Survey of Radiological and Chemical Contaminants in the Near-Shore Environment at the Hanford Site 300 Area

Patton, Gregory W.; Verst, Scott P Van; Tiller, Brett L.; Antonio, Ernest J.; Poston, Ted M.

doi:10.2172/15003492

Cited by 11 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 12 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Uranium concentrations in 300 Area riverbank spring water indicate that, during some sampling events, the water being sampled consisted mainly of groundwater with little evidence of mixing with river water (Poston et al 2004). The SESP initiated further research into differences in uranium concentration at various depths in the riverbed at locations where groundwater was visibly discharging to the river (Patton et al 2003). A near-shore water-monitoring network was developed by the SESP that consisted of aquifer tubes and multilevel samplers installed at two of the most active riverbank springs along the 300 Area shoreline (Patton et al 2003).…”

Section: Previous Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The SESP initiated further research into differences in uranium concentration at various depths in the riverbed at locations where groundwater was visibly discharging to the river (Patton et al 2003). A near-shore water-monitoring network was developed by the SESP that consisted of aquifer tubes and multilevel samplers installed at two of the most active riverbank springs along the 300 Area shoreline (Patton et al 2003). Water samples were collected from the SESP aquifer-tube network in September 2001and February 2003(Patton et al 2003.…”

Section: Previous Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Investigation of the Hyporheic Zone at the 300 Area,Hanford Site

Fritz¹,

Kohn²,

Gilmore³

et al. 2007

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

SummaryAt the Hanford Site in southeastern Washington State, contaminated groundwater discharges to the Columbia River after passing through a zone of groundwater/river water interaction at the shoreline (i.e., the hyporheic zone). In the hyporheic zone, river water may infiltrate the riverbank during periods of high-river stage and mix with the approaching groundwater. Contaminants carried by groundwater may become diluted by the infiltrating river water, thus reducing concentrations at locations of exposure, such as riverbank springs and upwelling through the riverbed. There have been limited studies of contaminant concentrations, physical properties, or the extent of the hyporheic zone near the Hanford Site's 300 Area, yet this zone is a major interface for discharge of groundwater contamination into the Columbia River.The Remediation Task of the Remediation and Closure Science Project conducts research to meet several objectives concerning the discharge of groundwater contamination into the river at the 300 Area of the Hanford Site in Washington State. This report documents research conducted to meet these objectives by developing baseline data for future evaluation of remedial technologies, evaluating the effects of changing river stage on near-shore groundwater chemistry, improving estimates of contaminant flux to the river, providing estimates on the extent of contaminant discharge areas along the shoreline, and providing data to support computer models used to evaluate remedial alternatives. This report summarizes the activities conducted to date, and provides an overview of data collected through July 2006. Recent geologic investigations (funded through other U.S. Department of Energy [DOE] projects)have provided a more complete geologic interpretation of the 300 Area and a characterization of the vertical extent of uranium contamination. Extrapolation of this geologic interpretation into the hyporheic zone is possible, but little data are available to provide corroboration. Penetration testing was conducted along the shoreline to develop evidence to support the extrapolation of the mapping of the geologic facies. While this penetration testing provided evidence supporting the extrapolation of the most recent geologic interpretation, it also provided some higher-resolution detail on the shape of the layer that constrains contaminant movement. Information on this confining layer will provide a more-detailed estimate of the area of riverbed that has the potential to be impacted by uranium discharge to the river from groundwater transport.Water sampling in the hyporheic zone has provided results that illustrate the degree of mixing that occurs in the hyporheic zone. Uranium concentrations measured at individual sampling locations can vary by several orders of magnitude depending on the Columbia River and near-shore aquifer elevations. This report shows that the concentrations of all the measured constituents in water samples collected from the hyporheic zone vary according to the ratio of groundwater and C...

show abstract

Section: Previous Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Previous Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of the Hyporheic Zone at the 300 Area,Hanford Site

Fritz¹,

Kohn²,

Gilmore³

et al. 2007

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…(a) the 300 Area, which was used for fabricating uranium fuel rods, waste storage and disposal, and a wide range of research activities. Elevated uranium concentrations for 300 Area riverbank spring sediment have been reported previously (Patton et al 2002;Poston et al 2004). The maximum reported concentration for uranium isotopes for sediment from the 300 Area riverbank spring location is approximately 20% of the 50 pCi/g concentrations that would result in a 1-mrem dose to the hypothetical maximally exposed individual (Table 3.1; DOE/RL-91-50).…”

Section: Radionuclides In Sediment At Hanford Reach Riverbank Springsmentioning

confidence: 66%

“…In 2001, the Washington State Department of Health and the Hanford Site Surface Environmental Surveillance Project conducted a survey of radiological and chemical contaminants in the near-shore environment at the Hanford Site 300 Area (Patton et al 2002). Sediment samples from the 300 Area had elevated concentrations of strontium-90, cesium-137, and uranium compared to levels near the Vernita Bridge.…”

Section: Patton Et Al (2002) Survey Of Radiological and Chemical Comentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Operations at the Hanford Site have employed natural, enriched, and depleted uranium; thus, both the environmental concentrations and the isotopic ratios are important factors when evaluating potential Hanford Site contributions to Columbia River sediment. Riverbank spring water samples collected along the Hanford Site 300 Area (adjacent to a contaminated groundwater plume) have concentrations of uranium and gross alpha radioactivity that can exceed drinking water standards, with both concentrations decreasing rapidly upon release to the river (Poston et al 2005;Patton et al 2002). Columbia River water samples collected downstream from irrigation returns on the Franklin County shore (opposite to the Hanford Site) have elevated uranium concentrations, compared to mid-channel, and are likely related to the use phosphate fertilizer which contain traces of uranium (Poston et al 2005).…”

Section: Uranium Isotopes (Uranium-234 -235 -238) In Columbia and Smentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Summary of Radiological Monitoring of Columbia and Snake River Sediment, 1988 Through 2004

Patton¹,

Dirkes²

2007

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

SummaryOperation of the single-pass reactors at the Hanford Site resulted in the deposition of radionuclides, primarily short half-life activation products, to sediment accumulation areas on the Columbia River. Operation of the single-pass reactors ended in 1971, and a number of studies were conducted that documented the rapid decline in the radionuclide inventory in the sediment from the decay of short-lived radionuclides and the deposition of fresh sediment material. For the period from 1975 through 1988, environmental monitoring of Columbia River sediment was limited.From 1988 through 2004, samples of upper-layer sediments from the Columbia River and Snake River were collected under the Hanford Site Surface Environmental Surveillance Project to document concentrations and trends of radionuclides. Low concentrations of potassium-40, cesium-137, uranium isotopes, and plutonium isotopes were detected consistently in sediment samples over the entire sampling period. The concentrations of most radionuclides were similar to values measured upstream of the Hanford Site behind Priest Rapids Dam. For all locations, the concentrations of radionuclides in sediment samples from the Columbia and Snake rivers were below concentrations that would result in a 1-mrem effective dose equivalent to a hypothetical exposed individual using a shoreline exposure scenario (i.e., 500 hr/yr of external dose). The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) limit for public exposure is 100 mrem/yr. Discerning changes in concentration trends for uranium isotopes in sediment was complicated by the use of different methods for analyzing for the presence of uranium. During the period covered by this report, uranium concentrations had been measured using both low-energy photon spectroscopy (U-LEPS) and alpha energy analysis (U-AEA). The U-LEPS method did not report values for uranium-234 and had higher detection limits for uranium-235, with most uranium-235 results reported as below the detection limit. Radionuclide concentrations in sediment collected from riverbank spring discharges along the Hanford Site shoreline were similar to levels in Columbia River sediment, with one exception-the 300 Area, where the average uranium concentrations were usually two to three times the concentrations measured at Priest Rapids. For all locations, the concentrations of radionuclides in riverbank spring sediment samples were below concentrations that would result in a 1-mrem effective dose equivalent to the hypothetical maximally exposed individual using a shoreline exposure scenario (i.e., 500 hr/yr of external dose), which is below the DOE public exposure limit of 100 mrem/yr.

show abstract

Metal Concentrations, Foraging Distances, and Fledging Success of Great Blue Herons Nesting along the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River

Tiller¹,

Marco²,

Rickard³

2005

Environ Monit Assess

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

An ecological risk assessment of the spatial distribution of metal concentrations along the Hanford Reach of the free-flowing Columbia River in southcentral Washington, identified great blue herons, Ardea herodias, at potential risk through the ingestion of contaminated riverine biota, especially fish. We measured metal concentrations in livers of pre-flight herons from the Hanford Reach and excrement samples taken from the same nests. Nests were distributed among three colonies situated upstream and downstream from nine retired plutonium production reactors along the river where metals in reactor coolant waters had been released directly into the river or disposed to shoreline retention basins and ditches. Distances traveled by parent herons to foraging areas along the river shore were determined by visually tracking parent birds as they flew from nests to upriver and downriver foraging sites. Foraging flight distances varied between colonies with mean distances ranging between 0.7 and 3.1 km. Cadmium, Cr, and Pb concentrations were higher in excrement than in the livers of pre-flight herons but the opposite was noted for Cu, Hg, and Zn. Highest metal concentrations of Cr, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb, were measured in excrement taken from heron nests at the colony located upstream from all reactors. These results were consistent with metal concentrations reported in river sediment from the same regions, indicating excrement from the heron nests may be a useful indicator of dietary uptake of metals by herons. Fledging success and eggshell thickness measurements were used as an index of health of the local heron population. The results indicate that the reproductive health of great blue herons nesting along the Hanford Reach is among the highest reported in the continental United States.

show abstract

Survey of Radiological and Chemical Contaminants in the Near-Shore Environment at the Hanford Site 300 Area

Cited by 11 publications

References 12 publications

Investigation of the Hyporheic Zone at the 300 Area,Hanford Site

Investigation of the Hyporheic Zone at the 300 Area,Hanford Site

Summary of Radiological Monitoring of Columbia and Snake River Sediment, 1988 Through 2004

Metal Concentrations, Foraging Distances, and Fledging Success of Great Blue Herons Nesting along the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About