Third Quarter 2005
INL Quarterly Site Environmental Report
Return to Index
S.M. Stoller Corporation
Environmental Surveillance, Education and Research Program
ISSN NUMBER 1089-5469
Stoller-ESER-90
Idaho National Laboratory Offsite Environmental
Surveillance Program Report:
Third Quarter 2005
February 2006
Contributors:
Marilyn Case, Russ Mitchell
Program conducted for the U.S. Department of Energy, Idaho Operations Office
Under Contract DE-AC07-00ID13658
By the S.M. Stoller Corporation,
Environmental Surveillance, Education and Research Program
Douglas K. Halford, Program Manager
1780 First Street, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401
www.stoller-eser.com
|
Most of the radionuclides detected in any of the samples collected during the third quarter of 2005 could not be directly linked with INL activities. An exception was waterfowl taken directly from wastewater ponds located on the INL. One quarterly composited air sample had an anomalous Americium-241 result of unknown origin. Levels of most 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. 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.(See Table E-1). |
This report for the third quarter, 2005, contains results from the Environmental Surveillance, Education and Research (ESER) Program’s monitoring of the Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory’s (INL) offsite environment, July 1 through September 30, 2005. All sample types (media) and the sampling schedule followed during 2005 are listed in Appendix A. Specifically, this report contains the results for the following:
Gross alpha and gross beta measurements are used as general indicators of the presence of radionuclides. Gross alpha and gross beta results were found to have no discernable statistical distribution during the third quarter of 2005. Because of this, these data were statistically analyzed using nonparametric methods, including the use of the median to represent central tendency. At no time during the third quarter were weekly, monthly, or quarterly gross alpha or gross beta concentrations in air collected at Boundary locations statistically greater than corresponding data for Distant locations, as one would expect if the INL were a significant source of radionuclide contamination. There were no statistical differences between gross alpha or gross beta results when grouped by location on a quarterly basis. Statistical analysis by month also showed no statistical difference between locations for gross alpha or gross beta.
Weekly comparisons of gross alpha concentrations at Distant and Boundary locations showed no statistical differences during the third quarter of 2005. Gross beta results were statistically greater at Distant locations than at Boundary locations during the week of August 10, 2005.
Iodine-131 (131I) was not detected in any batch of charcoal cartridges during the third quarter.
Selected quarterly composite filter samples were analyzed for gamma emitting radionuclides, strontium-90 (90Sr), plutonium-238 (238Pu), plutonium-239/240 (239/240Pu), and americium-241 (241Am). Strontium-90 was found near the detection limit in two samples. Americium-241 was found at one onsite location at a concentration that was higher than those found in recent years. No origin was found for this anomalous result, but investigation is continuing to pinpoint a likely source. The detected concentration was 0.43 percent of the DOE Derived Concentration Guide for this radionuclide.
Twenty-two atmospheric moisture samples were obtained during the third quarter of 2005 and analyzed for tritium. Two samples from Blackfoot and one sample from Rexburg exceeded their respective 3s levels. The maximum value was well below the DOE DCG for tritium in air.
The ESER Program operates three PM10 samplers for particulate sampling, one each at Rexburg, Blackfoot, and Atomic City. Sampling of PM10 is informational as no analyses are conducted for contaminants. PM10 concentrations were well below all health standard levels for all samples. The maximum 24-hour particulate concentration was 52.47 mg/m3 on August 7, 2005, at Atomic City. This is well below the EPA Air Quality Standard of 150 mg/m3.
Sufficient precipitation occurred to allow collection of only five samples—three from Idaho Falls and two from the Central Facilities Area (CFA) on the INL. Tritium was not detected above the 3s level in any of the samples.
Milk samples were collected weekly in Idaho Falls and monthly at eight other locations around the INL. All samples were analyzed for gamma-emitting radionuclides. Iodine 131 was not detected in any milk sample. Cesium-137 was found slightly exceeding the 3s value in one weekly Idaho Falls sample. No 137Cs was found in a recount.
Seven lettuce samples and a duplicate sample were collected from area gardens around the INL and from a self-contained lettuce planter at Atomic City. No sample had measurable concentrations of human-made gamma-emitting radionuclides. Strontium-90 was found exceeding the 3s value in one distant sample (from Pocatello). The level found was consistent with those found in previous years and is attributed to uptake of 90Sr remaining in soil from nuclear weapons testing fallout.
In the third quarter of 2005 twelve wheat samples were collected from area grain elevators. All samples were analyzed for gamma-emitting radionuclides and 90Sr. No radionuclides were detected above the 3s level in any sample.
No manmade gamma-emitting radionuclides were detected in any of the tissue samples taken from two game animals killed on INL roads.
No manmade gamma-emitting radionuclides were detected in any of the three dove samples collected from the INL and distant locations.
Waterfowl were collected from wastewater ponds at two facilities located on the INL and one distant location (Firth, ID). Several manmade radionuclides above background, including Cesium-137, Cobat-60, Strontium-90, Zinc-65 and Plutonium-238 and 239/240 were found in tissues from birds collected at the Reactor Technology Complex. No manmade radionuclides were found in the control samples. Concentrations of radionuclides were higher in 2005 than in the previous years, but lower than in an earlier study. The potential dose to a person eating the entire edible mass of the duck with the highest concentration of radionuclides measured was calculated to be 0.19 mrem.
|
Media |
Sample Type |
Analysis |
Results |
|
Air |
Filters |
Gross alpha, gross beta |
There were no statistical differences noted for monthly or quarterly gross alpha or gross beta concentrations measured at INL, Boundary, and Distant locations. Gross beta concentrations were statistically higher at Distant locations than at Boundary locations during the week of August 10. No result exceeded the DCG for gross alpha or gross beta activity in air. |
|
|
|
Gamma-emitting radionuclides, select actinides, 90Sr |
Strontium-90 was found in two samples just above the detection limit. One sample had a detectable concentration of 241Am, which was outside the range of concentrations measured during the last few years. No likely origin has been identified for this anomalous value. |
|
|
Charcoal Cartridge |
Iodine-131 |
No detections of 131I were made during the third quarter. |
|
|
PM10 |
Particulate matter |
Forty-eight valid samples were collected from three locations. No regulatory limits were exceeded. |
|
Atmospheric Moisture |
Liquid |
Tritium |
Twenty-two atmospheric moisture samples were collected. Three of the results were greater than the 3s uncertainty. No sample result exceeded the DCG for tritium in air. |
|
Precipitation |
Liquid |
Tritium |
Dry weather permitted the collection of only five samples. None of these samples had tritium results greater than the 3s uncertainty. |
|
Milk |
Liquid |
Iodine-131, gamma emitting radionuclides |
Iodine-131 was not found in any samples. Cesium-137 was detected in one distant sample at a value just above its detection level. A recount of the sample found no 137Cs. |
|
Lettuce |
Solid |
Gamma emitting radionuclides (including 137Cs), and 90Sr |
No manmade gamma-emitting radionuclides were found in any sample. One distant sample had 90Sr at a detectable level consistent with historical measurements for this isotope. |
|
Wheat |
Solid |
Gamma emitting radionuclides (including 137Cs), and 90Sr |
No manmade gamma-emitting radionuclides or 90Sr were found in any sample. |
|
Game Animals |
Tissue |
Iodine-131, gamma emitting radionuclides |
No manmade gamma-emitting radionuclides were found in either of the two game animals available for sampling during the third quarter. |
|
Doves |
Tissue |
Iodine-131, gamma emitting radionuclides |
No manmade gamma-emitting radionuclides were found in any of the three samples collected. |
| Waterfowl | Tissue | Gamma emitting radionuclides (including 137Cs), 90Sr, 238 Pu, 239/240Pu, 241Am | Several radionuclides were found in samples of ducks from wastewater ponds at the Reactor Technology Complex. Americium-241 and 90Sr within historical levels attributes to fallout were found in waterfowl from ponds at the Materials and Fuels Complex. An estimate of the dose to a human eating the bird with the highest concentration of radionuclides measured was calculated to be 0.19 mrem. |