Summary and Conclusions
Tritium was not detected in any precipitation sample collected during
the second quarter. Tritium and gross alpha activity were not detected
in any surface water sample collected during the second quarter. Gross
beta activity was detected in three of five surface water samples
collected. However, levels were below the DOE DCG and federal drinking
water screening level No game animal tissues were collected during the second quarter. Sheep were collected from two INEEL grazing allotments and one control station (Dubois). Cesium-137 was detected in three samples from three different sheep: one liver sample and two muscle samples collected from the grazing allotments. All concentrations of 137Cs were similar to those found in both onsite and offsite sheep samples during recent years. Iodine-131 was not detected in any thyroid samples collected. Exposure rates, as measured using TLDs from November through May, indicate no statistical difference between Boundary and Distant locations. Furthermore, all values are consistent with past readings.
In conclusion, no radionuclides in any of the samples taken during the
second quarter of 2002 could be directly linked with INEEL activities.
Concentrations in all of the samples collected and analyzed during the
second quarter, 2002 were similar to levels measured in the past in the
INEEL environment or in other locations in the United States and were
well below regulatory standards for public health. |
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There were no statistical differences between
gross alpha or gross beta concentrations in air between INEEL, Boundary
and Distant locations. Levels of specific radionuclides detected in
composited air filters (239,240Pu and 241Am) and
in atmospheric moisture samples (tritium) were well below regulatory
guidelines set by both the DOE and the EPA for protection of the public
and were not different from values measured historically at other
locations across the United States.