Radiological survey of shoreline vegetation from the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River, 1990--1992
A great deal of interest exists concerning the seepage of radiologically contaminated groundwater into the Columbia River where it borders the US Department of Energy`s Hanford Site (Hanford Reach). Areas of particular interest include the 100-N Area, the Old Hanford Townsite, and the 300 Area springs. While the radiological character of the seeps and springs along the Hanford Site shoreline has been studied, less attention has been given to characterizing the radionuclides that may be present in shoreline vegetation. The objective of this study was to characterize radionuclide concentrations in shoreline plants along the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River that were usable by humans for food or other purposes. Vegetation in two areas was found to have elevated levels of radionuclides. Those areas were the 100-N Area and the Old Hanford Townsite. There was also some indication of uranium accumulation in milfoil and onions collected from the 300 Area. Tritium was elevated above background in all areas; {sup 60}Co and {sup 9O}Sr were found in highest concentrations in vegetation from the 100-N Area. Technetium-99 was found in 2 of 12 plants collected from the Old Hanford Townsite and 1 of 10 samples collected upstream from the Vernita Bridge. The concentrations of {sup 137}Cs, {sup 238}Pu, {sup 239,240}Pu, and isotopes of uranium were just above background in all three areas (100-N Area, Old Hanford Townsite, and 300 Area).
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 10185308
- Report Number(s):
- PNL-8797; ON: DE94000349; TRN: 93:025412
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: Sep 1993
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
PLANTS
RADIOACTIVITY
GROUND WATER
CONTAMINATION
HANFORD RESERVATION
COLUMBIA RIVER
TRITIUM
URANIUM 235
CESIUM 137
URANIUM 234
URANIUM 238
PLUTONIUM 238
PLUTONIUM 239
STRONTIUM 90
RADIATION MONITORING
SAMPLING
053002
540250
540230
RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS
SITE RESOURCE AND USE STUDIES
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS MONITORING AND TRANSPORT