Transport of plutonium in snowmelt run-off
Plutonium in treated low-level radioactive effluents released into intermittent streams is bound by ion exchange or adsorption to bed sediments in the stream channel. These sediments are subject to transport with summer and spring snowmelt run-off. A study was made of the transport of plutonium during seven spring run-off events in Los Alamos and Pueblo canyons from the Laboratory boundary to Otowi on the Rio Grande. The melting of the snowpack during these years resulted in run-off that was large enough to reach the eastern edge of the Laboratory. Of these seven run-off events recorded at the Laboratory boundary, only five had sufficient flow to reach the Rio Grande. The volume of the five events that reached the river ranged from 5 {times} 10{sup 3} m{sup 3} to 104 {times} 10{sup 3} m{sup 3}. The five run-off events carried 119 {times} 10{sup 3} kg of suspended sediments and 1073 {times} 10{sup 3} kg of bed sediments, and transported 598 {mu}Ci of plutonium to the river. Of the 598 {mu}Ci of plutonium, 3% was transported in solution, 57% with suspended sediments, and 40% with bed sediments. 13 refs., 3 figs., 6 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE/MA
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 6749883
- Report Number(s):
- LA-11795-MS; ON: DE90013623
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Multimedia contaminant environmental exposure assessment methodology as applied to Los Alamos, New Mexico
Predicted erosion and sediment delivery of fallout plutonium
Related Subjects
PLUTONIUM
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
SEDIMENTS
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
ADSORPTION
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
LANL
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS
RUNOFF
SEDIMENT-WATER INTERFACES
SNOW
STORMS
STREAMS
ACTINIDES
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
DISASTERS
ELEMENTS
INTERFACES
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
METALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SORPTION
SURFACE WATERS
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTES
540230* - Environment
Terrestrial- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
540330 - Environment
Aquatic- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)