Development of criteria used to establish a background environmental monitoring station

Fritz, Bradley G.; Barnett, J. Matthew; Snyder, Sandra F.; Bisping, Lynn E.; Rishel, Jeremy P.

doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.02.010

Title: Development of criteria used to establish a background environmental monitoring station

Abstract

It is generally considered necessary to measure concentrations of contaminants-of-concern at a background location when conducting atmospheric environmental surveillance. This is because it is recognized that measurements of background concentrations can enhance interpretation of environmental monitoring data. Despite the recognized need for background measurements, there is little published guidance available that describes how to identify an appropriate atmospheric background monitoring location. This paper develops generic criteria that can guide the decision making process for identifying suitable locations for background atmospheric monitoring station. Detailed methods for evaluating some of these criteria are also provided and a case study for establishment of an atmospheric background surveillance station as part of an environmental surveillance program is described. While the case study focuses on monitoring for radionuclides, the approach is equally valid for any airborne constituent being monitored. The case study shows that implementation of the developed criteria can result in a good, defensible choice for a background atmospheric monitoring location.

Authors:: Fritz, Bradley G.; Barnett, J. Matthew; Snyder, Sandra F.; Bisping, Lynn E.; Rishel, Jeremy P.

Publication Date:: Fri May 01 00:00:00 EDT 2015

Research Org.:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE

OSTI Identifier:: 1249582

Alternate Identifier(s):: OSTI ID: 1526251

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA-107340
Journal ID: ISSN 0265-931X; S0265931X15000375; PII: S0265931X15000375

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

Resource Type:: Published Article

Journal Name:: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity Journal Volume: 143 Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0265-931X

Publisher:: Elsevier

Country of Publication:: United Kingdom

Language:: English

Subject:: 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; background monitoring; environmental monitoring; airborne radioactivity; air sampling

Citation Formats


                    Fritz, Bradley G., Barnett, J. Matthew, Snyder, Sandra F., Bisping, Lynn E., and Rishel, Jeremy P. Development of criteria used to establish a background environmental monitoring station.  United Kingdom: N. p., 2015. 
Web.  doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.02.010.

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                    Fritz, Bradley G., Barnett, J. Matthew, Snyder, Sandra F., Bisping, Lynn E., & Rishel, Jeremy P. Development of criteria used to establish a background environmental monitoring station.  United Kingdom.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.02.010

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                    Fritz, Bradley G., Barnett, J. Matthew, Snyder, Sandra F., Bisping, Lynn E., and Rishel, Jeremy P. Fri .  
"Development of criteria used to establish a background environmental monitoring station".  United Kingdom.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.02.010.

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@article{osti_1249582,

  title        = {Development of criteria used to establish a background environmental monitoring station},

  author       = {Fritz, Bradley G. and Barnett, J. Matthew and Snyder, Sandra F. and Bisping, Lynn E. and Rishel, Jeremy P.},

  abstractNote = {It is generally considered necessary to measure concentrations of contaminants-of-concern at a background location when conducting atmospheric environmental surveillance. This is because it is recognized that measurements of background concentrations can enhance interpretation of environmental monitoring data. Despite the recognized need for background measurements, there is little published guidance available that describes how to identify an appropriate atmospheric background monitoring location. This paper develops generic criteria that can guide the decision making process for identifying suitable locations for background atmospheric monitoring station. Detailed methods for evaluating some of these criteria are also provided and a case study for establishment of an atmospheric background surveillance station as part of an environmental surveillance program is described. While the case study focuses on monitoring for radionuclides, the approach is equally valid for any airborne constituent being monitored. The case study shows that implementation of the developed criteria can result in a good, defensible choice for a background atmospheric monitoring location.},

  doi          = {10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.02.010},

  journal      = {Journal of Environmental Radioactivity},

  number       = C,

  volume       = 143,

  place        = {United Kingdom},

  year         = {Fri May 01 00:00:00 EDT 2015},

  month        = {Fri May 01 00:00:00 EDT 2015}

}

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