Preliminary Radiological Impact Assessment of Western Coal Utilization

Download or read book Preliminary Radiological Impact Assessment of Western Coal Utilization written by and published by . This book was released on 1977 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This research program was initiated to: (1) delineate the scope of the potential environmental and human health problem associated with radioactivity in Western coal; (2) establish a data base for 234U, 238U, 21°Pb, 21°Po, 23°Th and 226Ra found in Western coal; (3) study the release, fate, and accumulation of radionuclides from a power plant burning Western coal; and (4) assess the possible need for additional control technology and/or standards. Preliminary results indicate that radionuclides may be made available to the environment from burning Western coal. Lead-210 in coal used at the power plant averaged 0.79 pCi/g, 21°Pb in soil averaged 0.70 pCi/g, and 21°Pb in/on vegetation in the environs of the power plant ranged from 2.23 to 5.70 pCi/g. These values for 21°Pb in soil are in the range of natural background, but plants appear to have slightly elevated concentrations. Preliminary dose evaluations for 21°Pb alone indicated that individuals whose total vegetation intake was grown in this area could receive as much as 400 mrem/yr to the kidney, which is below the current standard of 500 mrem/yr. Although no health hazard has been identified, additional studies of 21°Pb concentrations in/on vegetation and of dose evaluations are being undertaken.