AN OVERVIEW OF CESIUM-137 CONTAMINATION IN A SOUTHEASTERN SWAMP ENVIRONMENT

Journal Article · Wed Apr 04 04:00:00 EDT 2007 · Operational Radiation Safety

OSTI ID:902182

Fledderman, P; Tim Jannik, T; Michael Paller, M

In the early 1960s, an area of privately owned swamp adjacent to the Savannah River Site (SRS) was contaminated by site operations. Studies conducted in 1974 estimated that approximately 925 GBq of {sup 137}Cs and 37 GBq of {sup 60}Co were deposited in the swamp. Subsequently, a series of surveys was initiated to characterize the contaminated environment. These surveys--composed of 52 monitoring locations--allow for continued monitoring at a consistent set of locations. Initial survey results indicated maximum {sup 137}Cs concentrations of 19.5 Bq g{sup -1} in soil and 8.7 Bq g{sup -1} in vegetation. By the 2004-2005 surveys, maximum concentrations had declined to 1-2 Bq g{sup -1} in soil and 0.4 Bq g{sup -1} in vegetation.

• Research Organization: SRS
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-96SR18500
• OSTI ID: 902182
• Report Number(s): WSRC-ESH-EMS-2006-00236
• Journal Information: Operational Radiation Safety, Journal Name: Operational Radiation Safety
• Publisher: pubinfo
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CESIUM 137
CONTAMINATION
MONITORING
PLANTS
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
SOILS
SWAMPS