The Distribution of Mercury, Cesium‐137, and Plutonium in an Intermittent Stream at Los Alamos

Hakonson, T. E.; Gc, White; Gladney, Ernest S.; Dreicer, M.

doi:10.2134/jeq1980.00472425000900020026x

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…Caution should, however, accompany this value as rigorous laboratory techniques led to a value four orders of magnitude higher, a much more conservative value. It should also be noted that additional transport of plutonium via an intermittent stream in Mortendad canyon along with seasonal variations in groundwater velocity could result in 1.56 ml/g being an underestimate [Purtyman, 1974;Hakonson et al, 1980;Nyhan et al., 1982;Niklaus and Feldman, 1980;Abrahams et al., 1962].…”

Section: Distribution Of Plutonium Sorption Coefficientsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Second performance assessment iteration of the Greater Confinement Disposal facility at the Nevada Test Site

Baer¹,

Emery²,

Price³

et al. 1994

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The Greater Confinement Disposal (GCD) facility was established by the Nevada Operations Office of the Department of Energy (DOE) in Area 5 at the Nevada Test Site for containment of waste inappropriate for shallow land burial. Some transuranic (TRU) waste has been disposed of at the GCD facility, and compliance of this disposal system with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulation 40 CFR 191 must be evaluated by performance assessment calculations. We have adopted an iterative approach in which performance assessment results guide site data collection, which in turn influences the parameters and models used in performance assessment. The first iteration was based upon readily available data, and indicated that the GCD facility would likely comply with 40 CFR 191 and that the downward flux of water through the vadose zone (recharge) had a major influence on the results. It was seen, however, that very large recharge rates, such as might occur under a cooler, wetter climate, could result in noncompliance. As a result, a site characterization project was initiated to study recharge in Area 5 by use of three environmental tracers. This study concluded that the recharge rate is so small that the nearest groundwater aquifer will not be contaminated in less than 10,000 years. Thus upward liquid diffusion of radionuclides remained as the sole release pathway. This second performance assessment iteration refined the upward pathway models and updated the parameter distributions based upon new site information. A new plant uptake model was introduced to the upward diffusion pathway; adsorption and erosion were also incorporated into the model. Several modifications were also made to the gas phase radon transport model. Plutonium solubility and sorption coefficient distAbutions were changed based upon new information, and on-site measurements were used to update the moisture content distributions. The results of the performance assessment using these models indicate that the GCD facility is likely to comply with all sections of 40 CFR 191 under undisturbed eonditions. A complete estimate of event and process probabilities was not done, although a simple probability model was used to estimate probabilities of human intrusion. For reasonable drilling rates, these probabilities were found to be very small.

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Section: Distribution Of Plutonium Sorption Coefficientsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Second performance assessment iteration of the Greater Confinement Disposal facility at the Nevada Test Site

Baer¹,

Emery²,

Price³

et al. 1994

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“…Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), a multidisciplinary research institution established in 1943, is situated on a large mesa with many deep, mostly ephemeral, west-to-east-oriented drainage canyons (Figure 1). During the early years of LANL operations (mostly nuclear weapons work), some of these canyon drainage systems received various amounts of radioactive and chemical waste effluents from outfalls [31,32]. Of the major drainages that cross LANL lands, the Los Alamos Canyon (LAC) drainage system has been identified as containing some of the highest amounts of radionuclides and metals [33,34].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Whole-Body Field Mice Collected Upgradient and Downgradient of a Sediment Retention Structure in Los Alamos Canyon, Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico, USA

Fresquez

2014

JEP

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Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) congeners were measured in (unwashed) whole-body field (deer) mice (Peromyscus maniculaltus) collected directly upgradient from a sediment retention structure (weir) within Los Alamos Canyon (LAC), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), New Mexico, USA, from 2007 through 2013. Samples were also collected approximately 8 km downgradient of the retention structure in 2009 and 2013. LAC, a major drainage that crosses LANL lands, contains legacy waste, including PCBs, and occasionally discharges storm water and snowmelt flows to the Rio Grande approximately 8.8 km away from the weir. The Rio Grande is the major waterway that flows southward across the state. The weir was constructed across the channel on the northeastern boundary of LANL in late 2000 to help contain sediments mobilized by floodwaters as a result of a large wildfire in early 2000 that burned forest lands west and adjacent to LANL. Total PCBs in field mice directly upgradient of the sediment retention structure from 2007 through 2012 were significantly greater (p < 0.05) than in field mice collected from background locations but decreased in concentration over time; by 2013 the levels were statistically similar (p > 0.05) to background. The highest mean total PCB concentration in field mice was below the levels that may negatively impact field mice population attributes. Total PCBs in field mice collected 8 km below the sediment retention structure in 2009 were lower than field mice collected from behind the weir and decreased over time; also by 2013, the amount of PCBs in field mice 8 km below the sediment retention structure were not significantly different (p > 0.05) from background. The rank order of concentrations of ICES 7 PCB congeners in upgradient and downgradient field mice were: No. 153 > 180 > 138 > 118 > 28 > 101 > 52 and No. 153 > 180 > 138 > 118 > 28 > 52 > 101, respectively. Based on the PCB homolog distribution, the major formulation detected in field mice was Aroclor-1260. Overall, the reduction of PCBs in whole-body field mice from both sites over time was attributed, in part, to sediment control practices.

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“…Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), a multidisciplinary research institution established in 1943, is situated on a large mesa with many deep, mostly ephemeral, west-to-east-oriented drainage canyons (Figure 1). Dur- ing the early years of LANL operations (mostly nuclear weapons work), some of these canyon drainage systems received various amounts of radioactive and chemical waste effluents [12,13]. Of the major drainages that cross LANL lands, the Los Alamos Canyon (LAC) drainage system has been identified as containing the highest amounts of radionuclides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) [14][15][16] and also has the highest potential of transporting these chemicals to the Rio Grande, which is 8 km away [17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bioassessment of the Rio Grande Upstream and Downstream of Los Alamos National Laboratory,New Mexico, USA

Fresquez

Jacobi²

2012

JEP

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Benthic macroinvertebrates (aquatic insects) were collected from the Rio Grande upstream and downstream of Los Alamos Canyon (LAC), a major drainage that crosses Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) lands in northern New Mexico, USA. LAC contains legacy waste, including radionuclides and polychlorinated biphenyls, and occasionally discharges storm water and snowmelt flows to the Rio Grande. The Rio Grande is the major waterway that flows southward across the state. In 2009, rock baskets were placed in waters 61- to 76-cm-deep within each reach (five per reach), and, after approximately 6 weeks of colonization, the rock baskets were retrieved. All samples were sorted completely and organisms were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level. Both reaches in 2009 were dominated by the collector filtering net-spinning caddisfly, Hydropsyche occidentalis. In 2011, benthic macroinvertebrates were collected using D kick nets from shallow riffle locations (15- to 31-cm depth) from each reach (six per reach). These samples were collected after post- (Las Conchas) fire flooding events moved sediment and ash through the two study areas—the downstream reach, however, was affected by higher flows and greater number of flooding events than those affecting the upstream reach. Each kick net sample consisted of ten 1-m (kick) samples. The 10 subsamples were composited and organisms were picked from randomly selected cells in a sorting pan until 500 organisms had been identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level. Both reaches in 2011 were dominated by the collector-gathering mayfly, Baetis tricaudatus. A bioassessment of the downstream reach compared with the upstream (reference) reach was conducted by scoring 10 metrics related to the structure and function of the benthic macroinvertebrate community. While 2009 ranked at the highest level (nonimpaired), 2011 ranked a level lower (slightly impaired). The slightly lower bioassessment score of the downstream reach in 2011 may be a result of flooding impacts following the Las Conchas fire rather than of LANL operations. Overall, based on the similarity of benthic macroinvertebrate metrics between reaches and the composition of benthic macroinvertebrates favoring pollution intolerant taxa, LANL influences, if any, via the LAC system to the Rio Grande are not significantly impacting water quality of the Rio Grande

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The Distribution of Mercury, Cesium‐137, and Plutonium in an Intermittent Stream at Los Alamos

Cited by 8 publications

References 0 publications

Second performance assessment iteration of the Greater Confinement Disposal facility at the Nevada Test Site

Second performance assessment iteration of the Greater Confinement Disposal facility at the Nevada Test Site

Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Whole-Body Field Mice Collected Upgradient and Downgradient of a Sediment Retention Structure in Los Alamos Canyon, Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico, USA

Bioassessment of the Rio Grande Upstream and Downstream of Los Alamos National Laboratory,New Mexico, USA

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