Review of radon monitoring at the DOE-Niagara Falls Storage Site
Radon-222 monitoring results over the period May 1978 to February 1980 are reviewed and summarized. Radon-222 levels in inhabited areas surrounding the storage site were all found to be no greater than 0.5 pCi/l compared to an average ambient air background for the region of 0.23 +- 0.01 pCi/l. Ambient air radon levels rapidly approach background within 0.5 to 1.0 mile from the storage site. Weekly surveillance information, averaged over a year, indicates that six of the eight fenceline ambient air monitoring stations showed concentrations well within the concentration guide limit of 3.0 pCi/l for uncontrolled areas. The remaining two adjacent stations (along the western boundary fence) showed elevated average radon levels of 4.28 and 5.68 pCi/l, respectively. The higher levels at the western boundary fence are attributed to the Spoil Pile area, which is within a hundred feet of the present boundary fence. Maxima were observed in both soil air and ambient air monthly radon levels, which correlate closely with meteorological parameters. A spoil pile radon flux survey is described which identifies radon source isopleths and quantifies yearly average pile emissions. Average offsite radon flux from soil was found to be 0.14 +- 0.07 pCi/m/sup 2/-s. Weighted average (yearly) radon flux from the spoil pile was found to be 407 pCi/m/sup 2/-s. The effects of applying asphaltic emulsion, or water, to reduce radon emissions are discussed. Application of asphaltic emulsion to residues in storage buildings resulted in an average reduction in radon emissions of 94%. Variables affecting radon emanation and measurement are discussed, including: instrumentation; meteorological conditions; and source distribution and magnitude. Recommendations are suggested to improve the existing radon monitoring program and future useful innovations are discussed.
- Research Organization:
- National Lead Co. of Ohio, Cincinnati (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76OR01156
- OSTI ID:
- 5309686
- Report Number(s):
- NLCO-004EV
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Silos 1 and 2 removal action bentonite effectiveness environmental monitoring study
Silos 1 and 2 removal action bentonite effectiveness environmental monitoring study
Related Subjects
Atmospheric-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
510301 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- Soil-- (-1987)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AEROSOLS
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
ASPHALTS
BITUMENS
COLLOIDS
DATA
DATA COMPILATION
DATA FORMS
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DISPERSIONS
DOSES
EMULSIONS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
GRAPHS
HEAVY NUCLEI
INFORMATION
ISOTOPES
MANAGEMENT
METEOROLOGY
MID-ATLANTIC REGION
MONITORING
NEW YORK
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEI
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIATION SOURCES
RADIOACTIVE AEROSOLS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOISOTOPES
RADON 222
RADON ISOTOPES
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SOILS
SOLID WASTES
SOLS
SPOIL BANKS
STORAGE
TABLES
TAR
USA
VARIATIONS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE STORAGE
WASTES