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Another potential pathway for contaminants to reach humans is
through the food chain. The ESER Program samples multiple agricultural products
and game animals from around the INEEL and Southeast Idaho. Specifically, milk,
wheat, potatoes, garden lettuce, sheep, big game, waterfowl, and marmots are
sampled. Milk is sampled throughout the year. Sheep are sampled during the
second quarter. Lettuce and wheat are sampled during the third quarter, while
potatoes and waterfowl are collected during the fourth quarter. See
Table A-1, Appendix A, for
more details on agricultural product and wildlife sampling. This section
discusses results from milk, and large game sampled during the second quarter of
2004.
MILK SAMPLING
| Milk samples were collected weekly
in Idaho Falls and monthly at eight other locations around the INEEL (Figure
12) during the second quarter of 2004. All samples were analyzed for gamma
emitting radionuclides. Samples are analyzed for 90Sr and tritium during the
second and fourth quarters. Iodine-131 (131I) and 137Cs
were not detected in any milk sample during the second quarter. Data for
131I and 137Cs in milk samples are listed in
Appendix C, Table C-8.
Strontium-90 was measured above the 3s uncertainty level in one of five
samples analyzed. Strontium-90 is related to uptake through the food chain
of historical weapons derived fallout. The maximum level of 90Sr
in milk measured in the Idaho Falls sample collected on May 4 was below the EPA MCL of 8 pCi/L (0.30 Bq/L) and the DOE DCG of 1000
pCi/L. Data for 90Sr in milk samples are listed in
Appendix C, Table C-8.
Tritium was not detected in any milk sample analyzed. |
 |
|
Figure 12. ESER Program milk sampling
locations.
|
SHEEP SAMPLING
Certain areas of the INEEL are open to
grazing under lease agreements managed by the Bureau of Land Management (Figure
13). Every year ESER Program personnel collect samples of sheep that have grazed
on these leased areas, either just before or shortly after the sheep leave the
INEEL. This occurs during the second quarter of the year. For the calendar year
2004, sheep were collected from the selected INEEL allotments before they were
moved off site. Three flocks were sampled, including a control flock in Dubois
from the Experimental Sheep Station, a flock from a southern INEEL allotment,
and a flock from a northern INEEL allotment. Two sheep were taken from each
flock for tissue analysis. Thyroid, muscle, and liver tissue were collected and
analyzed for gamma emitting radionuclides.
Figure 13. Grazing and land ownership on
and around the INEEL.
Levels of 131I are of particular
interest in thyroids because of this organ's ability to accumulate iodine. No
131I was found in thyroids from any of the animals.
Analysis for 137Cs showed results
greater than the 3s analytical uncertainty in three samples (one muscle and two
liver) from two different sheep. Both animals were collected from the Southern
allotment. All concentrations of 137Cs were similar to those found in
both onsite and offsite sheep samples during recent years. Data for all sheep
samples are listed in Appendix C,
Table C-9.
LARGE GAME ANIMAL SAMPLING
Three large game animals were sampled during
the second quarter of 2004. A single pronghorn and two mule deer were both
victims of vehicular collisions. No 131I was detected in any of the
sampled tissues. Cesium-137 was not measured in any sample collected. Data for
all game animal samples are listed in
Appendix C, Table C-10.
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