Radioactivity levels of the Columbia River below Richland, Washington, July-September 1956
In the Columbia River downstream from Richland, Washington there is a gradual decrease in concentration of radioactive isotopes. At any one location there are fluctuations due to factors such as dilution and decay time. During this period at all locations the concentration of ..cap alpha.. particle emitters in water averaged below the detection limit of 5 x 10/sup -9/ ..mu..c/cc. In mud, all ..cap alpha.. particle emitter concentrations were below the detection limit of 3 x 10/sup -6/ ..mu..c/gm. Beta particle emitters in water upstream of McNary Dam increased slightly due to normal decreased river flow this quarter, with averages at various locations ranging from (3 to 25) x 10/sup -7/ ..mu..c/cc, but in river mud the averages of 2 x 10/sup -5/ ..mu..c/gm were about the same as the previous quarter. Downstream from McNary Dam, beta particle emitter average concentrations in water were about the same as the past three quarters. The low river flow of 420,000 gallons per second on September 14 was the lowest September flow since prior to 1948.
- Research Organization:
- General Electric Co., Richland, WA (USA). Hanford Atomic Products Operation
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31-109-ENG-52
- OSTI ID:
- 5928924
- Report Number(s):
- HW-47170
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Radioactivity levels of the Columbia River below Richland, Washington, April-June 1956
Radioactivity levels of the Columbia River below Richland, Washington, January-March 1956
Related Subjects
Aquatic-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- Water-- (1987)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
COLUMBIA RIVER
ISOTOPES
MONITORING
NORTH AMERICA
PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIOISOTOPES
RIVERS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
WASHINGTON