Radionuclides Detected by Gamma Spectroscopy
(Gamma Scan)
One of the several forms of radiation is gamma radiation. Gamma radiation is emitted by many
radionuclides. Gamma spectroscopy, sometimes called a gamma scan, is used in the environmental
surveillance program to detect the presence of the radionuclides shown in Table F.1. These radionuclides may
be natural or result from Hanford activities. They include activation products formed by the absorption of a
neutron by a stable element and fission products that occur following fission (splitting) of nuclear fuel
radionuclides like plutonium-239 or uranium-235. These radionuclides may not be discussed in the main
body of this report if they are below detection levels.
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