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Title: Radionuclides in sediments collected downstream from the Rancho Seco Nuclear Power Generating Station

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5691324

Amounts of radionuclides discharged since 1981 with liquid effluents from the Rancho Seco Nuclear Power Generating Station contained in downstream sediments were determined. Of the total /sup 137/Cs released since 1981, only 20% was found associated with bottom sediments sampled to a distance of 26 km from the plant. It is estimated that most of the unaccounted for /sup 137/Cs (40 to 60%) was transferred to land during the irrigation seasons. Soil samples from irrigated land contain /sup 137/Cs but no estimate of the land inventory has been made to date. Larger fractions of the particle reactive radionuclides, such as /sup 60/Co, /sup 54/Mn and /sup 110m/Ag, were found in the sediment deposits and the highest concentrations of these radionuclides were found in the on-site retention basins. Concentrations of /sup 137/Cs in sediment samples from the creek near the plant were extremely variable even over small spatial distances. However by averaging the inventories in sediments near the plant and comparing these with the downstream levels, a reasonable exponential regression equation (r/sup 2/ = 0.88) was developed to relate the 1984 inventories of /sup 137/Cs in the top 12 cm of bottom sediment with downstream distance. The change in the /sup 137/Cs sediment inventories with distance parallels the downstream change found for /sup 137/Cs concentrations in fish. Concentrations in non-migratory fresh water fish from any downstream location may be estimated from the creek sediment concentrations.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
OSTI ID:
5691324
Report Number(s):
UCID-20298; ON: DE86011012
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products. Original copy available until stock is exhausted
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English