Past radionuclide releases from routine operations at Rocky Flats

Journal Article · Tue Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Health Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-199610000-00008· OSTI ID:390960

Ripple, S R; Widner, T E; Mongan, T R ^[1]

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1. McLaren/Hart Environmental Engineering, Alameda, CA (United States)

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment sponsored a study to reconstruct contaminant doses to the public from operations at the Rocky Flats nuclear weapons facility. This analysis of routine releases of plutonium and uranium, the principal radioactive materials used at the plant, was part of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment study. Historical radionuclide monitoring and data handling practices are characterized and uncertainties are quantified. Estimates of the annual release of plutonium and uranium are provided for the period from 1953 to 1989. Off-site airborne concentrations and deposition of plutonium and uranium associated with the releases are estimated, along with the highest doses from off-site populations. The predicted effective doses from the routine release of plutonium and uranium from Rocky Flats for a person residing near the plant boundary between 1953 and 1989 are very small.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 390960
• Journal Information: Health Physics, Journal Name: Health Physics Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 71; ISSN HLTPAO; ISSN 0017-9078
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
AIR
CONTAMINATION
EMISSION
ENVIRONMENT
FOOD CHAINS
HISTORICAL ASPECTS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
INGESTION
PLUTONIUM
PUBLIC HEALTH
RADIATION DOSES
RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
ROCKY FLATS PLANT
URANIUM