Tf ct lom sreduets and <Irainsuranic elements was conducted under contracts to
Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories (3NWL) and Environmental Measurements
Laboratory (EML).
aAnaiytical procedures for processing and analysis are similar
and can be found in OL 8l.
Urine data collected after 1977 were processed by the SEP Division.
Sampie collection and analysis procedures used by this division are outlined
belew.
1.
Urine Collection Protocol
Twenty-four hour and five day urine samples were collected from
Bixini Atoll residents.
Twenty-four hour samples were used to define fission
product body burdens while the five day urine samples were used both to determine fission products and transuranic bedy burdens.
The normal procedure was to
distribute the urine coliection bottles just after the individual received a
whole-body count.
Individuals were informed to collect all urine excreta in the
sottle for the specified collection period.
Sample containers were collected
after the selected sample period had elapsed.
Once collected, acidification procedures were followed to inhibit
biological degradation of the sample.
From 1977 to 1978, urine bottles were
precreated with 15 ml of a 10% thymol-alcohoi solution.
10 ml of HNO, was added.
After urine collection,
This procedure was halted because of skin discomfort
caused by thymol contamination during urine collection.
In 1979 and 1980, 15g
of boric acid was added to each one liter urine bottle after sample collection.
Both acidification techniques minimize sample degradation.
After acidification,
Samples were packaged and shipped to BNL for analysis.
Twenty-four hour urine samples are analyzed for gamma emitting nu-
a
9
clides and Ose,
.
.
.
Samples are first placed in an ultrasonic cleaner to loosen