ML20151T340
| ML20151T340 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/05/1988 |
| From: | Cool D NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Jason White NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8804280655 | |
| Download: ML20151T340 (1) | |
Text
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MENORANDUM FOR: J hn White, Section Chief Nuclear Materials Safety S;ction C L
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Region I FROM:
Donald A. Cool, Section Leader Prograrmatic Safety Section Operations Branch Divisien of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety, NMSS
SUBJECT:
BACKGROUND VALUES FOR P0-E10 IN URINE At your request, I have attempted to pull together some information on the normal back round values for Po-210 in urine. This information has been 5
synthesized from discussions with Nonnan Cohen, New York University; James Muller, Controls for Environmental Pollution; and data reported by the Atomic Energy Control Board, Canada.
The mean value for Po-210 in urine appears to be in the range of 0.1 to 0.5 pCi excreted per day. Since the standard man execretes 1 to 2 liters of urine per day, Po-210 concentrations would be in the range of 0.05 to 0.5 pCi per liter.
However, values in the ranse of 1 to 2 pCi per liter have been observed in a few cases.
Vrinanalysis at these levels is difficult, due to the techniques necessary to plate out activity and count at very low levels.
For many counting systems, these values are. below the lower limits of detection. Despite this, values greater than a few pCi/ liter should probably be rechecked to determine if Po-210 activity is acteelly present. Resamples of scwe san.ples might warrant counting with more sensitive systems.
If an intake had actually occurred, Po-210 levels would still be present in the resample, and be present at l
decreasing levels for several weeks afterward. One concern should be the l
potential for contamination of the sample either due to improper handling, or problems with obtaining a sample (such as not washing hands or taking the 1
sample in areas where workplace contamination could be present).
g Or4h! s>d by i
Donald A. Cool, Section Leader Programatic Safety Section Operations Branch Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety, NMSS l
cc:
G. Sjoblom l
V. Miller l
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