Radionuclide concentrations in pinto beans, sweet corn, and zucchini squash grown in Los Alamos Canyon at Los Alamos National Laboratory

Abstract

Portions of thisSimilarly, most radionuclides in edible crop portions of beans, squash, and corn were detected in significantly higher (p ~0 . 0 1 and 0.05) concentrations than RBG. Most soil-to-plant concentration ratios for radionuclides in edible and nonedible crop tissues from LAC were within the default values given by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Environmental Protection Agency. All heavy metals in soils, as well as edible and nonedible crop tissues grown in soils from LAC, were within RBG concentrations. Overall, the total maximum net positive committed effective dose equivalent (CEDE)--the CEDE plus two sigma for each radioisotope minus background and then all positive doses summed--to a hypothetical SO-year resident that ingested 160 kg [352 lb.] of beans, corn, and squash in equal proportions, was 74 mrem y-l. This dose was below the International Commission on Radiological Protection permissible dose limit (PDL) of 100 mrem y-l from all pathways; however, the addition of other internal and external exposure route factors may increase the overall dose over the PDL. Also, the risk of an excess cancer fatality, based on 74 mrem y-', was 3 . 7 x 10'' (37 in a million), which is above the Environmental Protection Agency's (acceptable) guideline of one in a million.

Concentration Ratios for Cesium and Strontium in Produce Near Los Alamos

“…These results are consistent with the results reported previously by Fresquez et al (1997), White et al (1981), and Hakonson et al (1973): 0.01 to 0.06 for cesium-137 and 0.1 to 0.5 for strontium-90 (wet-weight basis). The data reported in Bennett et al (1996), Fresquez and Gonzales (2004), Hakonson and Bostick (1975), and Miera and Hakonson (1978) are not suitable for a direct calculation of the concentration ratios, but they are generally consistent with the ratios reported above.…”

Environmental surveillance and compliance at Los Alamos during 1996

“…The risk of an excess cancer fatality, based on 74 mredyr, was 3.7 x (37 in a million); which is below the EPA's limit guideline of (Fresquez et al, 1997b).…”

Site-Representative Biota Concentration Guides at Los Alamos

“…The concentration ratio for strontium-90 has been measured at and near Los Alamos (Fresquez 1997, Salazar 2006 For edible crop tissues, the ratios of wet-weight vegetation to soil are consistently less than 1 (Salazar 2006.) However, Fresquez 1997 reported a ratio of 4 for the non-edible tissues of pinto beans.…”