Background concentrations of radionuclides in soils and river sediments in northern New Mexico, 1974-1986

Abstract

This report documents the range and the upper limit for background concentrations of radionuclides and radioactivity in soils and river sediments that occur as natural rock-forming minerals and worldwide fallout from atmospheric nuclear weapons tests. Documentation is based on the collection of soil and sediment in northern New Mexico and analyzed for 137 Cs, 238 Pu, 23a240 p U! 90 Sr. total uranium, gross gamma, and tritium. The data used to establish the statistical range and upper limit of background concentration cover a 9-or 13-year period ending in 1986. The knowledge of background levels is necessary to interpret soil and sediment data collected for the annual environmental surveillance report and other reports relating to radionuclides or radioactivity in soils and sediments.

Strontium concentrations in chamisa (Chrysothamnus nauseosus) shrub plants growing in a former liquid waste disposal area in Bayo Canyon

“…Canyon/State Road 4 intersection in 1994 (EPG 1995) were still within regional (background) concentrations (0.87 pCi g-1) (Purtymun et al 1987), however. Also, all uranium concentrations in soils collected from underneath and between charnisa plants growing over SWMU 10-003(c) were within background soil concentrations.…”

Concentrations of Radionuclides and Trace Elements in Soils and Vegetation Around the DARHT Facility during 2004

“…All containers were fitted with chain-of-custody tape, placed into individual Ziploc® plastic bags, transported in a locked ice chest cooled to approximately 4 °C, and submitted to Paragon Analytics, Inc., for the analysis of trace elements (Ag, As, Ba, Be, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, and Tl) All methods of analysis have been previously reported (Purtymun et al 1987;Fresquez et al, 1996aFresquez et al, , 1996bNyhan et al, 2001aNyhan et al, , 2001b. Results are reported in pCi/mL (of soil moisture) for 3 H, pCi/g dry soil for all the other radioisotopes, and µg/g (ppm) for trace elements (dry weight basis) (see Nyhan et al [2002] for a detailed description of total propagated analytical uncertainty [TPU]).…”

Effects of the Cerro Grande Fire (Smoke and Fallout Ash) on Soil Chemical Properties Within and Around Los Alamos National Laboratory

“…Soil samples were collected after the (Purtymun et al, 1980;Purtymun et al, 1987;Fresquez et al, 1996) …”

“…(Purtymun et al, 1980;Purtymun et al, 1987;Fresquez et al, 1998). The objective of this study then was to compare radionuclides and nonradionuclides in soil samples collected directly after the fire to soil samples collected in 1999 .…”