x - - :.- -^0 905R86104
Agency Vi .< l - ---J w^
xvEPA Soviet Nuclear
Accident
FOR RELEASE: 2:00 P.M., MONDAY, MAY 5, 1986
A Task Force Report
CONTACT: DAVE COHEN (202) 382-4355
Radiation da,ta from air monitoring networks in the United
States and Canada continue to show no increases over normal
background levels* For the United States, analyses of samples
received at the Eastern Environmental Radiation Facility on
May 4 cover 12 samples collected on May 3, 7 samples collected
on May 2, 3 samples collected on May 1, 2 samples collected on
April 30, and one sample each collected on April 29, April 28,
April 24, and April 21. Canadian data cover results from 24
stations collected May 1.
Radioactivity released into the atmosphere as a consequence
of the nuclear power incident in the Soviet Union has now reached
the area of Japan. Early readings of radioactive contamination
taken in Japan of rainwater and locally grown vegetables indicate
little or no health hazard. To the extent that the early Japanese
findings are predictive of any possible radioactive contamination
in the U.S., federal officials continue to believe there will be
no public health risk here. Further updates on the situation
will be provided' as additional information becomes available.
Wind speeds at jet stream levels (about 30,000;feet) have
been moving air rapidly west to east across the Pacific Ocean
and the United States at speeds of over 100 mph. Small amounts
of radioactivity that mixed upward to these levels from the
Chernobyl nuclear accident have already been detected by
aircraft flying off the northwest U.S. coast. Therefore,
patches of activity are now moving across North America at high
altitudes. "The most likely source of early detection near the
ground will be in rainwater, particularly from thunderstorms
reaching altitudes of 20,000 to 30,000 feet or more. As of this
time, it is believed that concentrations in rainwater will be low.
Activity at lower altitudes is being transported less rapidly and
will probably move into the U.S. during subsequent days.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has increased
its frequency of analysis for all precipitation samples to daily
and for milk samples to twice per week.
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The advisory against travel to Kiev and adjacent areas remains
in effect. Precise information on radiation levels resulting from
the Chernobyl Soviet nuclear power plant incident remains unavailable
at this time. The nature of this incident suggests that increased
levels of radiation might exist in surrounding areas, causing the
greatest potential public health risk in those areas closest to the
incident. The U.S. Public Health Service is making interim guidance
available for U.S. citizens who may be traveling to these areas.
This guidance will be reviewed and updated as further information
becomes available and communicated, to the media and to public
health officials throughout the nation.
1. Americans living or traveling in or around the affected
region may yiah to take ^he following precautions to
minimize exposure to radiation:
0 Avoid drinking fresh milk or eating other dairy
products;
o Eat processed foods when possible and wash or peel
fresh produce;
o When possible, drink bottled water and other bottled
beverages instead of local water.
2. For U.S* citizens who have visited affected areas recently
and have departed from them on or after April 26, 1986,
routine medical screening procedures are not recommended.
If you have concerns, information and answers to specific
questions may be obtained from your state radiation control
program or your physician.
/
3. For U.S. citizens who are planning travel to these areas in
the near future, carefully monitor press reports of this
situation so that you have the most up-to-date information
before making a firm travel commitment.
We have sent technical experts to Moscow and Warsaw. They
arrived over the weekend. They are there in a technical
capacity to evaluate the health environment at our missions.
An EPA radiation specialist arrived in Poland Saturday to make
measurements of radioactivity at the U.S. embassy in Warsaw.
Values were low, perhaps three times normal background.
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The U.S. government welcomes the news that the Soviets have
invited International Atomic Energy Agency Director Hans plix and
two of his associates to Moscow in connection with the Chernobyl
incident. It is hoped that this indicates that the Soviets are now
willing to make available the important information the world
community requires to safeguard international health and safety.
The Task Force is receiving information it has requested on
radiation readings in air, water and food from many foreign
countries* As this information is analyzed, new travel advisories
will be issued as needed. Also, to the best of our knowledge
(given the continuing lack of data from the Soviets), the situation
at the plant appears to remain stable with damage at reactor four
only. We will continue to monitor the situation and will update it
in the event of major changes.
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Agency
v>EPA Soviet Nuclear
Accident
FOR RELEASE: TUESDAY, MAY 6, 1986
A Task Force Report
CONTACT: DAVE COHEN (202)382-4355
Pacific Northwest Laboratories in Richland, Washington,
reported the first increase in radiation at ground level in the
United States. A rainwater sample collected on May 5 at 4 : 30
p.m. PDT measured 500 pCi/1 of 1-131. This value is believed
accurate within a factor of two. This level poses no danger to
residents in the area. The radiation dose to an individual
drinking one liter of rainwater at this level would be less
than one percent of the average annual background radiation
dose, and is comparable to less than half the radiation dose
received from a single chest x-ray. (A single chest x-ray
gives an individual 2.5 mrem, whole-body equivalent). If an
individual comes in physical contact with such rainwater the
radiation dose is even lower.
Iodine 131 had a half-life of 8.1 days. This means that
after a week the radioactivity is reduced by a factor of two,
To date, all other radiation measurements at ground level
in the United States and Canada continue to show no increases
above normal background levels. The monitoring networks in the
United States and Canada are capable of measuring radiation
levels much lower than those which would pose any danger to the
public. Under the EPA monitoring system excessive levels would
be detected within hours. Obtaining exact readings for lower
levels requires a more time consuming procedure.
For the .United States, data on air particulate samples
analyzed May 5 cover 11 samples collected May 4, 0 aampl.es
collected May 3, 9 samples collected May 2, 12 samples collected
May 1, and an additional 60 samples collected on various dates
in April. The Canadian data are based on 3 samples collected
May 5 (in the Ontario area), 7 samples collected May 4, 9
samples collected May 3, and 23 samples collected May 2.
The EPA monitoring network is continuing to collect air
particulates and rainwater daily and milk twice per week. In
addition, the NRC has requested all commercial power plants to
report any unusually high environmental readings, and DOE
National Laboratories are sampling. The Canadian network is
now sampling precipitation and milk weekly; the first results
are expected on May ,12.
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Air containing patches of radioactivity from the Chernobyl
nuclear accident will continue to move across the U.S. today and
tomorrow at upper levels (20,000 to 30,000 feet) with most of
the contaminated air over Alaska and in the western and north
central U.S. Rainwater, particularly from the rain storms in
the western and upper midwestern U.S., is likely to contain
radioactivity. Air at lower altitudes (up to 10,000 feet) in
the western Pacific where radioactivity was detected over the
weekend is moving northeast towards southwestern Alaska. Air
at middle altitudes in the western Pacific where radioactivity
was detected will move southward and eastward towards the
central Pacific during the next several days.
The Task Force's best estimate of the events leading to the
release of radioactivity at Chernobyl continues to be the loss of
collant for the number four reactor, followed by the production
of hydrogen which then led to the chemical explosion. This was
followed by the fire within the graphite core. The core may
still be smoldering and there may be continuing releases of
radiation. This possible chain of events is consistent with the
most recent Soviet description of some of the events surrounding
the accident.
Yesterday's Task Force Report contained interim guidance
for U.S. citizens living in or traveling to areas affected by
the reactor accident. This guidance remains in effect; no
additional guidance has been issued.
Levels of radiation in this country are not expected to
cause any problems relating to consumption of domestic products.
Food and drug items from affected countries which were produced
subsequent to the April 25-26 nuclear accident are not expected
to arrive in large quantities in the U.S. for several weeks.
The Task Force agencies are taking steps to insure that the
quality of these products will meet health standards. The Food
and Drug Administration issued recommended protective action
guides in 1982 on the level of radioactive contamination in
food at which action should be taken by public health officials
to avoid any radioactive dose that would occur from future
ingestion of contaminated food.
The teams at our missions in Moscow, Warsaw and Bucharest
continue to take readings. Initial assessments of these readings
continue to suggest no significant health concerns at this time.
Data from the teams' readings are being subjected to complete
evaluation, the conclusions of which should be available soon.
Members of the team in Moscow traveled to our mission in
Leningrad last night and should be providing data from their
initial readings soon. Additionally, a team went to
Cracow last night and should be going to Poznan, another
of our consulates in Poland today.
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Until more comprehensive data on radiation levels in Poland
are available, the State Department is continuing to recommend
for the time being that women of child-bearing age and children
put off their travel. Preliminary data at points measured to
date indicate radiation levels are low and pose no hazard to
health.
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JOINT COMMUNIQUE BY WORLD LEADERS
PARTICIPATING IN THE TOKYO SUMMIT
Following is the text of the May 4 Tokyo summit statement on
the Chernobyl nuclear accident.
We, the Heads of State or Government of seven major industrial
nations and the representatives of the European community,
have discussed the implications of the accident at the Chernobyl
nuclear power station. We express our deep sympathy for those
affected. We remain ready to extend assistance, in particular
medical and technical, as and when requested.
Nuclear power is and, properly managed, will continue to be
an increasingly widely used source of energy. For each country
the maintenance of safety and security is an international
responsibility, and each country engaged in nuclear power
generation bears full responsibility for the safety of the
design, manufacture, operation, and maintenance of its installations,
Each of our countries meets exacting standards. Each country,
furthermore, is responsible for prompt provision of detailed and
complete information on nuclear emergencies and accidents, in
particular those with potential transboundary consequences.
Each of our countries accepts that responsibility, and we urge the
government of the Soviet Union, which did not do so in the case
of Chernobyl, to provide urgently such information, as our and
other countries have requested.
We note with satisfaction the Soviet Union's willingness
to undertake discussions this week with the Director-General of
the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). We expect that
these discussions will lead to the Soviet Union's participation
in the desired post-accident analysis. .,_ _
We welcome and encourage the work of the IAEA in seeking
to improve international cooperation on the safety of nuclear
installations, the handling of nuclear accidents and their
consequences, and the provision of mutual emergency assistance.
Moving forward from the relevant IAEA guidelines, we urge the
early elaboration of an international convention committing the
parties to report and exchange information in the event of nuclear
emergencies or accidents. This should be done with the least
possible delay.
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&EPA Soviet Nuclear
Accident
FOR RELEASE: WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 1986
A Task Force Report
CONTACT: DAVE COHEN (202) 382-4355
One rainwater sample collected in Olympia, Washington, on May 5 showed 170
pCi/1 of iodine-131. This value is approximately one third as high as the
value in rainwater collected at Richland, Washington, reported yesterday. As
stater! in yesterday's report, iodine-131 at these concentrations poses no
dange to area residents. As a precautionary measure, the State of Oregon has
issued an advisory that people who normally use rainwater as their sole source
of drinking water should not drink rainwater at this time. Nineteen other
samples of rainwater from various locations in the United States analyzed on
May 5 and .6 showed no increase in radiation levels above normal background.
All the latest air particulate samples in the United States and Canada
show no increase in radiation levels above normal background. For the United
States, this includes 44 samples collected May 5,; 27 samples collected May 4,
22 samples collected May 3, 3 samples collected May 2, 5 samples collected May
1, and 5 samples collected on various dates in April. For Canada, it includes
3 samples collected May 6, 20 samples collected May 5, 22 samples collected May
4, 22 samples collected May 3, 27 samples collected May 2, and 27 samples '
collected May 1.
Canadian authorities have reported the detection of elevated levels of
radionuclides in a shipment of vegetables which arrived in Vancouver on May 5
from Italy. Canadian officials have ordered this shipment destroyed. The
Canadian government has issued an alert to their Customs officials to hold all
shipments of fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs of European origin and to
notify the health protection branch of shipments of any other fresh foods or
food ingredients.
The U.S. is continuing its program of inspecting imported foods.
Patches of contaminated air continue to move across the U.S. from the west
to the northeast at upper levels (above about 20,000 feet). Air flowing across
the Pacific Ocean also contains patches of radioactivity and continues to be
monitored by aircraft off the west coast. Radioactivity detected by aircraft
Monday night at about 20,000 feet in the Gulf of Alaska has moved toward the
east, crossing southeastern Alaska. Yesterday's flights along the west coast
of North America reported very low or no radioactivity. If additional
radioactivity moves into the Gulf of Alaska or off the northwest coast of the
U.S., it will be carried southeast into a large storm system in the western
U.S. Rainwater from high-reaching rainstorms in the west and in New England
may contain detectable radioactivity from the Chernobyl accident.
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None of the data available to the Federal Aviation Administration about
the Chernobyl accident provides any concern for any flights of any U.S. carriers
anywhere in the world. The only area the FAA would be potentially concerned
about is flight in the vicinity of the reactor site near Kiev at altitudes
below 20,000 feet. Flight above 20,000 feet at this location near Kiev or
other flights at any altitude anywhere in the world is not expected to present
any public health or safety problems due to radiation contamination which night
exist as a result of the accident. There is no reason for special flight
precautions. No further notifications on this subject are planned at this
time.
In 1982, the Food and Drug Administration established what are known as
recoimended protective action guides for public health officials dealing with
contaminated human food or animal feeds. These guides can be used to determine
whether levels of radiation encountered in food after a radiological incident
require any preventive measures to protect public health. These guides for
five different radionuc^ides (Iodine 131, Cesium 134, Cesium 137, Strontium 90,
and Strontium 89) in three types of concentrations (initial deposits, foliage
concentration, and peak milk levels) offer a basis to compare readings of these
radionuclides in rainwater and milk samples that may be found as a result of
radiation contamination from the Chernobyl incident.
FDA protective action guides are designed for the most sensitive elements
of the population (pregnant women and infants) and are used primarily for
relatively short-term radiological incidents such as the current situation.
The guides are established well beneath any onset of health effects. It fhould
be noted that the FDA's guides are more conservative (i.e., more protective)
than those established by others, e.g., the European Cannon Market and Sweden,
and become even more protective when they are applied cumulatively across all
isotopes under the regulation.
The following table lists the FDA response levels for the recommended protective
action guides:
Iodine 131 Cesium 134 Cesium 137 Strontium 90 Strontium 89
Initial 130,000 2,000,000 3,000,000 500,000 8,000,000
Deposits
(Rainwater)
[picocuries
per square
meter]
Forage 50,000 800,000 1,300,000 180,000 3,000,000
Concentration
(on grass, etc.)
[picocuries per
kilogram]
Peak Milk 15,000 150,000 240,000 9,000 140,000
Levels
[picocuries
per liter]
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As an example, the Iodine 131 measurement in the rainwater sample taken in
Portland, Oregon on May 6 (630 picocuries/liter) would equate to less than 1,500
picocuries per square meter since the amount of rainfall was quite small* This
level of 1,500 picocuries per square meter is approximately 1 percent of the FQfc
guide of 130,000 for initial deposits (rainwater) and may roughly equate to less
than 1 percent of peak milk levels.
The Task Force reiterates their earlier advisory that the levels of radio-
activity expected to reach the ground in the U.S. are considered to be no
health threat and recommends against the taking of potassium iodide (KI) to
minimize the uptake of radioiodine.
Based on the fact that no harmful levels of radioactivity are expected to
reach the continental United States, it is highly unlikely that potassium
iodide (KI) will be needed to minimize the uptake of radioactive iodine fron
the Russian nuclear power plant accident. KI, although relatively harmless,
has been associated with certain allergic reactions; thus, since the use of KI
is not without some risk to the population, the U.S. Public Health Service
recommends against taking KI as a precautionary measure. Federal authorities
do not believe there is any reason for concern at this time about the safety of
either our domestic food or drug supplies. Nor should there be concern over
imported products already in the United States or on their way to the United
States at the time of the nuclear accident in the Soviet Union.
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'fS (A-1P7I
vEPA Soviet Nuclear
Accident
FOR RELEASE: THURSDAY, MAY 8, 1986
A Task Force Report
CONTACT: DAVE COHEN (202) 382-4355
The EPA moniti6ring network is continuing to collect air
particulate and rainwater samples daily. We have now received
the first data showing traces of radioactivity from Chernobyl in
the air at ground level in the United States. The Environmental
Radiation Ambient Monitoring System (ERAMS) station in Cheyenne,
Wyoming reported 0.012 pCi/m 3 of iodine-131 in the air sample
collected May 6. The Denver, Colorado station reported 0.0057
pCi/m 3 of iodine-131 and 0.0002 pCi/m 3 of cesiuro-134. These
levels are barely detectable and represent no danger to area
residents. All other air particulate samples show no increase
in radiation levels above normal background levels. The results
include one sample collected on May 7, 41 samples on May 6, 14
samples on May 5, 5 samples on May 4, and 17 samples on earlier
dates. The Department of Energy has reported that one air '
particulate sample collected in Richland, Washington on May 5
and three samples collected in Richland on May 6 showed
iodine-131 levels between 0.003 pCi/m 3 and 0.015 pCi/m 3.
In addition*'to the two rainwater samples from Olympia and
Richland, Washington reported in previous Task Force Reports,
iodine-131 has been detected in five additional rainwater
samples (two collected at ERAMS stations on May 6 - 6.7 pCi/1 at
Bismark, North Dakota, and-47 pCi/1 in a second sample from
Olympia, Washington; three from DOE facilities - 62 pCi/1 at
Idaho Falls, Idaho on May 6 and 45 pCi/1 and 50 pCi/1 in two
additional samples at Richland, Washington on May 5 and 6).
Iodine-131 was not detected in rainwater collected at the
following ERAMS stations and collection dates: May 6 - Madison,
Wisconsin; May 5 - Syracuse, New York; Miami, Florida;
Montpelier, Vermont; Concord, New Hampshire;' Bismark, North
Dakota; May 3 - Berkeley, California; May 2 - Painesville, Ohio;
Nashville, Tennessee; Syracuse, New York; May 1 - Toledo, Ohio;
Austin, Texas; Little Rock, Arkansas; April 30 - Chicago,
Illinois; Montpelier, Vermont; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and
April 29 - Middletown, Pennsylvania.
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Canadian officials report slightly elevated radiation
levels in air samples from towns and cities in southern Canada
collected May 5 and 6. One rainwater sample collected in Ottawa
May 7 contained 1647 pCi/1 of iodine-131, 51 pCi/1 of
cesium-137, and 38 pCi/1 of ruthenium-103.
Patches of contaminated air from the Chernobyl nuclear
accident were detected by aircraft yesterday, May 7, at middle
altitudes (about 10,000 to 12,000 feet) along the northwest U.S.
coast to southeastern Alaska. Similar patches have been flowing
across the Pacific Ocean for the past several days. Those at
the higher altitudes have moved across the U.S. from the west to
the northeast, as evidenced by reports of radioactivity in
rainwater in the United States attributed to high-reaching
rainstorms. Radioactivity entering the west coast will be
carried into the southwestern U.S. It will then be carried
northward through the midwestern U.S. where especially intense
rains are expected. Both this midwestern U.S. region and the
low pressure system over the upper-middle Plains States are
likely to have contaminated rainwater and ground level air.
The lastest information available on the reactor is that
the number four unit continues to show signs of smoldering. As
the Task Force has noted, stabilizing a reactor by bringing it
to a "cold shutdown" carries inherent risks and the situation
there will continue to be monitored by the Task Force. We have
no confirmation of reports in Pravda and the Western media about
tunneling or about hot materials at the base of the reactor.
These reports are plausible and we have no basis to dismiss them.
However, the exact circumstances are still unclear.
The question has been raised whether American citizens touring
Europe for several weeks following the Soviet accident should seek
medical screening procedures from United States military hospital
facilities there.
The Public Health Service does not recommend such screening
on a routine basis. Rather, upon return, if they have concerns,
travelers should obtain information and answers to their specific
questions by contacting their State Radiation Control Program
(located either in their State Health Department or State
Environmental Protection Agency) or from their physician.
Travelers are urged to keep in contact with the United States
Embassies to assure themselves they have the most up to date public
health guidance for that part of Europe.
In the Task Force Report of May 5, 1986, interim guidance was
provided to Americans living or traveling in or around the affected
region regarding precautions to minimize exposure to radiation.
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Based on more recent information, it should be re-emphasized that
persons in or around the affected region should avoid drinking fresh
milk or eating other dairy products, particularly soft cheeses. In
lieu of fresh milk, the following should be used; canned milk,
powdered milk, commercial infant formula, or imported fresh dairy
products. In addition, Americans in these areas (especially pregnant
women and young children, due to their possibly higher sensitivities
to radiation) should contact the local U.S. Embassy for more specific
information available from local governments.
Both the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service and the
Food and Drug Administration have in place routine procedures
which allow them to properly monitor these kinds of products being
imported from all foreign countries. Working closely with U.S.
Customs Bureau officials, inspectors of both agencies either
routinely review the customs records for all commercial shipments
of food products offered for entry or directly examine each
shipment. Based on this action, decisions are made whether to
detain and further test the products prior to release into U.S.
commerce.
Following the Soviet-nuclear power accident, both agencies
have expanded and raised the priority of their monitoring of
food products from the affected countries. Copies of documents
associated with these initiatives can be obtained directly from
the public affairs office of each agency. Briefly, letters and
assignments issued to date provide for:
0 Increased monitoring and analysis of fresh fruits and
vegetables, fresh fish and selected dairy products as
they are offered for entry; and
0 Notification to countries exporting meat and poultry
products to the United States of special procedures
for monitoring prior to shipment.
If products from any one country present a concern to either
agency, those products will automatically be detained and analyzed
before release.
Preliminary plots showing estimates of the adult thyroid
dose, the whole-body dose and the surface deposition due to the
release of iodine-131 and cesium-137 from the Chernobyl power plant
accident have been released by the Lawrence Liverraore Laboratory.
These initial estimates provide a prediction of the spatial distri-
bution of the emissions over a six-day period following the event.
At this time, there is some uncertainty about the quantity of 1-131
and Cs-137 that was actually released as well as the thermal energy
that was involved in the release. The Livermore estimates are
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based on predicted activity being injected at heights below 2,000
meters. However, aircraft measurements over Europe, Japan and the
U.S. reveal activities at much higher altitudes, and these measure-
ments have been included in the Interagency Task Force's forecasts
which are supplied by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration. Questions on the preliminary Livermore calculations
should be directed to Dr. Joseph Knox at the Livermore Laboratory,
415-422-1818. The preliminary plots, which are being supplied for
informational purposes only, are available to reporters only from
the EPA Press Office, room 311 West Tower, 401 M St. S.W., Washington,
D.C. 20460; 202-382-4355.
Initial radioactivity measurements from data supplied by
American embassies abroad are available today. This information
summarizes air, wa,ter, and forage data for the period April 28
through May 5, 1986. The sources of the data are considered to be
reputable health protection organizations in the host countries.
Though the data are considered to be of reasonable quality, they
are listed as received through the embassies and have not been
subjected to quality assurance by EPA's Office of Radiation Programs.
The listing includes data from the following countries:
Austria Hungary Norway
Belgium Italy Spain
Czechoslovakia Japan Sweden
Finland Korea West Germany
France Netherlands Yugoslavia
Data from additional coutries and more current readings are being
processed and are expected to be available soon. Copies of the
country-by-country embassy data summary are available from the
EPA press office. Questions may be directed to Chris Rice, phone
(202) 382-4355.
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&EPA Soviet Nuclear
Accident
FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, WAY 9, 1986
A Task Force Report
CONTACT: DAVE COHEN (202) 382-4355
The first resu.lts from the U.S. milk monitoring network
show no detected radioactivity in any sample. Sample collection
dates and locations are as follows: May 7 - Atlanta, Georgia;
St. Louis, Missouri/ May 6 - Portland, Maine; Concord,
New Hampshire; Louisville, Kentucky; Tampa, Florida; Baltimore,
Maryland; San Francisco, California; Seattle, Washington;
Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Kansas City, Missouri; Minneapolis,
Minnesota; Las Vegas, Nevada; Charleston, West Virginia;
Laramie,. Wyoming; Charleston, South Carolina; Albuquerque,
New Mexico; Harr'isburg, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania;
May 5 - Manchester, New Hampshire; Portland, Oregon; Salt Lake
City, Utah; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Hartford, Connecticut;
Cincinnati, Ohio; Chicago, Illinois; Witchita, Kansas;
Indianopolis, Indiana; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Omaha, Nebraska;
Charlotte, North Carolina; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Chattanooga,
Tennessee; Rapid City, South Dakota; Des Moines, Iowa;
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Knoxville, Tennessee; May 4 -
Spokane, Washington; May 1 - Iowa City, Iowa; April 30 -
Montpelier, Vermont.
f'
Yesterday's Task Force Report identified trace
radioactivity in air samples collected May 6 in Denver, Colorado
and Cheyenne, Wyoming. Air samples collected in these two
cities on May 7 show radiatinn levels have returned to normal
background. All other EPA air particulate samples show no
increase above normal background levels. DOE has reported that
an air sample from Richland, Washington collected on May 8
showed traces of iodine-131 (0.165 pCi/m3), tellurium-132
(0.02 pCi/m3)/ ruthenium-103 (0.02 pCi/m3) and cesium-137
(0.028 pCi/m3).
In addition to the results of rainwater analyses contained in
previous Task Force Reports, two additional EPA rainwater samples
have been found to contain iodine-131. The sample collected in
Portland, Oregon on May 5 contained 460 pCi/1, representing a
deposition of 138 pCi/m 2 . The sample collected in Idaho Falls,
Idaho on May 6 contained 120 pCi/1, representing a deposition of
38.4 pCi/m 2 . These levels are similar to those reported in
previous reports and pose no danger to the public. All other EPA
rainwater samples analyzed since the last report show no activity
detected, DOE has reported that two rainwater samples collected at
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Idaho Falls, Idaho on May 8 showed 113 pCi/1 and 620 pCi/1 of
iodine-131 and 24 pCi/1 and 130 pCi/1 of molybdinum-99. The State
of New York has reported that two rainwater samples collected May 7
contained 36 pCi/1 and 90 pCi/1 of iodine-131. The Task Force will
include in its daily update results reported to it by state agencies.
There may be additional results from these agencies that have not
yet been reported to the Task Force.
Secretary of Agriculture Richard Lyng notes that the Commodity
Credit Corp. has large inventories of non-fat dry milk which could
be made available or donated under certain circumstances to replace
milk which is being discarded in countries affected by the Chernobyl
nuclear accident.
i
The latest information available on the reactor is that
the number four unit may still be smoldering. We have no
confirmation of late reports that the smoldering has been
extinguished. We also have no reason currently to suspect
problems at the number three unit, although we repeat that
any time a reactor must be brought to a "cold shutdown" there
are inherent risks, and we will continue to monitor the entire
facility. We do believe that there is remedial activity taking
place under the number four reactor, but the exact scope and nature
of that activity remains unclear.
Both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department
of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service have routine
procedures in place to monitor food from foreign countries. Working
with U.S. Customs Bureau officials, the agencies are now giving
particular attention, as a result of the nuclear accident at Chernobyl
April 25-26, to products originating in Austria, Czechoslovakia,
Denmark, East Germany, Finland, Hungary, Japan, Norway, Poland, the
Soviet Union, Sweden and West Germany. Countries may be added to or
removed from the list as further data are obtained. FDA has increased
monitoring and analysis of these country's fresh dairy products
(soft unripened cheese, for example), fresh fruit and vegetables
and fresh fish for radioactive contamination. Countries exporting
meat and poultry products to the United States are being provided
special procedures by the Food Safety and Inspection Service for
monitoring before shipment to the United States. If sampling and
testing of foods, or other information, present a concern to either
agency about a product from a country, all shipments of other
products will be automatically detained and analyzed before they are
released.
The most recent Canadian rainwater and milk samples show no
increase in radiation above normal background levels.
(more)
-------
-3-
The Task Force has received a very large number of
questions about the precise location of the radioactivity in the
air at various altitudes above ground level and the predicted
movement of this radioactivity across the United States. By
now, the releases from the Chernobyl accident have become so
dispersed that exact forecasting is not possible. We will
continue to monitor air, water, and milk for increased radiation
levels. We expect that any increases will be comparable to the
low levels already seen.
Preliminary interpretation of May 8 LANDSAT data indicate
that the "hotspot" at the Chernobyl number four reactor is no
longer apparent. A full analysis will be available early next
week by LANDSAT.
Revised advice on tourist travel to Poland: The State
Department is no longer recommending that women of child bearing
age and children defer travels to Poland. Data, including that
collected in the past week, by an EPA expert in Poland, indicate
that radiation levels in the air currently pose no health hazard.
However, the U.S. Public Health Service continues to urge certain
health precautions for travelers in the countries affected.
Information on these precautions is available from U.S. embassies
and consulates in the region.
The EPA Press Office will be open for reporters' calls on
the Chernobyl nuclear accident from 10:00 a.m. to noon EDT over
the weekend of May 10-11. The Press Office also will issue an
updated report on the accident on those days.
-------
AIR SAMPLING DATA 5/8/86
Sampling Station
Gross Beta Act
Date Started Date Removed (pci/in**3) Ganma Quitter
ALBANY, NY
NASHVILLE, TN
ASHFORD, AL
CHARLESTON, WV
IDAHO FALLS, ID
PORTLAND, OR
ILAHO FALLS, ID
PORTLAND, OR
MIAMI, FL
IDAHO FALLS, ID
PORTLAND, OR
PORTLAND, OR
MONTPELIER, VT
MONTGOMERY, AT,
GOLDS3ORO, PA
BISMARCK, ND
PORTLAND, OP
JUNEAU, AK
TMI, PA
TOPEKA, KS
ANCHORAGE, AK
PIERRE, SD
MONTGOMERY, AL
HARRISBURG, PA
LITTLE ROCK, AR
LANSING, MI
SPOKANE, WA
MONTPELIER, VT
MINNEAPOLIS, MN
SANTA FE, NM
HELENA, MT
PITTSBURGH, PA
AUSTIN, TX
HARTFORD, CT
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
LYNCHBURG, VA
AUGUSTA, ME
SYRACUSE, NY
CHEYENNE, WY
MINNEAPOLIS, MN
LINCOLN, ME
CHICAGO, IL
4/22/86
4/29/86
4/24/86
5/ 1/86
5/ 1/86
5/ 1/86
5/ 2/86
5/ 2/86
5/ 3/86
5/ 3/86
5/ 3/86
5/ 4/86
5/ 4/86
5/ 2/86
5/ 5/86
5/ 5/86
5/ 5/86
5/ 5/86
5/ 5/86
5/ 5/86
5/ 5/86
5/ 5/86
5/ 5/86
5/ 5/86
5/ 5/86
5/ 5/86
5/ 5/86
5/ 5/86
5/ 5/8b
5/ 5/86
5/ 5/86
5/ 5/86
5/ 5/86
5/ 5/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
4/29/86
4/30/86
5/ 1/86
5/ 2/86
5/ 2/86
5/ 2/86
5/ 3/86
5/ 3/86
5/ 4/86
5/ 4/86
5/ 4/86
5/ 5/86
5/ 5/86
5/ 5/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
Lab Field
0.01 <10
0.01 <10
0.01 NA
0.00 NA
0.02 <10
0.00 <10
0.02 <10
0.00 <10
0.02 <10
0.01 <10
0.00 <10
0.01 <10
0.01 <10
0.02 <10
0.13 <10
0.02 <10
0.02 <10
0.01 <10
0.10 <10
0.23 <10
0.01 <10
0.05 <10
0.10 <10
0.09 <10
0.04 <10
0.05 <10
0.02 <10
0.06 <10
0.05 <10
0.06 <10
0.02 <10
0.04 <10
0.05 <10
0.05 <10
0.28 <10
0.46 <10
0.03 <10
0.17 <10
0.31 <10
0.10 <10
0.25 <10
0.37. <10
-------
LITTLE ROCK, AR 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.13 <10
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.02 <10
LOS ANGELES, CA 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.09 <10
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.28 <10
TOLEDO, OH 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.13 <10
KNOXVILLE, TN 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.39 <10
JACKSONVILLE, FL 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.02 <10
NEW ORLEANS, LA 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.07 NA
HELENA, MT 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.16 <10
TOPEKA, KS 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.23 <10
MADISON, WI 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.29 <10
WILMINGTON, NC 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.03 <10
OLYMPIA, WA 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.01 <10
FRANKFORT, KY 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.34 <10
SPOKANE, WA 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.21 <10
COLUMBUS, OH ' 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.39 <10
DENVER, CO 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.32 <10
BERKELEY, CA 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.03 <10
JACKSON, MS 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.24 <10
PAINESVILLE, OH 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.07 <10
GOLDSBORO, PA 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.40 <10
CHARLESTON, WV . 5/6/86 5/7/86 0.45 <10
PHOENIX, AZ 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.10 <10
HONOLULU, HI ' 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.06 NA
HARRISBURG, PA 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.16 <10
COLUMBIA, SC 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.17 <10
YAPHANK, NY 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.05 <10
IDAHO FALLS, ID 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.23 <10
CHARLOTTE, NC 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.29 <10
PORTLAND, OR 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.03 <10
NEW YORK CITY, NY 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.08 <10
MIAMI, FL 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.01 <10
NIAGARA FALLS, NY 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.11 <10
NASHVILLE, TN 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.31 <10
WILMINGTON, DE 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.16 <10
TMI, PA 5/ 6/86 5/ 7/86 0.30 <10
ND - Not Detected
NA = Not Available
-------
MILK DATA
5/7/86
Station Date Collected
Manchester, NH
Portland, OR
Salt Lake City, UT
Grand Rapids, MI
Hartford, CT
Cincinnati, OH
Portland, ME
Chicago, IL
Montgomery , AL
Witchita, KS
Spokane, WA
Indianapolis, IN
Montpelier, VT
Concord, NH
Iowa City, IA
5/5
5/5
5/5
5/5
5/5
5/5
5/6
5/5
5/6
5/5
5/4
5/5
4/30
5/6
5/1
Act ivi ty
pCi/1
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND = Not Detected
-------
MILK DATA
5/8/86
Station Date Collected
Louisville, KY
Tampa, FL
Oklahoma City, OK
Omaha, NE
Charlotte, NC
Baltimore, MD
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Milwaukie, WI
Kansas City, MO
Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis, MN
Chattanooga, TN
Las Vegas, NV
St. Louis, MO
Rapid City, SD
Des Moines, IA
Atlanta, GA .
Charleston, WV
Philadelphia, PA
Laramie, WY
Charleston, SC
Knoxville, TN
Albequerque, NM
Harrisburg, PA
Pittsburg, PA
5/6
5/6
5/5
5/5
5/5
5/6
5/6
5/6
5/6
5/6
5/5
5/6
5/5
5/6
5/7
5/5
5/5
5/7
5/6
5/5
5/6
5/6
5/5
5/6
5/6
5/6
Activity
pCi/1
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND = Not Detected
-------
PRECIPATION DATA 5/8/86
Station
Date Collected
Concord, NH
Berkeley, CA
Topeka, KS
Little Rock, AR
Idaho Falls, ID
New York City, NY
Montpelier, VT
Portland, OR
Concord, NH
Topeka, KS
Salt Lake City, UT
Idaho Falls, ID
Berkeley, CA
Columbus, OH
Harrisburg, PA
Indianapolis, IN
Montpelier, VT
Augusta, ME
pCi/1
Activity
pCi/m**2
5/2
5/4
5/6
.R 5/7
D 5/5
NY 5/4
5/6
5/5
5/6
5/7
, UT 5/7
D 5/6
5/7
5/7
5/6
IN 5/7
5/7
5/7
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
460 +/ - 67%
ND
ND
ND
120 +/- 91%
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
138 (1-131)
ND
ND
ND
38.4 (1-131)
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND = Not Detected
-------
&EPA Soviet Nuclear
Accident
FOR RELEASE: SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1986
A Task Force Report
CONTACT: DAVE COHEN (202) 382-4355
Weekend Update
The EPA monitoring network is continuing to monitor air and rainwater daily
and milk twice per week. The latest milk samples show no detected radioactivity
for the following sample locations and collection dates: May 8-Anchorage, Alaska;
Salt Lake City, Utah; Hartford, Connecticut; May 7-Anchorage, Alaska; Austin,
Texas; Buffalo, New York; May 6-Boston, Massachusetts; Honolulu, Hawaii; Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma; Los Angeles, California; May 1-Idaho Falls, Idaho.
The latest precipitation data show iodine-131 present in rainfall collected
over May 5-8 in Painesville, Ohio; Lansing, Michigan; Montpelier, Vermont; Portland,
Oregon; Idaho Palls, Idaho; Augusta, Maine; Salt Lake City, Utah; Concord, New
Hampshire; and Helana, Montana. Concentrations of iodine-131 range from 11 picocuries
per liter (pCi/1) to 240 pCi/1. Deposition of iodine-131 is estimated to cange
from 54 pCi/m2 to 700 pCiAi2. One additional rainwater sample collected in Las
Vegas, Nevada on May 7 and analyzed by the EPA/ORP Laboratory there showed 500 pCi/1
of iodine-131. These values are comparable to the other low values we have been
seeing in the U.S. this week.
One air particulate sample collected in Chicago, Illinois, May 7 contained a
slight trace of 1-131 (0.0018 pCi/^3). The EPA Las Vegas Laboratory also has
detected slight traces of 1-131 (0.09-0.29 pCi/m3) in samples collected May 7-9.
All other air particulate data are showing no increase above normal background
levels.
To summarize, all of the positive readings listed above for this country
and those noted by EPA previously pose no hazard to public health or the
environment due to the extremely low concentrations at which they have been
detected.
A complete lis.ting of EPA data is attached to today's report. The reader
should note that normal background readings for gross beta activity on air filters
are highly variable. Readings less than 1.0 pCi/rtn3 are not considered elevated
above normal background unless specific radionuclides emitted from the Chernobyl
reactor aciident are identified in the "Gamma" column. In other words, readings
from the cities in this list are all within the range of background levels of
radiation experienced normally.
-------
Sampling Station
LAWRENCE, MA
LAWRENCE, MA
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA
LAWRENCE, MA
BOISE, ID
IOWA CITY, IA
BISMARCK, ND
EL PASO, TX
LANSING, MI
JEFFERSON CITY, MO
PROVIDENCE, RI
CONCORD, NH
PIERRE, SD
HARTFORD, CT
ALBANY, NY
AUSTIN, TX
SANTA FE, NM
ANCHORAGE, AK
LAS VEGAS, NV
JUNEAU, AK
CHICAGO, IL
PITTSBURGH, PA
BOISE, ID
"GOLDSBORO, PA
PROVIDENCE, RI
OLYMPIA, WA
NEW ORLEANS, LA
NASHVILLE, TN
NEW YORK CITY, NY
COLUMBIA, SC
LYNCHBURG, VA
FRANKFORT, KY
IDAHO FALLS, ID
AUGUSTA, ME
HARTFORD, CT
SPOKANE, WA
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
ALBANY, NY
Air Samples
9-MAY-86 18:31
Gross Beta Act
Date Started Date Removed (pci/fai**3) Gamma Emitter
(pci>**3)
5/ 2/86
5/ 3/86
5/ 3/86
5/ 5/86
5/ 5/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 3/86
5/ 4/86
5/ 5/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
Lab
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.03
0.01
0.07
0.09
0.05
0.06
0.17
0.03
0.02
0.12
0.03
0.07
0.04
0.07
0.01
0.10
0.00
0.37
0.02
0.04
0.13
0.04
0.06
0.13
0.07
0.28
0.26
0.14
0.19
0.04
0.10
0.22'
0.13
0.05
Field
NA
NA
<10
<10
<10
NA
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
NA
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
NA
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
1-131 0.0018 +/- 84
*
*
-------
Sampling Station
Bnitter
(pciA>**3)
Air Samples
5/9/86 15:48
Date Started Date Removed
Gross Beta Act
(pci/m**3)
Lab
Field
Gamma
LAWRENCE, MA
LAWRENCE, MA
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA
LAWRENCE, MA
JEFFERSON CITY, MO
PROVIDENCE,- RI
CONCORD, NH
HARTFORD, CT
PIERRE, SD
LAS VEGAS, MV
ALBANY, NY
JUNEAU, AK
SANTA FE, NM
BISMARCK, ND
EL PASO, TX
JACKSONVILLE, FL
NSW 'iOm CITY, NY
HARTFORD, CI
I .OS AKGELfiS, CA
MOlOTGOfiEFY , AL
KJSJOXVILLE, 7tv
aiARLOTTE, XC
SYRACUSE, NY
COLUMBIA, SC
MADISON, Kl
LINCOLN, U~E
MINNEAPOLIS, mi
5/ 2/86
5/ 3/86
5/ 3/86
5/ 5/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ V86
3/ 7/86
5> 7/66
5/ 7/66
EV 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ V86
5/ 7/06
5/ 3/86
5/ 4/86
5/ 5/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
V 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ S/B6
5/ 8/86
3,' 8/66
b/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/88
5/ 8/83
V 8/86
5/ 8/86
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.03
0.17
0.03
0.02
0.03
0.12
0.10
0.07
0.00
0.07
0.09
0.05
0.05
0.07
0.10
0.11
0,73
0.24
0,37
0.08
0.28
0.18
0.36
0.08
NA
NA
<10
s 1 f\
NJ.U
<10
<10
<10
<10
-------
CHEYENNE, WY 5/ 7/86 5/ 8/86 0.19 <10
PAINESVILLE, OH 5/ 7/86 5/ 8/86 0.08 <10
PHOENIX, AZ 5/ 7/86 5/ 8/86 0.55 <10
CHARLESTON, WV 5/ 7/86 5/ 8/86 0.10 <10
CONCORD, NH 5/ 7/86 5/ 8/86 0.03 <10
NIAGARA FALLS, NY 5/ 7/86 5/ 8/86 0.05 <10
HARRISBURG, PA 5/ 7/86 5/ 8/86 0.05 <10
TOPEKA, KS 5/ 7/86 5/ 8/86 0.57 <10
CHICAGO, IL 5/ 7/86 5/ 8/86 0.04 <10
HELENA, MT 5/ 7/86 5/ 8/86 0.12 <10
PORTLAND, OR 5/ 7/86 5/ 8/86 0.05 <10
LOS ANGELES, CA 5/ 7/86 5/ 8/86 0.11 <10 *
LITTLE ROCK, AR 5/ 7/86 5/ 8/86 0.16 <10
IOWA CITY, IA 5/ 7/86 5/ 8/86 0.19 NA
MADISON, WI 5/ 7/86 5/ 8/86 0.18 <10 *
WILMINGTON, NC 5/ 7/86 5/ 8/86 0.06 <10
WILMINGTON, DE 5/ 7/86 5/ 8/86 0.07 <10
MONTGOMERY, AL 5/ 7/86 5/ 8/86 0.73 <10 *
SYRACUSE, NY 5/ 7/86 5/ 8/86 0.08 <10 *
JACKSONVILLE, FL 5/ 7/86 5/ 8/86 0.05 <10 *
MINNEAPOLIS, MN 5/ 7/86 5/ 8/86 0.08 <10 *
CHARLOTTE, NC 5/ 7/86 5/ 8/86 0.37 <10 *
HONOLULU, HI 5/ 7/86 5/ 8/86 0.15 NA
EL PASO, TX 5/ 7/86 5/ 8/86 0.21 <10
LINCOLN, NE 5/ 7/86 5/ 8/86 0.36 <10 *
TMI, PA 5/ 7/86 5/ 8/86 0.06 <10
KNOXVILLE, TN 5/ 7/86 5/ 8/86 0.24 <10 *
DENVER, CO 5/ 7/86 5/ 8/86 0.35 <10
MIAMI, FL 5/ 7/86 5/ 8/86 0.02 <10
YAPHANK, NY 5/ 7/86 5/ 8/86 0.09 <10 ,
TOLEDO, OH 5/ 7/86 5/ 8/86 0.10 <10
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 5/ 7/86 5/ 8/86 0.04 <10
ND = Not Detected
NA = Not Available
* = Gamna Results Previously Reported
-------
Precipation Sampling
5/9/86
Station
Date Collected
pCi/1
Activity
All detectable activity was 1-131,
ND = Not Detected
pCi/Ğ**2
Painesville, OH
Lansing, MI
Middletown, PA
Minneapolis, MN
Toledo, OH
Boise, ID
Juneau, AK
Albany, NY
Montpelier, VT
Providence, RI
Las Vegas, NV
Knoxville, TN
Jacksonville, FL
Portland, OR
Idaho Falls, ID
Augusta, ME
Salt Lake City, UT
Olynpia, WA
Portland, OR
Iowa City, IA
Yaphank, NY
Concord, NH
Helena, MT
Indianapolis, IN
5/7
5/7
5/7
5/8
5/5
5/5
5/7
5/7
5/7
5/6
5/7
5/8
5/8
5/5
5/7
5/8
5/8
5/7
5/8
5/8
5/8
5/8
5/8
5/8
11 +/- 43%
40 +/- 37%
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
120 +/- 30%
ND
ND
ND
ND
46 V- 49%
66 +/- 63%
72 +/- 29%
36 +/- 46%
ND
240 +/- 74%
ND
ND
63 +/- 75%
27 +/- 53%
ND
530 +/- 43%
54 V- 37%
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
480 +/- 30%
ND
ND
ND
ND
452 +/- 49%
120 +/- 63%
430 +/- 29%
700 V- 46%
ND
210 +/- 74%
ND
ND
70 V- 75%
220 +/- 53%
ND
(Itore)
-------
Milk Data
5/9/86
Station Date Collected
Boston, MA
Honolulu, HI
Oklahoma City, OK
Anchorage, AK
Anchorage, AK
Austin, TX
Idaho Falls, ID
Los Angeles, CA
Buffulo, NY
Salt Lake City, UT
Hartford, CT
5/6
5/6
5/6
5/7
5/8
5/7
5/1
5/6
5/7
5/8
5/8
Activity
pCi/1
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND = Not Detected
-------
rntr-Ğ.~-> Pnhi.r Affair* ğA-ifV7l
c/EPA Soviet Nuclear
Accident
FOR RELEASE: SUNDAY, MAY 11, 1986
A Task Force Report
CONTACT: DAVE COHEN (202) 382-4355
Weekend Update
Attached is a listing of air particulate, precipitation, and
milk samples processed by EPA's Environmental Radiation Ambient
Monitoring System (ERAMS) through late Saturday, May 10, 1986.
In the daily national air sampling network, only Phoenix,
Arizona indicated detectable amounts of fallout above normal
background levels in that fresh fission products were detetected
in Phoenix for the period May 7-8. Phoenix detected iodine-1'31
levels of 0.091 picocuries per cubic meter (pCi/m3), cesium-134
levels of 0.015 pCi/m3, and cesium-137 levels of 0.028 pCi/m3;'
These are considered very low levels that pose no danger to health
or the environment. All other cities submitting air samples show
no levels above the normal range for background.
The daily precipitation (rainwater) samples reported several
cities showing detectable levels of iodine-131 from the nuclear
reactor accident at Chernobyl. The listing indicates the concen-
tration of 1-131 in picocuries per liter (pCi/1) and also relates
it to deposition in picocuries per square meter (pCi/m2) which
takes into acount the amount of rainfall. As a frame of reference,
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's preventive action guide for
deposition for 1-131 which would cause public health officials to
take action to withhold food products from the market is 130,000
pCi/m2. The highest deposition level reported in today's listing
of EPA's laboratory analysis comes from Idaho Falls, Idaho collected
on May 8. That 1-131 deposition level was 440 pCi/m2. This level
represents much less than one percent of the FDA guide and is not
considered to pose any threat to health or welfare.
Public health officials in Portland, Oregon reported rainwater
samples taken Friday, May 9 showed elevated levels of 1-131 but
indicated that they posed no threat to health or welfare. Those
samples are currently being processed by EPA's laboratory and should
be reported Monday,
The twice-weekly milk sampling network reports no detectable
levels of radioactivity.
(More)
-------
-2-
(All readings on the attached lists other than those cited above
showed no readings above background from samplings.)
In summation, EPA's nationwide radiation monitoring network has
recorded sporadic and small detectable levels of radiation from the
Soviet reactor accident in most areas of the country except the
Southeastern U.S. through this past week. It is expected that the
sensitive instruments may detect very low levels in rainwater, air,
and possibly milk samples for some weeks to come, out that these
levels will pose no threat to human health or the environment.
# # #
-------
Air Samples
10-MAY-86 16:52
Sampling Station
Date Started Date Removed
Gross Beta Act
(pci/m**3)
Gamna Emitter
**3)
TRENTON, NJ
TRENTON, NJ
TRENTON, NJ
TRENTON, NJ
TRENTON, NJ
TRENTON, NJ
TRENTON, NJ
PHOENIX, AZ
BERKELEY, CA
ANCHORAGE, AK
PIERRE, SD
LAS VEGAS, NV
JUNEAU, AK
BOISE, ID
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
BISMARCK, ND
JEFFERSON CITY, MO
PITTSBURGH, PA
TRENTON, NJ
AUSTIN, TX
LANSING, MI
SANTA FE, NM
LAS VEGAS, NV
CONCORD, NH
IDAHO FALLS, ID
OLYMPIA, WA
TOLEDO, OH
JACKSON, MS
SPOKANE, WA
COLUMBIA, SC
HELENA, MT
IOWA CITY, IA
MIAMI, FL
KNOXVILLE, TN
NEW ORLEANS, LA
PHOENIX, AZ
4/30/86
5/ 1/86
5/ 2/86
5/ 3/86
5/ 4/86
5/ 5/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/36
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/36
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
s/ 3/86
5/ 8/36
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/36
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 1/86
5/ 2/86
5/ 3/86
5/ 4/86
5/ 5/86
5/ 6/86
5/ 7/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 8/86
5/ 9/86
5/ 9/86
5/ 9/86
5/ 9/86
5/ 9/86
5/ 9/86
5/ 9/86
5/ 9/86
5/ 9/86
5/ 9/86
5/ 9/86
5/ 9/86
5/ 9/86
5/ 9/86
Lab
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.02
0.02
0.55
0.02
0.03
0.09
0.08
0.04
0.03
0.08
0.25
0.13
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.02
0.22
0.23
0.05
0.11
0.05
0.10
0.25
0.26
0.10
0.08
0.16
0.02
0.35
0.08
0.67
V^*JJ./IU .
Field
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10 1-131 0
Cs-134 0
Cs-137 0
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
NA
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
NA
<10
<10
NA
<10
0.091 +/- T
-------
CHARLOTTE, NC 5/ 3/86 5/ 9/96 0.13 <10
PAINESVILLE, :Ji I-/ 8/86 5/ 9/86 0,06 '10
WILMINGTON; NC £ ' f- '8c'= T ' -r-'Ba 0,32 \,
BERKELEY, GA 5/ 8/86 V 9/86 0.15 <10
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 5/ 8/86 5/ 9/86 O.D2 <10
tiASHVILLE, TN 5/5/86 5/9/86 0.21 <10
JEFFERSON CITY, MO 5/ V86 5-' c'/p.'- 0,4-' <1C
GOLDSBORG, PA 3/ 8/86 5/ Vti- '^.15 <10
JACKSONVILLE, PL 5/ 8/86 5/ 9/86 0.04 <10
COLUMBUS, OH 5/ 8/86 5/ 9/R6 0.17 <10
LITTLE ROCK, AR 5/ 8/86 5/ 9/86 0.14 <10
CHARLESTON, I7V 5/ 8/86 5/ 9/86 0.19 <10
TOPEKA, KS 5/ 8/86 5/ 9/86 0.18 <10
TMI, PA 5/ 8/86 5/ 9/86 0.12 <10
WILMINGTON, DE 5/ 8/86 5/ 9/86 0.05 <10
ND = Not Detected
NA = Not Available
* = Gamma Results Previously Reported
-------
Precipation Data
5/10/86
Station
Date Collected
Activity
pCi/1 pCi/m**2
Pierre, SD
Idaho Falls, ID
Cheyenne, WY
Portland, OR
Olympia, WA
Charleston, WV
Pierre, SD
Bismark, ND
New York City, NY
Juneau , AK
Minneapolis, MN
Boise, ID
Jefferson City, MO
Pittsburg, PA
Atlanta, GA
Frankfort, KY
Augusta, ME
Idaho Falls, ID
Concord, NH
Salt Lake City, UT
Jefferson City- MO
Iowa City, I A
Idaho Falls, ID
Las Vegas, NV **
5/6
5/6
5/8
5/2
5/8
5/7
5/8
5/8
5/9
5/8
5/9
5/7
5/7
5/7
5/7
5/8
5/9
5/9
5/9
5/9
5/9
5/9
5/8
5/7
1-131
1-131
1-131
1-131
1-131
1-131
1-131
1-131
1-131
1-131
ND
78 +/- 49%
ND
ND
270 V- 60%
ND
ND
ND
100 +/- 33%
ND
ND
36 +/- 71%
ND
ND
ND
ND
89 +/- 56%
27 +/- 65%
33 +/- 52%
21 +/- 91%
ND
ND
120 +/- 22%
530 +/- 33%
ND
25 +/- 49%
ND
ND
190 +/- 60%
ND
ND
ND
100 +/- 33%
ND
ND
340 +/- 71%
ND
ND
ND
ND
210 +/- 56%
110 +/- 65%
99 +/- 52%
380 +/- 91%
ND
ND
440 +/- 22%
180 +/- 33%
**
Correction of data reported 5/9/86
-------
Milk Data
5/10/86
Station Date
Montgomery, AL
Idaho Falls, ID
Chattanooga, TN
Charlotte, NC
St. Paul, MN
Sacramento, CA
Seattle, WA
Idaho Falls, ID
Syracuse, NY
Memphis, TN
San Francisco, CA
Atlanta, GA
Mew York City, NY
New York City, NY
New York City, NY
Norfolk, VA
Norfolk, VA
Charleston, SC
Denver, CO
San Juan, PR
Cleveland, OH
Louisville, KY
Collected
5/9
5/8
5/9
5/9
5/6
5/6
5/8
5/8
5/5
5/7
5/8
5/9
5/5
5/7
5/9
5/8
5/7
5/8
5/6
5/8
5/6
5/9
Activi ty
pci/l
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND = Not Detected
------- |