Characteristics of the chemical forms of 11C, 13N, and 15O induced in air by the operation of a 100 MeV electron linear accelerator.

To characterize airborne radioactivity induced by the operation of high-energy accelerators, the fractions of aerosol and gaseous components, and the chemical forms of 11C, 13N, and 15O produced in the air of a target room of a 100 MeV electron linear accelerator were studied. Measurements of radioactivity using a particulate air sampling filter and a gas flow-through ionization chamber showed that more than 98% of 11C, 13N, and 15O were present as gaseous forms. Their chemical forms, detected by means of radio-gas chromatography, were 11C as CO2; 13N as N2 and NO; and 15O as O2 and NO. Machine operating conditions, which affect the compositions of the induced radionuclides and of their chemical forms, and the resulting effect on the estimation of internal doses are discussed.