Radionuclides in Sediment at Nuclear Facilities in Georgia

• Main Authors: Rosson, Robert, Lahr, Jeff, Garcia, Ramon, Blackman, Clifford, Kahn, Bernd
• Other Authors: Hatcher, Kathryn J., Georgia Institute of Technology. Environmental Resources Center, Georgia. Dept. of Natural Resources
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: Georgia Institute of Technology 2001
• Subjects: Water resources management; Radionuclides; Environmental impact; Contamination; Water quality; Wastewater; Cumberland Sound
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1853/44108

Proceedings of the 2001 Georgia Water Resources Conference, April 26 and 27, 2001, Athens, Georgia. As part of its environmental radiological surveillance program, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources monitors man-made radionuclides in sediment below the outfalls of nuclear facilities. Sediment acts as a water contaminant indicator and accumulator, and as a potential source of these contaminants for aquatic biota. Locations in the Chattahoochee R., Savannah R., Altamaha R., Etowah R., and Cumberland Sound have been monitored for up to 20 years. Samples typically are collected once per year at designated stations for analysis of photon- emitting radionuclides and, in some cases, Sr-90 and Pu-239. Most samples contained only naturally occurring radionuclides and some residues of fallout from atmospheric tests of nuclear weapons. Reported here are the relatively low levels of radionuclides attributed to facility discharges that occasionally were detected. Results were combined with radionuclide amounts reported in facility effluent and concentrations measured in water and fish to calculate radiation doses to the potential maximally exposed persons. These annual doses by the aquatic pathway were very low in most cases and below the regulatory limits in all cases. Sponsored and Organized by: U.S. Geological Survey, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Natural Resources Conservation Service, The University of Georgia, Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology This book was published by the Institute of Ecology, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602-2202. The views and statements advanced in this publication are solely those of the authors and do not represent official views or policies of The University of Georgia, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Georgia Water Research Institute as authorized by the Water Resources Research Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-397) or the other conference sponsors.