Radiological surveys of Idaho phosphate ore processing - the Wet Process Plant. Technical note

Technical Report · Sat Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:6166561

Radiological surveys conducted at the J. R. Simplot's Wet Process Plant in Pocatello, Idaho indicate slightly elevated ambient levels of natural radioactivity. Compared to an estimated natural background annual dose equivalent rate of about 79 mrem, net gamma dose rates ranged from 42 mrem in general plant areas to 152 mrem per work year (2000 hours) on the ore piles. Ambient radon-222 concentrations, ranging from 0.14 to 1.9 pCi/l, were measured in several work areas, with polonium-210 and radium-226 being the most predominant radionuclides of the natural uranium decay series. Particle size characterization indicates roughly 52% of the arithmetic total radioactivity is associated with the particle size fraction less than one micrometer equivalent aerodynamic diameter. Stack sampling results also show that appreciable concentrations of the naturally-occurring radionuclides are being discharged into the local environs. In general, the dose estimates and the interpretation of results have been oriented toward evaluating the maximum potential impact of the plant on the environment; however, no attempt has been made to determine the annual average dose to workers within the plant from all exposure pathways.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, NV (USA). Office of Radiation Programs
• OSTI ID: 6166561
• Report Number(s): PB-283469
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DOSE RATES
ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FERTILIZER INDUSTRY
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HEAVY NUCLEI
IDAHO
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
INDUSTRY
ISOTOPES
MONITORING
NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEI
ORE PROCESSING
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION
PHOSPHATES
PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
POLONIUM 210
POLONIUM ISOTOPES
PROCESSING
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOACTIVITY
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIUM 226
RADIUM ISOTOPES
RADON 222
RADON ISOTOPES
USA
WASTES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES