5.3  Lettuce Sampling

Nine lettuce samples were collected from private gardens and analyzed for gamma emitting radionuclides and ⁹⁰Sr.  Cesium-137 was the only gamma emitting radionuclide detected in any of the samples.  The sample from Arco had measurable ¹³⁷Cs at a level of 624.0 ± 500.8 pCi/kg (dry) (23.1 ± 18.5 Bq/kg [dry]).  Strontium-90 was detected in three samples, those from Carey, Firth, and Idaho Falls.  The Firth sample contained the highest level of ⁹⁰Sr at 160.0 ± 110.0 pCi/kg (dry) (5.92 ± 4.07 Bq/kg [dry]). The ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs concentrations fell within the range of values measured over the past 10 years and can be attributed to fallout from past weapons testing and from the Chernobyl accident.

Data for ¹³⁷Cs in all lettuce samples taken during the third quarter are listed in Table C-9 and ⁹⁰Sr data for all lettuce samples are listed in Table C-10 (Appendix C).