Radioactivity associated with biota and soils of the 216-A-24 Crib

Technical Report · Thu Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6323674· OSTI ID:6323674

Klepper, E L; Rogers, L E; Hedlund, J D; Schreckhise, R G

The 216-A-24 Crib was used from 1958 to 1966 to receive condensate (/sup 137/Cs, /sup 90/Sr) from the 241-A and 241-AX Tank Farms. In 1975, rabbitbrush plants (Chrysothamnus nauseosus) growing on the crib were found to contain radioactive materials. Highest levels of activity and densest stands of rabbitbrush plants were in the center of the second section of the crib where a Geiger--Mueller count rate meter showed surface exposure rates of certain plants to be as high as 125 times background. Of the 519 shrubs on the second section, 364 were at background, 62 were up to 10 times background, and 93 were over 10 times background. Contaminated shrubs were restricted to the center of the crib; all shrubs more than 6 meters away from the centerline were at background levels. The shrubs appeared to absorb /sup 137/Cs and trace amounts of other fission products from within or below the gravel layers. The gravel appeared to retain significant amounts of /sup 137/Cs. Soil above the gravel layers was not contaminated. Cesium-137 was detectable in the upper cm of soil and in the litter, especially beneath canopies of plants with high levels of /sup 137/Cs in their leaves. Some animal samples collected on the crib contained /sup 137/Cs. Insect species associated with a rabbitbrush shrub containing /sup 137/Cs and its litter showed higher levels of /sup 137/Cs than other wider-ranging species caught in pitfall traps and by hand. Two out of seven pocket mice contained detectable amounts of /sup 137/Cs with 70% of the total body burden in the muscle and skeleton. Recommendations for restoration of the crib surface include eradication of rabbitbrush plants, removal of the surface centimeter of soil on the central 12 meters of the crib, removal of the cobble layer from the surface, installation of a one-foot layer of clean soil and revegetation of the surface with cheatgrass. 12 figures, 14 tables.

• Research Organization: Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-06-1830
• OSTI ID: 6323674
• Report Number(s): PNL-1948
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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