Radiocesium in the Savannah River Site Environment

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · Health Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-199409000-00003· OSTI ID:54474

Carlton, W H; Murphy, Jr, C E; Evans, A G ^[1]

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1. Westinghouse Savannah River Co., Aiken, SC (United States)

The Savannah River Site has produced plutonium, tritium, and other special nuclear materials for national defense, other government programs, and some civilian purposes. Radiocesium, a waste product, has been released to the environment during the operation of five reactors, two radiochemical processing facilities, and a high-level waste storage system. During the period 1955-1989, 130 GBq of {sup 137}Cs was released to the atmosphere and 2.2 x 10{sup 4} GBq was released to site streams and ponds. Approximately 65% of the latter remained on the site. The maximum individual effective dose equivalent at the site boundary was estimated to be 3.3 {mu}Sv from atmospheric releases and 600 {mu}Sv from liquid releases. The 80-km population dose was 1.6 person-Sv. 20 refs., 5 figs., 7 tabs.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 54474
• Journal Information: Health Physics, Journal Name: Health Physics Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 67; ISSN HLTPAO; ISSN 0017-9078
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
CESIUM 137
DOSIMETRY
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
HUMAN POPULATIONS
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT