P. 1 

# PICK-U P DATE : 3/15/200 7 BO X O F 

# 3 0 Ste p 2 : FO R ASR C INTERNA

L US E ONLY 

## (PAR T B o

f B )



# EP A DOCKE T ID : 102RQ-R N
1 ) 102RQ-RN-5-1 6 3 ) 102RQ-RN-5-1 8 5 ) 102RQ-RN-5-2 0 7 ) 102RQ-RN-5-2 2 9 ) 102RQ-RN-5-2 4 11 ) 102RQ-RN-5-2 6 13 ) 102RQ-RN-5-2 8 15 ) 102RQ-RN-5-3 0 17 ) 102RQ-RN-6- 1 19 ) 102RQ-RN-6- 3 21 ) 102RQ-RN-6- 5 23 ) 102RQ-RN-6- 7 25 ) 102RQ-RN-6- 9 27 ) 102RQ-RN-6-1 1 29 ) 102RQ-RN-6-1 3 31 ) 102RQ-RN-6-1 5 33 ) 102RQ-RN-6-1 7 35 ) 102RQ-RN-6-1 9 37 ) 102RQ-RN-6-2 1 39 ) 102RQ-RN-6-2 3 Ste p 3 : FO R ASR C INTERNA L US E ONL Y 

### CD : QA: / 

# 2 ) 102RQ-RN-5-1 7 4 ) 102RQ-RN-5-1 9 6 ) 102RQ-RN-5-2 1 8 ) 102RQ-RN-5-2 3 10 ) 102RQ-RN-5-2 5 12 ) 102RQ-RN-5-2 7 14) <102RQ-RN-5-29 N 

# ) 16 ) 102RQ-RN-5-3 2 18 ) 102RQ-RN-6- 2 20 ) 102RQ-RN-6- 4 22 ) 102RQ-RN-6- 6 24 ) 102RQ-RN-6- 8 26 ) 102RQ-RN-6-1 0 28 ) 102RQ-RN-6-1 2 30 ) 102RQ-RN-6-1 4 32 ) 102RQ-RN-6-1 6 34 ) 102RQ-RN-6-1 8 36 ) 102RQ-RN-6-2 0 38 ) 102RQ-RN-6-2 2 40 ) 102RQ-RN-6-2 4

Ste p 1 : FO R ASR

C INTERNA L US E ONL Y 

## Are there more document

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t i n anothe r box

? *YE S 

# (HO J "Fil l ou t Continuatio n Sheet an d g o t o Ste p 2 Interna l SFUN D Bo

x Numbe r _3 6 O F _28 3 Initials/Date : LD

S / 3-15-2007

_Harol d L . Bac k an d Kevi n N . Milla r Environmenta l Meeaurement e Laborator y U . S . Departmen t o f Energ y R m York , Ha

w Yor k 1001 4 

### P. 2 

# laaa -KHJ-s-jf

Dat a o n th a radionuclid

e conten t o f coal , botto m aa han d fly aahar a reviewed . Eatlavate a ar e aad c o f th e quantitie a o f varlooa radlonucllde a releaaed t o th e environaen t fro a coa l comouatlo n an d th e probabl e reaultan t radiatio ndoae a to th

e population . Factor a tha t Influenc e theae doae eatlmateo , auchaa particl e site , aolublllty

an d rado nemanatin

g powe r ar e dlacuaaed . Introductio n 1 The combuatlo

n o f coa l raault a lnth e releaa e o f •mal l quantitie a o f radlonucllde a Int o th e atmosphere . Unlik e nuclea r power , theae releaae a reaul t entirel y fro m a redistributio

n o f alread

y existin

g radlonucllde a rathe r tha

n th e creatio

n o f ne w radlonuclldea . Whethe r o r no t auc

hreleaae a constitut e a potentia l healt h haaard an

d whethe r th

e releaaea o f radioactivity ar e comparabl e to or greate r tha n thos e fro

m a nuclea r fue l cycl e haa becom

e a matte r o f som

e publi c an

d aclentlft c concern . Thi a queatlon l a particularl y

relevan t *o a reaul t o f recent governmen t polic y decision s to In creas e th

e utilisatio

n o f coa l relativ

e t o othe r fuela .
W e hav e mad e a n extensiv e revie w o f dat a on th

e radioactivit y

o f coa l an

d coa l aahe a an

d th e releaae a o f radlonucllde a fro m typica l powe r plants , an d have ala o analysed th

e reault a o f a numbe r o f published assessment s o f potentia l healt hhazards.(1 ) I nthi a pape r w e eiaaaarlc

e som e o f ou r finding s an

d dlacua a som e o f our conclusion s aa wel l a a som e caveat a wit h reapec t t o othe r published assessments , an d preaen t som e additiona l data . Referenc e 1 contaln a a comprehensiv

e lis t o f literatur e citations , an d w e refer th

e reade r t o that pape r fo

r mor e complet e documentationonsom e o f th e result s susnarlzed here .

Radioactivit y

o f U . S . Coal a
Measurement s o f uranium , thorium , an d potassiu

m l n coa l hav

e been reporte

d l n th e literatur e fo

r almos t 100 0 differen t sample s obtained directl y fro m th e mine s tha t provide moa t o f th e coa l uae

d l nth e U . S . toda

y aa wel l a

a fro m mos t o f th

e proven reserves . Mea n concentration s wer e foun d to b e 1. 7 ug/ g fo

r natura l uranium , 4. 5 ug/ g fo r thoriu

m an d 170 0 |j.g/

g fo r potassium , equivelen t t o th e mea n radioactivit y level a fo r U-238 , Th-232 , an d K-4 0 show

n l n Tabl e 1 . Althoug h a fe w coal s wer e foun

d to hav

e fairl y

hig hconcentra tion s o f radionuclides , ove r 9 5 percen t o f th e sample s ha d activitie s les s tha na facto

r o f thre e time s th a means . Contrar

y to som e published reports , waeter n U.S . coal a ar e not , l

n general , mor e radioactiv e tha neast ern U . S . coals , nor ar e lignites , althoug hemai l pocket s o f uranlferoua coa l d o exle t l

n som e weeter n atatea . TAM X1
RADIOACTIVIT

Y O F U . S . COAL

S IN pCl/ (

Nuclide : Saaelo e collecte d fro a eine * (se e Referenc e I ) Seaplee collecte d fro a power pleat s en d enelyee d b

y DO
. Othe r reporte d enelyee e o f eeaple e fro a powe

r plente * Soil 3

- * (fo r co-spar lion ) rente : # eeaplee :
•un : renge : t eeaplee :
Men : rente : * eeaplee : 

### " 8 

### u

O. M < 0.1-1 J (910 )
o.sa 0.11-1. 8 '<1* >
O. M < 0.1*0. 1 (1» )
•HI : 1 0.7 0 renfe : /

0.3-1. 4 T h

0.J 0 < 0.1-5. J (»10 > 0.2 * < 0.1-0.4 7 (K )

O. M 0.17-2. J (10 ) 0.7 0 0. 2 -1. 3 

## *

% 1 . * 0.02-2 0 (MJ ) 1 . *

- 1 -J. J ( U )

2. 8 0.73-S. 6 (10 ) 1 0 )-2 0

*Velue e fo raln e eeaple e er e fo rcoe l e e alned , fo rpowerplent e fo relr-drle d eeaplee . Sinc e a large fractio n o f th a coa l burned l n U.8 . powe r plant a l a "cleaned " prio r t o ua e t o reduc e aa h an d aulfu r content , w e have compared th a actlvltle a o f th a min e aaaplaa wit hthoa e o f aaaple s obtained directl y

fro m powe f planta . Thae e reault a ar a ala o given lnTabl e 1 . Dat a fo r aampla e analysed b y u a ar a reporte d separatel y

fro m othe r dat a l nth

a literature , alnc a som

e o f th a latte r war e ambiguou s wit hrespec t t o number s o f differen t saaplea , origin s o f th a aampla e an

d accuracy

o f analyaia . Our data , moa t o f whic hhav

e no t beenprevloual y reported , wer e obtained b y performin

g hig hresolutiongaama-ra y spectrometr

y o n sample s obtained fro m 1 4 differen t powe r planta , thre e o f whic hbur

n lignite . Uranium-23 8 an

d thorium-23 2 hav

e generall y

been foun d t o b e ln aecula r equilibriu m wit hthei r deca

y product s ln coal . Ou r ow n analyse s generall y confir m thia . Thus , th

e dat a l

nTabl e 1 fo

r U-23 8 an

d Th-23 2 ala o repreaen t the actlvltle a o f thal r reapectiv e de ca y products . I

nReferenc e 1 , w

e referre

d t o a pre liminar y rapor t fro

m Moun d Laborator

y whic hsuggested enhance d Pb-21 0 an

d Po-21 0 level a l nsom e coa l aamples . Inan update

d report , however , thi s grou p report s aecular equilibriu

m doe s appea r t o exis t fo r thei r samples.(2 )
Considering th

e relativel y

smal l numbe r o f sample s fro

m powe r plant a a

a oppoaed t o mlnea , th e agreement l

nmean s an

d range s o f actlvltle a l a excel len t an d tend a to suppor t ou

r prevloua coneluaion tha t th e mea nactlvltle a Inferre d fro m th e min e sample s ar a repreaentatlv

e o f coa l burne

d in actua l powe r planta .
Fo r perapectlve , th

e activitie s o f typica l soil s ar e ala o give nl n Tabl e 1 . (3 )

### P. 3
Whe n coa l l

a burne d l npowe r pienta , non-combus tibl e trac e element s ar e concentrated ln th e aah . Baaed o n a mea n aa hcontent i

nU . S . coal s o f 13. 4 percent , w

e woul d expec t th

e apacifl e activit y o f thi a aaht o averag e 7. S time s tha t o f th a coal , I.e. , 4. 3 pCi/ g fo

r U-23 8 an

d eac ho f Ita deca

y products , 3. 7 pCi/ g fo

r Th-23 2 an

d eacho f It s deca y products , an

d 1 0 pCi/ g fo

r K-40 . Studie s have shown , however , tha t som e o f th e mor e volatil e trac e element a ar a preferen tiall y recondanae d ca

t smalle r particles . Thi a result s ln a n enrichmen t o f fly aa hrelativ

e t o botto

m aah , an d particularl y

o n th e smalle r flyaa

hparticles , whic har a lea s efficientl y remove d b y the emission contro l equipment . Radlonucllde a whic hhav e been demonstrsted t o exhibi t thi a enrichmen t ar e Pb-21 0 an d Po-210 , ln particular , an d t o a leaaar exten t U-238 , U-23 4 an

d Ra-226 .
In Tabl e 2 w

e simmerit e availabl e dat a o n radlo nucllde a l n aahsample s obtained fro m U . S . powe r planta . Excep t fo r on e eet o f dat a b

y Cole s et el. , (4 ) thes e ar e al l saaple e o f contained rathe r tha n eecaplng aah . The Cole e et al . dat a ar e fo r 4 dif ferent els e fractlon a o f th e sam e etac k sampl e an

d illuatrat e th

e progressiv

e enrichmen t o

n smalle r alte

d particle s fo

r certai n radionuclides . Agai n w e hev e Hate d our ow

ndat a separatel y

fro m thoa e o f th

e othe r investigators . Bothset e o f dat a clearl y indicat e th

e enrichmen t o f Pb-21 0 l nfl y aa hrelativ

e t o botto

m aah . The enrichmen t o f othe r uraniu m an d radiu m nu clide s i s to o smal l t o b a aee n ln collected eah , particularl y

for thi a emai l numbe r o f aamplae . Ou r u « u u_.L * ..ilkiuu e o _-.».._•. « «..,« i 4U U j oiiucunou i coa l aahe s obtaine

d fro m 1 1 differen t powe r plants . Mo significan t dlfference e l n activit y

wer e observed betweenlignit e an

d non-lignit e aahee . Considerin

g th e relativel y

emai l m_abe r o f aamplea , th

e averag e actlvltle a show n l nTabl e 2 ar a l nexcellen t agreemen t wit hthoa e expected baaa d on th a coa l data . W

e thu e conclude tha t th e mea n en riche d aa hactlvltle a derive d fro m th e coa l min* . sample s ca

nb a use d aa a baai a fo

r estimatin

g typica l radionuclide emission s fro m coal-fired powe r plants . Radioactivit y

Emission s fro

m Powe r Plant a
The amount o f fl

y aah , an

d thu a th e amoun t o f radioactivit y

release

d t o th

e atmosphere , depend s o n th e efficiency

o f th e plant' a emissioncontro l equip ment . Althoug

hth e tota l amoun t o f aa hgenerated b

y th e plant depend s o

n th a typ e an d amoun t o f coa l burned , a typica l modern 100 0 MW e plant operating 8 0 percen t o f th

e tim e wil l consum

e abou t 2.3xl0 9 kg o f coa l per yea r an

d produc e ebou t 3x10 s k g o f aa hpe r year . I f thi a plant jue t meet s th e EP A particulat e emissionstandar

d o f 0. 1 l

bper 1 0 BT

Ul t wil l re leas e 3. 1 xIO 6 kg/ y o f fl y aah . Baae

d on th

e Colea et ail . (4 ) data , a s wel l e a othe r measurement s re viewed in Referenc e 1 , w e hav e estimated fl y

aa hes capin g fro m suc ha plant wil l b

e enriched i n Pb-21 0 an d Po-21 0 b

y about a facto

r o f fiv

e ove r th

e concen trationexpected baae d o n th

e aahconten t o f the fuel , lnU-23 8 an

d U-23 4 b

y a factor o f two , an d l n Ra-22 6 b y a factor o f 1.5 . Thes e value s wil l o f cours e vary

TAB U 2 RADIOACTIVIT

Y O F COA L ASU S COUICTR

D fRO M U . 8 . ICWR

RHANTS I n pCl/ | TAB U } [STU-KTE D AKNUA

L lADlONUCLlD t MISSION S MO M COAL-MU D fOWE R PLANTS

*

Nuclide : «e.
. 226
. JIO
. SeKplc e anelyee d b

v CML:

aeen : ] A. 2 3. 6 9. 3 Flyae h rente : H.3-6. 6 2.3-6. 1 2-1 *

•eeaplee : J (11 ) (11 ) (* >

aee n 1 l. l Bollo a as h ren|t : p.6-8. 6

* eeaplee : J (10 )
Scrubbe r aee n 1 2. 9 •ludt e t

eeaple e J (1 ) 4. 0 2. 2 1.6-7. 6 O.J- J (10 ) () ) 2. 1 1 0 1.2-2. 8 2-2 0 (11 ) (I D
I I 6. 0 1.1-2. 8 0.6-2 0 (10 ) (10 )

2. 6 (1 ) 3. 4

(1 ) 0 . )

(1 )

Othe r anelyee_: •
riyea h

Slee k Pl. * 3. 6 (1 )

aeen : " 1 2. 4 2. 6 4. 3 3. 4 1 4 ran«e : l l .4-6. 3 0.6-3. 0 1.4-1 1 0.4-7. 3 1.2-2 9 « eeaple e J (27 ) (17 ) (3 ) (39 ) (33 ) sjasr. " I 2. 3 1. 7 2. 0 1. 9 6. 3 Bono
. .. h ran*. : jl.5-2. 6 0.6-2. 3 0.6-3. 6 1.3-2. 2 6.2- 6

•eeaplee : J (3 ) (3 ) (4 ) (2 ) (2 )

3.4-1 2 3.3-3. 9 4.3-1 7 2.8-3. 3 7.0-7. 4 2J * U
21 °T h

232_

_ T h
T h 228
. 

### "V
. 210 „

2l0 P . *° R 222

_
Plyee h (k»/y ) Modern Plen l Plyee h Annue l Activit y Beleelan e (eCl/e ) (aci/y ) 197 2 rien t

9. 0 9. 0 4. 3 6. 8 3. 7 3. 7 3. 7
22. 3
22. 3 1 0



## . 2 8

2 8 1 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7 0 7 0 3 1
130 0 Tlyee h Annue l

Activit y Sai n lon e IPC'/? ) i!fm-iXm4. 3
4. 3 • 4. 5 4. 3 3. 7 3. 7 3. 7 9. 0 9. 0 1 0



## . . 126

126 126 126 10 4 104 10 4 23 2 23 2 28 0
130 0

2.8»1 0

**« t Mitr e ne t 1 fo r datalla
. •Moder n plan t U •plan t Matin g EP A particulat e calaalon a aiandard a o f 0. 1 l b p« r 10 * BTU , 1972 plan t n on * releasin g a t a rat a aqua t t o **a n fo r al l U
. S
. plant a operatin g I n 1972
.

### P. 4

I l UU 1 ptdtl* . *.* • f ...'.... , .*..* . s . . - y^...m,, s st.^it.t y 5_w«^«. . fo r plant s usin

g scrubber s instea d of electrostati c precipitators , sinc e th e former plant s releas e smaller-*li e particle s fo r th a sam e tota l mas s re lease . v5 ) N

o enrichmen t I s expected fo r othe r radio nuclides . The fina l assume d etea n activitie s o f es caping fl

y ashan d th e reeultan t tota l annua l releaa e fro m a typica l atoder

n plan t fo

r eac hlong-live

d radio nuclid e er e given l n Tabl e 3 .
Po r comparison , w

e considered a typica l olde r powe r plant , i.e. , on e that releaae a at a rat e equa l t o th e average fo

r el l powe r plant s operatin g I n th e U . S . l

n 1972 . Suc

ha plant , whic hwoul d releaa e 2.8x10 * k

g o f fl y ashpe r yea r per 100 0 MWe , might b e considered e present-da y wora t cas e situation . Since , ea th e mas s o f release

d ae hlncreaaee , th

e fractio

n made u p b y smal l particle s decreases , th e relativ

e en richmen t o f volatil e element s on escaplng^fl y aa hl a muc hsmaller . W

e hev e assume

d a n enrichmen t o f a factor o f tw

o fo r Pb-21 0 an

d Po-210 , consisten t wit h th e measurement s made o n collecte

d fl y aah , an

d n o significan t enrichmen t fo r othe r nue 1 idea . The fl y aa hactivitie s an

d annua l release e fo r thi s plant ar e ele o given l

n Tabl e 3 . Th e estimate

d annua l emission s o f Rn-22 2 given l n th e Tablt - ausiuu

e tha t essentiall y

al l th

e availabl e Rn-22 2 i

n th e coa l i s release

d durin g pulverizin

g an d combustion . Release s fo

r actua l plant s may , l n a given year , devlet e fro

m th e estimate s o f Tebl e 3 a a a reaul t o f temporaril y

burnin

g coa l or releasin g aa hcontainin

g activitie s significantl y greate r or lea

a tha n ou r as sumptions . However , sinc e mos t planta , particularl y thoa e l

n populated areaa remot e fro m coa l mlnea , wil l bur n coa l fro

m a variety

o f mlne a ove r thei r lifetime , w e woul d expec t th

e reault a l

n Tabl e 3 to fairly re flec t th

e lon g ter m averag e releese s to b e expected fro m botholde r en

d newer U . S . powe r planta . Perturbation s on Ambien t Natura l Radiatio nLevel s
The actua l number o f curie s releaae d o f eac

h nuclid e la no

t l n itsel f particularl y significant . The important question I s ho w muchd o thes e release s increas e ambient nature l beckgroun d radiatio

n level s l n si r en

d soi l an

d thu s potentiall y

increaa e th

e radiatio

n exposur e o f th

e surroundin

g population . On

e important facto

r whichInfluence s th e extent o f thes e perturbation s i s th e height e t whic hth e effluent s ar e released . W

e therefor e calculated expecte d averag e annua l ground-leve l activitie s resultin g fro m th e re lease s give

n l n Tabl e 3 , fo

r botha 5 0 mete r stack an d a IS O mete r stack (se e Referenc e 1 fo

r details) . Th

e result s obtained fo r th e distanc e o f maximu m concen tratio n are give

n l n Tabl e 4 . Eve

n fo r th e older "dirtier " 197 2 plant , releasin g fro m a short stack , th e calculated maximu m ground-leve l activitie s ar e at mos t only

a fe w time s ambient natura l backgroun d level a whil e fo

r a modern plant releasin g fro m tal l stacka th

e calculated maximu m actlvltle a ar e smal l fraction s of ambient backgroun d levels . Thes e max imu m level s fo

r th e i o mete r stac k occu r a t abou t 2 k

m fro m th e plan t bu t dro p of f quit e rapidl y a a show n i n ..-a,...* . . . .. — .... j

- - . - _ _. . -.- j

_., r _ t o thes e levels . Conversely , th e maximu

m fo r th e tal l stack a occur s a

t about 6 k

m an d drop a of f sera slowly . Backgroun

d level s wer a estimated b y assumin

g a mea n ambient ai r dua t loadin g (resuspende

d soil ) (6 ) o f 10 0 Ug/m 3 en

d th e averag e aol l activitie e given ln Tabl a 1 . Figur e 1 . Mea nannua l groun d leve l airborne fly as hconcentration versu s distanc e fro m powe r plan t fo r releaa e rat e o f 1 kg/* -



## a t 1 0

•IIJI I 

# Distanc e Fro m Stac k

(km )
For shor t period s o f time , o f course , actua l e u actlvltle a ca

n b e considerabl y

highe r tha

n thee e annua l averages,dependin

g o n meteorologica l conditions . Th e annua l averag e value s ma y ala o var

y fro m yea r t o yea r du e t o variation s l

n coa l burned , annua l averag e mete orology , an

d othe r factora . Clearl y even larg

e auch variation

a wil l not reaul t l n significan t perturbatio n o f ambient radiatio nlevel s fo

r modernplanta , re leasin g fro m tal l stacks . The lncreaae e l

n concentretlon fo r Rn-22 2 have no t bee ngive nl n Tabl e 4 alnc e l

n el l caae a the

y ar e Insignifican t relativ e t o ambient levela . The amoun t o f Rn-22 2 bein

g release

d I s equivalen t to that whic h le release

d fro m only about 0. 1 k

m o f soi l surface^ )

Assumin g a depositio

nvelocity

o f 1. 0 cm/ e each , fo r bothdr

y depositio

n an d we t deposition , w e can estimat e th

e averag e lon

g ter m deposition ont o th e groun d fro m th e el r concentration s givenl n Tabl e 4 . (Se e Referenc e 1 fo

r a discussiono f th e appropri atenes s o f thes e depositio n velocity

estimetes. ) Th e tota l deposition s sfter 5 0 year s o f operatio nar e give n l n Tabl e 5 . Again , thes e represent value a at th e distanc e o f pea

k ai r concentration s an d th e aver age deposition l

n th e environ s o f th

e plent s woul d b

e about a facto

r of 7 0 les s fo

r release s fro

m 5 0 mete r stack a an d a facto

r o f 1 0 les s fo

r 15 0 mete r stacka l f averaged ou

t t o e distanc e o f 5 0 km .

A a a n illustratio

no f th

e ne t effec t o f thes e de position s on ambient soi l activitie s l n field s wher e

### P. 5

ESTIMATED MAXIMU

M MEA N ANNUA L CROUN D LEVEL AI R ACTIVITYI N aCl/ m RESULTIN

C FRO M COAL-FIRE D POWE

RPLAN T EMISSION S



## .
Nuclid e



# " V 234 

# u "°T h 226 „ R a 232 ^ 228

_ Th , Th , 21 0 P b

210 P o 4 

# ° K
As h (ug/ m) 228 R a Moder n S O mete r atac k

7 0 3 5 5 2
2 9 18 0 18 0
7 8 7. 8 Plan t

15 0 mete r atac k

6 3
4 . 5 2. 5
1 5
I S 6. 7 0.6 7 197 2

5 0 mete r atac k

31 0
31 0
31 0 25 0
62 0 62 0 69 0 69. 4 Plan t

15 0 mete r atac k

2 7
2 7
2 7 2 2 5 4 5 4
6 0
6. 0 

## •

Natura l Backgroun d

7 0
7 0
7 0
7 0
1400 0 330 0 100 0 10 0

crop a migh t b e grown , w

e hav e aeeuned that th

e activ itie s give n l

n Tabl e 5 er e mixed uniforml y dow nt o a dept ho f 3 0 c

m du e t o periodi c plowin g an d hav e com pared th

e reaultan t increas e ln soi l specifi c activ it y wit hth

e mea n ambient eol l activitie s given i n Tabl e 1 . The reault a ar e show n l n Tabl e 6 . Eve nfo r th e 197 2 plant releasin g fro m a ahor t atack , th e lncreaa e ove r backgroun d la onl y

abou t 3 percent . For modern plants , r e leesin

g fro m tal l atacke , l

t la clea r tha

t th e Increas e ln soi l specifi c ectlvlty woul d b

e negligibl e even fo r a muchsmalle r pene tratio n or mixin

g o f th

e fl y ea hint o th

e soil . TABL E 6 INCREAS E I N SOI L ACTIVIT

Y I N fCl/ | TORPLOWE

D FIELD S FRO M S O YEAR S CUMULATIV

E DEPOSITIO

N

Nuclid e



## " V 2 

## * u "°T h
R e 

# " V 22 

# V
" V 

# "S . *° R 228 u Hoder n Rlen c 13 0 Mete r Stec k

0.4 2 0.2 1 0.3 0
0.1 8 1. 1 0.4 9 197 2 Plen t

3 0 Nite r Stec k

2 2 2 2
2 2
I S 4 4
4 9 Neture tSoi l

Becktroun d

70 0 70 0 70 0
70 0 -I.00 0 10,00 0
ISTlftATE

D rUXLMJ

M DEPOSITIO

N I N nCl/ aFRU

H S O YEAR S O F POWE RPIAJT T OPIRATIO

N
Moder n Plan t S O Meie rI M Mtt r etecf c etac h * 0 aete r1) 0 Mlc r at e ch atac k 

## n 

# v
'"TI . .'_ 6 ks
: 1: ii i .'I U VL

- U K 2 M r

II .

. ' 1 0 r12. K

_ 2.1 5 LI S
1 7
v.. S i M 0 1 1

0.1 0 0.1 - o u a i> y > 0.2: 1 0

1 0 1 0 8 2 0 2 2 0.6 3

0 8 . 0.8 5 0.7 0 1. 7 1. 9 Dos e t o Individual s
Th e majo r potentia l pathway s whichmight resul t l n Increese

d radiationdose s t o human s fro m coa l fire

d powe r plant emission s ar e inhalatio n o f fly

aah , In gestio n o f foo

d grow nl n contaminated soil , o r direc t radiatio

n exposur e fro

m th e increase

d deposited radio activity . W

e concluded i

n Referenc e 1 tha t th e lette r tw o pathway s coul d b e completel y

neglected en

d tha t th e onl y potentiall y

significan t pathwa y l a direc t in halation , an

d th e onl y organ potentiall y a t ris k i s th e lung .P. 6

mfc.--n.io

n an a oiret i radiatio

n Jose * ar

e negli gibl e since , a s w

e hav e shown , th

e probabl e Increase s ln soi l specifi c activity ar e ver

y email , eve

nover th e smal l are a o f maxlmia a deposition . Eve

nl f direc t depositio

n o n foliag e I s considered , th e availabl e evidenc e indicate s fly as hi s var

y Insolubl e (1,7 ) an d thu s it s activity

l a not likely

t o b e incorporate

d in t o th e vegetation , or int o bod y tlaaua a an

d organ a l f ingested . Als o l t l a unlikel y an y individua l woul d obtai n mor e tha

n a smal l fractio

n o f hl a die t fro

m crop s grow

n l n th e smal l are a o f maxlmia a contamination , an d even les s likel y he woul d d o ao fo r th a extende

d perio d necessar

y t o buil d u

p a n increase

d bod y burden o f naturall y

occurrin

g radionuclides . The dose-equivalen t to th e lun g fro m Inhalatio

n o f fl y ae hparticle s can b

e estimate

d fro m th e airborne activit y

level a givenl nTabl e 4 . Thes e estimates , whic her e deacrlbed l n mor e detai l lnReferenc e I , ar e aummarlse

d l n Tabl e 7 . The

y aaeime , conservatively , tha t al l th

e airborne fl

y as hi s respirabl e an d in soluble , en

d ere fo

r th e maximu

m expose

d individual , i.e. , on e who i s expose d continuousl y

a t th e level a give n ln Tabl e 4 fo r a sufficien t perio d o f tim

e t o buil d u p equilibriu

m level a l

n th e lung . Eve

nfo r th e olde r 197 2 plant wit ha 5 0 mete r atack , th e maximu

m doa e equivalen t l e les s tha n 1 0 percen t o f that fro m natura l background . The dos e equivalen t fo r th e olde r 197 2 plant I s additionall y conservativ

e l n thet , a

a large r quantitie a o f aa har e releaaed , th e relativ

e fractio n I n th e reaplrabl e range decreaaea . Eve n fo r plant a wit hth

e moa t efficien t emission contro l aysteas , a considerabl e fractio no f th

e releaae

d fl y aa hla no t reaplrable . (5 , 7-9 )

TABL E 7
ESTIMATE S O F DOS E EQUIVALEN

T T O LUN G O F MAXIMU M EXPOSE D INDIVIDUAL

S FRO M INHALATIO

N O F GOA L PLAN T EMISSION

S Doa e Equivalen

t (area/y )
Typ e Flee t S

O Mate r 8 tac k 15 0 Mete r Stac k Moder n Plan t

197 2 Plan

t 1. 6

8. 7 0.1 4

0.7 5

(Natura l Background) * ~ 10 0

Th e dose-equivalent s t o othe r organ a fro m Inhale d radionuclide s ar e considerabl y smalle r tha

n thoae to th e lung , alnc e th

e insolubility

o f mos t o f th

e fl y aa hresult s l

nver y littl e transfe r o f radionuclide s fro m th e lun g t o othe r organ

a or t o aof t tissue . W e thu s conclude that th e effluent a fro

m even "dirty " coal-fired powe r plant a releasin g fro m shor t stack s wil l resul t l

n negligibl e lncreaae e l n radiatio nex posur e t o th

e genera l population o r t o an y individual . Radioactivity of Wast e Material s
Onl y a smal l fractio

no f th e aa hproduced l

n coa l plant a l

a released throug

hth e stack . The remainde r la usuall y

sluice d to holdin

g ponds . Abou t 2 0 percen t I s currentl y

sol d fo

r us e aa lan

d fil l o r in manufac turin g buildin

g materials . The uae o f acrubbar a to remov e sulfu r fro m flu e gase s result s l

n anadditiona l waat e produc t l n th e for m o f aludge . A

a show n i n Tabl e 2 , thea e waate a hav e radioactivitie s severa l time s tha t o f th

e averag e aoil . Becaua e o f th e in solubilit y

o f th a aah , leachin

g o f radionuclide s Int o groun d wate r doe a no t appea r t o praaen t a aarloua problem , althoug

hthara hav

e beenfe

w atudla a o f long ter m weathering effecta . Th e ue e o f ea hln building material s canreaul t l npotentia l lncreaae e l n direc t externa l radiatio

n exposur e t o occupant s o f th e re sultan t building s dependin g onth e activit y

o f th e material s wit hwhic hth e aa hla mixed . Ther e hav e beenonl y

a fe w acattere

d measurement s o f th e activit y o f building material s mad e wit hashan d alag an

d no systemati c studie s hav e bee n made o f th

e potentia l increas e l

npopulationexposure . One aerlou

a concernhaa bee

nth e potentia l re leas e o f Rn-22 2 fro m aa hwaat e pile s en

d as hproducts . W e reported previousl y tha t radondi d no t appea r t o emanat e slgnlflcentl y fro m fl y es han d botto m aah . Sinc e then , w

e have analysed a numbe r o f additiona l sample s fo

r rado n emanation . Thea e reeult a ar e summar l te d l nTabl e 8 . A

a shown , th

e emanationfro

m aa h average a lea

a tha n2 percent . Thi e compare s t o abou t 1 5 percen t fo

r th e everag e aoi l (3 ) an d 2 0 percen t for uraniu m mil l tailings . (10 ) Bituminou s cos l eppear a t o emanat e at a rat e comparabl e t o aoil , however , th e thre e lignit e coa l aample s w e hav e evaluated emanate d at muchhighe r ratea . Unles s lon g ter m weetherlng someho w modified the phyeica l compositio n o f th

e Impermeabl e glaaa

y fl y aa hpartlclea , w e woul d conclud e that emanation o f rado n fro m aa hdoe s not constitut e a algniflcan t potentia l perturbatio nt o ambien t Rn-22 2 levels .

TABL E 8 22 2 R n EMANATION

* FRO M COA L AN D AS H SAMPLE S

Type o f Sample bltualnou acoa l lignit e coa l flyee h botto m aah , ala g scrubbe rsludg e No . o f Sample s 6 3 1 1 1 0 1 Eaanatlo n (* )

Mea n 2 0 S 3

< 2

< 2

m Rana

e 11-37 t-4-6 3

< 1- 3

< 1- 5



### -
•Rati o o f escap e t o productio

n ratea . 

### OsO-i] 

# i s — lo 

# -

### P. 7

Othe r source s o f waste s fro m th e coe l fue l cycle , i n particula r coa l minin g refua e an

d coa l cleanin

g realdues , hav

e bee n reporte

d to reeul t l

ncontamin ation o f stream

a an d river s an

d may constitut e a mor e algniflcan t potentia l proble m area . (I )
Diacuaalon
Th e precedin

g diacuaalon Illustrate s tha t l f one use s realistic , yet conservative , estimate s o f actlv ltlea l n coa l an

d fl y aah , powe r plan

t releaa e rates , atmospheri c diffusio n an d aubaequen t deposition , on e conclude s that th

e combustio

n o f fossi l fuels , even l n th e les s controlled "older " plant a that releaa e waat e product a fro m ahor t atacka , wil l no t reaul t l n algniflcan t perturbatlone o n natura l environmenta l radiatio

n level a or algniflcan t Increase s l ndose s to an y Individual . On

e can ala o aaa , however , that b y compoundin

g wora t caaea o r unrealisti c assumptions , on e arrlve a at fairl y larg e estimate s o f dose . Un fortunately,numeroue recent publication s containin g auchestimate s ha a reaulte d ln unnecessar

y publi c an

d prea a concern regardin g thi a topic . Thi a l a regret tabl e alnc e lt tend e t o diver t attentio n fro m th e othe r potentia l healthhacard a o f coa l combustion , som e o f whic her e likely to b e fa r mor e conaequentia l
Anothe r controversial , althoug hno t particularl y relevent , question haa beenth e relativ

e radiologica l impac t o f coa l verau a nuelee r power . W e examine

d thi a queation in Referenc e 1 an d concluded that , whe n th e entir e fue l cycle s ar e conaldared , th e radio logica l Impac t o f coa l la fa r smalle r tha

n that o f nuclear . Mee t noteworthy , however , la tha t routine releaae a fro

m bot hcycle a produc e negligibl e in crease s l

n radiatio

nexposur e compared t o backgroun d or othe r aource e o f exposure . The publi c haa bee n confused wit hwidel y differin

g published comparisons . Som e o f thee e simpllstlcall y compered th

e tota l actlvltle a (l

ncurlea ) releaaed , a ver y misleadin

g exercise , since , obviously , differen t radionuclide s wit hdifferen t half-lives , radletiona , radiatio n anerglea , ecologica l transpor t propertiea , dos e path way s t o man , an

d biologica l effectlvenea s ar e In volved . Other s compare d th e effect a o f emission s fro m powe r plant a only , ignorin g th e fac t that moa t o f th e routine radiologica l impac t o f nuclea r power derlve a fro

m othe r part e o f th e fue l cycle . Althoug haom e further reaearcho n th e lon g ter m fat e o f certai nwaat e product s might b e beneficial , w e fee l that lt la clear that th e radioactivity

re leaae d b y the combustio

n o f coa l ln moder nplant a meeting EPA' a particulat e emission standard a l a not a matte r o f concern . 

### 7 .

8 .

9 .

10 . Styron , C . E , Cesclla , V. , Farmer , B . K. , Hopklna , L . C. , Jenklne , P . H. , Phllllpe , C . A. , an d Roolnaon , B. , "Assessmen t o f th e Radiologica l Impac t o f Coa l Utilisation, " Moun d Laborator

y Repor t MLM-2S14 , Monsant o ReeearchCorp , Moun d Facility , Mlamiaburg , Ohi o (1979) .
"Source a an

d Effect a o f Ionisin g Radiation, " Repor t o f th

e United NatIona Scientifi c Com mitte e on th

e Iffect a o f Ionisin g Radiation , Unite d Nations , Ne

w York (1977) . Colea , D . C , Ragalnl , R . C , an d Ondov , J . M. , "Behavio r o f Natura l Radionuclide s lnWeatern Coal-Fired Powe r Planta, " Environ . Sci . Technol . 12, 44 2 (1978) . Ondov , J . M. , Ragalnl , R . C , an d Blerman , A . H. , "Characterlsetlon o f Trac e Elemen t Emission s fro m Coal-Fired Powe r Planta, " l nNuclea r Methode ln Environmenta l an

d Energ y Reaearch , USDOE Pro ceeding s CONF-771072 , U . S . Departmen t o f Energ y (1978) .
"Natura l Backgroun

d Radiation l

nth e United States, " NCR P Repor t No . 45 , Nationa l Counci l o n RadiationProtection an d Measurements , Weshlngton , D . C . (1975) . Parungu , F. , Ackerman , E. , Proulx , h. , an d Pueschel , R. , "Nucleatlo n Propertie a o f Fly Aa h lna Coal-Fired Powe r Plant Plume, " Atmos . Environ . ^2 , 92 9 (1978) . Hobbs , P . V. , Hegg , D . A. , Eltgrowth , M . W . an d Radke , L . P. , "Evaluatio n o f Particle s ln th e Plume s o f Coal-Fired Powe r Planta-1 . Deduc tion s fro

m Fiel d Measurements, " Atmos . Environ . _12 , 93 5 (1979) . Ragalnl , R . C . an

d Ondov , J . M. , "Trac e Elemen t Emission s fro

m Western U . S . Coel-Fue l _>owe r Planta, " l

n Proc . Int . Conf . Moder n Trenda l n ActivationAnalyaia , Munich , Germany , I , 65 4 U976) . Swift , J . J. , Hardin , J . M. , an d Calley , H . W. , "Potentia l Radiologica l Impac t o f Airborne Re lease s sn

d Direc t Gamm

a Radiatio

nt o Individual s Livin g Near Inactiv

e Uraniu

m Mil l Tailing s Piles, " USEP A Repor t EPA-520/1-76-001 , U . S . Environ menta l Protectio

n Agency , Waahington , D . C . (1976) .

Reference s
1 . Beck , H . L. , Gogolak , C . V. , Millar , K . M. , an d Lowder , W . M. , "Perturbatlone on th e Natura l Radiation Environmen t du e t o th e Utilisationo f Coa l a a a n Energ y Source, " Proceeding s o f Symposiu

m on th e Natura l Radiation Envlronment III , CONF-780422 , U . S . Departmen t o f Energ y (1979) .