Environmental radionuclide concentrations in the vicinity of the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station: 1979-1980

Technical Report · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:6048566

McLean, R I; Magette, T E; Zobel, S G

The Power Plant Siting Program conducts radiological analyses of environmental samples collected from the Susquehanna River and Upper Chesapeake Bay. These studies were initiated in 1979 to determine the radioecological impact of the Three Mile Island Nuclear Station and the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station on the Maryland environment. Collections of sediments, finfish, shellfish, aquatic mammals, aquatic vegetation and waterfowl were analyzed by high-resolution gamma spectroscopy to determine gamma-emitting radionuclide concentrations. Analytical results and interpretation of studies conducted during 1979-1980 are presented herein. In addition to naturally occurring radionuclides (Potassium-40, thorium and uranium decay products) and weapons-test fallout radionuclides (principally Cs-137 and Ce-144), low levels of Cobalt-60, Zinc-65, Cesium-134 and Cesium-137 attributed to the Peach Bottom facility were detected in biota and sediments of the Conowingo Pond, Susquehanna River and Susquehanna Flats.

• Research Organization: Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources, Annapolis (USA). Power Plant Siting Program
• OSTI ID: 6048566
• Report Number(s): PB-84-240175
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510301* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- Soil-- (-1987)
520301 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- Water-- (1987)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-PLUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CERIUM 144
CERIUM ISOTOPES
CESIUM 134
CESIUM 137
CESIUM ISOTOPES
COBALT 60
COBALT ISOTOPES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ECOLOGY
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FEDERAL REGION III
FISHES
HOURS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MARYLAND
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
POWER PLANTS
RADIOACTIVITY
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADIOECOLOGY
RADIOISOTOPES
RARE EARTH ISOTOPES
RARE EARTH NUCLEI
RIVERS
SEDIMENTS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
SUSQUEHANNA RIVER
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
USA
VERTEBRATES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
ZINC 65
ZINC ISOTOPES