Radionuclide concentrations and dose assessment of cistern water and groundwater at the Marshall Islands

Technical Report · Mon Mar 16 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:6568153

Noshkin, V E; Eagle, R J; Wong, K M; Jokela, T A; Robison, W L

A radiological survey was conducted from September through November of 1978 to determine the concentrations of radionuclides in the terrestrial and marine environments of 11 atolls and 2 islands in the Northern Marshall Islands. More than 70 cistern and groundwater samples were collected at the atolls; the volume of each sample was between 55 and 100 l. The concentration of /sup 90/Sr in cistern water at most atolls is that expected from world-wide fallout in wet deposition. Except for Bikini and Rongelap, /sup 137/Cs concentrations in cistern water are in agreement with the average predicted concentrations from wet deposition. The /sup 239 +240/Pu concentrations are everywhere less than the predicted fallout concentrations except at Rongelap, Ailinginae, and Bikini where the measured and predicted concentrations are in general agreement. During the period sampled, most groundwater concentrations of /sup 90/Sr and /sup 137/Cs were everywhere higher than the concentrations in cistern water. Concentrations of the transurancies in filtered groundwater solution were everywhere comparable to or less than the concentrations in cistern water. It is concluded that the concentrations of radionuclides detected during any single period may not necessarily reflect the long-term average concentrations or the concentrations that might be observed if a lined well were extended above the surface. In any case, at all atolls the /sup 90/Sr and /sup 137/Cs concentrations in groundwater are below the concentration guidelines for drinking water recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency. The maximum annual dose rates and the 30- and 50-y integral doses are calculated for the intake of both cistern water and groundwater for each of the atolls.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 6568153
• Report Number(s): UCRL-52853(Pt.2)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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Aquatic-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- Water-- (1987)
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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CESIUM 137
CESIUM ISOTOPES
DOSES
ECOSYSTEMS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
GROUND WATER
HEAVY NUCLEI
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISLANDS
ISOTOPES
MARSHALL ISLANDS
MICRONESIA
MONITORING
NUCLEI
OCEANIA
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM 239
PLUTONIUM 240
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIOACTIVITY
RADIOISOTOPES
STRONTIUM 90
STRONTIUM ISOTOPES
SURFACE WATERS
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
WATER
WATER RESERVOIRS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES