Transportation of matter and radioactivity by ionized air corrosion…

Abstract

Several phenomena, essentially of chemical nature, which can cause a transportation of matter and radioactivity often occur in the handling of radioactive materials. The problem of confining radioactivity is a practical one and is of itself a concern. But in addition, the measurements of mass and radioactivity are basic data in many scientific experiments and a transportation of matter and radioactivity can give rise to baffling or spurious experimental results. It seems desirable to give wide notice to the phenomena for two reasons: first, since they occur most readily when large quantities of radioactivity are involved, close observation may be difficult or precluded; second, since many of the workers handling solid radioactive materials are engaged in physical experimentation rather than chemical, they might be led to an extensive and lengthy course of investigation before the proper explanation was discovered.