Information Notice 1980-09, Possible Occupational Health Hazard Associated with Closed Cooling Systems for Operating Power Plants

Possible Occupational Health Hazard Associated with Closed Cooling Systems for Operating Power Plants

ML031180178
Person / Time
Issue date:	03/07/1980
From:	NRC/OI
To:
References
IN-80-009, NUDOCS 7912190681
Download: ML031180178 (2)

SSINS: 6870

Accession No.:

UNITED STATES 7912190681 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 March 7, 1980

IE Information Notice No. 80-09 POSSIBLE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH HAZARD ASSOCIATED WITH CLOSED COOLING SYSTEMS FOR

OPERATING POWER PLANTS

As a result of information that the causative agent for meningoencephalitis, the amoeba Naeglaria fowleri, had been found in warm water ponds in Florida

and Texas where two fatalities were reported, NRC initiated a study by Oak

Ridge National Laboratory on the occurrence of Naeglaria in power plants with

closed cycle cooling systems. For seven power stations examined (6 fossil,

1 nuclear), this study confirmed the presence of pathogenic Naeglaria at three

plants including the nuclear plant (Dresden).

Recently, Northern States Power Company (NSP), while monitoring the Prairie

Island Nuclear Generating Plant closed cooling system for the amoeba, did

identify the presence of Naeglaria. Although the Minnesota Department of

Health does not consider the existence of the organism to be a public health'

threat, it was recognized as a possible occupational health hazard. Plant

personnel.were instructed to wear-rubber gloves when coming into contact with

the circulating water and to wear respirators when working in the area of the

cooling towers. In November 1979, NSP conducted a special chlorination

program at Prairie Island that was designed by Dr. Richard Tyndall of Oak

Ridge to eradicate this organism. Chlorine concentrations in the circulating

water system was raised to 2.0 mg/1 (measured as free chlorine) for a period

of six hours to destroy both the amoebae and its encysted form. This program

also included dechlorination prior to discharge and intensive monitoring to

document chlorine concentrations, the impacts of chlorinated cooling tower

draft and sampling to determine the efficacy of the special chlorination

program in destroying Naeglaria. Preliminary results indicate that the

program was successful in reducing the number of organisms present by two to

three orders of magnitude.

It is recognized that there have been no reported cases of meningoencephalitis

reported among power plant personnel to date; however, the seriousness of the

disease (if contracted) and the confirmed presence of Naeglaria at four plants, leads us to inform all licensees with closed cycle cooling water systems of

the potential occupational hazard and advise that they take appropriate action.

No written response to this IE Information Notice is required. If you desire

additional information regarding this matter, contact the Director of the

appropriate NRC Regional Office.

IE Information Notice No. 80-09 Enclosure

March 7, 1980

RECENTLY ISSUED

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Information Subject Date Issued To

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Block or a CP

80-07 Pump Shaft Fatigue Cracking 2/29/80 All Light Water Reactor

Facilities holder power

reactor OLs and CPs

80-06 Notification of Significant 2/27/80 All holders of Reactor

Events OLs and to near term

OL applicants

80-05 Chloride Contamination 2/8/80 All licensees of nuclear

of Safety Related Piping power reactor facilities

and applicants and

holders of nuclear power

reactor CPs

80-04 BWR Fuel Exposure in 2/4/80 All BWR's holding a

Excess of Limits power reactor OL or CP

80-03 Main Turbine.Electro- 1/31/80 All holders of power

Hydraulic Control System reactor OLs and CPs

80-02 8X8R Water Rod Lower 1/25/80 All BWR Facilities

End Plug Wear holder power reactor

OLs or CPs

80-01 Fuel Handling Events 1/4/80 All holders of power

reactor OLs and CPs

79-37 Cracking in Low Pressure 12/28/79 All power reactor OLs

Turbine Discs and CPs

79-36 Computer Code Defect in 12/31/79 All power reactor OLs

Stress Analysis of Piping and CPs

Elbow

79-35 Control of Maintenance 12/31/79 All power reactor facilities

and Essential Equipment with an OL or CP

79-34 Inadequate Design of 12/27/79 All holders of power reactor

Safety-Related Heat OLs and CPs

Exchangers