A comparison of {sup 137}Cs radioactivity in localized evergreen and deciduous plant species
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, NM (United States)
- Texas A&M Univ., College Station, TX (United States)
A vegetation study at the Comanche Steam Electric Station (CPSES) in Texas was conducted in 1991 and 1992. The CPSES is a commercial nuclear power plant. The CPSES environmental monitoring program collects broadleaf vegetation samples as per the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Broadleaf trees are scarce in the area because of local climate, soils, and geology. The dominate tree is an evergreen juniper. Few broadleaves are available during winter for sampling. This study compared the environmental {sup 137}C s radioactivity between broadleaf and evergreen foliage. The study`s objective was to determine if {sup 137}C s radioactivity is statistically the same in the deciduous and evergreen vegetation. Radioactivity from the same statistical population could allow the sampling program to collect evergreen (junipers) foliage. Broadleaf and evergreen tree leaf samples were collected on and off the CPSES area. Gamma-ray spectrometry was performed on the samples to measure {sup 137}Cs radioactivity. The means of the {sup 137}Cs concentrations in broadleaf and evergreen foliage samples were found to be statistically the same and therefore from the same population. This study`s conclusion is that evergreen leaves from juniper trees can be used to supplement and/or substitute for the broadleaf samples currently collected. This change in foliage collection, if approved by the NRC, would allow the CPSES to better satisfy its environmental sampling regulatory requirements.
- OSTI ID:
- 393978
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9607135-; ISSN 0017-9078; TRN: 96:028661
- Journal Information:
- Health Physics, Vol. 70, Issue Suppl.6; Conference: 41. Annual Meeting of the Health Physics Society, Seattle, WA (United States), 21-25 Jul 1996; Other Information: PBD: Jun 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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