aerosol-forming processes in the mine. The particle size distribution of the aerosols was determined under different ventilation conditions.

Reinvestigation of airborne 210Pb, 137Cs and 207Bi in Vienna (Austria) after atmospheric nuclear weapons tests.

Reconstruction of atmospheric 210Pb and 137Cs activity concentrations occurring in Vienna immediately after the atmospheric nuclear weapons tests shall answer the question, whether artificial 210Pb has been produced by fusion devices using lead materials. If so, 207Bi also can be expected. In 1962, weekly average values for 210Pb were between 0.

[Actual measurements following the Chernobyl reactor accident].

The principles of radiation protection for the population in Austria as applied in context with the catastrophic releases of radioactivity from the Chernobyl nuclear power reactor are presented. The main results of the first air filter analyses, which allowed an identification of the problem are discussed. The following measurements show, that after radioactive decay of Iodine-131, the main route for intake of Cäsium-137 will be ingestion with the foodstuffs over a longer period.