Third Quarter 2008
INL Quarterly Site Environmental Report
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S.M. Stoller Corporation
Environmental Surveillance, Education and Research Program
ISSN NUMBER 1089-5469
STOLLER-ESER-118
Idaho National Laboratory Offsite Environmental
Surveillance Program Report:
Second Quarter
February 2009
Contributors:
Marilyn Case, Russ Mitchell
Program conducted for the U.S. Department of Energy, Idaho Operations Office
Under Contract DE-AC07-06ID14680
By the S. M. Stoller Corporation,
Environmental Surveillance, Education and Research Program
Douglas K. Halford, Program Manager
120 Technology Drive, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83402
www.stoller-eser.com
|
Most of the radionuclides detected in samples collected during the third quarter of 2008 could be directly linked with INL Site activities. One exception was Cesium-137 found in a mule deer sample collected on the INL Site. Levels of other detected radionuclides were no different than values measured at other locations across the United States or were consistent with levels measured historically at the INL Site. All detected radionuclide concentrations were well below guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and regulatory standards established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for protection of the public. |
This report for the third quarter of 2008 contains results from the Environmental Surveillance, Education and Research (ESER) Program’s monitoring of the Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Site’s offsite environment, July 1 through September 30, 2008. All sample types (media) and the sampling schedule followed during 2008 are listed in Appendix A. Specifically, this report contains the results for the following:
|
Media |
Sample Type |
Analysis |
Results |
|
Air |
Filters |
Gross alpha, gross beta |
A statistical difference was found between quarterly gross alpha concentrations but the Distant locations were higher than Boundary locations, not indicating an INL Site impact. There were no other statistical differences in gross alpha or gross beta quarterly or monthly data in the third quarter. A couple of statistical differences were noted in weekly results but these appeared to result from natural variability in the data. No result exceeded the DCG for gross alpha or gross beta activity in air. |
|
|
|
Gamma-emitting radionuclides, select actinides (241Am, 238Pu, and 239,240 Pu), 90Sr |
No manmade radionuclides were found in third quarter composites |
|
|
Charcoal Cartridge |
Iodine-131 |
No detections of 131I were made during the third quarter. |
|
Atmospheric Moisture |
Liquid |
Tritium |
A total of 21 samples were collected. Eleven of these samples had a tritium result greater than the 3s uncertainty. No sample result exceeded the DCG for tritium in air. |
|
Precipitation |
Liquid |
Tritium |
Three samples were collected. One of the results were greater than the 3s uncertainty. The concentration was consistent with those reported across the region and with previous results. |
|
Milk |
Liquid |
Iodine-131, gamma-emitting radionuclides |
Thirty-eight samples, including three duplicates, were collected. No Iodine-131 or other manmade gamma-emitting radionuclides were detected in any sample. |
|
Lettuce |
Solid |
Gamma-emitting radionuclides, 90Sr |
Eleven samples were collected, including one duplicate. No man-made gamma-emitting radionuclides were detected. Strontium-90 was detected in six samples at levels consistent with historical measurements and can be attributed to residual 90Sr from past nuclear weapons testing. |
|
Wheat |
Solid |
Gamma-emitting radionuclides, 90Sr |
Eight samples were collected, including one duplicate. No man-made radionuclides were detected in any sample. |
|
Game Animals |
Tissue |
Iodine-131, gamma emitting radionuclides |
Three animals were sampled. One mule deer had Cesium-137 in muscle tissues within the range of recent years. A second mule deer have Cesium-137 in the muscle and liver tissues at concentrations above the range of recent years. This deer may have ingested plants growing within soil contamination areas. A dose of 0.23 mrem was calculated for a person consuming the entire muscle and liver of this game animal. |
Third Quarter 2008
INL Quarterly Site Environmental Report
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