apeiadaetate element. aah daicatratteteictah aaaaet ae Description of Some Environmental Plutonium The large sample sizes required for acceptable statistical control of an experiment Study Areas.--The 7 sites chosen to represenc place severe restrictions on the kinds of research varied conditions under which plutonium can exist the guestions that can be addressed within the limits in the environment are listed in Table [. of time and money. of pluconium in these areas include industrial Sources liquid effluents (Los Alamos), accidental releases The purpose of this review is to summarize some of the available data on plutonium concentra- from industrial and military sources ction variability in terrestrial soil components and Thule, to identify potential sources of this variability, multiple weapons cests to serve as guidance in designing studies that are Janet Islands, Eniwetok Atoll), and nonfission both efficient and effective in achieving desired explosive tests with plutonium devices goals. Site). Plutonium data from 7 geographical regions representing 15 terrestrial study sites were Greenland), fallout (Rocky Flats; from both single and (Trinity Site; Glenn and (Nevada Test Plutonium Concentration Variability in Study selected for review based on the availability of Area Soils.~--The variability in soil plutonium con- data, source of study area plutonium, sampling centrations, expressed as the coefficient of varia- methodology, and regional climate. tion (CV, standard deviation/mean), ranged from 0.21 The intene in selecting specific study areas was to present to 3.2, while plutonium concentrations varied plutonium concentration variability estimates from 0.15 to 460 000 pCi/g a diverse array of study-related factors. (Table II). from The pattern was similar in whole soil samples to various deprhs in TABLE I SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF ENVIRONMENTAL PLUTONIUM STUDY AREAS Mean Annual Location Source of Plutonium Los Alamos Mortandad Canyon Precipitation (cm) Reference ° 46 1-3 DP-Los Alamos Canyon 46 1~3 Acid-Pueblo Canyon 46 1-3 Trinity Site Industrial liquid effluenrc Single weapons test Ground Zero 1 km from Ground Zero 15 4,3 Area 21 44 km from Ground Zero 20 4,5 Eniwetok Atoll Weapons test Janet Multiple ground zeros 145 6 Glenn Multiple fallout 145 a] Rocky Flats Macroplot 1 Unintentional Release from leaking drums Macroplor 2 40 7,3 40 7,3 Nevada Test Site Area 13 Safecy test shots Strata 1 9,10 Strata 6 9,10 Area 5 (CMX) Strata l 9,10 Strata 4 9,10 Thule, Greenland Aircraft accident 13 il 61