Athena Gallardo Office: SEB 1175 Mail code: 4009 Phone: (505) 410-3572 Fax: (702) 895-3094 Email: gallar14@unlv.nevada.edu

Biography Athena Gallardo is a 2nd year student in the UNLV Radiochemistry PhD Program. She received her Master of Science in Health Physics from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2013, and her Bachelor of Science in Health Physics from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2011. Research Quantification of Americium in Soil Cores from the Site of the BOMARC Accident The Boeing Michigan Aeronautical Research Center (BOMARC) operated as a nuclear missile defense site from 1958-1971. In June of 1960, a missile carrying a nuclear warhead was partially consumed by a fire, which resulted in the release of weapons grade plutonium (WGP). The WGP was scattered over a 7-acre area due to turbulent local atmospheric conditions and the water applied as part of the fire extinguishing measures. The WGP hot particles in the BOMARC soil exist in the form of high-fired PuO2. These

refractory particles consist of a matrix containing 239

Pu, 240

Pu and 241

Am. The americium is expected to be trapped in the refractory matrix together with the plutonium; however several studies have found the presence of

241Am outside of this matrix.

This research is part of a study that will aid in the investigation of the mechanisms that resulted in the migration of

241Am away from the refractory matrix. Soil samples from the

BOMARC missile incident will be examined using a planar thin window Canberra Broad Energy Germanium (BEGE) detector and analyzed using the Canberra Genie 2000 Spectroscopy software. The WGP matrix and surrounding soil will be analyzed using a sequential extraction procedure and radioanalytical separation methods. The results of this study can be used to model responses for future situations involving the accidental or intentional release of WGP. The isotopics of the WGP matrix can also be used to obtain information about the source material, to identify production processes and provide chronometric information.

Publications, Presentations and Awards Quantification of Americium in Soil Cores from the Site of the BOMARC Accident, 248

th

American Chemical Society National Meeting and Exposition, San Francisco, CA, August 2014 Quantification of Americium in Soil Cores from the Site of the BOMARC Accident, American Nuclear Society Student Conference 2014, State College, PA, April 2014 Investigation of Storage-phosphor Autoradiography for the Rapid Quantitative Screening of Air Filters for Emergency Response Purposes, 54

th Radiobioassay and Radiochemical

Measurements Conference, Rohnert Park, CA, October 2013