Reasons for Radiological Environmental Monitoring
• Document Compliance with Regulations
• Verify Functioning of Effluent Controls
• Assess Impact of Releases
• Provide Timely Assessment of Accidental Releases
Reasons for Radiological Environmental Monitoring
• Provide Information to Public
• Provide Documentation for Litigation Defense
• Identify Trends Related to Plant Releases
Many Different Sources of Radiological Materials in the Environment
• Natural
• Power Production
• Industrial
• Military
• Medical
REMP Monitoring Pathways
• Generally Focuses on Monitoring Pathways Likely to Generate the Highest Dose to Man
• Looks Only at Groups or Individuals Most Likely to Receive the Highest Dose
• May or May Not Be the Best Indicator of Environmental Impact
REMP Guidance
• NRC– NUREGs 0472, 0473, 0475, 1301, 1302– Reg Guides 4.1, 4.8
• EPA– “Environmental Radioactivity Surveillance
Guide”, June 1972, ORP/SID 72-2.
• ANI
Factors That Impact Representative Air Sampling
• Micrometeorological Conditions• Vegetation that Serves as a Sink• Shielding from Nearby Structures• Resuspension Caused by Human Activities
Guidelines for Air Sampling
• EPA– “Network Design and Optimum Site Exposure Criteria
for Particulate Matter, “ EPA-450/4-87-009.www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/files/ambient/critera/reldocs
• ASTM– “Standard Guide for Choosing Locations and Sampling
Methods to Monitor Atmospheric Deposition at Non-Urban Locations,” ASTM D 5111-95, American Society for Testing and Materials, 1995.
Guidelines for Air Sample Location
• Homogeneous Ground Cover
• Naturally Vegetated or Grass
• Open
• Level
• Slope No Greater Than 15%
• 2-15 m Above Ground– As Near to Breathing Height as Possible
• Orient Towards Average Prevailing Wind
• Minimum 2 m Away Horizontally from Supporting Structures or Walls
Guidelines for Air Sample Location
• Maintain Seasonal Vegetation at Site at Least 1 m Below Sampling Intake
• Minimum 20 m from Tree Drip Line
Guidelines for Air Sample Location
• No Nearby Obstructions to Air Flow in Direction of Prevalent Wind From:– Buildings– Structures– Terrain
Guidelines for Air Sample Location
• Want to Sample Particulates Transported into Area, Not Local Dust
• Avoid Areas of High Resuspension Potential – Within 40 m of Major Highways– Unpaved Roads– Construction Sites– Areas of Heavy Agricultural Use
Guidelines for Air Sample Location
Liquid Sampling Considerations
• Control Sample Location Should Be Upstream Such That Facility Has No Influence on Sample Content
• Avoid Locations Where Current Reversal from Tidal Flow Could Contaminate Control Samples
Liquid Sampling Considerations
• Primary Sample Should Be Located:– Near Discharge– But Outside of Turbulent Mixing Zone (Near
Field)– Rule of Thumb for Rivers:
• 10 x Stream Width to Allow for Mixing
Liquid Sampling Considerations
• Liquid Releases Tend to be Periodic
• Grab Sampling of Questionable Value
• NUREGs Require Composite Samplers
• If Grab Sampling Performed, Need:– Date/Time of Sample– Plant Discharge Rate– Stream Flow Rate
Shoreline Sediment Considerations
• NUREGs Require – Sample from Downstream Area with Existing
or Potential Recreational Value– Control Location Not Required, But Very Good
Idea
Sediment Sampling
• Additional Locations Should Be Sampled to Determine Appropriateness of Routine Sample Sites
• Downstream Sample Should Be Taken Where Stream Flow is Greatest
• Samples Should Also Be taken in Areas that Favor Sedimentation
Sedimentation Greatest At:
• Inner Bank of River
• Behind Dams
• River Widenings
• Freshwater/Saltwater Interfaces– Precipitation– Flocculation
Sedimentation Samples
• Activity in Sediment Samples Do Not Necessarily Reflect Most Recent Release
• Only Top Layer or Most Recent Sediment Should Be Sampled
Leafy Vegetation Sampling
• Required to Sample “Broad Leaf Vegetation”– “Similar to Lettuce and Cabbage”– Turnips (leafy portion)– Spinach– Celery
Broad Leaf Vegetation
• Well Defined Leaf Blades
• Relatively Wide in Outline – (Not Needle or Linear)
• Leaf Area Typically Greater than 1 Square Inch
http://biology.usgs.gov/fgdc.veg/standards/appendix3.htm
Broad Leaf Vegetation
• Examples of Edible Broad Leaf Vegetation Where Leafy Portion is Consumed– Cabbage, Lettuce, Turnips (the leafy portion), Spinach,
Celery
Edible Broad Leaf Vegetation
• Examples of Edible Broad Leaf Vegetation Where Leafy Portion is Not Consumed– Corn, Sugar Beet, Peas, Beans, Soybean, Potato,
Cucumber, Kohlrabi, Tomato, Zucchini, Pokeweed
Leafy Vegetation SamplingWhat if Broad Leaf Unavailable?
• Reg Guide 4.8– “Nonedible Plants With Similar Characteristics
[Broad Leaf] May Be Substituted.”
Non-Edible Broad Leaf Vegetation
• Examples of Nonedible Broad Leaf Vegetation– Tobacco, Fast Growing Ornamentals
– Avoid Slow Growing Plant Which Would Integrate Activity Over a Long Period
Does Not Qualify for Sampling
• Why Not?
– Not Broad Leaf
– Not Typical Ingestion Pathway
– May Be Inhalation Pathway (Unless can Document “Did not inhale.”)
Potential Problems • Regulatory Guidance
– Monitor Pathways With Highest Dose Potential to Man
– Monitor Populations With Highest Dose Potential
– Monitor Agricultural Food Pathways
• Problems– Ag Food Pathways Disappearing
– Some REMP Samples Difficult to Obtain
– Measurable Environmental Concentrations Exist in Media that We Do Not Routinely Monitor
Time For A New Paradigm?
• Interveners– Monitor Other Pathways and Locations– C-14 (Europe)– Sr-90 (Tooth Fairy Project)– I-131 (Medical Sources)– Co-60/Cs-137/Am-241/etc. (Industrial Sources)