Radionuclides, Heavy Metals, and Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Soils Collected Around the Perimeter of Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Area G during 2006

Abstract

Twenty-one soil surface samples were collected in March around the perimeter of Area G, the primary disposal facility for low-level radioactive solid waste at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). Three more samples were collected in October around the northwest corner after elevated tritium levels were detected on an AIRNET station located north of pit 38 in May. Also, four soil samples were collected along a transect at various distances (48, 154, 244, and 282 m) from Area G, starting from the northeast corner and extending to the Pueblo de San Ildefonso fence line in a northeasterly direction (this is the main wind direction). Most samples were analyzed for radionuclides ( Pu, and 239,240 Pu above the RSRLs. Overall, all concentrations of radionuclides, heavy metals, and PCBs that were detected above background levels in soils collected around the perimeter of Area G and towards the Pueblo de San Ildefonso boundary were still very low and far below LANL screening levels and regulatory standards.

Baseline Radionuclide and Nonradionuclide Concentrations in Soils, Vegetation, and Small Mammals at the Proposed Expansion Area at TA-54 Area G

“… Pu, 239,240 Pu,241 Am, 234 U, and 238 U than the RSRLs(Table 7). These results, with the exception of uranium isotopes, reflect those usually reported in soil and vegetation(Fresquez, 2007) and mice(Fresquez et al, 2005b) samples collected within the active waste management area. The uranium in mice from the expansion area is naturally occurring (e.g., the ratio of 234 U and 238 U is close to one) and is not a concern; the…”

Beryllium in Surface Soils Collected within and around Los Alamos National Laboratory: 1992?2006

“…The majority of on-site soilsampling stations were located close to and downwind, if possible, from major facilities and/or operations at LANL in an effort to assess soils that may have been contaminated as a result of air stack emissions and fugitive dust. In addition, soil surface samples were collected around Area G, the Laboratory's principal low-level radioactive waste site at Technical Area (TA) 54, in 1996 (Fresquez et al 1997) and 2006(Fresquez 2006a) and around the Dual-Axis Radiographic Hydrodynamic Test (DARHT) facility, which is the Laboratory's principal explosive test site at TA-15. Pre-operation samples at the DARHT facility were collected from 1996-1999 (Fresquez et al 2001) and post-operation samples were collected from 2000-2006(Fresquez 2006b).…”