Evaluation of radiological conditions in the vicinity of Hanford, April-June 1963

Technical Report · Fri Aug 16 04:00:00 EDT 1963

OSTI ID:5874888

Wilson, R H ^[1]

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1. ed.

Comprehensive surveillance of the occurrence of radioactive materials in air, water, and foodstuffs was continued in the vicinity of the Hanford plant. Gross beta activity in air during the second quarter of 1963 remained at levels persisting since September 1962 with the exception of a temporary small increase in May from increased deposition of world-wide fallout expected each spring. The average concentrations of I/sup 131/ in milk from farms in the neighborhood of the Hanford plant was about 8 picocuries per liter, and the maximum in an individual sample was 84 picocuries per liter. This represents an increase from the first quarter which was probably due to increased grazing on open pasture. Natural background radiation, with some contribution from world-wide fallout continued to be the primary source of environmental exposure for most people in the Hanford environs. Cooling water from the reactors, which is discharged to the Columbia River, continued to be the low level waste with the greatest potential for contributing to the radiation exposure of persons in the plant environs. Locally caught fish continued to be the major source of radioisotopes for the few persons who eat them in quantity. Summing of exposures from various sources in a manner that tends to maximize the total dose to an individual leads to estimates of about 10% of the appropriate NCRP limit for the GI tract, about 15% of the FRC guide for the total body, 30% of the FRC guide for a child's thyroid, and about 30% of the NCRP maximum permissible rate of intake for bone seeking radionuclides.

• Research Organization: General Electric Co., Richland, WA (USA). Hanford Atomic Products Operation
• DOE Contract Number: W-31-109-ENG-52
• OSTI ID: 5874888
• Report Number(s): HW-78395
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500300 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
510302 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- Terrestrial Ecosystems & Food Chains-- (-1987)
520302* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- Aquatic Ecosystems & Food Chains-- (-1987)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
COLUMBIA RIVER
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DOSES
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FALLOUT
FISHES
FISSION PRODUCTS
FOOD
FOOD CHAINS
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
GLANDS
GLOBAL FALLOUT
HAPO
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
IODINE 131
IODINE ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MAMMALS
MAN
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
MILK
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANS
PRIMATES
RADIATION DOSE DISTRIBUTIONS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
REGIONAL ANALYSIS
RIVERS
SKELETON
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
THYROID
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
VERTEBRATES