First Quarter 2006
INL Quarterly Site Environmental Report
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S.M. Stoller Corporation
Environmental Surveillance, Education and Research Program
ISSN NUMBER 1089-5469
Stoller-ESER-96
Idaho National Laboratory Offsite Environmental
Surveillance Program Report:
First Quarter 2006
September 2006
Contributors:
Marilyn Case, Russ Mitchell
Program conducted for the U.S. Department of Energy, Idaho Operations Office
Under Contract DE-AC07-06ID14680
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
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None of the radionuclides detected in any of the samples collected during the first quarter of 2006 could be directly linked with INL Site activities. Levels of 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 Site. 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 first quarter of 2006 contains results from the Environmental Surveillance, Education and Research (ESER) Program’s monitoring of the Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Site’s offsite environment, January 1 through March 31, 2006. All sample types (media) and the sampling schedule followed during 2006 are listed in Appendix A. Specifically, this report contains the results for the following:
Air sampling, including air filters and charcoal cartridges, atmospheric moisture, and 10 micron particulate matter (PM10)
Precipitation sampling
Milk sampling
Large game animal sampling
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 first quarter of 2006. 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 first quarter were 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 Site 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 statistical differences during the weeks of February 15, March 8 and March 15. In all three cases, the Distant locations were statistically greater than the Boundary locations. Gross beta results were statistically greater at Boundary locations than at Distant locations during the weeks of January 4 and January 18, and statistically greater at the Distant locations than at Boundary locations during the week of March 8. These differences appear to be due to random variability in the data.
Iodine-131 (131I) was not detected in any batch of charcoal cartridges during the first 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). No manmade gamma-emitting radionuclides were detected. Strontium-90 was found at two locations within the range of historical measurements.
A total of six detections of transuranic radionuclides (one of 241Am, three of 238Pu and two of 239/240Pu) were reported for the first quarter. Detections were reported at Distant, Boundary and INL Site locations. The highest reported value was at the upper portion of the range seen during the past several years. No specific source could be identified for the detected values.
Eleven atmospheric moisture samples were obtained during the first quarter of 2006 and analyzed for tritium. Two samples each from Atomic City and Rexburg, and one sample each from Blackfoot and Idaho Falls 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 primarily 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 31.52 mg/m3 on February 9, 2006, at Rexburg. This is well below the EPA Air Quality Standard of 150 mg/m3.
Sufficient precipitation occurred to allow collection of 16 samples—four from Idaho Falls, three from the Central Facilities Area (CFA) and nine from the Experimental Field Station (EFS) on the INL Site. One of the samples contained a detectable concentration of tritium, within the range reported by the EPA across the western United States.
Milk samples were collected weekly in Ucon and monthly at nine other locations around the INL Site. All samples were analyzed for gamma-emitting. No manmade gamma-emitting radionuclides were found in any sample.
Cesium-137 was detected in the muscle
tissue taken from one of four game animals killed on INL Site roads. The
detected concentration was similar to those found in both onsite and offsite
tissues during recent years.
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Media |
Sample Type |
Analysis |
Results |
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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 Site, Boundary and Distant locations. Some weekly statistical differences were found; however, these appear to be due to normal variability in the data. No result exceeded the DCG for gross alpha or gross beta activity in air. |
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Gamma-emitting radionuclides, select actinides, 90Sr |
No manmade gamma-emitting radionuclides or actinides were detected. Detectable 90Sr was found at two locations, well below DOE limits. Six detections of the three actinides were reported, scattered among four locations. The highest reported detection was near the upper end of the range normally found for these radionuclides. |
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Charcoal Cartridge |
Iodine-131 |
No detections of 131I were made during the first quarter. |
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PM10 |
Particulate matter |
Forty-three valid samples were collected from three locations. No regulatory limits were exceeded. |
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Atmospheric Moisture |
Liquid |
Tritium |
Eleven atmospheric moisture samples were collected. Six of the results were greater than the 3s uncertainty. No sample result exceeded the DCG for tritium in air. |
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Precipitation |
Liquid |
Tritium |
A total of seven monthly and nine weekly samples were collected. Only one of these samples had a tritium result greater than the 3s uncertainty. Concentrations were consistent with those reported across the region and with previous results. |
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Milk |
Liquid |
Iodine-131, gamma emitting radionuclides |
No manmade gamma-emitting radionuclides were found in any sample. |
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Game Animals |
Tissue |
Iodine-131, gamma emitting radionuclides |
Cesium-137 was found in the muscle sample from one of the four game animals available for sampling during the first quarter. The detected value was well within the range of historical values. |