Radioactivity in Precipitation:Methods & Observations from Savannah River Site

Dennis Jackson P.E. & Timothy Jannik – Savannah River National LaboratoryMiranda LaBone – Clemson University

Rebecca Scheffler– University of South Carolina1

H3Tritium3.0160492

Presented to the Nuclear Energy Institute

2012 RETS/REMP WorkshopOrlando, Florida June 25 - 27, 2012

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Significant Sources of Radionuclides to Atmosphere:

Anthropogenic

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Major Atmospheric Sources in the Unites States:DOE Nuclear Sites (19)

2007 Point Source Emissions: •DOE: 39,542 Ci (25,088 Ci as H3)•Nuclear: 10,746 Ci ( 6,419 Ci as H3)

(Sources: Vazquez, 2009 & NRC, 2007)

Annual Reporting

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Monitoring Radionuclides: IAEA-GNIPInternational Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Global Network for Isotopes in Precipitation (GNIP)

Nor

thA

mer

ican

Stat

ions

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 20100

10

20

30

40

50

(IAEA WISER, 2011)

• 78 Stations in North America18O, H2, H3

• Welker (2000) & Vachon (2007)NTN 1989, 1991-1995

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Monitoring Radionuclides: EPA RADNET

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Savannah River Site Precipitation Monitoring Network:

Monitoring Sites•On-Site 1 -6•10 Mile 5 - 12•25 Mile 5 - 12•100 Mile 1 -4

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SRS Precipitation Sampling Equipment & Analysis:

Detail of Ion Exchange Column

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Average Alpha Deposition from Rainwater:A

lpha

Dep

ositi

on(p

Ci/s

q.m

)

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 201010-1

100

101

102

On-Site10 Mile (Perimeter)25 Mile100 Mile

(SRS Environmental Reports 1963 – 2010)

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Drinking Water Standard = 20,000 pCi/L

Act

ivity

(pC

i/L)

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010100

101

102

103

104

On-Site10 Mile (Perimeter)25 Mile100 Mile

Average Tritium Activity in Rainwater - SRS

(SRS Environmental Reports 1971 – 2010)

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Average Tritium Activity in Rainwater – SRS & IAEADrinking Water Standard = 20,000 pCi/L

Act

ivity

(pC

i/L)

Triti

umU

nit(

TU)

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010100

101

102

103

104

101

102

103

104

105

(SRS Environmental Reports 1971 – 2010 & IAEA WISER, 2011)

NC

CANNM

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Conclusions & Observations:

• Gross Alpha Deposition:

• 1960’s - 1980’s: SRS Contribution Indistinguishable due to Fallout,

• 1990’s - On-Site not different than Surrounding Environment.

• Tritium Activity in Precipitation: • Activity Decreases as Distance from SRS Increases,

• Observations in Vicinity of SRS are Greater Than IAEA Observations,

• SRS & IAEA Indicate Overall Decrease in Tritium over 40 years.

• What are Contributions from Nuclear Power Facilities?

• A Basis for Larger, Independent Monitoring Network?

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Additional Information & Resources:

SRS Environmental Reports:http://www.srs.gov/general/pubs/ERsum/index.html

IAEA Water Isotope System for Data Analysis, Visualization, and Electronic Retrieval (WISER):

http://www-naweb.iaea.org/napc/ih/IHS_resources_isohis.html

US EPA RADMAP:http://www.epa.gov/narel/radnet/

Nuclear Power Effluent and Environmental Reports:http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/ops-

experience/tritium/plant-info.html

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DOE Nuclear & NRC Licensed Reactors in United States:

DOE Nuclear Facilities

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Would NTN be a Suitable Network for Tritium?