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Plutonium release from the 903 pad at Rocky Flats
T R Mongan1, S R Ripple, K D Winges
1ChemRisk Division, McLaren/Hart Environmental Engineering, Inc., Alameda, CA 94501, USA.
Health Physics
|October 1, 1996
Summary
This study estimated plutonium released from Rocky Flats nuclear plant operations. Accidental releases from the 903 Pad contaminated soil, leading to an estimated effective dose of 72 microSv to the public.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Nuclear Chemistry
- Public Health
Background:
- Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant operations led to environmental contamination.
- Accidental releases of plutonium and uranium occurred from stored waste oil at the 903 Pad.
- Corroding drums leaked contaminants, which were dispersed by wind.
Purpose of the Study:
- To reconstruct contaminant doses to the public from Rocky Flats plant operations.
- To analyze the accidental release of plutonium from the 903 Pad.
- To estimate off-site airborne concentrations and deposition for dose calculations.
Main Methods:
- Utilized environmental data from the 1960s and 1970s.
- Employed an atmospheric transport model for fugitive dust.
- Estimated plutonium release using historical data and modeling.
Main Results:
- Estimated total plutonium release beyond plant property at 0.26 TBq (7 Ci).
- Calculated off-site airborne concentrations and deposition of plutonium.
- Predicted the highest off-site effective dose to be approximately 72 microSv (7.2 mrem).
Conclusions:
- The study provides an estimate of public exposure to plutonium from Rocky Flats.
- Findings are crucial for understanding the long-term health impacts of nuclear plant operations.
- The methodology can inform future environmental impact assessments for similar sites.