Environmental assessments for the existing radioactive materials in the Weldon Spring raffinate pits. [Various radioactive residues and wastes from processing of uranium and thorium between 1957 and 1966]
Abstract
Various radioactive residues (raffinates) and wastes from the processing of uranium and thorium between 1957 and 1966 are stored in four pits at Weldon Spring, Missouri. The US Department of Energy (DOE) plans to stabilize all the contaminated materials on a long-term (more than 1000-year) basis. The effectiveness of stabilization measures are evaluated by estimating radioactive releases under two options: (1) no action, and (2) improved containment using the existing raffinate pits. Two major pathways of radiation exposure are examined: (1) airborne radioactive gases and particulates, and (2) seepage into near-surface groundwater. The relative reductions of releases into the air and groundwater for a reference stabilization option (improved containment) are analyzed using mathematical models for radioactive and particulate gas fluxes and atmospheric dispersion, as well as groundwaterr transport and dispersion. The consequent health risks for nearby individuals and the general public are also evaluated. This study focuses on the migration of radionuclides under existing conditions and evaluates the effectiveness of proposed stabilization measures at the pits. Results indicate that the potential effects to the general public would be insignificant. 22 refs., 2 figs., 6 tabs.
- Authors:
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Camp Dresser and McKee, Inc., Chicago, IL (USA); Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 6475012
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8511127-2
ON: DE86003069
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31-109-ENG-38
- Resource Type:
- Conference
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Conference on technology and science, Newton, MA, USA, 29 Nov 1985; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.; GROUND WATER; RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION; HUMAN POPULATIONS; RADIATION DOSES; MISSOURI; RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE; RADIUM 226; RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION; SURFACE AIR; THORIUM 230; URANIUM 238; ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY; EXPERIMENTAL DATA; HEALTH HAZARDS; RADIUM 228; STABILIZATION; THORIUM 232; URANIUM 234; ACTINIDE ISOTOPES; ACTINIDE NUCLEI; AIR; ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES; ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES; BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES; BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES; DATA; DOSES; ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION; ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT; EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI; FEDERAL REGION VII; FLUIDS; GASES; HAZARDS; HEAVY NUCLEI; HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS; INFORMATION; ISOTOPES; MANAGEMENT; MASS TRANSFER; NORTH AMERICA; NUCLEI; NUMERICAL DATA; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; POPULATIONS; RADIOISOTOPES; RADIUM ISOTOPES; STORAGE; THORIUM ISOTOPES; URANIUM ISOTOPES; USA; WASTE MANAGEMENT; WASTE STORAGE; WATER; YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES; 054000* - Nuclear Fuels- Health & Safety; 053000 - Nuclear Fuels- Environmental Aspects; 500300 - Environment, Atmospheric- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (-1989); 520301 - Environment, Aquatic- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- Water- (1987); 560171 - Radiation Effects- Nuclide Kinetics & Toxicology- Man- (-1987)
Citation Formats
Yang, J Y, and Wang, J. Environmental assessments for the existing radioactive materials in the Weldon Spring raffinate pits. [Various radioactive residues and wastes from processing of uranium and thorium between 1957 and 1966]. United States: N. p., 1985.
Web.
Yang, J Y, & Wang, J. Environmental assessments for the existing radioactive materials in the Weldon Spring raffinate pits. [Various radioactive residues and wastes from processing of uranium and thorium between 1957 and 1966]. United States.
Yang, J Y, and Wang, J. 1985.
"Environmental assessments for the existing radioactive materials in the Weldon Spring raffinate pits. [Various radioactive residues and wastes from processing of uranium and thorium between 1957 and 1966]". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/6475012.
@article{osti_6475012,
title = {Environmental assessments for the existing radioactive materials in the Weldon Spring raffinate pits. [Various radioactive residues and wastes from processing of uranium and thorium between 1957 and 1966]},
author = {Yang, J Y and Wang, J},
abstractNote = {Various radioactive residues (raffinates) and wastes from the processing of uranium and thorium between 1957 and 1966 are stored in four pits at Weldon Spring, Missouri. The US Department of Energy (DOE) plans to stabilize all the contaminated materials on a long-term (more than 1000-year) basis. The effectiveness of stabilization measures are evaluated by estimating radioactive releases under two options: (1) no action, and (2) improved containment using the existing raffinate pits. Two major pathways of radiation exposure are examined: (1) airborne radioactive gases and particulates, and (2) seepage into near-surface groundwater. The relative reductions of releases into the air and groundwater for a reference stabilization option (improved containment) are analyzed using mathematical models for radioactive and particulate gas fluxes and atmospheric dispersion, as well as groundwaterr transport and dispersion. The consequent health risks for nearby individuals and the general public are also evaluated. This study focuses on the migration of radionuclides under existing conditions and evaluates the effectiveness of proposed stabilization measures at the pits. Results indicate that the potential effects to the general public would be insignificant. 22 refs., 2 figs., 6 tabs.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6475012},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985},
month = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985}
}