ML20062B935

Natural Environ Radioactivity Survey for Sept 1977 - Aug 1978

ML20062B935
Person / Time
Site:	05000187
Issue date:	10/17/1978
From:	Adams J, Cozens G, Woods J NORTHROP CORP.
To:
Shared Package
ML20062B934	List: ML20062B930 ML20062B935
References
327-78-75-JT, NUDOCS 7811020251
Download: ML20062B935 (10)

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e NATURAL ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY SURVEY FOR THE PERIOD OF

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2 SEPTEMBER 1977 THROUGH AUGUST 1978 l

Prepared By:

Jeanno Adams George Cozens Joe Woods NORTHROP RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER One Research Park Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA. 90274 Telephone (213) 377-4811

,NORTHROP RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY CENTER

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INTRODUCTION The health physics environmental sampling program includes a continuous evaluation of tne levels of naturally occurring radioactivity in the immediate environs, and out to a radius of five miles from the Northrop Reactor site.

Fluctuations in the radioactivity content of the environmental samples occur from time to time due to seasonal and climatic 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

-s and periodically compare it with the data from the previous sampling periods in order to establish the trend in the natural background.

This report is a compilation of the data derived from the environmental samples collected and processed during the period of September 1977 through August 1978 which comprises the seventeenth annual report.

In order to maintain continuity in the overall sampling program, the sampling sites have not been changed from those shown in Table I. All sample processing

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and handling techniques have remained the same ae those stated in the preview repo rts.

AIR ANALYSES A total of 94 continuous air samples were collected during tne period from sites S-11 and 5-12 The sampling time was approximately 168 hours0.00194 days <br />0.0467 hours <br />2.777778e-4 weeks <br />6.3924e-5 months <br /> per sample. A 72-hour decay period was permitted on each sample prior to count-ing to eliminate natural Radon-Thoron activities.

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NORTHROP RESEARCH & TECHNOLOOTCENTER Figure 1 graphically displaye the monthly averages from the two sampling stations.

RAINWATER ANALYSES A total of 29 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.

SOIL ANALYSES

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A total of 108 soil samples were collected from the sampling sites indicated in Table I.

The 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 same areas as the soil samples. The samples indicated no increase in radioactivity content. The overall trend was cuite 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 combined monthly averages for drinking water and pond water are shown in Figure 5.

The water samples indicate onlf a very slight variation in radio-activity.

DISCUSSION Analysis of the data for the overall environmental samples indicates a reasonably stable trend in their radioactivity content, with no significant changes from previous sampling periods.

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'N O R T H R O P RESEARCH & TECHNOLCGYCENTER At times the radioactivity content of the environmental samples changed due to climatic conditions, the prevailing winds (with the change in seasons), and the tamperature inversions in the Los Angeles basin. The smog content in the air during periods of temperature inversions tends to increase the natural background radioactivity of the air.

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 signifier.ntly to the natural radioactivity background.

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NORTHROP RESEARCH le TECHNOLOGTCENTER TABLEI SAMPLING SITES

_ SITE LOCATION SAMPLES TAKEN S-1 Reactor Soil, vegetation, and drinking water S-2 Imperial Highway and Soil, vegetation, and drinking water

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Inglewood Blvd.

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

S-4, Prairie Avenue and Soil, vegetation, and pond water Redondo Beach Blvd.

(Alondra Park)

S-5 Hawthorne Blvd. and Soil, vegetation, and drinking water Redondo Beach Blvd.

S-6 Hawthorne 31vd. and Soil, vegetation, e.nd drinking water 190th St.

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

S-8 Rosecrans and Central Soil, vegetation, ann drinking water i Avenue f

S-9 Hawthorne 31vd. and Drinking water Century Avenue S-10 La Brea Avenue and Soil, vegetation, and drinking water Slauson Avenue S-11 Atop Engineering Center Air (particulates), and rainwater 900 yards west of reactor

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S-12 Atop Plant III, 200 yards Air (particulates), and rainwater east of reactor s

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FIG. 1 Monthly Averages of Continuous Air Samples

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From Sites S-11 & S-12.

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- t 1977 1978 FIG. 3 Monthly Averages of Soil Samples From SL:es S-1 Thru S-S & 5-10.

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