Formerly utilized MED/AEC sites remedial action program. Radiological survey of the West Stands, New Chemistry Lab and Annex, and Ricketts Laboratory, the University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, August 31-September 2, 1977

Technical Report · Sat May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:5254837

Wynveen, R A; Smith, W H; Mayes, C B; Justus, A L

A radiological survey was conducted at the former locations of the West Stands, the New Chemistry Lab and Annex, and Ricketts Laboratory at the University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois. General radiochemistry and/or physics research for the MED/AEC program was performed at these sites during the 1940s. The buildings have since been razed. The survey was undertaken to determine the presence of any radionuclides remaining from the MED/AEC operations that could have been spilled or released from the former structures. Environmental soil samples (corings) were collected from the areas where the West Stands, New Chemistry Lab and Annex, and Ricketts Laboratory once stood. The soil corings were taken at what appeared to be undisturbed locations near the sites of the three former facilities. Analyses of the soil corings included determination of the concentrations of /sup 137/Cs, the /sup 232/Th decay chain, the /sup 226/Ra decay chain, and uranium in the soil. The levels of uranium and the /sup 226/Ra decay chain found in the samples indicated that no concentrations above natural background levels were present. Slightly elevated levels of /sup 60/Co were found in soil taken from the top 5 cm of the ground at two sampling sites, but this activity was presumed to have been traceable to induced activity from contaminated stainless steel that had been stored in the area during operations not related to MED/AEC activities. No increased radiation dose attributable to exposure to residual radioactivity from MED/AEC activities is expected.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31-109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 5254837
• Report Number(s): DOE/EV-0005/34; ANL-OHS/HP-82-105; ON: DE82019232
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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