STUDIES OF INGESTION DOSE PATHWAYS
FROM THE NUCLEAR FUEL SERVICES
FUEL REPROCESSING PLANT
Paul J. Magno
Richard Kramkowski
Thomas Reavey
Robert Wozniak
December 1974
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Office of Radiation Programs
Washington, D.C. 20460
-------
-------
FOREWORD
The Office of Radiation Programs carries out a national program
designed to evaluate the exposure of man to ionizing and nonionizing
radiation, and to promote the development of controls necessary to pro-
tect the public health and safety and assure environmental quality.
Office of Radiation Programs technical reports allow comprehensive
and rapid publishing of the results of intramural and contract projects.
The reports are distributed to State and local radiological health
offices, Office of Radiation Programs technical and advisory committees,
universities, laboratories, schools, the press, and other interested
groups and individuals. These reports are also included in the collec-
tions of the Library of Congress and the National Technical Information
Service.
I encourage readers of these reports to inform the Office of
Radiation Programs of any omissions or errors. Your additional comments
or requests for further information are also solicited.
W. D. Rowe, Ph.D.
Deputy Assistant Administrator
for Radiation Programs
iii
-------
-------
PREFACE
The Office of Radiation Programs of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, in cooperation with the New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation, Nuclear Fuel Services (NFS), and the U.S.
Atomic Energy Commission, have over the past several years conducted a
study at the nation's first commercial nuclear reprocessing plant oper-
ated by NFS in Western New York State. The overall purpose of this
study was to determine the requirements of an environmental surveillance
program for fuel reprocessing plants. Specific study objectives in-
cluded: (a) characterization of both the gaseous and liquid waste efflu-
ents from the plant, (b) measurement of the environmental concentrations
of the discharged radionuclides, and (c) delineation of the important
exposure pathways and estimation of the radiation doses to the popula-
tion living near the plant.
The initial results of this study have been published in a series
of four reports which provide background information for this report.
BRH/NERHL 70-1
BRH/NERHL 70-2
BRH/NERHL 70-3
BRH/NERHL 70-4
An Estimate of Radiation Doses Received "by
Individuals Living in the Vicinity of a
Nuclear Reprocessing Plant
Liquid Waste Effluents from a Nuclear Fuel
Reprocessing Plant
An Investigation of Airborne Radioactive
Effluent from an Operating Nuclear Fuel
Reprocessing Plant
Calibration and Initial Field Testing
Detectors for Environmental Monitoring
85,
The results of this initial phase of the study indicated that
additional information was required to better characterize the important
dose pathways and provide more accurate information for dose estimates.
Reports on iodine 129 and tritium discharges from NFS and the concen-
trations of these radionuclides in the environment around the plant have
been published:
ORP/SID 72-5
EPA/ORP 73-1
Iodine-129 in the Environment Around a
Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing Plant3 and
Observation of Airborne Tritium Waste
Discharge from a Nuclear Fuel Reproc-
essing Plant
-------
Measurements of the concentrations of radionuclides in fish and
deer by the State of New York Department of Environmental Conservation
had shown that ingestion of strontium 90 and cesium 137 in fish flesh
and deer meat represented the critical exposure pathways to individuals
from the operation of the NFS plant. Although these pathways were known,
more information was needed to refine the estimates of individual and
population exposures from these pathways. Further study was needed to:
(a) better define the exposed population from these pathways, (b) deter-
mine their intake, and (c) estimate their radiation exposure. Likewise,
to obtain more information on ingestion pathways additional studies were
needed on radionuclide concentrations in locally grown food items and
in the diets of the population living in the vicinity of the plant.
This report represents the results of studies on these ingestion
pathways and includes the following:
(1) results of a survey of fishing on the Cattaraugus Creek,
(2) results of a survey of venison intakes from deer taken within
a 20-mile (32 km) radius of NFS,
(3) dose estimates for the maximum individual and the integrated
population dose from fish and deer intake,
(4) measurements of radionuclide concentrations in produce grown
around the perimeter of the NFS site, and
(5) measurement of radionuclide concentrations in total diets from
the Springville-West Valley, N.Y. area.
The NFS plant suspended operation in the spring of 1972 in order
to modify and expand the plant. Present plans are for a throughput of
750 tonnes/yr. Significant changes in the waste treatment systems are
expected prior to resumption of operation. The radiation exposures
presented in this report apply only to the operation of the NFS plant
prior to shutdown and should not be interpreted as being representative
of the situation when this plant resumes operation or of other fuel
reprocessing plants.
...7
E. David Harward
Director
Technology Assessment Division
-------
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The assistance and cooperation of the following individuals in
planning and carrying out this study is gratefully acknowledged.
John Russell
Floyd Galpin
Harold Peterson, Jr.
Office of Radiation Programs
Environmental Protection Agency
Thomas Cashman
William Kelleher
Bureau of Radiological Pollution
New York State Department
of Environmental Conservation
William Hessleton
Division of Fish and Wildlife
New York State Department
of Environmental Conservation
James Clark
Terry" Wenstrand
Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc.
vii
-------
CONTENTS
Chapter Page
FOREWORD iii
PREFACE , v
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS vii
ABSTRACT „... xi
1. DOSE ESTIMATES FOR POPULATION FISHING THE CATTARAUGUS CREEK. 1
1.1 Introduction ,.. 1
1.2 Survey Procedures 2
1.3 Survey Results ,.. 3
1.4 Assumptions Used in Extrapolation of Observed Data..... 4
1.5 Radionuclide Concentrations in Fish from Cattaraugus
Creek 5
1.6 Liquid Discharges from Nuclear Fuel Services 7
1.7 Estimated Radionuclide Intakes by the Population
Fishing Cattaraugus Creek During 1971 8
1.8 Estimated Dose Commitments from NFS Discharges to
Population Fishing Cattaraugus Creek During 1971 9
2. ESTIMATE OF INGESTION DOSES TO POPULATION FROM VENISON
CONSUMPTION 13
2.1 Introduction 13
2.2 Survey Procedures 14
2.3 Estimation of Venison Intakes Using Survey Data 15
2.4 Radionuclide Concentrations in Venison from the
Vicinity of NFS During 1970 17
2.5 Radionuclide Intakes frpm Ingestion of Venison from
Deer Taken Within a 32-km Radius of NFS 18
2.6 Estimated Dose Commitments to Population Consuming
Venison from Deer Kills within a 32-km Radius of NFS... 20
3. RADIONUCLIDE CONCENTRATIONS IN DIETS OF POPULATIONS LIVING
IN THE VICINITY OF NUCLEAR FUEL SERVICES., 21
3.1 Introduction. , 21
3.2 Radionuclide Concentrations and Intakes..... 22
3.2.1 Market basket sampling. 22
3.2.2 Local produce sampling 23
3.2.3 Tritium in food composites , 23
3.3 Results and Discussions 29
3.3.1 Market basket sampling , 29
3.3.2 Local produce , 30
viii
-------
Chapter Page
3.4 Addendum 32
SUMMARY . 34
REFERENCES 35
APPENDIXES
A.I Cattaraugus Creek Survey. 37
A. 2 Cattaraugus Creek Survey—Daily Log Sheet 38
B.I Deer Use Cover Letter ..*... 39
B. 2 Deer Use Questionnaire 40
TABLES.
1.1 Summary of observed data from fishing survey on the
Cattaraugus Creek, 1971 ...» ; 3
1.2 Question response data from fishing survey on the
Cattaraugus Creek, 1971 4
1.3 Extrapolation of survey data of fishing trips and
intakes for April through August 1971 5
1.4 Concentrations of radionuclides in fish flesh from f
Cattaraugus Creek, 1971 .* 6
1.5 Average concentration of radionuclides in fish from
Cattaraugus Creek, 1971 7
1.6 Gross beta and strontium 90 in liquid discharges
from NFS * *... 8
1.7 Estimated radionuclide intakes for consumption of fish
flesh from Cattaraugus Creek « 9
1.8 Estimated dose commitments to population fishing the
Cattaraugus Creek near NFS plant during 1971 10
1.9 Dose conversion factors 10
2.1 Summary of survey data on venison intakes from deer
taken within a 32-kilometer radius of NFS during 1970.. 15
2.2 Extrapolated venison intakes from legally taken deer
within a 32-kilometer radius of NFS during 1970 , 16
2.3 Radionuclide concentrations in venison obtained from
vicinity of NFS during 197,0. 17
2.4 Radionuclide concentrations in venison from Albany,
N.Y. area 18
2.5 Estimated radionuclide intakes from consumption of
venison obtained from deer kills in the vicinity of
NFS, 1970 >. 19
2.6 Estimated dose commitments from consumption of venison
obtained from deer kills in the vicinity of NFS, 1970.. 20
ix
-------
Page
3.1 Radionuclides in Springville, N.Y. diets,
September 1970 22
3.2 Radionuclides in selected diet categories from
Riceville, N.Y. and West Valley, N.Y., September 1970.. 23
3.3 Radionuclides in Winchester, Mass, diets, September
1970 „. 24
3.4 Radionuclides in diets from New York, N.Y. and Chicago,
111 25
3.5 Radionuclides in garden produce from farms located
around the perimeter of Nuclear Fuel Services,
September 1970 26
3.6 Radionuclides in produce from farm stands in Chaffee,
N.Y., September 1970 28
3.7 Radionuclides in produce from farm stands in
Winchester, Mass., September 1970 28
3.8 Tritium in total diets and farm produce composites,
September 1970 29
3.9 Estimated dietary intakes of strontium 90, cesium 137,
and tritium from market basket sampling 30
3.10 Comparison of radionuclide concentrations in produce
from farms around NFS with matching control samples... 31
3.11 Estimated dietary intakes of strontium 90, cesium 137,
and tritium for families living around NFS plant
perimeter 32
3.12 Radionuclides in soil collected around NFS plant
perimeter 33
-------
ABSTRACT
Studies were carried out to evaluate ingestion doses to indi-
viduals and the local population resulting from the operation of the
Nuclear Fuel Services (NFS) reprocessing plant in West Valley, N.Y.
These studies involved evaluations of radionuclide intakes from inges-
tion of fish, deer, and locally grown food items and included surveys
of fishing and deer hunting in the vicinity of the plant.
The maximum dose commitment to an individual from the fish path-
way during 1971 was estimated to have been 1.4 millirem whole body and
7 millirem bone. The maximum whole-body dose commitment to an indi-
vidual from ingestion of venison from deer kills in 1970 was estimated
to have been 14 millirem. Dose estimates for the local population from
the fish and deer pathways indicated that the integrated whole-body
population dose commitments from each of these pathways was about
0.1 man-rem per year. Measurements of radionuclide concentrations in
locally grown food items indicated that the operation of the NFS plant
had not resulted in any measureable increase in the radionuclide intakes
of the population living in the vicinity of the plant from the pathway.
XI
-------
Mr. Paul J. Magno, Mr. Richard Kramkoski, and Mr. Thomas
Reavey were at what was formerly the Northeastern Radio-
logical Health Laboratory, 109 Holton St., Winchester,
Mass. 01890. Mr. Magno is now with the Field Operations
Division, EPA, 401 M St., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460.
Mr. Kramkoski is now with the National Institute for Oc-
cupational Safety and Health, Department of Health, Edu-
cation, and Welfare, 300 South Wacker Dr., Chicago,
111. 60606. Mr. Reavey is with EPA at the Eastern En-
vironmental Radiation Facility, P.O. Box 61, Montgomery,
Ala. 36101. Mr. Robert Wozniak is with the New York
State Department of Environmental Conservation, Region
IV, Buffalo Regional Office, 584 Delaware Ave., Buffalo,
N.Y. 14202.
-------
CHAPTER 1.
DOSE ESTIMATES FOR POPULATION FISHING THE CATTARAUGUS CREEK
1.1 Introduction.
Intake of fish from the Cattaraugus Creek was reported to represent
one of the major exposure pathways to the local population resulting
from the operation of the Nuclear Fuel Services (NFS) plant (1_,2) •
Shleien (_!) estimated a dose commitment of 215 millirem to bone for the
maximum individual from this pathway for 1968. Shleien's dose esti-
mates were based on rough estimates of fish intake and analyses of whole
fish. In order to better define the intakes of fish, the U.S. Environ-
mental Protection Agency, in cooperation with the New York State Depart-
ment of Environmental Conservation, during the spring and summer of 1971
conducted a fishing survey to obtain demographic data on the population
fishing the upper regions of the Cattaraugus Creek near the NFS plant.
The purpose of the survey was to determine the maximum intake of fish by
an individual and the total intake by the population fishing these
regions.1 This report presents the results of this survey and includes
the following information:
(a) a description of the procedures used during the survey and
the methods for data handling,
(b) the limitations in the survey procedure and in the data
interpretat ion,
(c) a summary of the survey data obtained and an extrapolation
of this data to the entire fishing population,
(d) measurements of radionuclide concentrations in fish col-
lected from the upper regions of the Cattaraugus Creek hear
the NFS plant during the survey, and
(e) ingestion dose estimates for the maximum individual and
integrated population doses from fishing in the regions of
the Cattaraugus Creek near the NFS plant.
Although an evaluation of the external radiation dose to the popu-
lation fishing the Cattaraugus Creek was not included in the original
study objectives, the information developed during the study indicated
that the doses from this pathway may be as significant as the ingestion
pathway. Therefore an estimate of the external doses received by the
population fishing the Cattaraugus Creek from NFS discharges has been
made and is included in this report.
1No commercial fishing takes place on the Cattaraugus Creek.
-------
Data on concentrations of radionuclides in fish from the Cattarau-
gus Creek have been reported annually by the. New York State Department
of Environmental Conservation Q) and by the NFS 04}. These data showed
detectable concentrations of radionuclides in fish, in the upper regions
of the Cattaraugus Creek which can be identified as resulting from the
NFS waste discharges. Radionuclide concentrations in fish from the
regions of the creek near'the mouth are lower than the fish from the
upper regions. This results from factors such as dilution, sedimenta-
tion, and fish entering Cattaraugus Creek from Lake Erie. At the low
levels of radioactivity measured in fish from Irving to the mouth of the
creek the limited data does not permit discrimination between the NFS
contribution and weapons testing fallout. For this reason, the major
emphasis during the fishing survey was on .the regions of the creek near
the plant and dose estimates are presented in this report only for the
population fishing these regions.
The information from the upper regions of the Cattaraugus Creek
should be adequate to define the maximum individual, since this most
probably is an individual fishing the regions of the creek nearest the
plant where the radionuclide concentrations in fish are highest. How-
ever, it is uncertain as to what percentage the integrated population
dose from fishing in upper regions of the creek represents of the total
integrated population dose from this pathway. Estimation of the total
integrated population dose from ingestion of. fish2 containing radio-
nuclides originating from the NFS liquid discharge was not within the
scope of this study.
1.2 Survey Procedures
Each month, April through August 1971, the fishing areas between
Bigelow Bridge and Otto Road (Burts) were surveyed for seven consecu-
tive days. Six fishing areas had been identified along the approxi-
mately 24 km of stream involved. The fishing areas had been identified
by two aerial inspections to assure that all possible fishing areas
would be investigated. Each of the identified fishing areas was visited
as often as possible each day between the hours of 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.
The entire survey was conducted by one person with, the exception of the
month of April during which four people were utilized. Observations of
the number of fishing trips per day were made and interviews were con-
ducted with as many 'of the people fishing as possible. Information was
obtained on the frequency of fishing, length of fishing trip, number of
meals of fish eaten, and species eaten. The number, size, and species
of fish caught at the time of the interview were also recorded. Copies
of the questionnaire and survey log sheet used in this study are pre-
sented in appendixes A.I and A.2.
2This would include ingestion of fish from the mouth of the
Cattaraugus Creek, Lake Erie, and other bodies of water influenced by
the NFS waste.
-------
1.3 Survey Results .-. ,
During tKe 5-month, period of the survey, 350 fishing trips were
observed and 224 interviews conducted. All observed data were treated
on a fishing trip basis and not on an individual basis. Fifty-six of
the interviews conducted represented interviews with individuals previ-
ously surveyed. Some individuals were observed fishing and surveyed as
many as eight- times. Table 1.1 presents a summary of the observed data
obtained during the survey and table 1.2 summarizes the information
obtained in response to the interviewer's questions. The observed
edible weight listed in table 1.2 was determined by laboratory measure-
ments made on fish species taken by rod and reel from Cattaraugus Creek
during the survey period. All other data in table 1.1 and table 1.2
were obtained, from the survey records. The data presented in table 1.2
is limited to the extent that some of the persons interviewed were hesi-
tant to furnish any information and those that did cooperate could not
accurately provide the desired information, particularly with regard to
the amount of fish eaten by themselves and their families.
Table 1.1 Summary of observed data from fishing survey
on the Cattaraugus Creek, 1971
Period of survey Seven consecutive days each month,
April through August 1971
Area surveyed. Cattaraugus Creek, Bigelow Bridge
to Otto Road
Fishing trips observed 350
Interviews 224 (56 repeats)
Type of fish caught (trout and suckers) 95% of catch
Fish eaters 68%
Eat trout only. '._._ 52%
Eat trout and sucker.s * *. 16%
Average observed catch (all trips):
Trout 0.42
Suckers 0.69
Average observed catch (fish eaters):
Trout .-. 0.67
Suckers 2.20
Average observed size:
Trout catch 9 in.
Sucker catch 8 in.
Average observed edible weight:
9-inch trout 100 g
8—inch sucker 45 g
-------
Table 1". 2 Question response data from fishing survey
on the. Gattaraugus Creek, 1971
Estimated average
Duration of time per fishing trip (hours).
Elapsed time fishing when surveyed (hours)
Number of fishing trips per year:
All individuals ..'
Fish eaters
Number of meals:
Person
Family
3.7
a1.7
6
13
6
22
^Essentially the same for eaters and non-eaters.
Table 1.3 presents an extrapolation of the observed data obtained
during the survey to the full 5-month period, April through August 1971.
The data presented in table 1.3 are subject to many limitations re-
sulting from the design and time period of the stream survey. As a
result of these limitations, certain rough assumptions were required in
order to extrapolate the observed data to total number of fishing trips,
total number of fish caught, and total amount of fish consumed for the
5-month period. The assumptions used in these extrapolations are pre-
sented below and represent an effort to convert limited data into rough
estimates.
1.4 Assumptions Used in Extrapolation of Observed Data
To correct the observed fishing trips per week to the total fishing
trips per week, it was necessary to take into account periods during
which the fishing areas were not surveyed. For this purpose each day
was divided into five 3-hour periods: 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., 9 a.m. to 12 m.,
12 m. to 3 p.m., 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. A'fishing area
was considered to have been surveyed for a period if the area was
visited sometime during the 3-hour interval. The observed fishing
trips were corrected for the 5 weekdays and 2 weekend days surveyed,
based on the number of 3-hour periods available, divided by the number
of 3-hour periods surveyed. For example, for the week of June 21-27,
1971:
Available weekday time
periods 25
Time periods surveyed.. 20
Correction factor...... 1.2
Available weekend time
periods 10
Time periods surveyed.. 10
Correction factor 1.0
-------
Table 1.3 Extrapolation of survey data of fishing trips and intakes
for April through. August 1971
Estimate
Total fishing trips per period.
Fishing trips:
Trout eaters..
Sucker eaters
Average catch:
Trout by trout eaters
Suckers by sucker eaters.....
Total number:
Trout eaten
Suckers eaten
Total intake (kilograms):
Trout flesh
Sucker flesh
2000
a!400
300
1.
5
2100
1500
210
70
aThis value, includes the 300 trips by individuals who eat both
trout and suckers.
To extrapolate the corrected observed fishing trips per week to
total fishing trips per month the following procedure was used. The
average number of fishing trips during the 5 weekdays surveyed was mul-
tiplied by the total number of weekdays in the month. Likewise, the
average number of fishing trips during the 2 weekend days surveyed was
multiplied by the total number of weekend days in the month.
The average, catch per trip was estimated as follows:
C t
o
where:
f\ ,_
t =
t^ =
estimated average catch per fishing trip,
observed average catch at time of interview,
average duration of fishing time, and
average length of time fishing when interviewed.
1.5 Radionuclide Concentrations in Fish from Cattaraugus Creek
Data on the concentrations of cesium 137, cesium 134, strontium 90,
and zinc 65 in fish samples collected by the Environmental Protection
Agency during this study from the area of the Cattaraugus Creek covered
by the survey, are presented in table 1.4. Other radionuclides were
-------
Table 1.4 Concentrations of radionuclides in fish flesh
from Cattaraugus Creek, 1971
Location
Felton Bridge. . .
Helton Bridge. . .
Springville Dam.
Springville Dam.
Springville Dam.
Springville Dam.
Felton Bridge.
Felton Bridge.
Felton Bridge.
Felton Bridge.
Felton Bridge.
Felton Bridge.
Felton Bridge.
Route 16a
Route 16a.
Type
Sucker
Trout
Sucker
Sucker
Trout
Trout
Trout
Sucker
Sucker
Sucker
Sucker
Sucker
Sucker
Sucker
sucker
sucker
No.
4
2
10
1
1
3
6
2
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
10
(b)
(b)
Date
6/71
6/71
6/71
6/71
6/71
6/71
6/71
6/71
6/71
4/71
4/71
4/71
4/71
It/71
4/71
4/71
6/71
9/71
137Cs
1113 ± 30
810 ± 5
1500 ± 30
3300 ± 200
1460 ± 40
1000 ± 25
1373 +• 30
1000 + 30
1630 + 200
1457 ± 45
363 ± 50
966 ±. 70
1428 ± 50
468 ± 70
247 ± 30
1197 ± 30
< 37
< 25
Concent
(pCi/kg wet \
134Cs
200 ± 25
138 ± 20
295 ± 25
500 ± 185
275 ± 35
171 ± 20
206 +• 25
188 •"• 25
400 + 190
259 ± 40
79 ± 50
162 ± 70
189 ± 45
60 ± 50
30 ± 25
190 ± 25
< 34
< 21
tration
reight ± 2a)
90Sr
115 ± 9
16 ± 3
760 ± 10
613 ± 50
80 ± 5
75 ± 5
790 + 10
99+7
200 + 30
120 ± 10
43 ± 7
64 ± 10
144 ± 12
30 ± 8
33 ± 5
91 ± 5
< 1
< 1
65Zn
493 ± 50
790 ± 50
3021 ± 50
3264 ± 360
787 ± 60
775 ± 40
1717 + 50
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
622 ± 50
< 90
< 47
foata from State of New York Department of Environmental Conservation (50.
Combined composite samples.
NA, no analysis.
either not detected or were present in very low concentrations, with ex-
ception of tritium which was present in concentration of about 10 nCi/kg.
Cesium 137 concentrations in fish flesh ranged from 247 to 1630 pCi/kg.
Cesium 134 concentrations were about 20 percent of the cesium 137 con-
centrations. Strontium 90 concentrations ranged from 16 to 760 pCi/kg.
and zinc 65 from 493 to 3021 pCi/kg. Average concentrations for these
samples weighted according to edible flesh are presented in table 1.5.
In preparing these samples for analysis, great care was taken to
completely separate the flesh from bone and skin. Cesium 137 was meas-
ured using conventional sodium iodide gamma-ray spectrometry. Cesium 134
and zinc 65 were measured by multidimensional gamma-ray spectrometry
using a system similar to that described by Wogman (_5). Strontium 90
was measured by low-background beta counting of yttrium 90 following
chemical separation of strontium from the sample and ingrowth of
yttrium 90.
Data on the concentrations of radionuclides in fish from the
Cattaraugus Creek have been reported annually by the State of New York
-------
Table 1.5 Average concentration
of radionuclides in fish.
from Cattaraugus Creek, 1971
Tvnp>
iype
Trout o
¥eigh.te
137Cs
1048
1142
d averag
134Cs
188
190
e . concen
90Sr
fiS
3fi4
trationa
65Zn
77C
/ / J
1 QQfi
3.
Average was weighted according to
edible weight of fish flesh in sample.
Department of Environmental Conservation and by NFS (3,40. The data
presented in tables 1.4 and 1.5 are in general agreement with these data,
although the strontium 90 concentrations in fish flesh reported by New
York State for 1971 appears somewhat lower than had been previously
reported (6>).
In order to evaluate the contribution of the NFS plant discharge to
the radionuclide concentrations in fish, it is necessary to compare the
concentrations present in the fish from the survey area with information
on the levels of radionuclides in fish in the Cattaraugus Creek. For
the purpose of this report we will consider samples collected at
Route 16, Savage Road, to be indicative of levels of radionuclides in
fish in the Cattaraugus Creek. This location is about 24 km upstream of
the location at which the waste enters the Cattaraugus Creek. Table 1.4
also presents data on the levels of radionuclides in fish collected by
the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation at Route 16
during 1971. These data showed no detectable concentrations of radio-
isotopes of cesium, strontium, or zinc in these samples. From a com-
parison of the levels at Route 16 with the measured concentrations down-
stream from the entry of the waste discharge, it appears that most of
the activity present in the fish samples collected from the survey area
resulted from waste discharged from NFS. The presence of cesium 134 in
fish at concentrations about 20 percent of the cesium 137 concentrations
(the same ratio as present in the liquid waste discharge) supports the
above observation that the radionuclides in fish resulted from the dis-
charge of waste from NFS.
1.6 Liquid Discharges from Nuclear Fuel Services
Table 1.6 presents the gross beta and strontium 90 discharges in
the liquid effluent from NFS for the period 1966 through 1971 (4). The
-------
Table 1.6 Gross beta and strontium 90
in liquid discharges from NFS
Year
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
Quantity <
(cur:
Gross beta
8
31
46
140
87
77
iischarged
Les)
Strontium 90
4
5
10
14
7
plant suspended operations in the spring of 1972, in order to modify and
expand the plant. These data show that 400 curies of gross beta and
40 curies of strontium 90 were discharged to the aqueous environment
during this period. A report on the behavior of radionuclides in the
liquid effluent from the NFS has been published (7) . Based on these
studies it is estimated that 40-60 curies of cesium 137 was discharged
during this period. Data on concentrations of radionuclides in the
Cattaraugus Creek have been reported annually by the State of New York
Department of Environmental Conservation and the NFS (40 .
A new low-level waste treatment facility became operational in the
summer of 1971. This facility is expected to significantly reduce the
discharges of radioactivity from the plant, particularly cesium 137,
cesium 134, and strontium 90.
1.7 Estimated Radionuclide Intakes by the Population Fishing the Cat-
taraugus Creek During 1971
The maximum number of fish meals eaten by an individual as reported
during the survey was 24 meals of trout per year. Three individuals
interviewed indicated family intakes of this magnitude representing a
total of seven people. Three other individuals interviewed indicated
intakes of 16 to 20 meals of trout per year. One individual reported an
intake of 12 meals per year of combined sucker and trout.
Using a conservative assumption of 200 grams of fish flesh per meal,
the maximum intake of trout flesh was 4.8 kg/yr per person and the maxi-
mum intake of sucker flesh was 2.4 kg/yr per person.
-------
Table 1.7 Estimated radionuclide intakes
from consumption of fish flesh
from Cattagaugus Creek
Cesium 137
Cesium 134
Int
(v
Maximum by
individual
5.0 x 10~3
9 x 10-4
4.8 x 10~3
9 x 10~4
ake
Si)
Total by
population
3.0 x 10"1
5.3 x 10~2
3.0 x 10"1
3.9 x 10~2
Table 1.7 presents the radionuclide ititakes from ingestion of fish
by the population fishing the Cattaraugus Criek near the NFS plant. As
indicated previously essentially all of these intakes resulted from the
discharge of waste from the NFS plant. The maximuift intakes by an indi-
vidual were calculated using the maximum fish intakes reported by indi-
viduals during the survey and the average concentrations measured in
fish flesh as presented in table 1.5. The population intakes were cal-
culated from the data presented in tables' 1.3 and 1.5.
1.8 Estimated Dose Commitments from NFS Discharges to Population Fishing
Cattaraugus Creek During 1971
Table 1.8 presents a summary of dose commitments due to NFS dis-
charges to the population fishing the Cattaraugus Creek. Estimates are
presented for the maximum individual and for the total population fish-
ing the survey regions. These estimates include both internal exposures
from ingestion of fish and external exposures received while fishing
from radionuclides deposited along the streams.
The whole-body ingestion doses include contributions from cesium 137,
cesium 134, and zinc 75. The bone doses are from strontium 90 only. The
estimates presented are the total doses delivered over the lifetime of
the individual (50-year period) from the ingestion of radionuclides"
during 1971. These doses were calculated following the procedures uti-
lized by Shleien (1). The dose conversion factors used are presented in
table 1.9. The dose from cesium is essentially C< 90 percent) all
delivered in the first year after intake. For strontium 90 about 7 per-
cent of the dose is delivered during the first year after intake and for
zinc 65 about 70 percent of the dose is delivered in the first year.
-------
Table 1.8 Estimated dose commitments to population
fishing the Cattaraugus Creek ,
Organ
Whole body. . .
Whole body. . .
Bone. ........
Mode
e-i
Ingest ion
External ,
Ingest ion
Dose
Maximum
individual
(mrem)
0.4
1
7
Popul
(man
ation
-rem)
0.02
0.04
0.3
Includes contribution from cesium 137,
cesium 134, and zinc 65.
°Dose from strontium 90.
The estimates of the external doses received by the population
fishing regions of the Cattaraugus Creek near the NFS plant were made
using the occupancy data obtained during this survey and dose measure-
ment data obtained with a pressurized ionization chamber by the New York
State Department of Environmental Conservation (3).
Table 1.9 Dose conversion factors'
Radionuclide ^
Cesium 137
Strontium 90
Zinc 65
Critical
organ
Whole body
Whole body
Bone
Whole body
Conversion
factor
mrem/yCi
intake"
6 v 1 0*
8 -x TO-*-
8 A -v- in^
7
.^References 1 and 8.
Dose delivered to organ over 50—year
period for a particular intake.
10
-------
The results of the fishing survey had shown that the maximum
individual had spent 200 hours and that the total population had spent
7,500 man-hours fishing these regions of the Cattaraugus Creek. The
results of the dose rate measurements indicated that the liquid dis-
charges from NFS had resulted in an average dose rate of 5 vR/h. aBove
Background for the region of the Cattaraugus Creek used in the fishing
survey.
The most significant dose commitment to the population fishing the
Cattaraugus Creek during 1971 resulted from the ingestion of strontium 90
in fish. The maximum dose commitment to bone of an individual is esti-
mated to have been 7 millirem. The dose commitment to bone for the
population is estimated to have been 0.3 man-rem.
The maximum whole-body external dose to an individual fishing the
Cattaraugus Creek during 1971 from NFS discharges is estimated to be
approximately 1 millirem. This exposure was about 2.5 times higher than
the 0.4 millirem estimated whole-body dose from the ingestion of radio-
nuclides in fish flesh.
The integrated whole-body doses from NFS discharges to the popula-
tion fishing the Cattaraugus Creek are estimated to have been 0.04 man-
rem from external radiation and 0.02 man-rem from ingestion of radio-
nuclides in fish.
These dose estimates are'considerably smaller than those reported
by Shleien for 1968 (1). The differences result mostly from lower esti-
mates of intake based on the fishing survey, but are also partly due to
lower concentrations of radionuclides in fish flesh in 1971 than were
used by Shleien for 1968.
11
-------
-------
CHAPTER 2.
ESTIMATE OF INGESTION DOSE TO POPULATION FROM VENISON CONSUMPTION
2.1 Introduction
Venison intake was also reported to represent one of the more
significant exposure pathways to the local population from the operation
of the NFS plant (l.,2). Shleien (1) estimated a whole body dose of
200 millirem to the maximum individual from this pathway in 1968. In
order to obtain information on the size of the population involved in
deer hunting and the intake of deer meat for this population, the EPA, in
cooperation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conser-
vation, conducted a survey of hunters taking a deer within a 32-km radius
of NFS during the 1970 hunting season. Although the NFS site is a fenced
restricted area and no legal hunting takes place on the site, the deer
are able to enter and leave the site. These deer then can be legally
killed and consumed by hunters. .
The public response to the survey was good and provided excellent
information on deer meat intakes by the population involved in hunting
in the area of interest. This report presents a description of the
survey procedures used and a summary of the results obtained.
Using the maximum deer meat intakes for an individual as deter-
mined by the survey and the maximum radionuclide concentrations in deer
meat as reported by the State of New York Department of Environmental
Conservation (3), a reliable estimate of the maximum dose to an indi-
vidual was made for the 1970 intake. Unfortunately despite the excellent
information on total deer meat intake, an accurate estimate of the
integrated population dose from deer meat ingestion could not be made
because of the lack of adequate data on the concentrations of radionu-
clides in deer meat ingested by the population at risk. Only a very
small sample of the total deer population (22 out of 20,000) were ob-
tained for analyses. Twelve of these deer were collected on the NFS
site and represent a sample which would not be considered representative
of the venison ingested by the population surveyed. The integrated
population dose, therefore, had to be estimated based on assumptions
concerning the number of deer that had grazed on the NFS site that were
killed and consumed.
However, despite the limitation regarding the estimation of man-rem
dose, the procedures, information, and experience obtained during this
13
-------
deer intake survey should prove useful.to others faced with the neces-
sity of obtaining similar demographic information.
2.2 Survey Procedures
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Divi-
sion of Fish and Wildlife, requires that each deer killed within the
State be reported to them by means of a postcard furnished to the deer
hunter when he or she obtains the license.
For the deer hunting season of 1970, approximately 50,000 hunters
reported their results to the Division for the entire State of New York.
These reporting cards were filed in batches of 50 and a number was as-
signed to the batch. The batch number, hunter's license number, and the
location of deer kill (county and township) was placed on electronic data
processing cards. A data printout furnished the information to assist
in the location of reporting cards for the 45 townships of interest to
the survey. A careful search of the 50,000 cards produced the names of
2531 deer hunters who had reported a kill within a township that was
within a 32-km radius of the plant. By means of supplemental checks of
hunters during the "open" season for several years (roadside and in the
field checks), the Division of Fish and Wildlife has determined that
80 percent3 of the hunters actually officially report their kills. Cor-
recting the reported kills for this factor, the deer kill for the area
of interest as determined by the survey was about 3200. The estimated
deer population in the area within a 32-km radius of the plant was esti-
mated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to
be about 20,000 deer.
Of the 2531 deer kill reports, 2100 were sufficiently legible to
provide adequate information to be included in the survey. A question-
naire and cover letter (appendixes B.I and B.2) were prepared and mailed
to those 2100 deer hunters, with a postage-paid, return envelope fur-
nished. Forty-five questionnaires were returned undelivered and 1558
completed forms were received, representing about 75 percent return. Of
the completed questionnaires, 1455 provided sufficient information to
be useful in the data evaluation. From these questionnaires, informa-
tion was obtained on: (a) the number of deer taken by a hunter, (b) the
dressed and edible weights of the deer, (c) the number and ages of
individuals consuming the venison, (d) the amount of venison given away,
and (e) amounts of venison received from other sources. From this in-
formation an estimate was made of the total and average consumption of
venison by the population at risk. This information is presented in the
following section.
3Fifty-two percent of the kills were reported under a party permit
license while the remaining 48 percent of the kills were reported under
a big game license.
14
-------
Table 2.1 Summary of survey data on venison intakes from deer
taken within a 32-kilometer radius of NFS during 1970
Deer hunters surveyed t 1455
Individuals consuming venison in hunters' households..... 6100
Average venison consumption. 2.7 kg
Maximum venison consumption by an individual 44.8 kg
Total venison consumption:
Within surveyed households (from own deer) &16.7 x 103 kg
Outside surveyed households (given away by hunters).,.. 6.5 x 103 kg
Inside and outside surveyed households 2.3 x 10** kg
There was an additional 2 x 103 kg of venison consumed within
surveyed households which was received from an outside source. This
was not included in the listed values since it was assumed to have been
received from a deer taken outside the 32-km radius. If it were from
deer taken within the 32-km radius then this value would be somewhat
low, but the intake would be included in the value for venison given
away and the total consumption values would reflect this intake.
2.3 Estimation of Venison Intakes Using Survey Data
This report will represent only a brief summary of the venison
intake data obtained during the survey and these data are presented in
table 2.1 The survey data showed that there were 6100 individuals
consuming venison in the households of the 1455 deer hunters from whom
usable survey data was obtained. The average consumption for this popu-
lation was 2.7 kg per person. The maximum intake reported from indi-
viduals was 44.9 kg. The total consumption of venison from deer taken
within a 32-km radius of the NFS, by the families of the 1455 deer
hunters surveyed, was 16,700 kg. A total of 6500 kg of venison was
given away by the surveyed hunters, making a total of 23,200 kg of veni-
son consumed from deer taken within the 32-km radius of the NFS.
The determination of consumed venison was based upon individual
deer hunter estimates of the dressed and edible weights. The various
weights are defined as follows:
W
-------
Based upon approximate relations determined by the Fish and Wild-
life Division of the New York State Department of Environmental Conser-
vation, the following conversion factors were used:
Wd = 0.78 Wi
We s 0.75 Wd
Wc = (0.30-0.35) Wd
= 0.44 We.
= 0.33 Wd
In order to check upon the reliability of the hunters' estimates of
deer weights, the edible/dressed weight ratios were computed for the
survey data. The distribution of these ratios were approximated by a
normal distribution (mean = 0.67, standard deviation = 0.13).
In order to extrapolate the data from the households surveyed to
the total population consuming venison from legally taken deer in the
area of interest, the survey data were corrected for the return of usable
questionnaires and for the number of deer taken which are not reported.
This correction factor was calculated as follows:
1455 (usable questionnaires) (fraction of deer kill reported) = 0.47
2531 (reported deer kill)
Table 2.2 presents a summary of the .extrapolated data for the con-
sumption of venison by the total population involved in deer hunting in
the area of interest. The total weight of venison consumed from deer
taken legally within a 32-km radius of the NFS for 1970 was estimated to
be 5.0 x 10^ kg.
It should be emphasized that all the data on venison intakes ob-
tained during this survey and presented in tables 2.1 and 2.2 resulted
from legal hunting. It is estimated that only about 50 percent of the
deer deaths in the State of New York result from legal hunting. Road
kills, illegal hunting, sickness, and a variety of other causes account
for the remainder of the deer deaths. What percentage of these deer
(killed by means other than legal hunting) are used for human consump-
tion is not known.
Table 2.2 Extrapolated venison intakes from legally taken deer
within a 32-kilometer radius of NFS during 1970
Persons consuming venison in hunters' households 14,500
Venison consumed: , ,
In hunters' households 3.6 x KT kg
Outside hunters' households (given away) 1.4x 10 kg
Total weight 5.0 x 104 kg
16
-------
2.4 Radionuclide Concentrations in Venison from the Vicinity of NFS
During 1970
Data on the concentrations of cesium 137, cesium 134, strontium 90,
and zinc 65 in venison samples obtained from deer kills in the vicinity
of the NFS during 1970-are presented in table 2.3. The data presented
were obtained either by the New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation (_3) or by the Environmental Protection Agency as noted in
the table. Concentrations are presented for 22 samples; 12 of these
deer were killed within the boundary of the 3300-acre NFS site. Table
2.4 presents concentrations of radionuclides in venison from deer kills
in the Albany, New York area (3_) and these data can be used as a back-
ground sample for comparison purposes.
Table 2.3 Radionuclide concentrations in venison
obtained from vicinity of NFS during 1970
Collection
location
NFS site
NFS site
NFS site.
NFS site
NFS site
NFS site
NFS site
NFS site
NFS site
NFS site
NFS site
Offsite:
Salamanca. . . .
Salamanca. . . .
Salamanca. . . .
Elliotville. .
Holland
Analyzed
by
NYS
NYS
NYS
NYS
NYS
NYS
NYS
NYS
NYS
NYS
NYS
NYS
EPA
EPA
EPA
EPA
EPA
EPA
EPA
EPA
NYS
NYS
Date
(1970)
Feb.
Mar.
Mar.
Mar.
Mar.
Mar.
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.
Oct.
Fall
Fall
'Fall
Fall
Fall
Fall
Fall
Fall
Aug.
Sept.
Concentration
(pCi/kg wet weight)
137Cs
146 ± 23
419 ± 42
4687 ± 292
4060 ± 255
200 ± 27
92 ± 18
1122 ± 85
233 ± 28
1815 ± 128
349 ± 36
627 + 55
519 ± 48
1189
480 ± 20
470 ± 20
290 ± 10
200 10
180 10
160 10
380 20
68 10
318 36
293 ± 35
284
134Cs
< 12
50 ± 16
784 ± 65
704 ± 59
< 16
< 12
129 ± 21
34 ± 13
372 ± 38
31 ± 13
97 ± 19
62 ± 17
192
< 15
< 15
< 5
< 15
< 15
< 15
< 15
< 10
< 12
< 12
< 15
90Sr
< 2
< 2
12 ± 2
28 ± 3
< 2
< 2
< 1
< 1
16 ± 2
< 2
< 2
< 3
6
20 ± 2
6 ± 2
< 2
39 ± 4
10 ± 2
6 ± 1
2 ± 1
14 + 2
< 2
< 2
10
65Zn
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
67 ± 33
< 25 '
107 ± 38
< 25
96 ± 35
57 ± 31
63
< 25
< 25
< 26
< 30
•e 25
< 25
< 25
< 20
NA
NA
< 30
Ca
(g/kg)
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
0.29
0.13 .
0.05
0.40
0.19
0.11
0.10
0.28
. NA
NA
0.19
NA, no analysis.
17
-------
Table 2.4 Radionuclide concentrations in venison
from Albany, N.Y. area
Date
collected
5/70
5/70
6/70
6/70
Concentration
(pCi/kg wet weight)
Cesium 137
116
43
140
53
Cesium 134
ND,
ND
ND
ND
Strontium 90
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND, nondetectable.
The concentrations of cesium 137, cesium 134, and zinc 65 present
in onsite deer were significantly higher than in deer taken offsite or
in the background deer. The mean concentrations in onsite deer in
pCi/kg were cesium 137 = 1189, cesium 134 = 192, and zinc 65 = 63. The
mean concentrations in offsite deer in pCi/kg were cesium 137 = 284,
cesium 134 = <15, and zinc 65 = <30. It appears that most of the
cesium 137, cesium 134, and zinc 65 present in the onsite deer resulted
from waste discharged from the NFS. The presence of cesium 134 concen-
trations at 10 to 20 percent of the cesium 137 concentrations verifies
the origin of the cesium radioisotopes as coming from the NFS operations.
The picture for strontium 90 is not clear. The contribution of the
NFS operations to the strontium 90 concentrations in venison cannot be
determined from the available data. The strontium 90 concentrations in
onsite deer do not differ significantly from the deer taken offsite, al-
though the strontium 90 concentrations in both the onsite and offsite
deer appear to be higher than the deer taken in the Albany area. Addi-
tional data are necessary to determine if the deer grazing on the NFS
site accumulated strontium 90 due to the NFS operations.
Cesium 134 and zinc 65 were not detected in deer taken offsite and
this indicates that these deer were probably not influenced by the NFS
waste discharges. The radionuclide concentrations in these samples are
probably more representative of background levels in the area than are
the samples collected at Albany.
2.5 Radionuclide Intakes from Ingestion of Venison from Deer Taken
Within a 32-km Radius of NFS
The maximum intake of venison by an individual as reported during
the survey was 45 kg. This intake represents the consumption of the
18
-------
edible portion of two deer. Five individuals indicated intakes of 20
to 25 kg. All other reported intakes were less than 20 kg.
The radionuclide intakes for the maximum individual were calculated
using the maximum venison intake reported by an individual during the
survey and the maximum concentrations of radionuclides measured in a
deer collected onsite.
To reliable estimate the intake by the total population from the
deer pathway from the operation of the NFS, much more data are needed
than is presently available on the concentrations of radionuclides in
the deer population potentially influenced by the waste discharge. A
large sample of the deer population would be necessary to obtain this
information and more detailed information on background levels for the ,
region would also have to be obtained, and even then the data may be
inconclusive. The data presented in table 2.5 are, therefore, only a
rough estimate of the population intake determined using the following
approach:
Deer freely enter and leave the NFS site. They accumulate radio-
nuclides only while grazing onsite. Approximately 125 deer constitute
the onsite deer population at any given time, assuming the deer density
to be the same as in the surrounding area. The maximum concentrations
of radionuclides measured in a deer collected onsite constitute the
amounts which would be accumulated by a deer grazing onsite for a full
year. By applying the maximum concentrations to all 125 deer, we can
approximate the amounts of activity which would be accumulated by the
entire deer population grazing onsite during the year (the equivalent
of 125 grazing years). Of course the actual accumulation would be
Table 2.5 Estimated radionuclide intakes
from consumption of venison obtained from deer kills
in the vicinity of NFS, 1970
"
Radionuclide
Strontium 90
Int,
(yCi/yr w<
Maximum by
individual
1.8 x 10"1
3.2 x 10~2
NA
1.3 x 10~~3
akes
2t weight)
Total by
population
1.4
2.5 x 10"1
2.2 x 10~3
9.8 x 10" 3
NA, no analysis.
19
-------
distributed among many more deer involved in grazing for shorter periods
of time. Based on the deer kill data for the area, 22 deer from the
population grazing on the NFS site would be killed by hunters. The veni^
son intake from these deer would represent ~350 kg, using a value of
16 kg of consumed venison per deer. The radionuclide intake from these
22 deer would then represent an estimate of the radionuclide intake for
the total population.
2.6 Estimated Dose Commitments to Population Consuming Venison from
Deer Kills within a 32-km Radius of NFS
Table 2.6 presents a summary of the dose commitments to the popu-
lation consuming venison from deer killed in the vicinity of NFS. Esti-
mates are presented for the maximum individual and for the total popu-
lation. The maximum whole-body dose an individual could have received
was 14 millirem. The maximum bone dose to an individual from strontium 90
was 11 millirem and as indicated previously the strontium 90 dose cannot
be attributed to the NFS operation. These doses are the maximum doses
an individual could have received. Most probably the dose that an
individual actually did receive was considerably smaller than the doses
listed in table 2.6 since the probability is extremely small that the
individual with the maximum intake would consume venison from two deer
with the maximum concentrations of radionuclides.
The integrated whole-body population dose from the deer pathway is
estimated to have been about 0.1 man-rem.
Table 2.6 Estimated dose commitments
from consumption of venison
obtained from deer kills
in the vicinity of NFS, 1970
Organ
a
Whole body . .
Maximum
individual
(mrem)
14
11
Population
(man— rem)
0.1
0.1
Includes contribution from
cesium 137, cesium 134, and zinc 65.
^Dose from strontium 90 but not
directly attributed to NFS.
20
-------
CHAPTER 3.
RADIONUCLIDE CONCENTRATIONS IN DIETS OF POPULATIONS
LIVING IN VICINITY OF NUCLEAR FUEL SERVICES
3.1 Introduction
In September 1970 "market basket" diet sampling, similar to the AEC
HASL Tri-City diet studies (£,10), was conducted in Springville, New York
to provide information for estimating the dietary intake of radionuclides
by the population of that area. At the same time, for comparison pur-
poses, a similar sampling was carried out at Winchester, Mass. In addi-
tion to this supermarket sampling the following samples were collected:
(a) selected dietary items purchased in Riceville and West Valley,
N.Y. which could have originated locally,
(b) homegrown garden vegetables and fruits from seven homeowners
around the plant perimeter which were consumed by the family
and not sold commercially, and
(c) vegetables and fruits from produce farms in Chaffee, N.Y. and
Winchester, Mass, to serve as controls.
These samples were analyzed for gamma emitters, strontium 90 and
tritium. The only gamma-emitting radionuclides detected were cesium 137
and potassium 40. Minimum detectable concentrations (for a 3.5 kg
sample) and estimated analytical errors for these samples are as follows:
Radionuclide
Minimum
detectable
concentration
Cesium 137.......... 4 pCi/kg
Strontium 90........ 0.5 pCi/kg
Potassium 40........ -
Tritium 0.3 nCi/kg
Cesium 134 5 pCi/kg
Ruthenium 106.... 20 pCi/kg
Iodine 131 10-20 pCi/kg
(depending on
decay time)
Estimated error
± 4 pCi/kg or ± 10 percent,
whichever is larger
±0.5 pCi/kg or ± 7 percent,
whichever is larger
±0.1 pCi/kg
±0.3 nCi/kg or ± 5 percent,
whichever is larger
± 5 pCi/kg or ± 10 percent,
whichever is larger
± 20 pCi/kg or ± 10 percent,
whichever is larger
± 10-20 pCi/kg or ± 10 .percent,
whichever is larger
21
-------
Some of the produce samples from the individual home gardens were
less than 3.5 kg and for these samples the minimum detectable concen-
tration would be somewhat higher (about a factor of 2) than the listed
values.
3.2 Radionuclide Concentrations and Intakes
3.2.1 Market basket sampling
Tables 3.1 and 3.2 present data on the concentrations and intakes
of strontium 90 and cesium 137 in diets from Springville, N.Y. and
Riceville-West Valley, N.Y. representing populations living in the vi-
cinity of NFS. Only those food categories which could have been of
local origin were sampled in Riceville-West Valley. The remaining food
Table 3.1 Radionuclides in Springville, N.Y. diets,
September 1970
Diet category
Dairy products. .......
Flour .........*.......
Whole grain products..
Rice
Meat ..................
Poultry.
Fresh fish
Shell fish
Concentr a t iona
90Sr
(pCi/kg)
9.4
10.3
4.6
10.2
3.3
11.2
1.8
1.2
3.5
8.0
8.2
17.2
4.7
2.6
0.6
ND
1.2
0.5
1.5
137Cs
(pCi/kg)
11
ND
5
ND
8
14
ND
ND
8
31
27
50
23
10
19
7
6
9
7
K
(g/kg)
1.6
3.0
1.3
2.3
3.6
14.2
2.0
0.9
1.7
1.9
1.4
3.8
1.9
0.8
2.9
2.4
1.4
3.6
NA
Ca
(g/kg)
1.20
0.50
0.26
0.30
0.10
0.84
0.20
0.04
0.07
1.70
0.21
1.50
0.16
0.30
0.06
0.30
0.40
0.57
0.06
Intake
Total
(kg/yr)
200
48
22
10
38
3
59
11
. 28
44
34
11
3
3
79
20
15
8
1
90Sr
(pCi/yr)
1880
494
101
102
125
34
106
13
98
352
279
189
14
8
47
0
18
0
2
3862
137Cs
(pC±/yr)
2200
0
110
0
304
42
0
0
224
1364
918
550
69
30
1501
140
90
72
7
7621
Tfet weight.
ND, nondetectable.
NA, no analysis.
22
-------
Table 3.2 Radionuclides in selected diet categories
from Riceville, N.Y. and West Valley, N.Y., September 1970
Diet category
Dairy products
Fresh vegetables ......
Root vegetables
Potatoes
Fresh fruit
Bakery products
Meat...
90Sr
(pCi/kg)
10.6
5.4
8.3
3.7
4 6
8.6
1.7
2.1
1.7
Concent
137Cs
(pCi/kg)
12
ND
6
6
5
30
20
7
6
ration3
K
(g/kg)
1.6
2.3
2.1
3.8
2 0
1 9
2 8
2 1
1 3
Ca
(g/kg)
1 20
0.34
0 30
0 08
0 19
1 50
0 17
NA
0 34
Total
(kg/yr)
200
48
10
38
59
44
79
20
15
Intake
90Sr
(pCi/yr)
2120
259
83
141
271
378
134
42
26
4192
137CS
(pCi/yr)
2400
o
60
228
295
1 -JOfl
1580
140
90
8135
weight.
Assumes concentrations in other food items similar to Springville samples.
ND, nondetectable.
NA, no analysis.
categories were assumed to be similar to those purchased in the Spring-
ville supermarkets. Tables 3.3 and 3.4 present data on the concentra-
tions and intakes of strontium 90 and cesium 137 in diets from Win-
chester, Mass., New York, N.Y., and Chicago, 111., which serve as con-
trol populations for this study.
3.2.2 Local produce sampling
Table 3.5 presents the concentrations of strontium 90 and cesium 137
in produce from home gardens located around the perimater of the NFS
plant. The samples collected were those food items available from the
garden in sufficient quantity for analysis at the time of the sampling.
These samples do not represent all food items grown by the homeowner
during the season,, Tables 3.6 and 3.7 present data on samples from pro-
duce farms in Chaffee, N.Y. and Winchester, Mass., which serve as con-
trol sampling locations. The same food items were sampled at these
control locations as were collected from the individual home gardens.
3.2.3 Tritium in food composites
Table 3.8 presents the concentrations of tritium in composite
samples of total diet and produce from the various sampling locations.
23
-------
Table 3.3 Radionuclides in Winchester, Mass, diets,
September 1970
Diet category
Whole grain products..
Shell fish
90Sr
(pCi/kg)
8.5
19.7
8.6
7.6
5.1
16.9
4.5
1.4
3.4
13.4
6.4
29.8
4.4
2.3
0.6
1.1
2.2
ND
ND
Concent
137Cs
(pCi/kg)
24
6
ND
5
6
13
4
5
8
33
23
52
24
8
14
7
4
13
4
ration3-
K
(g/kg)
1.6
2.7
1.2
2.2
4.3
14.3
2.1
0.9
1.7
1.9
1.0
3.6
2.0
0.8
2.9
2.1
1.2
3.1
1.0
Ca
(g/kg)
1.20
0.40
0.35
0.25
0.04
0.81
0.20
0.04
0.08
1.70
0.14
1.40
0.16
0.14
0.16
0.22
0.50
0.19
0.18
Total
(kg/yr)
200
48
22
10
38
3
59
11
28
44
34
11
3
3
79
20
15
8
1
Intake
9°Sr
(pCi/yr)
1700
946
189
76
193
51
13
15
95
590
218
328
13
7
47
22
33
0
0
4536
137Cs
(pCi/yr)
4800
• 288
0
50
228
39
195
55
224
1452
782
572
72
24
1106
140
69
140
4
10,195
weight.
ND, nondetectable.
24
-------
Table 3.4 Radipnuclides in diets
from New York, N.Y. and Chicago, 111.
Diet category
Fresh fruit . * * . * *
Flour
Whole grain products..
Rice
Meat
Shell fish
Co
90Sr
(PCI/kg)
9.0
10.2
12.7
4.3
4.5
16.2
2.2
1.4
3.6
6.2
6.6
15.1
• 4.7
2.1
1.1
0.8
2.3
0.3
1.4
ticentrati
137Cs
(pCi/kg)
11
6
ND
8
15
15
6
ND
12
35
30
35
35
NA
14
ND
ND
77
NA
onb
K
(g/kg)
1.5
2.3
0.9
3.3
4.5
11.7
1.9
0.7
1.3
1.5
1.1
2.3
2.0
NA
3.3
2.2
1.3
3.3
NA
Total
.(kg/yr)
200
48
22
10
38
3
59
11
28
44
34
14
3
3
79
20
15
8
1
Intake
90Sr
(pCl/yr)
1800
490
279
43
171
49
130
15
101
273
224
166
14
6
87
16
35
2
1
3902
137Cs
(pCi/yr)
2200
288
0
176
570
45
354
0
336
1540
1020
385
105
0
1106
0
0
616
0
8741
i)ata from reference 11; diet samples for strontium 90 intake were col-
lected in New York, N.Y., August 1970, and diet samples for cesium 137 were
collected in Chicago, 111., October 1970.
bWet weight.
ND, nondetectable.
NA, no analysis.
25
-------
Table 3.5. Radionuclides in garden produce from farms
located around the perimeter of Nuclear Fuel Services,
September'1970
Item
Location 1:
Pumpkin
Tomatoes
Location 2:
Location 3:
r<-ivn— ———.--.——-..————
Location 4:
Tomatoes
Concentration
(pCi/kg)
Strontium 90
24
22
3
6
1
3
19
5
6
16
4
5
28
9
ND
4
17
14
3
4
4
5
21
16
5
15
8
Cesium 137
ND
16
ND
ND
ND
10
ND
ND
ND
14
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
32
ND
8
ND
12
18
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
Concentration
(g/kg)
Potassium3
3.4
2.4
1.5
3.5
2.8
1.6
2.3
1.4
' 2.0
1.9
3.7
2.2
5.6
2.3
" 2.3
1.7
5.9
1.3
4.4
3.1
2.7
2.4
2.7
1.2
4.7
4.1
2.7
Calcium
0.11
0.34
NA
NA
NA
0.11
0.62
NA
0.10
0.16
0.06
0.09
0.20
0.36
0.01
0.16
0.20
0.20
0.08
0.13
0.09
0.09
0.53
NA
0.03
0.49
0.08
See footnotes at end of table.
26
-------
Table 3.5. Radionuclides in garden produce from farms
located around the perimeter of Nuclear Fuel Services,
September 1970—continued
Item
Location 5:
r^-i-T-i— —_—„— __—_—_
Location 6:
Location 7:
Concentration
(pCi/kg)
Strontium 90
ND
16
35
ND
ND
4
9
4
67
140
4
160
63
19
48
48
2
16
. 5
Cesium 137
22
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
29
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
4
ND
ND
ND
ND
Concentration
(g/kg)
Potassium3
1.2
3.2
6.1
4.6
3.2
2.0
2.1
2.1
2.0
1.7
4.8
2.5
4.4
2.4
1.7
3.4-
3.7
3.4
2.3
Calcium
NA
0.22
0.04
NA
0.20
NA
NA
0.04
0.34
0.35
0.06
0.36
0.14
NA
0.36
0.31
NA
NA
NA
Determined from potassium 40.
ND, nondetectable.
NA, no analysis.
27
-------
Table 3.6 Radionuclides in produce from farm stands
in Chaffee, N.Y., September 1970
Item
Carrots
90Sr
(pCi/kg)
10 2
26.4
16.5
0.9
14.0
3.7
7.6
3.1
7.3
7 6
12.0
20 0
Concent
137Cs
(pCi/kg)
5
5
ND
5
ND
ND
5
ND
8
ND
ND
9
ration3
K
(g/kg)
0 7
1 5
2 4
3 2
1 5
1 4
1 1
2 6
4.1
3 5
2 8
2 3
Ca
(g/kg)
0 05
0 34
0 62
0 02
NA
0 12
0 08
MA
0 05
0 9S
0 27
o U")
Wet weight.
ND, nondetectable.
NA, no analysis.
Table 3.7 Radionuclides in produce from farm stands
in Winchester, Mass., September 1970
Concentration3
Item
Beets
Turnips
90Sr
(pCi/kg)
5.0
28.3
24.1
21.7
0.8
7.0
2 2
5.1
1.9
0.8
NA
3.7
7.4
3 3
58.7
137Cs
(pCi/kg)
9
6
ND
8
8
ND
4
ND
ND
ND
ND
5
ND
ND
ND
K
(g/kg)
1.0
3 9
2 1
3 4
2 9
1 9
1 2
1.5
5 5
1 3
2 6
4 0
2 7
2 6
2.5
Ca
(g/kg)
0.04
0 40
0 66
0 39
0 03
0 08
0 50
0 20
0 10
0 08
0 21
0 07
0 13
0 17
0 42
Vtet weight.
ND, nondetectable.
NA, no analysis.
28
-------
Table 3.8 Tritium in total diets
and farm produce composites, September 1970
Location
Springvllle, N.Y
Riceville, N.Y
Chaf fee,, N.Y
Perimeter location 1....
Perimeter location 2....
Perimeter location 3....
Perimeter location 5. ...
Perimeter location 6....
Perimeter location 7....
Perimeter location 1....
Perimeter location 1. ...
Perimeter location 1 ....
Type of sample
Total diet
Total diet
Total diet
Produce composite
Produce composite
Produce composite
Produce composite
Produce composite
Produce composite
Produce composite
Produce composite
Cucumbers
Tomatoes
Carrots
Tritium
(nCi/kg)
0 5
\J * ^
0 S
\J • J
0 6
\J • \J
0 5
\J • *J
0 6
\J • \J!
1.1
0.7
0.4
0.6
0.6
0.6
1.0
1.9
0.6
The total diet samples represent all of the diet categories of the
"market basket" composited proportionally to the intake. The produce
composites represent equal quantities of each of the food items col-
lected at that location.
3.3 Results and Discussion
3.3.1 Market basket sampling
Table 3.9 presents a summary of the yearly intake of strontium 90,
cesium 137, and tritium for the various locations included in the market
basket survey. The supermarket basket samplings for Springville, N.Y.
and Winchester, Mass, were adjusted in order to account for the intake
of locally grown produce (not from NFS perimeter).
Strontium 90 intakes ranged from 3900 to 4500 pCi/yr, cesium 137
intakes from 7600 to 10,000 pCi/yr, and tritium intakes from 320 to
380 nCi/yr.
The data in table 3.9 indicate that radionuclide .intakes for the
populations of Springville, Riceville, and West Valley, N.Y. were simi-
lar to the intakes for the control populations and that the operations
of the NFS plant had not resulted in any measurable increase in radio-
nuclide intakes for the general population living in the vicinity of the
plant. -
29
-------
Table 3.9 Estimated dietary intakes of strontium 90,
cesium 13.7, and tritium from .market basket sampling
Location
3.
Springville, N.Y., ...
Springville, N.Y. . . .
Rleeville N.Y.a
Winchester, Mass."*...
Winchester , Mass . ° . . .
Strontium 90
3.9 x 10~3
4.5 x 10~3
4.2 x 10~3
4.5 x 10~3
4.1 x 10~3
3.9 x 10~3
NS
Intake
(yCi/yr)
Cesium 137
7.6 x 10~3
8.0 x 10~3
8.1 x 10~3
1.0 x 10~2
9.9 x 10~3
NS
8.7 x 10~3
Tritium
3.2 x 10~ *
3.2 x 10"1
3.2 x 10"1
3.8 x 10"1
3.8 x 10"1
NS
NS
^Supermarket food items.
Local farm stand produce (not from NFS perimeter) sub-
stituted for supermarket produce. Average concentrations in
fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, root vegetables, and potatoes
were used.
NS, no sample.
3.3.2 Local produce
A summary of mean concentrations of radionuclides in root vege-
tables, fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, potatoes and all items for each
of the individual gardens from around the NFS perimeter, and a matching
sample of similar food items for the control locations are presented in
table 3.10. The following observations may be made from an inspection
of these data:
(a) the cesium 137 concentrations in samples from the individual
gardens do not differ from the control samples,
(b) the strontium 90 concentrations in the samples from individual
gardens at locations 1 to 5 and 7 do not appear to be signifi-
cantly different from those at the control locations^
(c) the strontium 90 concentrations in samples from location 6 are
significantly higher than the samples from the other individual
gardens as well as the controls, and
(d) the tritium concentration in the composite from location 1 was
about twice the concentrations measured in the other composite
samples. The analysis of several individual food items from
location 1 also indicated higher tritium concentrations than
the other locations. For additional information on tritium in
the environment around NFS see reference (12).
30
-------
Table 3.10 Comparison of radionuclide concentrations in produce
from farms around NFS with matching control samples
Location
1
Control3. . . .
2.....
3
4
5
6..
7
Root vegetables
90Sr
23
24
6
,5
21
16
16
5
26
24
150
22
48
39
137Cs
8
5
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
7
0
4
0
7
Mean concentration
(pCi/kg wet weight)
Fresh vegetables
90Sr
3
9
10
14
3
6
15
13
3
5
50
11
18
11
137Cs
0
1
0
3
3
2
0
2
0
5
0
2
1
2
Fruit
90Sr
- NS
10
4
11
5
NS
0
8
4
8
NS
137Cs
NS
12
5
25
3
NS
22
7
29
5
NS
Potatoes
9°Sr
NS
4
6
3
6
5
6
3
6
4
6
NS
137Cs
NS
0
7
8
7
0
7
0
7
0
7
NS
All items
90Sr
11
15
8
9
9
10
13
10
9
10
65
14
24
17
137Cs
3
2
3
3
7
3
0
2
3
5
4
3
1 *
3
°Matching control samples from Chaffee, N.Y. and Winchester, Mass.
NS, no sample.
It cannot be concluded from this information that the high concen-
trations of strontium 90 in samples from location 6 were caused by NFS
plant operations. None of the other plant perimeter locations show
strontium 90 concentrations in samples significantly higher than the
controls, and no other radionuclides (such as ruthenium 106 and ces-
ium 134) which are characteristic of the NFS waste were present.
Table 3.11 presents a summary of the yearly intakes of strontium 90,
cesium 137, and tritium from the individual homes around the NFS plant
perimeter. In calculating these intakes, the concentrations of radio-
nuclides in homegrown food items were substituted for similar food cate-
gories in the supermarket basket survey for Spririgville; the remaining
items were considered to be similar to the Springville supermarket
basket.
The strontium 90 intakes for these families ranged from 3600 to
7300 pCi/yr, the cesium 137 intakes ranged from 7300 to 9200 pCi/yr, and
the tritium intakes from 310 to 390 nCi/yr.
—*,
The data in table 3.11 indicates that for the households from which
produce samples were obtained, the radionuclide intakes were similar to
the intakes for the populations of other areas included in the market
basket survey with the exception of the strontium 90 intakes for
31
-------
Table 3.11 Estimated dietary intakes of strontium 90,
cesium 137, and tritium for families
living around NFS plant perimeter
Location
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Strontium 90
3.9 x 10" 3
4.3 x 10~3
4.2 x 10~3
4.2 x 10~3
3.6 x 10~3
7.3 x 10~3
4.6 x 10~3
Intake
(yCi/yr)
Cesium 137
7.7 x 10~3
8.1 x 10~3
9.2 x 10~3
7.3 x 10~3
8.6 x 10~3
9.0 x 10~3
7.7 x 10~3
Tritium
3.9 x 10"1
3.1 x 10"1
3.4 x 10"1
NA
3.3 x 10"1
3.3 x 10"1
3.3 x 10"1
Homegrown food items were substituted for super-
market food items in calculating intakes. Average
concentrations 'of radionuclides in fresh fruit, fresh
vegetables, root vegetables and potatoes were used.
NA, no analysis.
location 6. For location 6, the strontium 90 intake was estimated to be
twice the normal intake. Further study would be necessary to clarify
this phenomenon.
3.4 Addendum
As a followup to the food sampling described in this report, soil
samples were collected during the summer of 1971 at the sample locations
around the plant which were used for sampling produce. The principal
objective of this sampling was to determine if the radionuclide deposi-
tion at location 6 was significantly higher than at the other locations
and if so was it due to NFS operations. It was not possible to re-
sample homegrown food from location 6 because the family did not have a
garden during 1971 simply because it involved too much work.
Table 3.12 presents the deposition data obtained from this sampling.
The sample collection procedure used was similar to that recommended by
the AECTHealth and Safety Laboratory except that these samples were col-
lected at a depth of 0 to 5 cm only (10). It should be noted that the
soil samples were not collected from the garden areas but from undis-
turbed areas in the same location.
32
-------
Table 3.12 Radionuclides in soil collected
around NFS plant perimeter
Location
1
2
3
5
6 .
7
Control'5
Depositiona
(mCi/km2)
137.,
Cs
55
48
58
43
34
51
54
134_
Cs
<0.2
<0.2
<0.2
<0.2
<0.2
<0.2
<0.2
106B
Ru
18
18
16
49
15
15
18
90C
Sr
29
24
17
19
33
23
27
3. .
bSample collected at depth of 0-5 cm only.
Location ~32 km from plant.
The data from table 3.12 does not indicate any deposition in these
areas resulting from the NFS plant operation that can be readily dis-
tinguished from fallout; The absence of any detectable cesium 134 tends
to substantiate the conclusion that the plant's contribution to the
radionucllde deposition in soil is relatively small.
The strontium. 90 deposition at location 6 cannot explain the high
concentrations of this radionuclide in food items grown in this area.
Many of the food items grown at location 6 were 5 to l6 times higher in
strontium 90 than similar food items grown at the othe"r locations. Since
the strontium 90 concentration in soil alone cannot b£ Used to explain
these concentrations in food, then other factors such ats soil conditions
may be influencing the uptake of strontium.
33
-------
SUMMARY
Studies were carried out to determine the radiation exposure to the
population living in the vicinity of NFS resulting from the ingestion of
radionuclides which had been discharged from the plant. Measurements of
the radionuclide concentrations in venison, fish, total diets, and home-
grown garden produce showed that only the fish and venison contained
measurable quantities of radionuclides which could be directly attrib-
uted to the operation of the NFS plant.
Surveys carried out to determine the intakes of venison and fish by
the population living in the vicinity of NFS showed that the maximum in-
takes by an individual during 1971 were 45 kg of venison and 5 kg of fish
fleShvs^ Total population intakes were 5 x 101* kg of venison from deer
kills within a 32-km radius of the plant and 280 kg of fish flesh from
fishing along a 24-km length of the Cattaraugus Creek nearest the plant.
From the results of this study, the following estimates can be made
concerning the dose commitments to the population fishing and hunting in
the vicinity of NFS resulting from waste discharges from the plant:
(1) Whole-body doses to population fishing the Cattaraugus Creek
during 1971:
Integrated population dose—0.06 man-rem (0.04 man-rem exter-
nal, 0.02 man-rem from ingestion)
Maximum individual dose—1.4 mrem (1 mrem external, 0.4 mrem
from ingestion)
(2) Dose to bone from ingestion of strontium 90 for population
fishing the Cattaraugus Creek during 1971:
Integrated population dose—0.3 man-rem
Maximum individual dose—7 mrem
(3) Whole-body doses to population from ingestion of venison from
deer kill in 1970:
Integrated population dose—0.1 man-rem
Maximum individual dose—14 mrem
(4) Dose to bone from ingestion of strontium 90 in venison result-
ing from the NFS discharges could not be determined from the
available data.
34
-------
REFERENCES
(1) SHLEIEN, B. An estimation of radiation doses received by indi-
viduals living in the vicinity of a nuclear fuel reprocessing plant
in 1968, BRH/NERHL 70-1. Public Health Service (1970).
(2) KELLEHER, W. J. Environmental surveillance around a nuclear fuel
reprocessing installation, 1965-1967. Radiol Health Data Rep 10:329
(1969).
(3) STATE OF NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION. Annual
reports of environmental radiation in New York State, 1969 and 1970.
State of New York Department of Environmental Conservation (De-
cember 1970 a.nd June 1971) .
(4) NUCLEAR FUEL SERVICES, INC. Environmental reports for the period
1966-1971. Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc., P.O. Box 124, West Valley,
N.Y.
(5) WOGMAN, N. A., D. E. ROBERTSON, and P. W. PERKINS. A large detector
anticoincidence shielded multidimensional gamma-ray spectrometer.
Nucl Intr Meth 50:1 (1967).
(6) STATE OF NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION. Annual
report of environmental radiation in New York State, 1971. State
of New York Department of Environmental Conservation (July 1972).
(7) MAGNO, P., T. REAVEY, and J. APIDIANAKIS. Liquid waste effluents
from a nuclear fuel reprocessing plant, BRH/NERHL 70-2. Public
Health Service (1970).
(8) U.S. ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION. Radiation doses received by persons
living in the vicinity of Hanford: interim report, BNWL-706. U.S.
Atomic Energy Commission (July 1968).
(9) RIVERA, J. and J. H. HARLEY. HASL contributions to the study of
fallout in food chains, HASL-149. U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
(July 1964).
(10) HARLEY, J. H. HASL procedures manual, HASL-300. U.S. Atomic Energy
Commission (1972).
(11) HARDY, E. P. Fallout program quarterly summary report, HASL-239.
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (January 1971).
(12) COCHRAN, J. A., et al. Observation of airborne tritium waste dis-
charge from a. nuclear fuel reprocessing plant, EPA/ORP 73-1. En-
vironmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C. 20460 (1973).
35
-------
-------
Appendix A.I
CATTARAUGUS CREEK SURVEY
Location:
Date:
Surveyed previously:
Name:
Yes
If yes, when?
Address:
City:
Do you: eat what you catch
within household
Place back in creek
If eaten: Number of people in household who eat fish:
Time:
Take and give to others,
or use for pets, bait, etc.
Number of people in household who eat fish that are:
a) under 6 years old
- , b) 6 to 12 years old
c) over 12 years old
Do the bones get consumed? Yes No
Frequency of fishing Cattaraugus
How long per trip
Remarks:
trips per
Period of year active fishing Cattaraugus
How many persons in household fish the Cattaraugus?
How often? Remarks:
Frequency of eating fish taken from Cattaraugus:
meals per
Species taken from Cattaraugus
Trout
Bass
Salmon
Sunfish
Bullheads
Carp-*Suckers
Perch-Walleye
Sheepshead
Other
Species eaten from Cattaraugus
Trout ' \ '
Bass . "
Salmon •
Sunfish
Bullheads
Carp-Suckers
Perch-Walleye
Sheepshead
Other
CREEL SURVEY:
How long at this location?
How much longer
Trout
Oz.
In.
Bass
Oz.
In.
Salmon
Oz.
In.
Sunfish
Oz^
In.
Bull-
heads
Oz.
In.
Suckers
Oz.
In.
Perch
Oz.
In.
Sheeps-
head
Oz.
In.
Other
Oz.
In.
37
-------
Appendix A.2
CATTARAUGUS CREEK SURVEY
Daily Log Sheet
Surveyor:
Date:
Time
Located
People
in area
People
fishing
People
interviewed
Remarks
38
-------
Appendix B.I
York State Department of Environmental Conservation
I, N. Y. 12201
Henry L. Diamond,
Commissioner
March 31, 1971
Dear Sir:
Our records indicate your success in taking a deer
during the 1970 hunting season. We are analyzing
deer._for certain environmental contaminants such as
pesticides, heavy metals (such,as mercury), radio-
activity and arsenic. Your cooperation will enable
us to determine whether the levels found could be of
any possible significance in man's diet.
Please help us to better evaluate this environmental
pathway by filling in the questionnaire and returning
it to us in the stamped, self-addressed envelope.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
A. G. Hall
Director, Division of
Fish and Wildlife
Enclosures
39
-------
Appendix B.2
DEER USE QUESTIONNAIRE
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
NAME:
ADDRESS:
CITY:
TOWNSHIP IN WHICH DEER WAS TAKEN:
DRESSED WEIGHT OF DEER:
POUNDS
EATABLE WEIGHT OF VENISON OBTAINED:
POUNDS
NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOUSEHOLD THAT EAT VENISON THAT ARE;
Insert
Numbers
On Lines:
DID YOU:
Circle one:
a) Under age 6
b) 6 to 12 years old
c) Over 12 years old
a) Consume total deer within household
b) Give part of deer away; if so, gave away
pounds,
8.
9.
10.
11.
or circle portion given away: 1/8, 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 3/4
c) Give all of deer away
DO YOU CONSUME THE HEART: Please circle: Yes or N6
DO YOU CONSUME THE LIVER: Please circle: Yes or No
DID YOU RECEIVE VENISON FROM ANOTHER SOURCE: (a friend, a road kill, etc.)
Please circle: Yes or No
If Yes, how much? pounds, or what portion? 1/8, 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 3/4,
or all?
DID YOU TAKE MORE THAN ONE DEER:
Please circle: Yes or No
If Yes, dressed weight
pounds; eatable weight
pounds
12.
All eaten, within household: Yes or No; or portion given away: 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, or
all?
DO YOU TAKE A DEER:
Circle one: a) Each year
b) Every other year
c) One year out of three
d) Less frequently than every three years
PLEASE USE OTHER SIDE FOR ANY COMMENTS OR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION YOU MAY DESIRE TO FURNISH
40
-------
TECHNICAL REPORT DATA
(Please read Instructions on the reverse before completing)
1. REPORT NO.
EPA-520/3-74-001
3. RECIPIENT'S ACCESSION NO.
4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE
Studies of Ingestion Dose Pathways from the Nuclear
Fuel Services Fuel Reprocessing Plant
5. REPORT DATE
December 1974; Issuing date
6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE
7. AUTHOR(S)
Paul J. Magno, Richard Kramkowski, Thomas Reavey, and
Robert Wozniak
8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NO.
9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS
10. PROGRAM ELEMENT NO.
11. CONTRACT/GRANT NO.
12. SPONSORING AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Office of Radiation Programs
Washington, B.C. 20460
13. TYPE OF REPORT AND PERIOD COVERED
Final
14. SPONSORING AGENCY CODE
15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES
16. ABSTRACT
Studies were carried out to evaluate ingestion doses to individuals and the local
population resulting from the operation of the Nuclear Fuel Services (NFS) reprocess-
ing plant in West Valley, N.Y. These studies involved evaluations of radionuclide
intakes from ingestion of fish, deer, and locally grown food items and'included sur-
veys of fishing and deer hunting in the vicinity of the plant.
The maximum dose commitment to an individual from the fish pathway during 1974
was estimated to have been 1.4 millirem whole body and 7 millirem bone. The maximum
whole-body dose commitment to an individual from ingestion of venison from deer kills
in 1970 was estimated to have been 14 millirem. Dose estimates for the local popula-
tion from the fish and deer pathways indicated that the integrated whole-body popula-
tion dose commitments from each of these pathways was about 0.1 man-rem per year.
Measurements of radionuclide concentrations in locally grown food items indicated
that the operation of the NFS plant had not resulted in any measureable increase in
the radionuclide intakes of the population living in the vicinity of the plant from
the pathway.
17.
KEY WORDS AND DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
DESCRIPTORS
b.lDENTIFIERS/OPEN ENDED TERMS
c. COSATI Field/Group
Environment; Nuclear Fuel Services;
population dose; radiation; radionuclide
concentrations.
18. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT
Release to public
19. SECURITY CLASS (ThisReport)
Unclassified
21. NO. OF PAGES
20. SECURITY CLASS (Thispage)
Unclassified
22. PRICE
EPA Form 2220-1 (9-73)
-------
------- |