No manmade gamma-emitting radionuclides were detected in any of the samples for the fourth quarter. Data for 131I and 137Cs in milk samples are listed in Appendix C, Table C-8.
None of the fourth quarter samples contained tritium above the detection
limit. Strontium-90 was measured above the 3s uncertainty level in three of
four 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 Dietrich sample (0.66 ± 0.07 pCi/L) was below the
EPA MCL of 8 pCi/L and the DOE DCG of 1000 pCi/L. Data for tritium and
90Sr in milk samples are listed in
Appendix C, Table C-9.
Figure 12. ESER Program milk sampling
locations.
POTATOES
Eleven potato samples were collected from area growers and from one out-of-state location. All samples were analyzed for gamma emitting radionuclides and 90Sr. The first analysis for 90Sr failed; sufficient sample remained to re-analyze eight of the samples. No 137Cs was measured in any sample. Strontium-90 was detected in three of the samples above their respective 3s values. The maximum concentration of 90Sr was from a sample collected from Arco at 1.05 ± 0.21 pCi/kg. This value is within historic concentrations measured in potatoes collected from farms surrounding the INL.
Data for 137Cs
and 90Sr in all potato samples taken during the fourth quarter
are listed in Table C -10
(Appendix C).
LARGE GAME ANIMAL SAMPLING
Two large game animals were sampled during the fourth quarter of 2005. Both (one mule deer and one pronghorn) were killed in the north central portion of the INL in the vicinity of the Naval Reactors Facility. Cesium-137 was detected in the muscle tissue of the pronghorn at a concentration similar to those found in both onsite and offsite game and sheep samples in recent years. Data for 137Cs and 131I in fourth quarter large game samples are listed in Appendix C, Table C-11.