Methods for assessing background levels of radiation and radioactive materials in the environment around uranium mills
Techniques and costs for determining background levels and mill contributions to the environment are assessed. Three specific programs are identified for the determination of natural background and mill contributions to that background. Since the most significant radiological impact to man within 10 km of mill tailings occurs through airborne /sup 222/Rn and its daughters, their measurement is emphasized in the suggested procedures. The next major radiological impact from the mills occurs through airborne movement of particulates from the mill and its tailings piles. Thus, the more sophisticated measurement technologies presented include measurements of airborne radionuclide particulates, as well as methods to measure the dose from /sup 222/Rn and its daughters. The most expensive methods for assessing background levels of radioactive materials around uranium mills allow a determination of uranium, thorium, and radium in water, soil, and vegetation, as well as air. The methodologies are organized by their increasing capital and operating costs. The more expensive techniques provide a better evaluation of the mill contribution to the environment. There is no single universal technique that is applicable to all mills.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 6530787
- Report Number(s):
- NUREG/CR-1253; PNL-3256; ON: TI86002766
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
FEED MATERIALS PLANTS
RADIATION MONITORING
SITE SELECTION
SAMPLING
BACKGROUND RADIATION
MILL TAILINGS
ORE PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE AEROSOLS
RADIOACTIVITY
RADON 222
URANIUM
ACTINIDES
AEROSOLS
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
COLLOIDS
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
HEAVY NUCLEI
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
ISOTOPES
METALS
MONITORING
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEI
PROCESSING
RADIATIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
RADON ISOTOPES
SOLID WASTES
SOLS
TAILINGS
WASTES
500300* - Environment
Atmospheric- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
053000 - Nuclear Fuels- Environmental Aspects