Annual environmental monitoring report, January--December 1977

Technical Report · Tue Apr 25 04:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:6689382

During 1977, the Rocky Flats Plant conducted an environmental monitoring program that included the sampling and analysis of air, water, and soil on and off the plant site. Also, measurements of penetrating-radiation dose in the environment were made using thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD's). Particulate samples were collected from air samplers that operated continuously at distances of 3 to 6 kilometers (2 to 4 miles) from the Plant and in 12 communities that range approximately 19 to 26 kilometers (12 to 16 miles) from the Plant. Analysis of these samples indicated that the levels of airborne plutonium in communities surrounding the Plant were within the range attributed to fallout from atmospheric nuclear weapons testing. During 1977, all sanitary wastes were processed through a tertiary treatment facility before being discharged from the Plant. Five daily fluoride concentrations exceeded the daily maximum limitation of 1.7 mg/l. Two daily biochemical oxygen demand concentrations exceeded the daily maximum limitation of 25 mg/l. The plutonium, uranium, americium, and tritium radioactivity concentrations measured in Great Western Reservoir and in Standley Lake during 1977 were found to be less than 0.08 percent of the applicable RCG. Plutonium, uranium, and americium radioactivity concentrations measured in the drinking water from nine communities in the area averaged less than 0.04 percent of the applicable RCG. Analysis of 57 soil samples collected during 1977 indicated little change in the plutonium concentration in soil. An assessment was made of the potential Plant contribution in 1977 to public radiation dose. Results indicated that the maximum individual dose for that year at the Plant perimeter was approximately 0.17 millirem per year. Total dose to the population living within 80 kilometers (50 miles) was calculated to be 208 man-rem.

• Research Organization: Atomics International Div., Golden, CO (USA). Rocky Flats Plant
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-04-3533
• OSTI ID: 6689382
• Report Number(s): RFP-ENV-77
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500300* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
510301 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- Soil-- (-1987)
520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
520301 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- Water-- (1987)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560151 -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Man
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
AIR
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
AMERICIUM 241
AMERICIUM ISOTOPES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CHEMICAL EFFLUENTS
DOSES
DRINKING WATER
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FLUIDS
GASES
HEAVY NUCLEI
HUMAN POPULATIONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
MONITORING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM 238
PLUTONIUM 239
PLUTONIUM 240
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
POPULATIONS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOACTIVITY
RADIOISOTOPES
ROCKY FLATS PLANT
SOILS
SURFACE AIR
SURFACE WATERS
TRITIUM
URANIUM 234
URANIUM 235
URANIUM 238
URANIUM ISOTOPES
US AEC
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTES
WATER
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES