TAB N H. I. ENVIRONS REPORT OF THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 1949 TEXT AND TABLE - 2 - HW-15593 Health and Biology Special Distribution COPY NUMBER INTERNAL DISTRIBUTION 1 H.M. Parker 2 C.N. Gross 3 W.K. MacCready - J. E. Maider 4 A. B. Greninger 5 R. S. Bell - S. D. Smiley 6 W. D. Norwood - P. A. Fuqua 7 C. C. Gamertsfelder - J. W. Healy 8 H. A. Kornberg - R. F. Foster - K. E. Herde 9 W. Singlevich 10 D. E. Jenne - F. E. Adley - R. E. Brown 11 C. M. Patterson 12 W. A. McAdams - 100-300 Areas H. I. Operations Division 13 A. R. Keene - 200 Areas H. I. Operations Division 14 H. J. Paas 15 300 Fils 16 300 Fils 17 Pink Copy 18 Yellow Copy 19 Extra File 20 Patent Group - Chicago EXTERNAL DISTRIBUTION 21 - 28 Argonne National laboratory 29 Armed Forces Special Weapons Project 30 - 31 Atomic Energy Commission, Washington 32 - 35 Brookhaven National laboratory 36 - 39 Carbide and Carbon Chemicals Corporation (K-25 plant) 40 - 42 Carbide and Carbon Chemicals Corporation (Y-12 Plant) 43 Chicago Operations Office 44 Hanford Operations Office 45 - 46 Knolls atomic Power laboratory 47 - 49 Los Alamos 50 - 52 Mound Laboratory 53 Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory 54 - 56 New York Operations Office 57 - 68 Oak Ridge National laboratory 69 Patent Branch, Washington 70 Public Health Service 71 - 85 Technical Information Division, ORE 86 University of Rochester 87 University of Washington 88 Westinghouse Electric Corporation - 3 - H. I. ENVIRONS REPORT FOR MONTH OF DECEMBER, 1949 ABSTRACT Radioactive contamination in the liquid, gaseous and solid states resulting from the operation of the Hanford Works was measured and the subsequent effects on the environment in this area are discussed. The normal monitoring program for radioactive contamination in the environs of the Hanford Works was continued on a reduced scale. The efforts of the groups were mainly expended in following the effect of the "green run" on the contamination levels. in the air and on land. The only significant changes observed in the radioactive contamination levels during December were momentary increases in the I-131 and the Xe-133 air concentrations and in somewhat more significant magnitudes the deposited I-131 as determined by measuring I-131 on vegetation. Immediately after the "green run", at which time it was estimated that probably 4000 curies of I-131 and 7000 curies of Xe-133 were expelled into the atmosphere during a 12 hour period, the maximum concentration noted for deposited I-131 on vegetation was 28 uc/kg. This sample was taken near the perimeter fence about l mile east of the 200 West Area stack Increases approaching a factor of 300 over last month were experienced in the deposited I-131 on vegetation at certain locations resulting from the I-131 discharged during dissolving of the green metal. Data for measurements in air and on the ground just before the "green run" and after the "green run" are reviewed in detail. Charts approximating the magnitude and extent of the deposited I-131 are included. Water and waste monitoring data for radioactive contamination gathered during December did not differ significantly from the past month with only minor fluctuations noted; these are discussed in the body of the report. -4- HW-15593 INTRODUCTION: The normal program for the monitoring of radioactive contamination resulting from the operation of the Hanford corks was carried out on a slightly reduced scale during December. The principal effort was expended in following the effects of the :green run" on the levels of radioactive contamination in the environs of thud Hanford Works. The term "green run" referred to in this report is an empirical expression used to describe the dissolving of one ton of Hanford irradiated uranium which W85 cooled for only sixteen days after discharge from the pile. Compared with the normal cooling time of 90 to 120 days, the 16 day metal upon dissolution would discharge considerably large quantities of 3 day iodine (I-131) and 5.4 day xenon (Xe-133) than normally encountered in metal dissolution at Hanford. Preliminary calculations indicated that probably 4000 curies of I-131 and 7000 curies of Xe-133 would be discharged into the atmosphere during the expected 12-13 hour dissolving time. At 8:20 pm on December 3, 1949, the dissolving of the green metal started and terminated about 8:00 am on December 4, 1949. The highlights of the effects of the radioactive contamination expelled from the 200 West Area stack are summarized on subsequent pages of this document. Detailed correlations of radioactive contamination detected in the air and on land will be made when all meteorological data are compiled and all laboratory and data analyses are complete; this detailed study will appear in a report under separate cover. For a matter of statistics, it is of interest to add that in monitoring for the distribution and extent of 8 day iodine (I-131) deposited on vegetation resulting from the "green run", the Site Survey group covered about 16,000 motor miles to take a total of about two thousand measurements and samples. A breakdown of the measurements made and samples taken during December appears below: HW-15593 SAMPLES AND MEASUREMENTS TAKEN DECEMBER 1949 Water Sampling Program: Totals Drinking Water and Test Well 190 364 River Water and Waste Water 174 Air Sampling Program: Active Particle Measurements 196 Air Filter and Scrubber Samples 178 Detachable Ionization Chamber Readings 660 1127 Film Surveys 93 Land Sampling Program: Vegetation 1365 Soil and Mud 44 1409 Instrument Surveys: Portable Instrument Surveys 40 40 TOTAL Samples and Surveys 2940 WATER MONITORING: One hundred and thirty 500 ml. and thirty 12 liter samples of drinking water were taken in the environs of the Hanford Works and analyzed for the alpha and beta-gamma emitters. The methods of analyses employed correspond to the analytical procedures discussed in previous Health Instrument Divisions Environs reports. A summary of the results for alpha activity exceeding the detections limits of the analyses employed for the water samples is shown in Table-I: - 53 - SECTION VI BETA ACTIVITY IN RAIN AND SNOW One hundred and forty-four rain samples were collected frog thirty-four locations on and adjacent to the site. The number of samples from each location varied from three to seven samples, depending on the amount of precipitation measured at the wide-spread sampling locations. Table 1 summarizes the rainfall data for the quarter; the figured Presented represent the total precipitation and include measured rainfall as well as the measured melted snow. The 1948 data is included for comparison. TABLE 1 PRECIPITATION MEASURED AT HANFORD WORKS OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER units of 0.01 inches PERIOD OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER TOTAL 1948 0.45 0.95 l.11 2.51 1949 0.10 1.47 0.16 1.73 The all time 35 year average rainfall for this quarter was 2.3 inches; the current quarter as extremely dry when compared with this average. The far majority of rain samples were collected during November as this month accounted for 85 percent of the total rainfall. A review of the beta-activity measured in rainfall samples showed that the results which were obtained immediately after the "green run" on December 3, were considerably higher than and results obtained during October and November. The highest activity was detected in a sample taken within the 200 East Area which contained 271 muc/1iter. This activity was considerably higher than that found at the other three locations in the 200 East Area where maximum results were 88, 33, and 47 muc/liter, respectively. In general, the bulk of the beta activity collected in rain after the "green run" was found inside the 200 West Area. Beta activity averaged 41 muc/liter in the 200 West Area as compared with a quarterly average of 25 muc/liter in the 200 East Area. The maximum beta activity detected in rain in the 200 West Area was 167 muc/liter, three other locations inside the 200 West Area showed - 54 - HW-17003 maximum activity of 161, 159, and 63 muc/liter. The maximum activities denoted above are 15 to 25 timed higher than the maximums that were measured previous to the "green run". The maximum beta activity measured in rain collected on the project outside of the separation areas was 112 muc/1iter. This sample gas collected at the Meteorology Toner and compares favorably with a maximum result of 105 muc/liter detected in a sample collected at the Batch Plant. The maximum beta activity measured in rain in the intermediate zone before the "green run" was 10 muc/1iter in a sample collected at the Meteorology Tower. Twenty-eight samples were collected in the vicinity of the 100 Areas. Very little difference was observed in the beta activity measured before and after the "green run". The quarterly average beta activity in rain in this region was 0.4 muc/liter, with maximum results of 1.7 and 2.7 muc/liter before and after the "green run", respectively. Nineteen samples were obtained from locations outside the perimeter barricade. The highest average beta activity in rain was found at Pasco where seven samples averaged 10.5 muc/1iter. This average was influenced by one sample collected immediately after the "green run", which contained 69 muc/liter. Other maximum results front outside locations after the "green run" were Riverland 18 muc/liter; Benton City 11.7 muc/liter; and Richland 2.0 muc/liter. Figure 17 is a graphic portrayal of the results obtained from the rain sampling program during the quarter. This graph includes the quarterly average beta activity detected in samples from each of the five zones established and shown the maximum activity detected previous to and after the "green run". Three of the samples collected immediately after the "green run" within five miles of the 200 West Area showed initial counting rates of 15, 146, and 291 counts per minute. Decay Studies showed the half life to be essentially eight days in deciding that the beta emitter in these rains samples was 8 day iodine (I-131). Several rain samples were radio-autographed during this quarter. No active particles were detected on these samples, however, the radioautography indicated an evenly distributed activity, which was believed to be I-121 on the basis of the decay studies above. SECTION IV (Please refer to Figure 17) Declassified 3-30-90 (DR-PC) (7-7-88 DEL) ACC #6988 BETA ACTIVITY IN RAIN AND SNOW HANFORD WORKS AND VICINITY OCTOBER-NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1949 FOR REFERENCE SEE (2bb53) GRAPHIC Simon B.M Madkoy- M.E. Smith 700 Area Tilley - Wilmington #4 W.C. May - J.E. Cole #5 J.D. Ellett #6 F.B. Vanghan #7 H.M. Parker #8 M.F. Acken #9 R.S. Apple #10 W.H. Sullivan -J.L. Dreher #11 300 Area File #12 300 Area File #13 Pink Copy MEMORANDUM REPORT SE-PC#74 THE EVOLUTION OF IODINE DURING METAL DISSOLUTIONS Due- to film deterioration, portions of this document may be illegible REPOSITORY __________________________ COLLECTION __________________________ BOX No. _____________________________ FOLDER ______________________________ August 2, 1945 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I Introduction 1 II Summary and Conclusions 1 III Discussion A. Order of the Reaction and the Reaction Rate Constant 2 B. Correlation with Plant Data 3 C. Addition of Iodine (either as Iodide or Iodate) During Dissolution 4 D. Removal of Iodine from the Off-Gases by the Reflux 4 E. Analysis of Plant Solutions for 8.0 Day Iodine 5 IV Experimental Details A. Apparatus and Procedure for the Determination of the Order of the Reaction 6 B. Absorption of Iodine by the Reflux 7 C. Analytical Procedures 1. Analytical Procedure for the Determination of Iodine 7 2. Analysis of Plant Solutions for 8.0 Day Iodine 8 V References 9 HW-15593 HW-17003 This document consists of 67 pages Copy RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION IN THE ENVIRONS OF THE HANFORD WORKS FOR THE PERIOD OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, 1949 BY H. J. Paas and W. Singlevich Development Division Health Instrument Divisions March 12, 1950 HANFORD WORKS RICHLAND, WASHINGTON Operated for the Atomic Energy Commission by the General Electric Company under Contract #W-31-109-eng-52 HW-17003 Technology-Hanford RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION IN THE ENVIRONS OF THE HANFORD WORKS FOR THE PERIOD OCTOBER-NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 1949 INTRODUCTION: This report summarizes the measurements for radioactive contamination in the environs of the Hanford Works, The principal sources of the radioactivity originating as a result of operations at Hanford which affect the environment in this area are the two waste stacks in the separations area and the cooling water from the four pile areas. Measurements are also made on samples taken from the Hanford waste systems which are primarily confined within the project proper. Although monthly summaries of these data are reported in Health Instrument Divisions Environs reports, a somewhat more detailed discussion of these data is covered in the quarterly report. In this manner, a better evaluation of possible trends can be detected as a result of the increased number of measurements made available by combining the data for a three month period. ABSTRACT SECTION I - METEOROLOGICAL DATA: During the quarter, the wind directions within the separations area prevailed from the northwest with variable wind directions in the vicinity of the 100 Aroes. Metal dissolution was in progress eighty-eight per cent of the time when the calculated atmosphere dilution ratios were greater than 1000 to l. Complete charts and graphs summarizing the wind directions and velocity during this period are included with a reference to their effect on the pattern of the distribution of I-131 on vegetation in this area. SECTION II - RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION ON VEGETATION: Dissolving during this period as normal using 83 to 101 days cooling time for the irradiated uranium with the exception of the experimental dissolving when 16 day cooled uranium was dissolved within a twenty-four period on December 2 and 3, 1949. Prior to the experimental dissolving (green run), the levels of deposited I-131 and non-volatile emitters on vegetation did not differ significantly from the activity levels measured during the previous quarter. Iso-activity maps in which the magnitude and extent of the deposited I-131 on vegetation are included in this document. Just after the green-run, when large quantities of I-131 were discharged into the atmosphere due to the dissolving of the green metal, increases in deposited I-131 concentrations on vegetation over the past month approached factors of 100 to 600 in the residential areas of Richland, Kennewick, and Benton City; increases by factors as high as 1000 were experienced just outside the separation area. The maximum concentration of I-131 on vegetation just after the green run was about 28 uc/kg as compared with a maximum of 55 muc/kg measured before the green run. The overall pattern of deposited I-131 after the green run extended in an elongated shape about 40 miles wide and 200 miles long lying northeast and southwest of the 200 West Area stack. The I-131 deposition on the vegetation in the Wahluke Slope area was in the range of 0.1 to 0.5 uc/kg with a small isolated areas approached 1.0 uc I-131/kg vegetation. Surveys of the Benton Gap of Rattlesnake Mountain indicated highest I-131 deposition on the plateau portion of the Gap where activity of 1.7 uc/kg was measured in a sample taken at the 1900 foot level. A detailed compilation of the data obtained prior to and after the green run are summarized in the form of tables and graphs. - 4 - HW-17003 SECTION III - AIRBORNE CONTAMINATION AND AIR RADIATION LEVELS Atmospheric radiation levels as determined by fixed and detachable ionization chamber did not differ significantly from those levels usually encountered in the area. Aerosol beta activity and I-131 concentrations in the atmosphere remained initially the same as noted in previous months except for the momentary increases noted during the green run period of December 2 and 3, 1949 when abnormally high concentrations of radioactive stack effluent were discharged into the atmosphere. Measurements for actIve particles in the atmosphere indicated a decrease from the somewhat higher numbers detected during September; current estimations indicate a return to normal conditions. Slight increases in the number of active particles inside Some of the operations buildings in the separations areas were noted during this period and the causes were attributed to local conditions. SECTION IV - RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION IN HANFORD WASTES Monitoring for radioactive contamination in the 100, 200, and 300 Area Waste systems did not differ significantly from normal levels previously observed; small deviations and fluctuations such as small increases in the level of activity of the laundry wastes are discussed. It was estimated, based on a one week study of laundry waste, that 6.8 x 10 dis/min of alpha activity primarily from uranium was discharged into the laundry ditch and U Swamp in a one week period. SECTION V - RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION IN THE COLUMBIA AND YAKIMA RIVERS As anticipated, with the decreased flow of the Columbia River during this period, corresponding increases in the activity of the river were observed. Beta emitters approaching 2425 muc/liter were measured in river samples taken near Hanford; 300-500 muc/liter were measured in samples taken from near Kennewick and Pasco. This activity is primarily from 14.8 hour sodium (Na-24). Measurements for radioactive contamination in other waste supplies using the Columbia as the source of supply are discussed; none of these surveys indicated significant deviations from normal or anticipated conditions. SECTION VI - BETA ACTIVITY IN RAIN OR SNOW Radioactive contamination in rain and snow followed the normal patterns expected with the exception of the green run period when activity in rain samples were as high as 271 muc/liter. SECTION VII - RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION IN DRINKING WATER AND TEST WELLS Levels of alpha activity measured in drinking water did not deviate from the levels measured in past surveys. Uranium, presumably occurring in natural quantities continued to be found in some Richland drinking water supplies; an average value of 21 ug U/liter water was measured in Benton City Well; this well is representative of the highest level of uranium in the drinking water of this general area. Complete data of all water analyses are presented in the form of tables and graphs. FOR REFERENCE SEE (2bb54) SAMPLE REQUEST FOR BETA ANALYSIS DEVELOPMENT DIVISION HEALTH INSTRUMENT DIVISIONS HW-17391