Radionuclides in Small Mammals Collected at the Dual-Axis Radiographic Hydrodynamic Test (DARHT) Facility during 2001-- 2003

Fresquez, P.R.

doi:10.2172/836135

Cited by 1 publication

(2 citation statements)

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“…While most of these metals in birds were just above the RSRLs, the highest amount of As (0.90 mg/kg) and Ag (0.60 mg/kg) were about one and two orders of magnitude higher than background, respectively. Because bird pelts (skin plus feathers) collected before the start up of operations showed higher concentrations of these metals than RSRLs and because there is no evidence of these metals being elevated in soil and sediment collected directly around the DARHT facility (Fresquez 2005 and, the source of these metals may be from other sites other than the DARHT facility.…”

Section: Trace Element Concentrationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The few detected 234 U and 238 U concentrations occurred mostly in birds collected in 2003, and the distribution of these radionuclides was indicative of depleted uranium. Depleted uranium, a metal used as a substitute for the enriched uranium in weapon components tested at LANL, has also been detected in soil and vegetation (Fresquez 2004), bees (Hathcock and Haarmann 2004), and small mammals (Fresquez 2005) around the DARHT facility.…”

Section: A Abundance and Composition Of Birdsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Bird Surveys at DARHT Before and During Operations: Comparison of Species Abundance and Composition and Trace Element Uptake

Fresquez¹,

Keller²,

Hathcock³

2007

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The Dual-Axis Radiographic Hydrodynamic Test (DARHT) FacilityMitigation Action Plan specifies the comparison of baseline conditions in biotic and abiotic media with those collected after operations have started. Operations at DARHT at Los Alamos National Laboratory started in 2000. In this study, the abundance and composition of birds collected near the DARHT facility from 2003 through 2006 were determined and compared to a preoperational period (1999). In addition, the levels of radionuclides and other inorganic chemicals in birds were compared to regional statistical reference levels (RSRLs). The number and diversity of bird species generally increased over preoperational levels with the greatest number of birds (412) and species (46) occurring in 2005. The most common bird species collected regardless of time periods were the chipping sparrow (Spizella passerina), the Virginia's warbler (Vermivora virginiae), the western bluebird (Sialia mexicana), the broad-tailed hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus), the sage sparrow (Amphispiza belli), and the western tanager (Piranga ludoviciana). Most radionuclides, with the exception of uranium-234 and uranium-238, in (whole body) birds collected after operations began were either not detected or below RSRLs. Uranium-234 and uranium-238 concentrations in a few samples were far below screening levels and do not pose a potential unacceptable dose to the birds. In contrast, many inorganic chemicals, particularly arsenic and silver, in birds collected before and after operations began were in higher concentrations than RSRLs. Because birds (skin plus feathers) collected in the years before operations began contained higher levels of arsenic and silver than RSRLs and because there was no evidence of these metals in soil and sediment directly around the DARHT facility, the elevated levels of these metals in birds during early operations are probably not related to DARHT operations. Arsenic and silver in birds, however, have decreased over time to near background levels in 2007.

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Section: Trace Element Concentrationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: A Abundance and Composition Of Birdsmentioning

confidence: 99%