Document Details
Title:
TOWARDS INTERIM ACCEPTABLE SURFACE CONTAMINATION LEVELS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PLUTONIUM OXIDE
Author(s):
KATHREN, R L [* PACIFIC NORTHWEST LABORATORIES]
Subject Terms:
PLUTONIUM OXIDES; PLUTONIUM 239; RADIATION PROTECTION STANDARDS; CONTAMINATION; PLUTONIUM 238; AMERICIUM 241; PLUTONIUM 240; PLUTONIUM 242; HEALTH HAZARDS; INHALATION; DOSE RATES; CALCULATION METHODS; FOOD CHAINS; ACTIVITY LEVELS; MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE LEVEL; BIBLIOGRAPHIES
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:
1968 Apr 30
Declassification Status:
Never classified
Document Pages:
0020
Accession Number:
NV0071529
Document Number(s):
BNNLSA1510
Originating Research Org.:
* PACIFIC NORTHWEST LABORATORIES
OpenNet Entry Date:
1994 Aug 26
OpenNet Modified Date:
2003 Sep 18
Description/Abstract:
INCREASING USE OF PLUTONIUM-239 FOR REACTOR FUELS, ISOTOPIC POWER SOUR CES, AND NUCLEAR WARHEADS, AUGMENTS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A SERIOUS NON- NUCLEAR ACCIDENT DURING HANDLING, STORAGE, OR TRANSPORTATION. IF KILOG RAM QUANTITIES OF PLUTONIUM ARE INVOLVED IN FIRE, EXPLOSION, OR SIMILA R ACCIDENTS, WIDESPREAD CONTAMINATION OF THE SURROUNDING AREA WITH PLU TONIUM OXIDE-2 MIGHT ENSUE. THE PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL FACTORS PERTIN ENT TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ACCEPTABLE SURFACE CONTAMINATION FOR ENVIR ONMENTAL PLUTONIUM OXIDE-239 FOLLOWING AND ACCIDENT ARE CONSIDERED. AL THOUGH MUCH INFORMATION REGARDING THE HAZARDS OF PLUTONIUM-239 EXISTS, THERE ARE FEW DATA DIRECTLY APPLICABLE TO A SPECIFIC FIELD SITUATION. USING THE BEST AVAILABLE DATA, INCLUDING THE NEW INTERNATIONAL COMMIT TEE ON RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION ( ICRP ) LUNG MODEL, AND CONSERVATIVE A SSUMPTIONS, AN INITIAL AVERAGE CONTAMINATION LEVEL OF 0.04 MICROCI/MIL LI-2 WAS ESTIMATED AS SAFE FOR CONTINUOUS RESIDENCY IN URBAN, SUBURBAN , AND RECREATIONAL AREAS. THIS LEVEL IS COMPARABLE TO ALPHA CONTAMINAT ION LEVELS ESTABLISHED BY LAW IN SEVERAL COUNTRIES OR THOSE USED IN OP ERATIONAL HEALTH PHYSICS, BUT IS SEVERAL ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE LOWER THA N THOSE RECOMMENDED FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. HIGHER PERMISSIBLE LEVEL S ARE SUGGESTED FOR RURAL, REMOTE, AND CONTROLLED AREAS.