My research interest is related to the measurement, distribution and transport of natural and man-made radionuclides in the environment and in humans. Additionally, we are interested in the applications of radioactive tracers to study the kinetics of chemical, physical and biological systems. Many of our research activities are performed around nuclear facilities operated by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). We are currently evaluating the distribution and environmental transport of radionuclide contamination at the Rocky Flats site. This work is coupled with a bioassay program designed to validate models that predict dose and risk to the general public. We are also investigating the relative role of wind and water erosion and vertical migration on plutonium transport at several DOE sites. This information will be used to develop site-specific models for the estimation of human and ecological risks associated with plutonium and other transuranic contaminants. Graduate students from our M.S. and Ph.D. program are actively involved in the ongoing research projects.

Selected Publications:

Stephens, J. A., F. W. Whicker and S.A. Ibrahim. Sorption of Cs and Sr in sediment of a Savannah River Site Reservoir. J. Environmental Radioactivity 38(3):293-315, 1998.

Ibrahim, S.A., S. W. Webb and F. W. Whicker. Contribution of Rocky Flats releases to the total plutonium in regional soils. Health Physics J. 72(l):42-48, 1997.

Webb, S.B., S.A. Ibrahim and F. W. Whicker.. A three-dimensional spatial model of plutonium in soil near Rocky Flats, Colorado. Health Physics J. 73(2):340-349, 1997.

Ibrahim, S.A., M. J. Schierman and F. W. Whicker. Comparative distribution of 241Am and 239,249Pu in soils around the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site. Health Physics J., Vol. 70(4):520-526, 1996.

Litaor, M. I. and S.A. Ibrahim. Plutonium association with selected solid phases in soils of Rocky Flats, Colorado using sequential extraction techniques. J. of Environmental Quality 25:1144-1152,1996.

Ibrahim, S. A., M. J. Schierman, S. E. Hulse and F. W. Whicker. A gamma monitoring technique for estimating plutonium contamination around nuclear weapons facilities. J. Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 197(l):115-131, 1995.

Ibrahim, S. A., S. B. Webb and A. Kattel. Sources of misinterpretation for environmental plutonium measurements. J. Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 194(l):213-219, 1995.

Peters, E. L., S. A. Ibrahim, C. R. Tracy, F. W. Whicker and K. A. Nagy. Estimation of the metabolic rate of the desert iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis) using a radionuclide technique. Physiological Zoology, Vol. 68(2):316-341, 1995.

Thomas, R. S. and S. A. Ibrahim. Plutonium concentrations in lichens of Rocky Flats environs. Health Physics J., 68(3):311-319, 1995.

Ibrahim, S. A., S. B. Webb and F. W. Whicker. A semi-automated approach for processing and extracting low-level plutonium from soil. J. Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry: 177(1)127- 138,1994.

Hinton, T., P. Kopp, S. Ibrahim, 1. Bubryak, A. Syomov and L. Tobler. Contaminated soil on Chernobyl vegetation. Proceedings of the Twenty-Sixth Midyear Topical Meeting of the Health Physics Society, pp. 407-421. January 24-28, 1993. Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

Hinton, T., F. W. Whicker, J. E. Pinder, III and S. A. Ibrahim. Comparative kinetics of 47 Ca, '5Sr and 22"Ra in the fresh water turtle, Trachemys scripta. J. Environmental Radioactivity, 16:25-47,1992.

Ibrahim, S. A. and F. W. Whicker. Comparative plant uptake and environmental behavior of U- series radionuclides at a uranium mine-mill. J. Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 156(2)253-267,1992.

Ibrahim, S. A., F. W. Whicker and S. L. Simon. round distribution patterns of selected radioactive, chemical and physical contaminants from dispersion of U mill tailings. Health Physics, 58(3):321-328, 1990.

Simon, S. L. and S. A. Ibrahim. Biological uptake of radium by terrestrial plants. In: The Environmental Behaviour of Radium, pp. 545-599, Vol. 1. Technical Report Series No. 310. International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, 1990.

Contact Info:

Telephone: (970) 491-1593

FAX: (970) 491-0623

Email Address: sibrahim@cvmbs.colostate.edu

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