Annual environmental monitoring report: calendar year 1981

The local environment surrounding Mound Facility was monitored for tritium and plutonium-238. The environmental parameters analyzed included air, water, foodstuffs, and sediment. The average concentrations of plutonium-238 and tritium were within the applicable stringent standards for radioactive species adopted by the U.S. DOE. Data concerning nonradioactive species in air and water are also presented and compared to federal, state, and local standards where applicable. The average incremental concentrations of plutonium-238 and tritium oxide in air measured at all offsite locations were 0.67 x 10/sup -17/ and 0.39 x 10/sup -11/ ..mu..Ci/ml, respectively. The average concentration of plutonium-238 and the average incremental tritium measured in the Great Miami River were < 0.21 x 10/sup -10/ and 0.12 x 10/sup -6/ ..mu..Ci/ml, respectively. The average concentration of plutonium-238 and average incremental concentration of tritium found in surface water and the drinking water of the area municipalities were only a fraction of each respective DOE RCG and EPA standard. Although there are no specific standards (RCG) for plutonium-238 and tritium in foodstuffs, the concentrations found, if compared to the water standard, are also a small fraction of the RCG. Effluent stream analyses indicated that several limitations, i.e., suspended solids, residual chlorine, and dissolvedmore » solids, were exceeded a few times. All results indicate that Mound effluent streams have no significant effect on the Great Miami River and do not cause Ohio stream standards to be exceeded. The person-rem calculated to 80 km for the total population was 68 person-rem above that from natural radiation. Natural radiation would result in approximately 320,000 person-rem for the area. (ERB)« less