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U.S. Department of Energy
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Radiological impact of 1996 operations at the Savannah River Site

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/578554· OSTI ID:578554
During 1996, atmospheric releases of tritium from the Savannah River Site (SRS) were dramatically less than in 1995. The total amount of atmospheric tritium released during 1996 was 55,300 curies, which was 43% less than the total of 96,700 curies. Of the total tritium released, 40,100 curies were tritium oxide, this was 27% less than the 1995 atmospheric tritium oxide release total of 55,000 curies. Releases of radioactive liquid effluents from SRS decreased during 1996. Liquid releases of tritium (which constitutes more than 99% of the total radioactivity released to the Savannah River) in 1996 (8,950 curies) were about 21% less than during 1995 (11,400 curies). In 1996, the potential dose to the maximally exposed individual from SRS atmospheric releases was estimated to be 0.05 mrem, 0.5% of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and US Department of Energy (DOE) air pathway dose standard of 10 mrem/year. The 80-kilometer-radius population of 620,100 people potentially received a collective dose of 2.8 person-rem from SRS atmospheric radioactive releases. The 1996 collective dose was about 20% lower than the 1995 collective dose of 3.5 person-rem. The potential dose to the maximally exposed individual from 1996 SRS liquid radioactive releases was estimated to be 0.14 mrem, 0.14% of the DOE all-pathway dose standard of 100 mrem/year. The collective dose from SRS liquid releases during 1996 was estimated at 2.2 person-rem. The major exposure pathway to the population was drinking water, with tritium accounting for more than 70% of the total collective dose.
Research Organization:
Westinghouse Savannah River Co., Aiken, SC (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC09-89SR18035
OSTI ID:
578554
Report Number(s):
WSRC-TR--97-00267; CONF-9711117--; ON: DE97054346
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English