Document Details
Title:
EVALUATION OF PLUTONIUM AT ENEWETAK ATOLL
Author(s):
Subject Terms:
PLUTONIUM; ECOSYSTEMS; GAMMA RADIATION; FISSION PRODUCTS; RADIOACTIVITY; ANIMALS
Document Location:
Location - DOE/NNSA NUCLEAR TESTING ARCHIVE Address - P.O. Box 98521 City - Las Vegas State - NV Zip - 89193-8521 Phone - (702)794-5106 Fax - (702)862-4240 Email - NTA@NV.DOE.GOV
Document Type:
REPORT
Publication Date:
1975 Oct 31
Declassification Status:
Never classified
Document Pages:
0013
Accession Number:
NV0045065
Originating Research Org.:
LAWRENCE LIVERMORE LABORATORY, U. OF CA
OpenNet Entry Date:
1994 Aug 26
OpenNet Modified Date:
2003 Sep 18
Description/Abstract:
AN EXTENSIVE SURVEY WAS CARRIED OUT IN 1972-1973 TO ASSESS THE CURRENT RADIOLOGICAL STATUS OF ENEWETAK ATOLL. THE RADIONUCLIDES DETECTED IN THE ATOLL ENVIRONMENT WERE STUDIED FOR THEIR POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS T O THE DOSE COMMITMENT OF THE RETURNING POPULATION ACCORDING TO SEVERAL PATHWAYS OF EXPOSURE. PLUTONIUM WAS DETECTED IN AIR AND IN THE TERRES TRIAL AND AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT AT CONCENTRATIONS THAT VARIED FROM BACKG ROUND LEVELS DUE TO WORLD-WIDE FALLOUT TO LEVELS SEVERAL ORDERS-OF-MAG NITUDE ABOVE. THE DOSE COMMITMENTS FROM PLUTONIUM VIA THE TERRESTRIAL FOOD CHAIN AND INHALATION VARY ACCORDING TO THE POSTULATED LIVING PATT ERN. THE DOSAGES VIA MARINE FOODS CAN BE EXPECTED TO BE INSENSITIVE TO LIVING PATTERN AND TO EXCEED THOSE VIA TERRESTRIAL FOODS. PLUTONIUM WO ULD CONTRIBUTE NEARLY ALL OF THE DOSAGE VIA INHALATION, BUT THIS PATHW AY RANKS LOW IN OVERALL IMPORTANCE COMPARED WITH THE FOOD-CHAIN AND EX TERNAL-DOSE PATHWAYS. ALTHOUGH THE POTENTIAL DOSE FROM PLUTONIUM VIA A LL PATHWAYS IS LOW RELATIVE TO THAT FROM CO-60, SR-90, AND CS-137, PLU TONIUM WILL STILL REMAIN IN THE ATOLL ENVIRONMENT AFTER THE OTHER MAJO R ISOTOPES HAVE DECAYED AWAY.