Stability of plutonium contaminated sediments in the Miami--Erie Canal. [Mound Facility, Ohio, radioactive effluents monitoring]
This study was conducted to evaluate the stability of plutonium-contaminated sediment in the Miami-Erie Canal. Correlations were sought to relate concentrations at air sampling stations to plutonium-238 concentrations in air and stack emissions, wind direction, particulate loading, rainfall, and construction activities. There appears to be some impact on airborne concentrations at air sampling stations 122 and 123 from the contaminated sediment in the canal and ponds area. For purposes of this evaluation, it was assumed that the plutonium-238 found in the air samples came from the contaminated sediment in the canal/ponds area. To complete the evaluation of the inhalation pathway, dose calculations were performed using actual airborne concentrations of plutonium-238 measured at sampler 123. The dose equivalent to an individual in that area was calculated for 1 yr and 70 yr. Dose calculations were also performed on potential uptake of contaminated vegetation from that area for 1 yr and 70 yr. This study indicates that, although the contaminated sediments in the canal and pond area appear to contribute to airborne plutonium-238, the observed maximum monthly concentration of plutonium-238 in air is a small fraction of the DOE Radioactivity Concentration Guide (RCG) and the nine-month average concentration of plutonium-238 in air observed thus far during 1977 is less than 1% of the RCG. Dose equivalents, conservatively calculated from these actual data, are well within existing DOE standards and proposed EPA guidance.
- Research Organization:
- Mound Lab., Miamisburg, Ohio (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- EY-76-C-04-0053
- OSTI ID:
- 5147299
- Report Number(s):
- MLM-2483
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Mound Laboratory Plutonium-238 Study: Off-Site Analytical Data, May - December 1974
Further investigations of plutonium in aquatic biota of the Great Miami River Watershed including the canal and ponds in Miamisburg, Ohio. [Monitoring adjacent to Mound Lab]
Related Subjects
Atmospheric-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
520300 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
AIR
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOMASS
CONTAMINATION
DOSES
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FLUIDS
FOOD
GASES
HEAVY NUCLEI
HUMAN POPULATIONS
INGESTION
INHALATION
INTAKE
INTERNAL IRRADIATION
IRRADIATION
ISOTOPES
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MONITORING
MOUND LABORATORY
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEI
OHIO
PLANTS
PLUTONIUM 238
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
POPULATIONS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOACTIVITY
RADIOISOTOPES
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SAMPLING
SEDIMENTS
STACK DISPOSAL
SURFACE AIR
SURFACE WATERS
US AEC
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
USA
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES