Off-site population radiological dose and risk assessment for potential airborne emissions from the Weldon Spring Site

Technical Report · Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10117993· OSTI ID:10117993

Avci, H I; Biwer, B M; Blunt, D L

Radiological doses and health risks to the population around the Weldon Spring site from potential airborne emissions during remedial action at the chemical plant area of the site have been assessed with the Clean Air Act Assessment Package-1988 computer code. Two treatment options are being considered for waste produced by site cleanup activities: chemical stabilization/solidification and vitrification. Over the entire cleanup period of 7 years, the collective dose received by the people who live within 80 km (50 mi) of the site (about 3 million persons) is estimated to be about 34 person-rem for the chemical stabilization/ solidification option and 32 person-rem for the vitrification option. By comparison, the same population is expected to receive about 6 {times} 10{sup 6} person-rem from natural background radiation during that time. If only the population within a reasonable radius of impact is considered (about 10,700 persons live within 5 km [3 mi] of the site), the remedial action activities are estimated to result in about 5 person-rem over the entire cleanup period; the same population is expected to receive about 20,000 person-rem from natural background radiation during that time. Because the doses are low, no cancers or genetic effects are expected to occur among the population around the Weldon Spring site as a result of exposures resulting from potential radioactive releases to the atmosphere during remediation of the chemicalplant area.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (United States). Environmental Assessment and Information Sciences Div.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 10117993
• Report Number(s): ANL/EAIS/TM-78; ON: DE93006033
• Resource Relation: Other Information: PBD: Nov 1992
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY
SURPLUS NUCLEAR FACILITIES
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
CHEMICAL PLANTS
VITRIFICATION
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
SOLIDIFICATION
RADIATION DOSES
C CODES
AIR
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
MISSOURI
REMEDIAL ACTION
US SUPERFUND
HEALTH HAZARDS
EMISSION
RADIATION PROTECTION
RISK ASSESSMENT
540150
540130
054000
560101
SITE RESOURCE AND USE STUDIES
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS MONITORING AND TRANSPORT
HEALTH AND SAFETY
DOSIMETRY AND MONITORING