HANFORD WHOLE BODY COUNTER, 1959 ACTIVITIES
The Hanford whole body counter is a large NaI(Tl) scintillation counter in an iron room. There are special supporting facilities that permit counting large numbers of people as part of the radiation protection program. After completion early in 1959, a number of people were counted to establish average values of normal body radioactivity. The counter was also used to examine subjects who were suspected of being contaminated. The iron room was also used for measurements of plutonium in wounds. The largest amount of radioactivity, in terms of permissible amounts, found in any subject counted was 2.7% of the applicable permissible body burden. There were some cases of deposition of plutonium in wounds, but there is no accepted permissible body burden for this case with which to compare. Analysis of the data on normal body radioactivity shows that the results for K/sup 40/, a natural radioactivity, are quite close to those found elsewhere. The results for Cs/sup 137/ are higher than any yet reported elsewhere but are consistent with the trend to higher values and with higher values in the northwestern part of the United States in particular. A new result is the discovery of Zn/sup 65/ in nearly everyone counted. Isolated cases of Zn/sup 65/ have been reported but no such wide-spread distribution such as found at Hanford. The amount of Zn/sup 65/ in a subject is correlated with where he lives and works. Irrigation with Columbia River water containing water that has been used to cool the Hanford reactors results in the highest body burdens of Zn/sup 65/; there are relatively few of these people. Those subjects who live or work where drinking water is obtained from the Columbia River have higher body burdens thsn those who do not. One source of Zn/sup 65/ for those not exposed through drinking water was found to be sesfood, oysters in particular. Oysters harvested near the mouth of the Columbia River were later shown to be relatively high in Zn/sup 65/ compared with oysters obtained elsewhere. The amounts of Zn/ sup 65/ not yet accounted for in the subjects examined are consistent with the amounts found in food in different parts of the United States. (C. H.)
- Research Organization:
- General Electric Co. Hanford Atomic Products Operation, Richland, Wash.
- DOE Contract Number:
- AT(45-1)-1350
- NSA Number:
- NSA-15-017073
- OSTI ID:
- 4018873
- Report Number(s):
- HW-67045
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Accumulation of Zn/sup 65/ from prolonged consumption of Columbia River fish
Radiological status of the Hanford environs for November 1964