Preliminary radiological impact assessment of western coal utilization

Conference · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:5388610

Styron, C. E.; Robinson, B.

This research program was initiated to: (1) delineate the scope of the potential environmental and human health problem associated with radioactivity in Western coal; (2) establish a data base for /sup 234/U, /sup 238/U, /sup 210/Pb, /sup 210/Po, /sup 230/Th and /sup 226/Ra found in Western coal; (3) study the release, fate, and accumulation of radionuclides from a power plant burning Western coal; and (4) assess the possible need for additional control technology and/or standards. Preliminary results indicate that radionuclides may be made available to the environment from burning Western coal. Lead-210 in coal used at the power plant averaged 0.79 pCi/g, /sup 210/Pb in soil averaged 0.70 pCi/g, and /sup 210/Pb in/on vegetation in the environs of the power plant ranged from 2.23 to 5.70 pCi/g. These values for /sup 210/Pb in soil are in the range of natural background, but plants appear to have slightly elevated concentrations. Preliminary dose evaluations for /sup 210/Pb alone indicated that individuals whose total vegetation intake was grown in this area could receive as much as 400 mrem/yr to the kidney, which is below the current standard of 500 mrem/yr. Although no health hazard has been identified, additional studies of /sup 210/Pb concentrations in/on vegetation and of dose evaluations are being undertaken.

• Research Organization: Mound Lab., Miamisburg, Ohio (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-04-0053
• OSTI ID: 5388610
• Report Number(s): MLM-2470(OP); CONF-771113-7
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
016000 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Health & Safety
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
200202 -- Fossil-Fueled Power Plants-- Waste Management-- Noxious Gas & Particulate Emissions
500300 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
510300 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
AEROSOL WASTES
AIR POLLUTION
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
ASHES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOMASS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
COAL
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FLY ASH
FOOD CHAINS
FOSSIL FUELS
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
FUELS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
LEAD 210
LEAD ISOTOPES
LIGNITE
MASS TRANSFER
NUCLEI
PLANTS
POLLUTION
POLONIUM 210
POLONIUM ISOTOPES
POWER PLANTS
RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
RADIUM 226
RADIUM ISOTOPES
RADON 222
RADON ISOTOPES
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
RESIDUES
SOILS
SUBBITUMINOUS COAL
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
THORIUM 230
THORIUM ISOTOPES
TRACE AMOUNTS
URANIUM 234
URANIUM 238
URANIUM ISOTOPES
WASTES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES