Transuranium and other long-lived radionuclides in the terrestrial environs of nuclear power plants. Final report

The purpose of this research was to ascertain the contribution of certain radioactive elements, especially transuranics, to the environment from nuclear power plants as opposed to that from fallout due to weapon testing. Of the radioactive nuclides, alpha emitter, e.g., plutonium, are considered the most hazardous to human health; hence, the extent to which power plants may release plutonium to the environment is a matter of concern. Samples of soil, plants, and air were taken at four nuclear power plants: Rancho Seco (California), Zion (Illinois). Browns Ferry (Alabama), and Quad-Cities (Illinois). For background purposes, samples were also collected at 10 sites in Idaho, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia that were remote from nuclear plants. Samples were analyzed for plutonium, americium, and curium as well as for a number of other species. Emphasis was on plutonium because the ratio of 238Pu to 239240Pu can be used to distinguish reactor plutonium from fallout plutonium. The power plant contribution to the environment of the elements tested is negligible. With plutonium, for example, the absolute concentration of the element differed greatly from plant to plant and even from site to site at a given plant; however, the 238Pu/239240Pu ratio was remarkably constant and, with rare exceptions, could not be distinguished from the ratios of background samples. At a few localities, for some elements, a power plant contribution could be recognized. In such cases, despite a power plant contribution, the absolute concentration of the element was below a national background value