Radon and radon-daughter concentrations in air in the vicinity of the Anaconda Uranium Mill
Radon concentration, working level, and meteorological variables were measured continuously from June 1977 through June 1978 at three stations in the vicinity of the Anaconda Uranium Mill with measurements integrated to hourly intervals. Both radon and daughters show strong variations associated with low wind velocities and stable atmospheric conditions, and diurnal variations associated with thermal inversions. Average radon concentration shows seasonal dependence with highest concentrations observed during fall and winter. Comparison of radon concentrations and working levels between three stations shows strong dependence on wind direction and velocity. Radon concentrations and working-level distributions for each month and each station were analyzed. The average maximum, minimum, and modal concentration and working levels were estimated with observed frequencies. The highest concentration is 11,000 pCi/m/sup 3/ on the tailings. Working-level variations parallel radon variations but lag by less than one hour. The highest working levels were observed at night when conditions of higher secular radioactive equilibrium for radon daughters exist. Background radon concentration was measured at two stations, each located about 25 km from the mill, and the average is 408 pCi/m/sup 3/. Average working-level background is 3.6 x 10/sup -3/.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31-109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 5869047
- Report Number(s):
- NUREG/CR-1133; ANL/ES-81; TRN: 80-000156
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
ANACONDA URANIUM MILL
RADIATION MONITORING
DAUGHTER PRODUCTS
RADON
AIR POLLUTION
DATA COMPILATION
GRAPHS
METEOROLOGY
MINING
NEW MEXICO
ORE PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE AEROSOLS
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
TABLES
URANIUM ORES
VELOCITY
WIND
AEROSOLS
COLLOIDS
DATA
DATA FORMS
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
FEED MATERIALS PLANTS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INFORMATION
ISOTOPES
MONITORING
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUMERICAL DATA
ORES
POLLUTION
PROCESSING
RARE GASES
SOLS
SOUTHWEST REGION
USA
VARIATIONS
500300* - Environment
Atmospheric- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
510300 - Environment
Terrestrial- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
050400 - Nuclear Fuels- Feed Processing