Concentrations of krypton-85 near the Nevada Test Site

Journal Article · Fri Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00141a019· OSTI ID:5744430

Grossman, R F; Holloway, R W

Since 1972, the Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory has operated a network of noble gas samplers around the Nevada Test Site (NTS). For 10 of those years, the network also included several samplers on the NTS. The network was established to measure the concentrations of noble gases released to the atmosphere by underground nuclear detonations, by post-test operations, and by seepage from the ground from previous underground tests. During this 12-year period, the concentrations of krypton-85 measured in samples collected around the NTS gradually increased with time from 16 pCi/m/sup 3/ in 1972 to 25 pCi/m/sup 3/ in 1983. This increase was not found to be due to nuclear testing activities at the NTS but to the world-wide use of nuclear technology, a trend that has been predicted by previous investigators. The observed trend of increasing concentration was considerably less than had been projected by other authors, being only one-eighth to one-fifth of that projected. It is suggested that the difference from predictions is due to a decrease in the rate of growth in the number of nuclear power plants and, more significantly, the slow growth of nuclear duel reprocessing activities.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, NV
• OSTI ID: 5744430
• Journal Information: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 19:1; ISSN ESTHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500300* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
EXPLOSIONS
FEDERAL REGION IX
FLUIDS
GASES
HOURS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
KRYPTON 85
KRYPTON ISOTOPES
LONG-RANGE TRANSPORT
MASS TRANSFER
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MONITORS
NEVADA
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
NUCLEI
POWER PLANTS
RADIATION MONITORS
RADIOISOTOPES
RARE GASES
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
USA
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES