Investigation of fire at Council, Alaska: A release of approximately 3000 curies of tritium

Technical Report · Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1988

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5287083· OSTI ID:5287083

Jensen, G A; Martin, J B

On September 6, 1987, about 6:00 a.m., a fire was discovered in the community building at Council, Alaska, where 12 radioluminescent (RL) light panels containing approximately 3000 Ci were stored. All of the tritium in the panels was released as a result of the fire. This report summarizes the recovery of the remains of the panels destroyed in the fire and investigations completed to evaluate the fire site for possible exposure of community residents or contamination by tritium release in the environment. Based on the analysis of urine samples obtained from individuals in the community and from Pacific Northwest Laboratory personnel participating in the recovery operation, no evidence of exposure to individuals was found. No tritium (above normal background) was found in water and vegetation samples obtained at various locations near the site. 12 figs., 3 tabs.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 5287083
• Report Number(s): PNL-6523; ON: DE88009237
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
TRITIUM
RADIATION ACCIDENTS
ALASKA
BATTELLE PACIFIC NORTHWEST LABORATORIES
BIOASSAY
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
FIRES
HUMAN POPULATIONS
LIGHTING SYSTEMS
PLANTS
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIOASSAY
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADIOLUMINESCENCE
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
SCIENTIFIC PERSONNEL
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
URINE
WATER
ACCIDENTS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
BODY FLUIDS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENERGY SYSTEMS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FEDERAL REGION X
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
LUMINESCENCE
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
MONITORING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERSONNEL
POPULATIONS
PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL
RADIOISOTOPES
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
USA
WASTES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
560160* - Radionuclide Effects
Kinetics
& Toxicology
560161 - Radionuclide Effects
Kinetics
& Toxicology- Man
560162 - Radionuclide Effects
Kinetics
& Toxicology- Animals
Plants
Microorganisms
& Cells
500300 - Environment
Atmospheric- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)