Comparison of radionuclide levels in soil, sagebrush, plant litter, cryptogams, and small mammals

Abstract

Soil, sagebrush, plant 1 i tter, cryptogam, and small mammal samples were collected and analyzed for cesium-137, strontium-90, plutonium-238, plutonium 239/240, technetium-99, and iodine-129 from 1981 to 1986 at the U.S. Department of Energy Hanford Site in southeastern Washington State as part of site characterization and environmental monitoring activities. collected on the 200 Areas Plateau, downwind from ongoing waste management activities. Samples were Plant litter, cryptogams, and small mammals are media that are not routinely utilized in monitoring or characterization efforts for determination of radionuclide concentrations. Studies at Hanford, other U.S. Department of Energy sites, and in eastern Europe have indicated that plant litter and cryptogams may serve as effective "natural" monitors o f air quality. litter in this study consists of fallen leaves from sagebrush and "cryptogams" describes that portion of the soil crust composed of mosses, lichens, algae, Plant and fungi. Comparisons of cesium-137 and strontium-90 concentrations in the soil, sagebrush, litter, and cryptogams revealed significantly higher (pt0.05) levels in plant 1 itter and cryptogams. in sagebrush and litter. concentrations never exceeded 0.8 pCi/gm in all media. Technetium-99 values were the highest Plutonium-238 and 239/40 and iodine-129 No evidence of any i i i WHC-EP-0771 significant amounts o f any radionuclides being incorporated into the small mammal community was discovered. The data indicate that plant litter and cryptogams may be better indicators of environmental quality than s o i l or vegetation samples. Augmenting a monitoring program with samples o f litter and cryptogams may provide a more accurate representation o f radionuclide environmental uptake and/or contamination levels in surrounding ecosystems. The results o f this study may be applied directly to other radioecological monitoring conducted at other nuclear sites and to the monitoring o f other pollutants.

Preoperational Environmental Survey for the Spent Nuclear Fuel (SNF) Project Facilities

“…Cryptogam samples are often more sensitive indicators of environmental quality in areas affected by airborne pollutants (Landeen et al 1994, Richardson 1992). …”

Preoperational Environmental Survey for the Spent Nuclear Fuel (SNF) Project Facilities

“…Cryptogam (mosses/lichens) samples were collected from the area near the associated soil and plant samples. Cryptogam samples are often more sensitive indicators of environmental quality in areas affected by airborne pollutants (Landeen et al 1994, Richardson 1992).…”