Environmental Health Physics

Question 1

Locations, method, exchange frequency, and radiation analysis for particulate air monitoring at a waste disposal site

Answer 1

Site Boundary - CAM/weekly change out - Gamma scan, gross alpha, and gross beta

Nearest residence - CAM/weekly change out - Gamma scan, gross alpha, and gross beta

Control location (BKG) - CAM/weekly change out - Gamma scan, gross alpha, and gross beta

Question 2

Locations, method, exchange frequency, and radiation analysis for water monitoring at a waste disposal site

Answer 2

Ground water:

Off-site existing wells, Site boundary (hydrologically down-gradient), - grab sample/quarterly - gamma scan, gross alpha, gross beta, tritium and C-14

Surface water:

Permanent on-site or off-site sources subject to direct drainage - grab sample/quarterly - gamma scan, gross alpha, gross beta, tritium and C-14

Question 3

Locations, method, exchange frequency, and radiation analysis for Vegetation, food, and fish monitoring at a waste disposal site

Answer 3

Vegetation - Composite grab samples at the sight boundary - spring and fall - gamma scan, gross alpha, gross beta, tritium and C-14

Food - Composite grab samples within site boundary and crops within a few miles of the boundary - spring and fall (time of harvest for crops) - gamma scan, gross alpha, gross beta, tritium and C-14

Fish - Grab sample of fish in waters subject to site runoff or seepage - Spring/Fall - gamma scan, gross alpha, gross beta, tritium and C-14 (composite made of edible portions)

Question 4

Locations, method, exchange frequency, and radiation analysis for soil and sediment monitoring at a waste disposal site

Answer 4

Soil:

Immediate disposal area - 1 sample/acre - Gamma scan, gross alpha, and gross beta

Within site boundary - 1 sample/10acre - Gamma scan, gross alpha, and gross beta

Sediment:

Upstream and downstream of surface waters - grab sample - Gamma scan, gross alpha, and gross beta

On-site surface waters - grab samples - Gamma scan, gross alpha, and gross beta

Question 5

Gamma survey methods for monitoring at a waste disposal site

Answer 5

TLDs, pressurized ion chambers placed/measured at representative locations across the site.

Question 6

What are the major exposure pathways expected during an institutional care period for a low level waste disposal site

Answer 6

1. Direct gamma from ground contamination and/or dust clouds
2. airborne contamination from dust or radioactive gas inhalation
3. ground water from contamination migration to a well or stream
4. Contamination of surface waters through erosion or trench overflow

Question 7

Methods by which airborne concentrations of radioactive materials are reduced during atmospheric transport

Answer 7

Radioactive decay
Diffusion or dispersion
Precipitation removal
gravitational settling
ground contact