Radioisotopes (radionuclides) are unstable isotopes of specific elements that emit radioactivity. Alpha particles (symbol a) are a type of ionizing radiation ejected by the nuclei of some unstable atoms. These particles are essentially a helium nucleus having two protons and two neutrons. Most alpha emitters occur naturally in the environment. For example, the decay of naturally occurring uranium and thorium include many radioactive daughters that decay via alpha emission. Radionuclides are present in varying amounts in nearly all rocks, soils, and water. Human activity can also release radioactive substances into the environment. The radionuclides sampled for in this project are as follows: Gross Beta Dissolved as Cs-137, Alpha Radioactivity Water Dissolved as Th-230, Radium 226 Dissolved as Radon Method, Alpha Radioactivity 2 Sigma Precision Est as Th-230, Beta Radioactivity 2 Sigma Precision Est as Cs-137, and Radium 226 2 Sigma Precision Est Water Dissolved. The unit of measurement is picocuries per liter, pCi/L. This update (2013) includes the data from the completed second sampling cycle of all 150 wells which comprise the redesigned NJAGWQMN.
NJDEP, NJGWS (2020). Ambient-Radionuclides of New Jersey [New Jersey]. . https://gisdata-njdep.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/njdep::ambient-radionuclides-of-new-jersey (web service)