An assessment of the reported leakage of anthropogenic radionuclides from the underground nuclear test sites at Amchitka Island, Alaska, USA to the surface environment

Dasher, Douglas H.; Hanson, W.C.; Read, Stan; Faller, Sven; Farmer, Dennis; Efurd, W.; Kelley, James M.; Patrick, Robert

doi:10.1016/s0265-931x(01)00102-3

Cited by 24 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Dasher et al (2002) recently examined possible leakage of anthropogenic radionuclides from the nuclear test sites on Amchitka to the surface environment, and did not find any evidence of leakage; that study did not include birds.…”

Section: Radionuclidesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metals and radionuclides in birds and eggs from Amchitka and Kiska Islands in the Bering Sea/Pacific Ocean ecosystem

Burger

Gochfeld

2007

Environ Monit Assess

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Metals and radionuclide levels in marine birds of the Aleutians are of interest because they are part of subsistence diets of the Aleut people, and can also serve as indicators of marine pollution. We examined geographic and species-specific variations in concentrations of radionuclides in birds and their eggs from Amchitka, the site of underground nuclear tests from 1965 to 1971, and Kiska Islands (a reference site) in the Aleutians, and the levels of lead, mercury and cadmium in eggs. In 2004 we collected common eiders (Somateria mollissima), tufted puffins (Fratercula cirrhata), pigeon guillemot (Cepphus columba) and glaucous-winged gulls (Larus glaucescens) from Amchitka and Kiska, and eggs from eiders and gulls from the two island. We also collected one runt bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) chick from both Amchitka and Kiska Islands. For most species, the levels of radionuclide isotopes were below the minimum detectable activity levels (MDA). Out of 74 cesium-137 analyses, only one composite (gulls) was above the MDA, and out of 14 composites tested for plutonium (Pu-239, 240), only one exceeded the MDA (a guillemots). Three composites out of 14 tested had detectable uranium-238. In all cases, the levels were low and close to the MDAs, and were below those reported for other seabirds. There were significant interspecific differences in metal levels in eggs: gulls had significantly higher levels of cadmium and mercury than the eiders, and eiders had higher levels of lead than gulls. There were few significant differences as a function of island, but eiders had significantly higher levels of cadmium in eggs from Kiska, and gulls had significantly higher levels of mercury on Kiska. The levels of cadmium and mercury in eggs of eiders and gulls from this study were above the median for cadmium and mercury from studies in the literature. The levels of mercury in eggs are within the range known to affect avian predators, but seabirds seem less vulnerable to mercury than other birds. However, the levels of mercury are within the action levels for humans, suggesting some cause for concern if subsistence Aleuts eat a large quantity of eggs.

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Section: Radionuclidesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metals and radionuclides in birds and eggs from Amchitka and Kiska Islands in the Bering Sea/Pacific Ocean ecosystem

Burger

Gochfeld

2007

Environ Monit Assess

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“…As discussed in this EPA report, at locations around surface ground zero, tritium concentrations continue to decrease faster than would be expected from tritium decay alone, indicating that dilution is also an important factor. In Dasher et al (2000), it was noted that "Observations of tritium at sites within the Long Shot watershed continue to provide evidence of an early escape of radioactive gases to the near-surface shortly after the October 1965 test (Faller and Farmer 1998)." Dasher further noted "These measurements do not appear to reflect long-term movement from the contaminated groundwater to the Long Shot Ground Zero surface environment" (Dasher et al 2000).…”

Section: Contaminants Of Concernmentioning

confidence: 99%

Record of Decision for Amchitka Surface Closure, Alaska

2008

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“…discharges show no differences in the mean and standard deviation values" (DOE 2000a). Dasher et al (2000) concluded that the elevated levels were associated with global fallout rather than the Amchitka tests.…”

Section: Surface Ecological and Human Health Risk Statusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-Term Surveillance and Maintenance Plan for the U.S. Department of Energy Amchitka, Alaska, Site

2008

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An assessment of the reported leakage of anthropogenic radionuclides from the underground nuclear test sites at Amchitka Island, Alaska, USA to the surface environment

Cited by 24 publications

References 18 publications

Metals and radionuclides in birds and eggs from Amchitka and Kiska Islands in the Bering Sea/Pacific Ocean ecosystem

Metals and radionuclides in birds and eggs from Amchitka and Kiska Islands in the Bering Sea/Pacific Ocean ecosystem

Record of Decision for Amchitka Surface Closure, Alaska

Long-Term Surveillance and Maintenance Plan for the U.S. Department of Energy Amchitka, Alaska, Site

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