Radionuclide Concentrations in Air on the Hanford Site

Abstract

This report describes the air pathway effects of Hanford Site operations from 1991 through 2000 on local air quality. The end of production of nuclear materials onsite has greatly reduced the atmospheric emissions of radionuclides. This has led to concentrations in air on and around the Hanford Site that are near background levels for most radionuclides.A trend analysis such as this one allows scientists to look at data over a 10-year period and increases their understanding of air emissions. This was done by evaluating trends in air concentrations of selected radionuclides at numerous onsite and offsite locations, comparing measured concentrations to U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) concentration guides, evaluating hypothetical maximally exposed individual doses over the decade, and evaluating the contribution of individual radionuclides to overall dose.

Application of a Dry-Gas Meter for Measuring Air Sample Volumes in an Ambient Air Monitoring Network

“…These sampling locations were always collected in the same order on the same day, so sample durations for each sample over each sampling period were nearly identical. There were no local point sources, so the 14-d average gross beta concentrations at these three locations were expected to be nearly equal (Poston et al 2005;Fritz and Patton 2002). Similar to the previous comparison, there was more variability in measured sample volumes when the dry-gas meter method was used instead of the flow-rate method.…”

“…Part of the sample collection process includes determining sample volumes. The SESP monitoring network has historically determined air sample volume by measuring airflow rates with hand-held meters at the beginning and end of each sampling period, measuring the sample duration, computing an average airflow rate and then computing a sample volume (Fritz and Patton 2002). This method was presumed to provide sample volume measurements within acceptable limits of accuracy (Ϯ20%).…”

Historical Site Assessment: Select Hanford Reach National Monument Lands --

“…A number of reports have been issued that used the data stored in HEIS. Often these reports were trend reports that served to supplement the annual environmental reports (Miller et al 1977;Patton and Cooper 1993;Poston et al 1995;Antonio et al 2002;Fritz and Patton 2002). Although the trend reports may not be mentioned specifically, the data from these reports were captured in this data review.…”