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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