ML19340C740

Natural Environ Radioactivity Survey,Sept 1979 - Aug 1980.

ML19340C740
Person / Time
Site:	05000187
Issue date:	11/26/1980
From:	Avant D, Cozens G, Woods J NORTHROP RESEARCH & TECHNICAL CENTER
To:
Shared Package
ML19340C734	List: ML19340C733 ML19340C740
References
NUDOCS 8012170324
Download: ML19340C740 (11)

Text

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I I NATURAL ENVIRONtiENTAL RADIOACTIVITY SURVEY FOR THE PERIOD OF SEPTEMBER 1979 THROUGH AUGUST 1980 I

Prepared By:

Dan A/ ant George Cozens Joe Woods l

lI NORTHROP RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER One Research Park Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA 90274 Telephone (213) 377-4811 I

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1 NORTHROP RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER I INTRODUCTION The health physics environmental sampling progran includes a continuous evaluation of the levels of naturally occurring radioactivity in the immediate environs, and out to a radius of five miles f rom the Northrop Reactor site.

Fluctuations in the radioactivity content of the environmental samples occur from time to time due to seasonal and clinatic conditions which may affect the deposition of the atmospheric fallout or other airborne radioactive materials.

These minor variations must be noted since they do add to the natural environ-mental background; therefore, it is quite important to compile the sample data and periodically compare it with the data fron the previous sampling periods in order to establish the trend in the natural background.

The report is a compilation of the data derived from the environmental samples collected and processed during the period of September 1979 throuah August 1980 which comprises the nineteenth annual report.

In order to maintain continuity in the overall sampling progran, the sanol-ing sites have not been changed from those shown in Table I. All sample process-ing and handling tachniques have remained the sane as those stated in the preview reports.

AIR ANALYSES A total of 89 continuous air samoles were collected during the period from sites S-11 and S-12. The sanpling time averaged 189 hours0.00219 days <br />0.0525 hours <br />3.125e-4 weeks <br />7.19145e-5 months <br /> per sample. A 72-hour decay period was permitted on each sample prior to counting to eliminate natural Radon-Thoron activities.

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NORTHROP RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER I

Figure 1 graphically displays the monthly averages from the two sampling stations.

RAINWATER ANALYSES A total of 30 samples were collected from sites S-11 and S-12. The radio-activity content of the rainwater, as shown in Figure 2, does not indicate any significant changes from the previous periods.

I SOIL ANALYSES A total of 103 soil samples were collected from the sampling sites indi-cated in Table I. Tha radioactivity content of the soil samples, as shown in Figure 3, indicates a relatively stable trend.

VEGETATION ANALYSES A total of 108 vegetation samples were collected and processed from the sane areas as the soil samples. The samples indicated no increase in radio-activity content. The overall trend was quite typical. The monthly averages are shown in Figure 4.

WATER ANALYSES A total of 120 water samples were collected from the sites indicated in Table I. The comb;ned monthly averages for drinking water and pond water are I shown in Figure 5. The water samples indicated only a very slight variation

! in radioactivity.

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'I NORTHROP RESEARCH AND TECHNOL0_GY CENTER DISCUSSION Analysis of the data for the overall envirnenental samples indicates a 1

reasonably stable trend in their rao:ma-tivity content, with no significant '

changes from previous sampling periods.

At times the radioactivity content of the environmental samples changed due to climatic conditions, the prevailing winds (eith the change in seasons),

and the temperature inversions in the Los Angeles bacin. The smoa content in the air during periods of temperature inversions tends to increase the natural background radioactivity of the air.

i Since the overall radioactivity content of the environmental samples was reasonably stable, it is apparent that the Northrop Reactor and associated facilities have not contributed significantly to the natural radioactivity background.

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I NORTHROF RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY CENTER P

b TABLE I r

S AMPLING SITES r

SITE LOCATION S AMPLES TAKEN 5-1 Reactor Scil, vege:ation, and drining wa:er i

t S-2 Imperial Highway and Soil, vegetation, and driding water Inglewood Blvd.

L S-3 Imperial Highway and Soil, vegetation, and drinking water Sepulveda Blvd.

S-4 Prairie Aveuue and Soil, vegetation, and pond wate r Redondo Beach 31vd. (Alondra Park) 5-5 Haw.horne 31vd. and Soil, vegetation, and drining water ri Redonc.o Beach 31vd.

1-5-6 Hawthorne 31vd. and Soil, vegetation, and driding water i 190th St.

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5-7 Normandie and Soil, vegetation, and drinking water El Segundo 31vd.

S-8 Rosecrans and Central Scil, vegetation, and drising water Avenue

., S-9 Hawthorne Blvd. and Drining wate r e

Century Avenue i

l S-10 La 3rea Avenue and Soil, vegetation, and driding water blauson Avenue

- , 9 i - S-Il Atop Engineering Center Air (particulates), and rainwater

. 900 yards west of reactor l t i

l S-12 Atop Plan: III, 200 yards Air (pa rticulates), and rainwate r

, east of reactor

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FIG. 1 Monthly Averages of Continuous Air Samples From Sites S-11 and S-12.

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I 1979 1980 FIG. 3 Monthly Averages of Soil Samples From Sites 2-1 Thru S-8 and S-10.

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FIG. 4 Monthly Averages of Vegetation Samples from Sites S-1 thru S-8, and S-10.

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