v>EPA
Agency
Environmental Monitoring
Protection Systems Laboratory
P.O. Box 15027
Las Vegas NV 89114
EPA-600/3-81-027
DOE/DP/00539-040
April 1981
Research and Development
Selected Radioisotopes
In Animal Tissues
In Nevada:
and 137Cs
Measurements From
1 956 to 1 977
prepared for the
Nevada Operations Office
U.S. Department of Energy
-------
Available from the
National Technical Information
U.S. Department of Commerce
Springfield, VA 22161
Price Code:
Paper copy, A04
t~i crofi che, AOl
Service
-------
EPA-600/3-81-027
DOE/DP/00539-040
April 1981
SELECTED RADIOISOTOPES IN ANIMAL TISSUES IN NEVADA:
90Sr and 137Cs Measurements from 1956 to 1977
by
D. D. Smith
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory
and
V. E. Andrews
Office of Radiation Programs-Las Vegas Facility
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Las Vegas, Nevada 89114
prepared for the
U.S. Department of Energy
under Memorandum of Understanding
Number DE-AI08-76DP00539
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING SYSTEMS LABORATORY
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 89114
-------
DISCLAIMER
This report has been reviewed by the Environmental Monitoring Systems
Laboratory--Las Vegas and approved for publication. Mention of trade names or
commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
; ;
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Li st of Figures
.... ................ .......
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . .
.......
.........
Summary and Conclusions
......
. . . .
. . . .
. . . .
.....
Strontium-90 in Bones of Cattle, Deer, and Bighorn
Sheep on and near the Nevada Test Site 1956 to 1977 . . . . . . . .
Background. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Strontium-90 in Bighorn Sheep. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Strontium-90 in Deer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Strontium-90 in Cattle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Comparison to Strontium-90 in Humans. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cesium-137 in Cattle and Deer Tissues on and near the
Nevada Test Site 1957 to 1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.....
Background. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cesium-137 in Cattle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cesium-137 in Deer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hypothetical Dose Calculations.
.....
.....
. . . .
.....
Necropsy and Histopathological Examinations.
Summary of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing. . . .
........
. . . .
......
......
References.
........
. . . .
............
.....
Appendi x. .
. . . .
. . . .
......
...........
. . . .
i i i
Page
iv
1
2
5
5
5
13
14
16
22
22
22
24
28
30
32
35
39
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LIST OF FIGURES
Number
1 Map of Nevada showing the Counties, the Nevada Test Site,
and the Desert Game Range. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2 90Sr concentrations in bighorn sheep hock bones. . . . . . .
3 Annual and cumulative 90Sr deposition in soil at Salt Lake
City, Utah and New York, New York. . . . . . . . . . . . .
4 Bighorn sheep hock bone 90Sr concentration vs. year at 1
year of age compared to annual 90Sr deposition for Salt
La k e City. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
........
5 Comparison of mean 90Sr bone concentration to annual deposi-
tion rate during year in which sheep were 1 year old. . . .
6 Comparison of 90Sr concentrations in bones of bighorn
sheep from north of an east-west line through
Las Vegas to sheep from south of the line (minus 4
high anomalies in 1975 data). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7 Average 90Sr bone concentrations in deer and bighorn
sheep. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
......
.......
8 Average 90Sr bone concentrations in cattle and
Nevada Test Site deer. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.....
9 Locations of cattle herds routinely sampled. . . . . . . . .
10 90Sr in adult human vertebrae -- observations and bone
model predictions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
11 Annual 90Sr deposition in New York City and Salt Lake
City. . 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
12 Daily human dietary intake of 90Sr. . . . . . . . . . .
13 Average annual 90Sr concentration in mi lk in New York
C; ty . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . .
.........
. . . .
14 Average 137CS concentrations in beef cattle muscle
tissue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
......
15 Monthly 137CS concentrations in air at various
continental U.S. locations. . . . . . . . . .
16 Average 137CS concentrations in Nevada Test Site
deer muscle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.......
.......
17
Cumulative world fission yield -- air bursts
only. . . . . .
iv
Page
6
7
8
10
11
12
13
15
16
17
18
19
20
23
25
27
34
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INTRODUCTION
Since 1956 the Animal Investigation Program (AlP) has been conducting
surveillance of domestic and wild animals on and around the Nevada Test Site
(NTS) and assessing the radionuclide burdens present in their tissues and any
resulting pathological effects. Other AlP objectives were to investigate
alleged dosage to animals. to maintain public information contacts with the
off-site population. and to conduct special ad hoc investigations. Most of
the radionuclide burden data and the AIP's history and evolution have been
published in the annual reports of this program (Farmer 1959; Fountain 1961,
Smith and Giles 1970. 1974. and 1975; Smith etal.. 1976a. 1977a. 1977b.
1978a. 1978b. and 1979). Additional unpublished data were gleaned from the
AlP historical files. This rather substantial body of radiological data has
been reviewed and analyzed for trends with time and source of exposure.
Because of the volume of data. only a summary has been included in the
appendices of this report. The complete data are available in the AlP file
for further study.
A sufficient data base existed for trend analyses for the longer-lived and
biologically-active radionuclides such as strontium-90 in bones. cesium-137 in
soft tissues. iodine-129 in thyroids. and plutonium-238 and -239 in bones and
soft tissues. The presence of shorter~lived radionuclides such as iodine-131.
zirconium-95. cerium-144. ruthenium-106. etc.. were usually relatable to
specific events. (e.g.. the Peoples' Republic of China's atmospheric tests) or
specific locations. (e.g.. tritium in tissues collected from animals near
Sedan Crater or drinking from waters draining the tunnels of Ranier Mesa) and
these findings have been described adequately in the previously lrentioned
annual reports. Plutonium-238 and -239 trends and levels in the NTS beef herd
were discussed in detail in previous reports (Smith et al.. 1976b and 1979) as
were iodine-129 levels in thyroids (Smith 1977). Only the strontium-90 and
cesium-137 data and trends are reported herein.
1
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SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
A 1974 study of cesium-137 in soil in the NTS environ~ (An?rews.and
Vandervort 1978) resulted in the finding that concentrat10ns 1n s011 from the
northern a~c extending from northwest to northeast within approximately 200 km
from the NTS center had a geometric mean of 0.89 pCi/g. This is nearly three
times the geometric mean of 0.33 pCi/g for the remainder of the locations
north of an east-west line through the NTS center and 16 times the 0.05 pCi/g
found at locations south of the east-west line. These findings follow a
general pattern similar to the cumulative close-in fallout patterns from
atmospheric testing at the NTS. Cesium-137 and strontium-90 have similar
half-lives and should be distributed in similar fashion. The conclusion,
then, would be that strontium-90 was deposited in a similar pattern from
close-in fallout from the atmospheric tests.
The correlation of strontium-90 in the bones of young ruminants on and
near the NTS with annual global fallout rates indicates that close-in fall-
out was not a significant long term source of strontium-90. Desert bighorn
sheep from the northern portions of the hunt areas, particularly from 1972 on,
exhibit higher concentrations of strontium-90 in bone than those from the
southern areas. While this observed difference may be due to a higher uptake
by plants of strontium-90 deposited in the northern portion from close-in
fallout, it may also be due to higher annual rainfall with its associated
higher annual deposition of worldwide fallout.
Analysis of strontium-90 data for desert bighorn sheep as a function of
age showed that the controlling factor in bone concentration was the exposure
which occurred during the period of maximum bone growth, up to one year of
age. Subsequent intake has some effect, but much less. The same analysis
showed an effective half-life for strontium-gO in desert bighorn sheep of
about 4.8 years. Comparable data for humans yielded effective half-lives of
2.7 and 4.3 years for two population groups.
The enhanced strontium-90 uptake by young animals was also demonstrated by
the data from the NTS beef herd. During, or immediately following, periods
of higher deposition rates the younger animals exhibited higher concentration
in bone. During low fallout periods the older animals, which had been young
during heavier fallout periods, had higher concentrations of strontium-gO in
bone than the young animals.
Variations in.tissue co~centrations of cesium-137 confirm earlier reports
of a short effect1ve ha1f-11fe, on the order of 2 to 3 weeks. The conclusion
is that the concentration of cesium-137 in edible tissue can be expected to
reach ambient levels within 6 months after exposure to a contaminating event
2
-------
if the animals are provided uncontaminated feed. Even in the absence of
positive action to provide clean feed, natural weathering reduces vegetation
contamination levels so rapidly that animal tissue concentrations will still
return to normal in nearly the same period of time.
The maximum hypothetical annual dose to a standard man, consuming edible
tissue from an animal exposed to fallout on the NTS, was 32 mrem from
cesium-137. Under normal circumstances, tissue contaminated to that level
would not be available for consumption for a full year due to the short
effective half-life. Therefore, the maximum dose would be considerably less.
Worldwide fallout appears to have been the predominant source of strontium-gO
in the animal diets. The comparisons between annual deposition rate and human
diet intake of strontium-90 and between strontium-90 concentration in animal
and human bones tends to confirm this. A possible reason for this stronger
correlation with annual fallout rates than with close-in deposition is the
length of exposure. Most of the close-in fallout at the NTS occurred for
relatively short periods of time. The majority of the worldwide fallout has
occurred throughout the year. Although short-term incidences of high
contamination of vegetation followed each of the atmospheric test series, as
evidenced ~ higher levels found in the tissues of Lincoln County deer and
desert bighorn sheep from the northern portion of the hunt area, the majority
of the exposure must have cor~ from the more steady-state contamination
resulting from worldwide fallout.
A similar conclusion regarding the role of continuously deposited world-
wide fallout in tissue concentrations is reached for cesium-137. The con-
centrations measured in the various organs sampled reflect the recent fallout
history, within the past few months. The fluctuations noted, correlated with
deposition rates, indicates that animal uptake of these two radionuc1ides
results primarily from surface contamination on vegetation rather than from
plant uptake from the soil.
As part of the 1974 study in the NTS environs by Andrews and Vandervort,
strontium-90 was measured in selected vegetable samples collected from home
gardens. Six of 16 samples analyzed had low levels of strontium-gO. One of
these was from south of the NTS and five were from north of the NTS. The
higher levels of contamination were from three leafy vegetables and could
have resulted from either worldwide fallout (two of the samples also contained
high levels of cosmic-generated bery11ium-7), from contamination by resus-
pension of soil contaminated by earlier fallout, or from uptake from the soil.
The inference was that the concentrations observed may have been related to
the higher fallout which had occurred in the areas sampled. Even if this is
the case, the degree of contamination of vegetation due to resuspension or
uptake, even in plants from an irrigated garden, appears to be low. With the
low rainfall in the area, it is unlikely that the residual strontium-gO or
cesium-137 in soil plays any important part in the natural vegetation food
chain, with the exception of that soil ingested directly with plant roots,
etc., during grazing or that deposited on the plants by resuspension.
Histopathological examinations of tissue and lesion samples, and analysis
of blood samples from the animals used in this long-term study have revealed
no effects which could be attributed to exposure to radioactive materials.
3
-------
One objective of the program from the beginning was lito provide further
information as to the status of the offsite animals in their environment,
with special emphasis on the radioactive isotopes uptake from fallout in
ruminants". The results of this study of the data collected indicate that
proximi ty to the NTS has had very 1 ittl e long-term impact on animals from the
standpoint of uptake of either strontium-gO or cesium-137.
4
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STRONTIUM-90 IN BONES OF CATTLE, DEER, AND BIGHORN SHEEP
ON AND NEAR THE NEVADA TEST SITE 1956 TO 1977
BACKGROUND
Measurements of strontium-90 in the bones of animals on and near the NTS
have been made since 1956. The groups of animals studied and the periods for
which data are available are:
NTS Beef Herd
Delamar Valley Beef Herd
Knoll Creek Beef Herd
1957-1977
1957-1961
1964-1967
1957-1961
1964-1967
1964-1977
1958-1961
1956-1972
1956-1977
1960-1963
NTS Deer
Lincoln County Deer
Off-NTS Deer other than Lincoln County
Bighorn Sheep - Desert Game Range
Bighorn Sheep other than Desert Game Range
Bighorn sheep and deer were selected as representative of off-NTS
ruminants, and were widely available through annual sports hunting. The areas
represented were the ones most commonly downwind from the NTS nuclear testing
activities. As shown in Figure 1, Lincoln County occupies roughly the
northeast quadrant from the NTS. The Desert Game Range lies mostly east and
southeast of the NTS. The NTS beef herd generally grazed the northeast
portions of the NTS prior to 1964 and the west central portion thereafter, and
the NTS deer were generally collected from the northwest area. Off-NTS deer
from other than Lincoln County were usually collected from Clark, Elko, and
Nye Counties, although the 1961 collection included Humboldt and Esmeralda
Counties.
STRONTIUM-90 IN BIGHORN SHEEP
AlP personnel, with the cooperation of the Nevada Department of Fish and
Game, collected hock bones from bighorn sheep at Fish and Game checkpoints
during the hunting season. Fish and Game personnel estimated the age of each
animal sampled. During the years 1956 to 1977 AlP sampled 382 sheep. The
number sampled each year ranged from 7 to 34, depending on hunter success.
The results of bone analyses for strontium-90 are summarized by year of
collection in Appendix Table 1 and in Figure 2. A gradual increase in average
concentrations occurred through 1961 with a sharp increase then continuing
through 1964. After holding steady for 4 years, through 1968, a rapid
5
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Story
Carson City
Douglas
Fi gure 1 .
Nevada
Humboldt
Pershing
Churchill
Nevada Test Site
Desert Game Range
Scale in Miles
o 30 60 1 20
~
o 40 80 120 180
Scale in Kilometers
.
Knoll Creek
Elko
White Pine
Nye
Delamar Valley
.
Lincoln
Clark
Map of Nevada showing the Counties, the Nevada Test Site,
and Desert Game Range.
6
-------
.c
In
ca
C) 10
""-
(3
Q.
-
In
C
o
.~
ca
...
...
c
Q)
(,)
c
o
(,)
5
...
en
o
'"
1956
1960
1964
Year
1968
1972
1976
Figure 2.
90Sr concentrations in bighorn sheep hock bones.
decrease occurred which began tailing off in about 1971 reaching a relatively
steady 1 evel by 1976. It is obvi ous that thi s pattern does not match that of
atmospheric testing at the NTS. Therefore, the role of worldwide fallout in
relation to the observed concentrations was investigated.
The Health and Safety Laboratory of the Atomic Energy Commission (now the
Environmental Measurements Laboratory of the Department of Energy) in New York
began measuring strontium-90 deposition at various stations worldwide as early
as 1954 (HASL-329, 1977). The station most typifying the type of rainfall and
area as that of the Desert Game Range was Salt Lake City. Figure 4 is a plot
of the annual strontium-90 deposition at Salt Lake City from 1957 to 1975.
During the period following 1956, the annual deposition in New York was nearly
identical to that at Salt Lake City, so the plot includes deposition data from
New York for 1954 to 1956. Also shown in Figure 4 is the cumulative
strontium-90 in the soil as determined from the deposition data. Again, it is
seen that the strontium-90 concentration curve in Figure 3 for bighorn sheep
does not correlate well with either the annual or cumulative deposition
curves. The plot of annual and cumulative fallout demonstrates that most of
the worldwide fallout is delayed several years after the associated
atmospheric nuclear tests.
No model has been available to describe the rate of accumulation of
strontium-90 in the bones of bighorn sheep. However, some information was
available on deer and cattle. Farris (1967) showed annual strontium turnover
rates in deer bone of 0.35 for 7- to 18-month-old animals, 0.094 for 19- to
30-month-old animals, and 0.070 for plus 55-month-old animals. Fountain
7
-------
1'-.-.
I .........
I 'e-. 40
80 I -.,
. -.,
I
I ..,
I '8..
, '8
,
I 35
70 I
I
I
,
,
I
. 30
60 I
I
N ' - - -- Cumulative Deposition E
E I "'"
"'" , (corrected for decay) "
" ()
U , - Annual Deposition E
E I 25
50 I From HASL-329. 1977 c:
c: 0
o , "';:;
"';:; , "(ij
"(ij I 0
o I 0.
0. II)
II) . 0
o I
I 20 (ij
II) 40 :J
> I c:
"';:; I c:
'" I
-------
(1961) reported that cattle appeared to accumulate strontium into the skeleton
on a definite age gradient until reaching 2 years of age after which tilne the
levels remained fairly constant. Both reports indicate that young animals are
accumulating strontium into their bones at the most rapid rate. Therefore, a
decision was made to list the concentration of strontium-90 at the time of
collection versus the year during which the animal was 1 year old. The data
were then averaged for each year and plotted as in Figure 4. For comparative
purposes the annual strontium-90 deposition rate in Salt Lake City is overlaid
on the plot. It can be seen that the two curves are now quite similar. Sheep
which were 1 year old during the period 1956 to 1958 had higher concentrations
of strontium-90 in bone than might have been expected from the comparison of
the rest of the data. Part of this difference might be ascribed to the effect
of close-in fallout during those years; however, it is more likely that they
accumulated additional strontium-90 during the higher worldwide fallout in
1959 and during the peak fallout years of 1962 to 1964. Sheep which were 1
year old during 1960 and 1961 would also have received an additional body
burden during the years 1962 to 1964, although not as much as animals which
were in their first year or two of age during those years.
Figure 5 is a graphical representation of the correlation between
strontium-90 bone concentrations and annual strontium-90 deposition rate
during the year in which the sheep were 1 year old. As explained above, the
low annual depositions in 1956, 1960, and 1961 were, to a large extent,
countered by the heavier fallout of succeeding years. Those data points,
therefore, would not be expected to demonstrate as high a correlation as other
years. Analysis of the data in Figure 5 shows a good correlation of bone
concentration to fallout deposition, even when data for the three years is
included. When all data are considered, the regression line relating bone
concentration to annual deposition is:
C =
2.25 + 3.81 In 0
If data for the years 1960 and 1961 are excluded, the equation becomes:
C =
2.24 + 3.37 In 0,
where C = strontium-90 bone concentration (pCi/g ash)
o = annual strontium-90 deposition (mCi/km2)
The correlation coefficient for all data excluding 1960 and 1961 was 0.84 and
for all data the correlation coefficient was 0.76.
Results for four bighorn sheep collected in 1975 were not included in the
graphical presentation. Those results, ranging from 19 to 40 picocuries per
gram (pCi/g) ash, were considered to be analytical anomalies not
representative of the population.
Other studies of radioactivity concentrations around the NTS have shown
some residual of close-in fallout from the atmospheric tests with a
9
-------
20
E - 16
.Jt. ~
:::: =
(.) m
E ::::
- (.)
c: Q,
.2 - 12
.... c:
'iij 0
o '';:
Q, as
Q) ...
C C
... Q)
en u 8
g g
'ii (.)
~ en
c: 0
« '"
4
~
I \
I \ I
I \ I
I \.. .....
I ......... '
I
f
- Annual 90Sr Deposition
---- 90Sr in Bighorn Sheep Bones
\ I~
'.. \
\
\
\
\
,
..
....
.-...
, ~.... ....
.... 'e
1953
1957
1961
1965
1969
1973
Year (at 1 Year of Age)
Figure4. Bighorn sheep hock bone 90Sr concentration vs. year at 1 year
of age compared to annual 90Sr deposition for Salt Lake City.
correlation between azimuth from the NTS and concentration (Andrews and
Vandervort 1978). In a simple test of this observation, the sheep results
were divided into two groups from north and south of Las Vegas. Because of
testing restrictions close-in fallout seldom fell south of Las Vegas. During
the period 1965 to 1977, 13 years of data are available. For 3 of these
years, all animals came from north of the line. During 8 of the remaining 10
years mean concentrations measured north of the line were higher than those
measured south of the line. A sign test of the data plotted in Figure 7 shows
that the difference is significant at the 25 percent level. While not
conclusive, the data indicate that the sheep from the northern area, primarily
the Sheep Range, are exposed either to a higher degree of residual close-in
fallout or to a higher annual rainfall with its associated higher annual
strontium-90 deposition than those from the southern area. Data from 1965 and
1966 may also include animals from the northern area exposed during their
early years to close-in fallout. The most likely explanation, considering the
low and relatively uniform worldwide fallout from 1965 on, is that the higher
concentrations observed from the northern animals result from residual
close-in fallout. The results are shown graphically in Figure 6.
In order to estimate the effective half-life of strontium-90 in bone,
concentrations were compared to age for desert bighorn sheep born during the
same year (cohort). Since animals from each cohort were collected over a
range of years, an effective half-life could be estimated from the decrease in
10
-------
100
-
N
E
~
"'-
U 10
E
-
Q)
...
«:I
a:
c:
o
.+:;
'en
o
Q.
Q)
Q
..
en
~ 1.0
ca
:;,
c:
c:
<
.
0.1
o
.
.
1956
1961
.
1960
.
2
14
1
3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
90Sr Bone Concentration (pCi/ gash)
12
13
Figure 5.
Comparison of mean 90Sr bone concentration to annual deposition
rate during year in which sheep were 1 year old.
11
-------
-
.c
U)
m
C)
""
.-
U
Q.
-
C
0
.-
...
as
..
...
c
Q)
(.)
c
0
U
.. 10
en
0
01
Q)
C)
as
..
Q)
>
«
. III North
0- - ~ South
~.
0"0
~.
"' '.-
o-o-o...~
1965
1970
Year
1975
Figure 6. Comparison of 90Sr concentrations in bones of bighorn sheep
from north of an east-west line through Las Vegas to sheep from
south of the line (minus 4 high anomalies in 1975 data).
concentration with time. The strontium-90 concentration in bone in animals
collected from 1964 to 1977 were compared to age at collection for each
cohort. These sheep had all reached one year of age during the years 1956 to
1964. Thus, this selection of cohorts permitted a comparison of strontium-90
concentration versus age for sheep that had been exposed during the peak
fallout years and harvested after the peak fallout years. The harvest of
animals which had been 1 year old in 1956 was too small for meaningful
results. The groups which were 1 year old in 1960 showed no appreciable
change with age. Groups which were 1 year old in the years 1965 on showed no
change, but as shown in Figure 5 all those animals had relatively low
concentrations. The mean effective half-life determined from this analysis
was 4.8 ~ 2 years.
In humans, the observed ratio -- defined as the ratio of Sr/Ca in bone to
Sr/Ca in the diet -- decreases from 1 at birth to 0.25 after 1 year of age.
12
-------
In adult humans the mineral turnover in the shaft of long bones is about 1
percent per year (FRC 1965). The sheep from which data were used to estimate
the biological half-life of strontium .in bone received their major exposure to
strontium as lambs during the period of heavy fallout prior to 1964. Assuming
that mineral metabolism in sheep as a function of maturity is similar to that
of humans, the exposure to the lower levels of fallout after 1964 are not
believed to have a major effect on the observed effective half-life.
In the 1961 to 1965 study of deer in Colorado, Farris determined an
approximate biological half-life for strontium-90 of 9.7 years (Farris 1967).
It is possible that there is a basic difference between deer and sheep, but it
would appear that his data were influenced by the heavy worldwide fallout
occurring during that period of time. That the 4.8 year effective half-life
is probably a better estimate, at least for mature bighorn sheep, was verified
through a formula for estimating biological half-lives that is based on body
size (Reichle, et ale 1970). If an average weight of 68 kg is applied to this
formula, the calculated biological half-life is 5.4 years and the effective
half-life is 4.5 years.
STRONTIUM-90 IN DEER
Strontium-90 bone concentrations for deer and desert bighorn sheep are
compared in Figure 7 and summarized in Appendix Tables 1, 2, and 3. It is
immediately obvious that the results, when plotted versus year sampled, are
quite similar. Some small, but probably significant differences are: (1)
strontium-90 concentrations in deer from Lincoln County during the years 1956
to 1958 are about twice as high as in other deer, and (2) deer reached a
20
0----0 Bighorn Sheep. DGR
0--- 0 Bighorn Sheep Other Than
Desert Game Range
--- Lincoln County Deer
.6.----A Deer Other Than Lincoln County
+---+ NTS Deer
-- Cache laPoudre. Colorado. Deer
( Farri.1967)
:c
ell
aI
C)
'-
C3 15
~
ell
c:
o
';:;
f!
...
c:
B 10
c:
o
U
G)
c:
o
CD
1\ I K,~
" b--d '\
~ 1 \
1\ I \
1 \? \
" ,'/\
~ ';{ b
~'
I
d
en 5
o
..
1963 66
67 69 61
63
66
67 69 71
73 76
77
Year Collected
Figure 7.
Average 90Sr bone concentrations in deer and bighorn sheep.
13
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higher peak in 1964 than did sheep and dropped off more rapidly thereafter.
Bighorn sheep from areas other than the Desert Game Range do not differ
significantly from sheep from the Desert Game Range. Deer and desert bighorn
sheep results are very close for the years 1968 to 1977.
The fact that the concentrations in Lincoln County deer during the late
1950ls were higher than in deer from the rest of the State most likely
reflects the immediate effects of close-in fallout from the NTS. The
difference in peak response and decline in concentrations between deer and
sheep is believed to be due primarily to the age of the animals collected.
The higher concentrations observed in the sheep bones during the years from
1967 on are probably related to the older age at harvest and hence exposure to
greater fallout levels during the period of rapid growth.
According to information from the Nevada Wildlife Department, the average
age of the deer herd in the area of concern is about 30 months. The average
age of bucks harvested by hunters is 36 months. During one recent year 58
percent of bucks collected were 30 months or younger and 89 percent were 54
months or younger. Due to the young age of the deer sampled compared to
sheep, the deer tend to reflect conditions during the previous year or two.
Bighorn sheep must either meet a minimum Boone and Crockett score based on
horn size and curl or must be 7 years old to be legal game animals. They are
generally 5 years of age or more, with many as old as 12 years. This tends to
flatten the response to the effect of exposure during individual years.
STRONTIUM-90 IN CATTLE
Strontium-90 concentrations in femurs of cattle from the NTS beef herd are
available from 1957 to 1977 (Appendix Table 4). The results, plotted versus
year of collection, are shown in Figure 8. Also plotted are the results for
strontium-90 in NTS deer hock-joints. For the period 1966 to 1977, the two
are essentially indistinguishable.
Approximately one-half of the beef cattle sacrificed each year are under 2
years of age. Therefore, the results for each year tend to reflect recent
changes in stront i um-90 depos it ion, as do the deer. It woul d be expected,
then, that the results would follow the trend of fallout shown in Figure 3.
This is found to be the case, with a broadening of the peak caused by lag in
response by the cattle. Of particular note is the reponse of younger animals
as compared to mature cows. During the period 1958 to 1960, the mature cows
had strontium-90 concentrations ranging from half to three-fourths of the
averages of the younger animals. In 1961, after a year of low deposition, the
mature cows had a concentration 10 percent greater than the average of the
young animals.
Two other beef herds were maintained by the University of Nevada, Reno, at
Delamar Valley, 75 miles northeast of the NTS, and at the Knoll Creek
Experimental Station 330 miles north of the NTS (Figure 9). These herds were
sampled during the years 1957 to 1961 and 1964 through 1967 (Appendix Tables 5
and 6). The results were similar to the results for the NTS herd, as seen in
Figure 8, indicating that worldwide fallout was the main factor in
strontium-90 uptake in the desert environment. The consistently higher
concentrations for Knoll Creek herd may be due to factors such as higher
rainfall or h'igher accumulative close-in fallout.
14
-------
- 30
J:
U)
co
0)
"
.-
(.)
Q.
-
U) 20
c
o
.-
..,
co
..
..,
c
...... Q)
U'I U
C
0
(.) 10
..
en
0
0)
. . Delamar Valley Beef Herd
. . NTS Beef Herd
~ A Knoll Creek Beef Herd
D---O Cedar City, St. George Dairy
0---0 NTS Deer
~
1957 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77
Year
Figure 8. Average 90Sr bone concentrations in cattle and Nevada Test Site deer.
-------
. I
-------
2.8
2.6
2.4
Ci 2.2
()
C) 2.0
"-
() 1.8
Q,
.......
-....J
c
o
'..
ca
...
...
c
G)
u
c
o
()
1.6
1.4
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
...
UJ
o
GI
Figure 10.
90Sr In adult Vertebrae
(from HASl-321, 1977)
f Observations
I Bone Model Predictions
53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76
Year
90Sr in adult human vertebrae -- observations and bone model predictions.
-------
San Francisco since 1961. The results of these measurements are compared in
Figure 10 to predicted values based on concentrations in food from those areas
(HASL-321,1977). A comparison of these data with those collected from
bighorn sheep bones shows similar trends. As a basis for comparison of
strontium-90 in New York City to Nevada the annual deposition of strontium-90
in New York City is compared to the annual deposition in Salt Lake City. As
explained earlier, Salt Lake City is similar in geographical location and
rainfall to the mountainous areas on and near the NTS. As shown in Figure 11,
within the limits of accuracy of sample collection and analysis, there is
essentially no difference in the annual strontium-90 depositions between New
York City and Salt Lake City.
The daily intakes of strontium-90 in terms of pCi strontium-90 per gram of
calcium (HASL-328, 1977) for three u.S. cities are shown in Figure 12. These
data, based on market-basket sampling, are similar to the strontium-gO fallout
data presented in Figure 11. More closely related to the data of Figure 11
are the strontium-gO concentrations measured in milk in New York (Figure 13,
HASL-321, 1977). The human vertebrae data reflect the fallout and consumption
patterns with a delay of about 2 years in peak concentrations and a longer
decay period following the peak. Very much the same pattern is seen for
bighorn sheep in Figure 1, with a shorter response time. The major difference
in the shape of the curves is the difference in average ages of the
populations sampled as all human data are from persons over 21 years of age.
Th~ ~oncentrations of strontium-90 in vertebrae when normalized to pCi/g ash
(dlvlded by 2.6) are about one-tenth those measured in bighorn sheep. This
25
20
-- New York City
- - ... Salt lake City
From HASl-329. 1977
E
.><
"-
U
f
.g 15
'iij
o
Co
Q)
o
en
g 10
(ij
'"
c:
c:
c(
5
/
1950
1955
1960
1965
1970
1975
Year
Figure 11.
Annual 90Sr deposition in New York City and Salt Lake City.
18
-------
co
(.)
~ 30
...
C)
........
\D
...
CI)
a..
o
"L
en
en
CI)
'~
~
CJ
o
CJ
n:
40
20
10
... ..
, "
.. ... ..
','
Daily intake of Strontium-90
(from HASL 328. 1977)
- New York City
-- -- Chicago
......... San Francisco
I'
I '...
, \
\ I
I \1 \
i \ I'
t, :' ", '., '-
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, ,,' "" "" """""""""""""""'",, ""
73
1960
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
Year
Fi gure 12.
Daily human dietary intake of 90Sr.
-------
30
25 . From HASL-321, 1977
-
~
U
C)
, 20
U
Co
~
.- 15
~
N
0 c:
...
tJ) 10
0
0)
5
54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76
Year
Figure 13.
Average annual 90Sr cancent rat i an in mil kin New Yark City.
-------
results from the differences in diet (sheep grazing directly on contaminated
vegetation) and the age difference. Except for these factors, similar
mechanisms appear to exist for humans and bighorn sheep relative to
strontium-90 metabolism and retention.
The HASL report (HASL-321, 1977) concluded that a removal rate of
strontium-90 from adult human vertebrae of 23 percent per year was inferred
from regression analysis of the measured New York diet and vertebrae
concentrations. That would infer a biological half-life of 2.7 years. The
comparable removal rate inferred for human adults from the San Francisco data
was 15 percent per year, or a biological half-life of 4.3 years. Neither
value is greatly different from the estimated 4.8 year half-life for bighorn
sheep.
21
-------
CESIUM-137 IN CATTLE AND DEER TISSUES ON AND NEAR
THE NEVADA TEST SITE 1957 TO 1977
BACKGROUND
Measurements of cesium-137 in the soft tissues and ingesta collected from
animals that resided on and near the NTS have been made for a number of years.
Muscle, liver, and lung tissues were selected for analyses becau~e cesium-~37
mimics the chemistry of potassium which is an essential element ln metabollsm
within these organs. The ingesta were sampled to reflect the intake at time
of sampling. Data sufficient for meaningful discussion exists from the
following animal groups and for the indicated time periods:
NTS Beef Herd
Delamar Valley Beef Herd
Knoll Creek Beef Herd
NTS Mule Deer
1957 - 1977
1957 - 1961 and
1957 - 1961 and
1964 - 1977
1964 - 1967
1964 - 1967
CESIUM-137 IN CATTLE
Beginning in December 1957, tissue samples were collected from beef herds
on and near the NTS. The intention was to include in each sampling one calf;
one each at age one, two, and three years; and one adult (Fountain, 1961).
The first sampling in 1957 included herds on the NTS and at Delamar Valley.
From 1958 to 1967, herds at the NTS, Delamar Valley, and Knoll Creek were
included. For the remainder of the period covered by this report only data
from NTS cattle are reported.
Samples were usually collected twice each year during May - June and
October - November, referred to herein as the spring and fall samples. During
1958 the samples from the three herds were composited into one sample of each
tissue type. Sample analyses for cesium-137 were performed by gamma spec-
trometry using a 10.2- by 10.2-cm NaI(Tl) crystal detector from 1957 until
1973. Beginning in 1974 gamma spectrometry was performed using lithium-
drifted germanium detectors for all samples reported herein except for rumen
contents which were still analyzed with the NaI(Tl) detectors.
The results of analysis for cesium-137 in lung, liver, muscle, and rumen
contents from cattle from the three herds are summarized in Appendix Tables 7,
8 and 9. Other tissues analyzed have included kidneys and thyroid, but they
are not included in this report. In general, the tissue results reported here
compare well with results for the other tissues analyzed.
22
-------
In order to observe the trend in tissue concentrations as a function of
time the seasonal samples of muscle were averaged and the results are plotted
in Figure 14. Cesium-137 concentrations in the tissue samples did not depend
on the age of the animals sampled; therefore, it was considered reasonable to
use a simple averaging to demonstrate seasonal variations. The highest
concentration was observed in the Fall 1958 sample, following two consecutive
years of atmospheric nuclear testing at the NTS. In addition, the 1958 test
series was conducted later in the year than usual and was concentrated during
the last month of testing (October) shortly before sample collection. Concen-
trations then decreased steadily during the period of the nuclear testing
moratorium which ended in September 1961. Muscle tissue concentrations
measured during 1964 and the spring of 1965 were comparable to those observed
immediately after the atmospheric test series. By 1966, however, they had
returned to the levels observed at the end of the moratorium. From that level
they rapidly dropped to the range which has been maintained since (about 25
pCi per kilogram of tissue). All results for samples collected during the
700
600
'"
""-
"-
U
E: 500
en
c:
.g
~
c:
"
u
c:
o
u
-- Delamar Valley Herd
-- NTS Herd
fT----6 Knoll Creek Herd
0----0 Three Herd Composite
400
en
~
300
"
'"
co
~
>
cI:
200
100
SFSFSFSFSFSFS FSFSFSFSFSFS FSFSF
1957 58 59 60 61 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73
/ \ Year & Season
(no 62 or 63 samples)
Figure 14.
Average 137CS concentrations in beef cattle muscle tissue.
23
-------
Fall 1965 and Spring 1966 periods were reported as having less than detectable
concentrations of cesium-137. The usaal minimum detectable activity (MDA) was
about 30 pCi/kg. Compared to the results from before and after that per~od
these results seem exceptionally low. Although there seems to be no basls for
discarding these data, they must be considered as suspicious. In all cases
where averages included less than detectable concentrations, one-half the MDA
or 15 pCi/kg, was used in the averaging.
Cesium-137 concentrations in liver follow the same trends as in muscle,
but exhibit overall lower concentrations, especially during peak concentration
periods. The differences were as much as a factor of two. Results for lung
tissue tend to be very similar to those for muscle. Rumen content cesium-137
results follow the same general trend as for muscle tissue, but there is much
less correlation between rumen content concentrations and concentrations in
the organs than there is between concentrations in the various organs.
Figure 15 shows the monthly average atmospheric concentrations of
cesium-137 at several locations in the continental United States for the
years 1963 through 1977. Data are not available for the 2-year period from
mid-1966 to mid-1968. The overall pattern is very similar to the annual
strontium-90 deposition at Salt Lake City shown in Figure 3. During most of
the years the maximum occurred during the spring months. This reflects the
increased rate of fallout from the stratospheric reservoir during the spring
shift in position of the tropopause gap (Glasstone, 1962). Because stron-
tium-90 and cesium-137 are relatively unfractionated in atmospheric debris
from nuclear tests, deposition rates or cumulative amounts of one accurately
reflect the same parameters for the other, with suitable factors for produc-
tion and decay rates (Glasstone, 1962).
Figure 3 shows that the peak years for delayed fallout were 1959 and 1962
- 1964. Figure 15 demonstrates that during those years when cesium-137 was
measured in air the peak fallout occurred during the spring. This is
reflected in Figure 14 for cesium-137 in muscle tissue. Except for 1966, for
which spring data are suspect, and the 1964 Knoll Creek herd, tissue samples
collected in the spring show higher concentrations of cesium-137 than the fall
samples. The rapid response to recent cesium-137 deposition indicates a short
effective half-life. This is borne out by Hood and Comar (1953) who reported
a 20-day biological half-life for cesium-137 in a cow and by Goldman, et al.,
1965, who reported an average biological half-life of 17 days in sheep and
deer. Since the cattle sampled under this program were on pasture contami-
nated to an unknown degree it is not possible to infer a biological half-life
from the data. However, the rapid decrease in tissue concentrations implies
both a rapid decrease in vegetation contamination following the peak spring
fallout and a short biological half-life. This finding explains the lack of
observable difference between cesium-137 concentrations in animals of
different ages, as opposed to the strontium-90 results. This also justifies
the averaging of data from the animals sampled at one time from a herd.
CESIUM-137 IN DEER
Until 1964 only strontium-90 had been measured in deer from on or near
NTS. In December 1964 the program was eApanded to include the measurement of
24
-------
N
-------
gamma-emitting radionuclides in tissue from deer. From December 1964 through
1966, five to twelve deer were collected during each calendar quarter. After
1966 the plan was to collect one deer per quarter. Whenever possible, deer
were used which had been killed by vehicles and the needs of the program were
supplemented by hunting. Deer were generally collected from the Rainier
Mesa-Pahute Mesa area in the northwest portion of the NTS. Deer were occa-
sionally collected from other areas on and off the NTS for special purposes.
The same types of samples were collected and were analyzed in the same ~nner
as for cattl e.
Cesium-137 concentrations in deer tissues were similar to those observed
in cattle from the NTS for the same time period (Appendix Table 10). Monthly
average concentrations of cesium-137 in muscle tissue are shown in Figure 16.
One major difference noted betvleen cattle and deer results was the series of
higher cesium-137 concentrations in deer during 1968. The Cabriolet Event of
January 26,1968 was held in Area 20, in the general vicinity of deer
collections. The Buggy Event of March 12, 1968 was held in Area 30. south of
the collection area. Both events were cratering tests. Close-in fallout from
Cabriolet was primarily to the north of the collection area, but close-in
fallout from Buggy was deposited in the deer collection area. The highest
concentration of cesium-137 observed in either deer or cattle muscle during
the entire period covered by this report was 1,600 pCi/kg in muscle tissue
from a mule deer doe collected from Cat Canyon, downwind from Buggy, on the
NTS. Muscl e ti ssue from t\'/i n fetuses carri ed by thi s doe was measured at
4,700 pCi/kg and 2,800 pCi/kg. Close-in fallout from the Buggy Event is
believed to account for the increase in cesium-137 concentrations observed in
deer muscle during 1968.
In addition to the relatively extensive studies of radionuclides in deer
tissue conducted on and near the NTS occasional samples were collected from
other areas during the years 1967-1970. All results compared well to those
obtained during the same time period on the NTS. In December 1967 three deer
were collected from the vicinity of the Gasbuggy Test near Gobernodor, New
Mexico (Appendix Table 11). Muscle tissue concentrations of cesium-137 ranged
from below MDA to 70 pCi/kg. These results are comparable to those obtained
from deer collected on the NTS during September and October of that year which
had less than detectable concentrations. Two deer collected from the Central
Nevada Supplemental Test Site in January 1968 were measured at less than MDA
and 92 pCi/kg, again comparable to those collected near the end of 1967 on the
NTS and in NB'J Mexico. Two deer collected from White Pine County, Nevada,
during December 1968 were below MDA for cesium-137 in muscle. One deer
collected near Pioche, Nevada in Lincoln County, Nevada in October 1970 was
below the MDA for cesium-137, compared to one result of 30 pCi/kg in September
and one of 61 pCi/kg in November for deer from the NTS. The comparability of
these results to those from deer on the NTS is further indication that, except
for the period immediately following the deposition of close-in fallout,
tissue concentrations of cesium-137 tend to follow the rates at which
deposition from worldwide fallout is occurring.
26
-------
800
CI
~
"'-
700 U
c..
o
o
co
...
600 ...
- 0
CI Q)
~
"'- Q.
U E
~ (II
en
c: 500 Q)
o c:
'';::; 0
(II
...
....
c:
Q)
u
c:
0 400
U
en
U
....
::!
300
200
100
Assumed
avg. value of
<: MDA's
~---- --
68
71
72 73
1964
65
69
70
Date
Figure 16.
Average 137CS concentrations in Nevada Test Site deer muscle.
27
-------
HYPOTHETICAL DOSE CALCULATIONS
Although meat from animals living on the Nevada Test Site is not generally
available for consumption by the general public, the dose to a standard man
based on a postulated consumption of the meat can be calculated. The dose
estimates are not presented as an implication of potential doses, but rather
to place the reported radionuclide concentrations in perspective. The dose
estimates are based on the techniques and parameters of the International
Commission on Radiological Protection (1959,1968) and Dillman (1969). The
estimates were from the maximum observed concentrations of the radionuclides
in edible tissues of the cattle and deer sampled, and the postulated
consumption of 500 grams (about 1 pound) of the meat each day for a year.
The International Commission for Radiological Protection (1959) and the
U.S. Department of Energy (1977) present different dose criteria for various
parts of the body that are based on estimates of relative radiosensitivity.
The National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (1971) recog-
nizes this philosophy, but recommends simplifying the guides for the general
population, and uses the minimum guide (0.5 rem per year to the whole body for
an individual in an uncontrolled area) for all body organs. The National
Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements emphasizes that this is a
simplifying administrative decision, rather than a reduction of the guides
based on new technical information.
The maximum observed concentration of cesium-137 in edible deer tissue was
2,900 pCi/kg in liver from a deer collected on the NTS following the Buggy
Event. At the hypothetical consumption rate of 500 g/d, the annual dose re-
ceived by the standard man would be 32 mrem. The annual dose is calculated on
the basis of a factor of 0.022 mrem/yr per pCi/d intake.
The maximum observed concentration of cesium-137 in edible tissue from
cattle was the 770 pCi/kg obtained from the three-herd composite muscle tissue
sample collected in 1958. Under the assumed conditions this would result in
an annual dose of 8.5 mrem.
Comparing the calculated hypothetical doses to the 500 mrem guide the 32
mrem dose from deer liver is equivalent to 6.4 percent of the guide. The 8.5
mrem hypothetical dose from cattle muscle is 1.7 percent of the guide.
Other radionuclides, in particular ruthenium-l06, cerium-144, zirconium-
95, plutonium-238, and plutonium-239, were occasionally measured in edible
tissue samples. In some cases, the absorbed dose due to these radionuclides
received by the critical organ approached the doses due to cesium-137. How-
ever, because of such factors as shorter physical half life, generally low
concentrations, or less frequent occurrence, the other radionuclides were less
important contributors to dose over the period covered than cesium-137.
28
-------
The maximum observed concentration of strontium-90 in bone from all
animals sampled during the period of this report was 94 pCi/g ash in a steer
from the NTS. If the dose factors for cattle are comparable to those for
humans (0.9 ran/y per nCi/g calcium) that concentration would result in an
annual dose of 71 mrem to the bone marrow. This maximum value is 14 percent of
the 500 mrem guide for humans. Since people do not normally consume bones,
this result is provided for comparative purposes only.
29
-------
NECROPSY AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS
Since 1956 sacrificed animals were generally necropsied and samples of
selected tissu~s and lesions (if present) were collected and submitted for
histopathological evaluation. After 1972, blood samples were frequently
collected and submitted for hematological examination. The results of these
examinations are maintained in the files of the AlP or have been published in
the annual reports since 1969.
Prior to the cessation of atmospheric testing in 1962, there were
occasional reports of beta burns suffered by cattle and horses exposed to
heavy fallout. Systemic effects in these anima ls were not noted by
investigating officials (Congressional Hearings, 1979).
Since 1957, a beef herd has been maintained on the ranges of the NTS.
This herd obtains all of its food from the natural vegetation and frequently
grazes over the sites of nuclear tests. The husbandry for this herd is
consistent with that practiced on area commercial ranches. The NTS herd has
been studied intensively with semiannual sacrifices, necropsies, and sampling
for histopathological and radionuclide analyses.
Reproduction and production data for the NTS herd have been kept since
1964. The average annual calving percentage has generally exceeded 90 percent
and has never been below 70 percent. The average annual weaning weights for
the calves has ranged from 375 to 410 pounds. The most recent survey (Rogers
1965) of the commercial range cattle industry of southern Nevada reports that
the average calving percentage was 59 percent and the average weaning weight
was 354 pounds.
Clinical conditions encountered on a recurring basis in the NTS beef herd
have included actinobacillosis (lumpy jaw), traumatic reticuloperitonitis
(Hardware disease). pneumonia, and ocular squamous cell carcinoma (cancer
eye). The first two conditions are caused by bacteria invading tissue that
has been penetrated by a forei gn body. Pneumoni a is a 1 so caused by
micro-organisms. Ocular squamous cell carcinomas are frequently observed in
aged Hereford cattle exposed to severe sunlight (Moulton 1961).
A frequent histologic finding is the presence of sarcocysts in both
cardiac and skeletal muscle. This protozoan parasite is found commonly in
cattle and other species and generally has little clinical significance
(Merck, 1979).
Other histologic findings were usually consistent with the condition of
the individual animal or were the result of agonal struggling. Occasionally
observed microscopic pathology, e.g., hemosiderosis of the spleen, capsular
melanosis of the adrenal, mineralization of kidney tubules and hyperplasia of
30
-------
the tracheobronchial lymph nodes were estimated to be within normal levels by
the examining pathologists. No pathology, gross or microscopic, has been
observed that has been directly attributed to ionizing radiation.
The EPA began analyzing blood samples from the NTS beef herd in 1972.
Since that time the maximum strontium-90 concentration observed in bone was 15
pCi/g ash. Assuming the same conversion factor from concentration to dose as
for humans, this would result in an annual dose to the bone marrow of 11 mrem.
Any effects of radiation dose to the bone marrow would be expected to be
observed as changes in the hemopoietic system with resultant blood dyscrasias.
No such changes have been observed that could not be related to the health
status of the individual animal.
31
-------
SUMMARY OF ATMOSPHERIC NUCLEAR TESTING
Atmospheric nuclear testing at the NTS b~gan \vith the five-shot Ranger
series in January and February of 1951. Durlng October and November of 1951
the seven-shot Buster-Jangle series vias conducted. Fi ve of the 12 atmos-
pheric tests of these two series had explosive yields equal to or le~s t~an
1.2 kiloton (kt) of TNT. The eight tests of the Tumbler-Snapper serles ln
April, May, and June 1952 included two with yields of 1 kt and six of ~l to 31
kt. Upshot-knothole in March and April 1953 had two tests of 0.2 kt Yleld and
nine with yields of 11 to 61 kt. The Teapot series in February to May 1955
consisted of 14 shots of which half had yields of 4 kt or less and the
remainder ranged from 7 to 43 kt. In 1957 the Plumbbob series was conducted
from May through October. This series consisted of 24 shots of which 7 were
equal to or less than 4.7 kt and the remainder ranged from 8 to 74 kt. One of
the smaller tests was a high-altitude rocket test and one was underground,
neither of which resulted in any local fallout. The last major atmospheric
test series at the NTS was Hardtack Phase II in September and October 1958.
This series consisted of 15 atmospheric tests and four underground tests,
three of whi ch res ulted in some venting to the atmosphere. On ly one test of
this series had a yield as great as 22 kt, and the majority were below 1 kt.
Several safety tests during the Plumbbob and Hardtack Phase II series resulted
in small nuclear yields ranging from a few tenths of a ton to 38 tons
equivalent yield.
Since September 1, 1961, all nuclear detonations, except for three
slightly above ground or shallow underground tests of Operation Dominic II and
eight nuclear earth-cratering experiments, have been conducted underground and
were designed for containment. In addition, some fissionable material was
detected off the test range complex as a result of three transportation safety
tests in 1963. Review of the interim reports and aerial surveillance activity
reports prepared for each event by the Offsite Radiation Safety Program shows
that radioactivity was released to the atmosphere from 60 of the underground
tests designed for containment conducted at the NTS since September 1, 1961.
These releases resulted from either failure of containment or from post-test
operations. Only 31 of the accidental releases were large enough to be
detected off the test range complex-(U.S. Department of Energy, 1980). The
total amount of activity added to the atmosphere from these accidental
releases was rather insignificant in comparison with that released during the
period of active atmospheric testing prior to 1961.
The United States (U.S.) was not alone in testing of nuclear devices. In
1949 the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.) conducted its first
atmospheric nuclear test, and the United Kingdom (U.K.) conducted its first
atmospheric nuclear test in 1952. The Republic of France began atmospheric
nuclear testing in 1960. Atmospheric nuclear testing was begun by the
32
-------
Peoples' Republic of China in 1964. Figure 17
fission yield for air bursts from 194~ through
of the total occurred during the heavy testing
U.S.S.R. in 1957 and 1958.
33
shows the worldwide cumulative
1976. Approximately 64 percent
period by the U.S., U.K., and
-------
50
r
40 I
-
en
c:
0
...
cu
C) 30
CI)
E
"C
CI)
w ):
~
cu
... 20
0
t-
10
1945 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 7677
Year
Figure 17. Cumulative world fission yield -- air bursts only.
-------
REFERENCES
Allen, R. E. Summary Information on Accidental Releases of Radioactivity to
the Atmosphere from Underground Nuclear Detonations Designed for
Containment. August 5, 1963-June 30, 1971. Wash-1183. U.S. Atomic
Energy Commission, Division of Operational Safety, Washington, D. C.
20545. 28 pp. 1971.
Andrews, V. E. and J. C. Vandervort. Fruit and Vegetable Radioactivity
Survey, Nevada Test Site Environs. EMSL-LV-0539-13. U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory. Las
Vegas, Nevada. 24 pp. 1978.
Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives.
Hearings before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations,
Appendix C, pp. 510-1188. Serial No. 96-129. April 23, May 24, and
August 1, 1979.
Dillman, L. 1. IIRadionuclide decay schemes and nuclear parameters for use in
radiation-dose estimation.1I Medical Internal Radiation dose committee.
J. Nucl. Med. Supplement No.2. March 1969.
Farmer, G. R. Off-Site Animal Investigation Project. Second Annual Report.
The Special Services Division of Reynolds Electrical and Engineering
Company, Inc. Contract AT(29-2)-162. 19 pp. June 30, 1959.
Farris, G. C. Factors Influencing the Accumulation of Strontium-90, Stable
Strontium, and Calcium in Deer. Colorado State University, Fort Collins,
Colorado. August 1967.
Federal Radiation Council. Background Material for the Development of
Radiation Protection Standards. Protective Action Guides for
Strontium-89, Strontium-90 and Cesium-137. Report No.7. 44 pp.
1965.
May,
Fountain, E. L. Off-Site Animal Investigation Project. Fourth Annual
Report. Reynolds Electrical and Engineering Company. Inc. Contract
AT(29-2)-162. 32 pp. June 30, 1961.
Glasstone, S. (ed). The Effects of Nuclear Weapons.
Department of Defense. April 1962.
Goldman, Marvin, W. M. Longhurst, R. J. Della Rosa, N. F. Baker, and R. D.
Barnes. ,liThe comparative metabolism of strontium, calcium, and cesium in
deer and sheep.1I Health Physics. Vol II, pp. 1415 - 1422. 1965.
Revised Edition. U.S.
35
-------
Hood, S. L. and C. L. Comar. Metabolism of Cesium-137 in Laboratory and
Domestic Animals. ORO-91. 31 pp. 1953.
International Commission on Radiological Protection. Report of Committee II
on Permissible Dose for Internal Radiation. ICRP Report No.2. 1959.
International Commission on Radiological Protection. Evaluation of Radiation
Doses to Body Tissues from Internal Contamination Due to Occupational
Exposure. ICRP Report No. 10. 1968.
Kramp, R. C. "Preliminary Report on Sr Levels in Hock Joints of Desert
Bighorn Sheep and Mule Deer." pp. 62-67. Desert Bighorn Council 1965
Transactions. 92 pp. 1965.
Merck and Company, Inc. The Merck Veterinary Manual. Fifth Edition. O. H.
Siegmund (ed.). Merck and Company, Inc., Rahway, New Jersey. 1,672 pp.
1979.
Moulton, J. E. Tumors in Domestic Animals. University of California Press,
Berkeley and Los Angeles. 279 pp. 1961.
National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements.
Protection Criteria. Report No. 39. 1971.
Basic Radiation
Reichle, D. E., p. B. Dunaway, and D. J. Nelson. Turnover and Concentration
of Radionuclides in Food Chains. Nuclear Safety. Vol. II, No.1, pp.
43-55. January-February 1970.
Smith, D. D. 1291 in Animal Thyroids from Nevada and Other Western States.
EPA-600j3-77-067. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental
Monitoring and Support Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 22 pp. 1977.
Smith, D. D. and K. R. Giles. Animal Investigation Program 1969 Annual
Report. SWRHL-102r. U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare,
Southwestern Radiological Health Laboratoryo Las Vegas, Nevada. 20 pp.
1970.
Smith, D. D. and K. R. Giles. Animal Investigation Program 1970 Annual
Rep?rt. NERC-LV-539-16. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National
Envlronmental Research Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. 53 pp. 1974.
Smith, D. D. and K. R. Giles. 1971 Animal Investigation Program Annual
Report. NERC-LV-539-20. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National
Environmental Research Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. 39 pp. 1975.
Smith, D. D., K. R. Giles, and D. E. Bernhardt. Animal Investigation Program
1972 Annual Report. NERC-LV-539-35. U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, National Environmental Research Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. 82 pp.
1976a.
36
-------
Smith~ D. D., S. C. Black, K. R. Giles, D. E. Bernhardt, and R. R. Kinnison.
Tlssue Burdens of Selected Radionuclides in Beef Cattle On and Around the
Nevada Test Site. NERC-LV-539-29. u.S. Environmental Protection Agency
National Environmental Research Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. 83 pp. 1976b.
Smith, D. D., K. R. Giles, and D. E. Bernhardt. Animal Investigation Program
197~ Annual Report: Nevada Test Site and Vicinity. EMSL-LV-0539-3. u.S.
Envlronmental Protection Agency, Environmental Monitoring and Support
Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 31 pp. Apps A-H. 1977a.
Smith, D. D., K. R. Giles, D. E. Bernhardt, and K. W. Brown. Animal
Investigation Program 1974 Annual Report: Nevada Test Site and Vicinity.
EMSL-LV-0539-10. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental
Monitoring and Support Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 37 pp. Apps A-L.
1977b.
Smith, D. D., K. R. Giles, D. E. Bernhardt, and K. W. Brown. Animal
Investigation Program 1975 Annual Report: Nevada Test Site and Vicinity.
EMSL-LV-0539-14. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental
Monitoring and Support Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 48 pp. Apps A-H.
1978a.
Smith, D. D., K. R. Giles, D. E. Bernhardt, and K. W. Brown. Animal
Investigation Program 1976 Annual Report: Nevada Test Site and Vicinity.
EMSL-LV-0539-20. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental
Monitori ng and Support Laboratory, La s Vega s, Nevada. 111 pp. Apps A-N.
1978b.
Smith, D. D., A. B. Crockett, D. E. Bernhardt, K. R. Giles, and R. R.
Kinnison. Animal Investigation Program 1977 Annual Report: Nevada Test
Site and Vicinity. EMSL-LV-0539-26. U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory, Las Vegas,
Nevada. 90 pp. Apps A-J. 1979.
U.S. Department of Energy. Announced United States Nuclear Tests - July 1945
through December 1979. NVO-209. Office of Public Affairs, Nevada
Operations Office, Las Vegas, Nevada. 38 pp. January 1980.
U.S. Department of Energy. Environmental Measurements Laboratory
Environmental Quarterly, September 1 through December 1, 1979.
New York, New York. January 1, 1980.
EML-370.
U.S. Department of Energy. "Standards for Radiation Protection Manual." U.S.
Department of Energy Transmittal Notice. Chapter 0524. March 30, 1977.
U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration. Health and Safety
Laboratory Environmental Quarterly, March 1, 1977, Through June 1, 1977.
HASL-321. New York, New York. July 1, 1977.
37
-------
u.s. Energy Research and Development Administration. Health and Safety
Laboratory Environmental Quarterly; June 1, 1977, Through September 1,
1977. HASL-328. New York, New York. October 1, 1977.
u.s. Energy Research and Development Administration. Health and Safety
Laboratory. Final Tabulation of Monthly 90Sr Fallout Data: 1954-1976.
HASL-329. New York, New York. October 1, 1977.
38
-------
LIST OF APPENDIX TABLES
Number
Page
1
Summary of Strontium-gO Concentrations in Hock Bones
from Desert Bighorn Sheep. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 40
2
Summary of Strontium-90 Concentrations in Hock Bones
from Nevada Test Site Mule Deer. . . . . . . . . . . .
......
42
3
Summary of Strontium-gO Concentrations in Bones from
Wildlife Off the Nevada Test Site and from Utah Cattle
. . . . . . 43
4
Summary of Strontium-90 Concentrations in Femurs from
Nevada Test Site Cattle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.......
44
5
Summary of Strontium-90 Concentrations in Femurs from
Delamar Valley Cattle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 45
6 Summary of Strontium-90 Concentrations in Femurs from
Knoll Creek Cattle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 46
7
Summary of Cesium-137 Concentrations in Selected Tissues
and Rumen Contents from Nevada Test Site Cattle. . . .
. . . . . . 47
8 Summary of Cesium-137 Concentrations in Selected Tissues
and Rumen Contents from Delamar Valley Cattle. . . . .
......
50
9 Summary of Cesium-137 Concentrations in Selected Tissues
and Rumen Contents from Knoll Creek Cattle. . . . . .
......
51
10 Summary of Cesium-137 Concentrations in Selected Tissues
and Rumen Contents from Nevada Test Site Mule Deer. . . .
. . . .
52
11
Summary of Cesium-137 Concentrations in Selected Tissues
and Rumen Contents from Wildlife Off the Nevada Test Site
and from Utah Cattle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . .
54
39
-------
APPENDIX TABLE 1. SUMMARY OF STRONTIUM-gO CONCENTRATIONS IN HOCK
BONES FROM DESERT BIGHORN SHEEP
Median of
Number of Range of Results
Number Samples Positive Greater
of Greater Sampl es Than MDA*
Year Samples Than MDA* (pCi/g Ash) (pCi/g Ash) Rema rk s
1956 25 25 0.5 - 2.5 1.2** 1956-1963 data from
Kramp, 1965
1957 22 22 0.7 - 6.0 2.5**
1958 19 19 0.5 - 8.7 2.8**
1959 24 24 1.1 - 12 3.5**
1960 18 18 1.1 - 7.3 3.4**
1961 34 34 0.6 - 6.6 3.2**
1962 22 22 0.9 - 16 5.7**
1963 17 17 3.4 - 8.9 6.4**
1964 7 7 3.9 - 24 8.8 1964-1968 data from
unpublished files of
Animal Investigation
Program, EMSL-LV
1965 19 19 2.0 - 24 8.9 Northern Region
4 4 3.6 - 10 6.9 Southern Region
1966 9 9 6.5 - 14 8.8 Northern Region
5 5 4.5 - 11 7.7 Southern Region
1967 17 17 5.3 - 33 9.1 Northern Region
1968 21 21 5.3 - 12 9.3 Northern Region
2 2 8.0 - 12 9.9 Southern Region
1969 13 13 2.7 - 9.1 5.4 Northern Region data
from Smith and
Giles, 1970
1970 8 5 2.2 - 8.2 2.4 Northern Region data
from Smith and
Giles, 1974
(continued)
40
-------
APPENDIX TABLE 1. (Continued)
Median of
Number of Range of Results
Number Samples Pos it i ve Greater
of Greater Samp 1 es Than MDA*
Year Sampl es Than MDA* (pCi/g Ash) (pCi / g As h) Rema rk s
1971 11 10 1.0 - 12 5.5 Northern Region
1 1 10 10 Southern Region
data from Smith
and Giles, 1975
1972 9 9 2.6 - 9.4 4.5 Northern Region
2 2 3.9 - 4.4 4.2 Southern Region
Smith, et al.,
1976
1973 10 10 1.2 - 11 4.3 Northern Region
5 5 1.8 - 3.4 2.6 Southern Region
Smith, et a 1 . ,
1977 a
1974 4 4 1.9 - 11 4.2 Northern Region
3 3 1.0 - 3.8 1.5 Southern Region
Smith, et a 1 . ,
1977b
1975 11 11 2.4 - 40 4.8 Northern Region
7 7 1. 9 - 24 2.4 Southern Region
Sm it h, eta 1 . ,
1978a
1976 10 10 1.8 - 5.6 3.5 Northern Region
3 3 0.7 - 1.8 1.2 Southern
Smit h, et a 1 . ,
1978b
1977 18 17 0.93 - 5.6 3.3 Northern Region
2 2 1.7 - 2.8 2.3 Southern Region
Smith, et a 1 . ,
1979
*MDA = Minimum Detectable Activity
**Mean results
41
-------
APPENDIX TABLE 2. SUMMARY OF STRONTIUM-gO CONCENTRATIONS IN HOCK BONES
FROM NEVADA TEST SITE MULE DEER
Median of
Number of Range of Results
Number Samp 1 es Positive Greater
of Greater Samples Than MDA*
Year Season Samples Than MDA* (pCi/g Ash) (pCi/g Ash) Remarks
1964 4th Ouarter 6 6 4.2 - 21 1& 1964-1968 Data from
unpublished files of
10,65 1st Ouarter 2 2 12 - 13 13 Animal Investigation
2nd Quarter 8 8 7.0 - 19 12 Program, EMSL-LV
3rd Quarter 5 5 4.1 - 12 9.4
4th Quarter 6 6 5.5 - 21 11
1966 1st Quarter 4 4 13 - 19 15
2nd Qua rte r 4 4 6.6 19 13
3rd Quarter 3 3 8.0 - 13 9.0
4th Quarter 4 4 7.9 - 15 9.7
1967 1st and 2nd 2 2 4.5 - 12 8.4
Quarters
3rd and 4th 3 3 4.0 - 13 5.0
Quarters
1968 2nd Quarter 5 5 5.3 - 21 7.9
3rd and 4th 3 3 3.7 - 5.0 3.9
Quarters
1969 All 4 Quarters 6 6 1.6 - 15 5.1 Smith and Giles, 1970
1970 All 4 Quarters 6 6 0.9 - 3.5 2.8 Smith and Giles, 1974
1971 All 4 Quarters 4 4 2.0 - 4.0 3.5 Smith and Giles, 1975
1972 All 4 Quarters 4 4 2.3 - 4.0 3.2 Smith, et al., 1976
1973 All 4 Quarters 3 3 2.0 - 3.1 3.0 Smith, et al., 1977a
1974 All 4 Qua rters 5 5 1.8 - 3.6 2.3 Smith, et al., 1977b
1975 All 4 Qua rters 7 7 0.6 - 3.0 2.6 Smi th, et al., 1978a
1976 All 4 Quarters 6 6 1.2 - 3.4 2.0 Smith, et al., 1978b
1977 All 4 Qua rters 8 8 1.3 - 2.7 1.9 Smith, et a 1 ., 1979
*MDA Minimum Detectable Activity
42
-------
APPENDIX TABLE 3. SUMMARY OF STRONTIUM-90 CONCENTRATIONS IN BONES
FROM WILDLIFE OFF THE NEVADA TEST SITE AND FROM UTAH CATTLE
Median of
Number of Range of Results
Number Sampl es Positive Greater
of Greater Samples Than MDA*
Year Species Samples Than MDA* (pCi/g Ash) (pCi/g Ash) Remarks
September Cattle 5 5 1.1 - 6.8 2.1t Cedar City, Utah
1959
November Cattle 3 3 0.9 - 1.1 LOt St. George, Utah
1960
May 1961 Cattle 3 3 1.1 - 2.0 1.2t St. George, Utah
1956 Mule Deer 5 5 1.4 - 2.3 1.7* El ko Co., Nev.
13 13 1.2 - 6.5 4.8* Lincoln Co., Nev.
7 7 1.2 - 4.0 2.5* Clark Co., Nev.
5 5 1.9 - 12 2.5* Nye Co., Nev.
1957 Mule Deer 4 4 1.3 - 8.5 4.3* E1 ko Co., Nev.
11 11 3.0 - 9.4 6.2* Lincoln Co., Nev.
2 2 1.8 - 2.5 2.1* Clark Co., Nev.
4 4 2.6 - 3.3 2.8* Nye Co., Nev.
1958 Mu1 e Deed 2.2* E1 ko Co., Nev.
5.6* Linea 1 n Co., Nev.
2.5* Clark Co., Nev.
2.5* Nye Co., Nev.
1961 Mule Deer 6 6 1.6 - 7.3 3.4* E1ko Co., Nev.
13 13 1.5 - 7.2 3.6* Lincoln Co., Nev.
24 24 0.9 - 3.0 2.1* Clark Co., Nev.
33 33 1.2 - 11 4.7:1: Humboldt Co., Nev.
13 13 1.2 - 5.1 2.8* Esmeralda Co., Nev.
1962 Mule Deer 21 21 1.1 - 13 3.8* Clark Co., Nev.
December Mule Deer 4.3 4.3 Stone Lake, N. Mex.
1967
January Mule Deer 2 2 9.8 - 23 17 Supplemental Test Site
1968 Central, Nev.
December Mule Deer 2 2 2.3 - 6.1 4.2 White Pine Co., Nev.
1968
August Mule Deer 5 5 3.7 - 6.4 5.7 Ruli son Site,
1969 Rifle, Colo.
April Mule Deer 0 Rulison Site,
1970 Rifle, Colo.
October Mule Deer 2.5 2.5 Lincoln Co., Nev.
1970
October Buffalo 7 7 1.1 - 6.4 2.5 Flagstaff, Ariz.
1972
* MDA 2 Minimum Detectable Activity
t Data from Fountain, 1961
* Data from Kramp, 1965 (mean results)
9 Only mean results available
43
-------
APPENDIX TABLE 4. SUMMARY OF STRONTIUM-90 CONCENTRATIONS IN FEMURS
FROM NEVADA.TEST SITE CATTLE
Median of
Number of Range of Resul ts
Numb er Samples Positive Gr eater
of Greater Sampl es Tha n MDA*
Year Season Samp 1 es Than MDA* ( pC i / 9 As h) (pCi/g Ash) Remarks
1957 Fall 5 5 3.6 - 11 4.7 Data for 1957-1961 from
Fountain, 1961
1958 Spr i ng 4 4 2.6 - 9.7 5.3
Fall 4 4 5.5 16 8.3
1959 S pr i n 9 4 4 4.0 29 7.0
Fall Samples lost
1960 Spr i ng 5 5 11 - 17 15
Fall 5 5 9.9 - 15 13
1961 Spri ng 5 5 7.0 17 12
1964 Spri ng 6 6 5.5 94 8.9 Fall 1961 through 1963
Fall 5 5 4.9 48 7.0 data not available
1964-1968 data from
unpublished files of
Animal Investigation
Program, EMSL-LV
1965 Spring 6 6 14 35 19
Fall 6 6 14 29 20
1966 Spring 6 6 16 29 22
Fall 6 6 3.0 9.9 5.2
1967 Spr i ng 5 5 ~.2 10 6.1
Fall 6 6 2.9 24 8.1
1968 Spring 6 6 2.9 - 14 6.1
Fall 6 6 3.8 - 15 7.3
1969 Spring 6 6 4.7 - 13 5.1 Smith and Giles, 1970
Fall 6 6 3.9 - 7.6 5.0
1970 Spring 6 6 3.1 - 4.5 3.9 Smith and Giles, 1974
Fall 7 7 1.5 8.3 3.6
1971 Spr i ng 7 7 2.0 - 37 5.0 Smith and Giles, 1975
Fall 6 6 2.0 - 19 3.5
1972 Spr i ng 5 5 2.0 - 8.0 4.0 Smith, et al., 1976
Fall 7 7 2.5 - 5.3 2.8
1973 Spring 6 6 2.4 4.5 3.8 Smith, et al., 1977a
Fall 6 6 2.2 - 5.0 3.1
1974 Spr i ng 6 6 2.8 9.2 3.3 Smith, et al., 1977b
Fall 6 6 2.0 4.4 2.2
1975 Spring 7 7 1.8 15 3.3 Smith, et al., 1978a
Fall 6 6 1.9 - 3.0 2.5
1976 Spr i ng 6 6 1.9 4.8 2.7 Smith, et a 1 ., 1978b
Fall 6 6 2.4 11 3.3
1977 Spring 7 7 2.4 - 3.6 3.2 Smith, et al., 1979
Fall 6 6 2.9 - 4.3 3.8
*MDA'" Minimum Detectable Activity
44
-------
APPENDIX TABLE 5. SUMMARY OF STRONTIUM-gO CONCENTRATIONS IN FEMURS
FROM DELAMAR VALLEY CATTLE
Median of
Number of Range of Results
Number Samples Positive Greater
of Greater Samples Than MDA*
Year Se a so n Sampl es Than MDA* (pCi/g Ash) (pCi/g Ash) Remarks
1957 Fall 6 6 2.7 - 8.6 5.9 1957 1961 data from
Fountain, 1961
1958 Spring 3 3 1.4 - 9.8 6.3
Fall 4 4 3.3 - 7.4 5.0
1959 Spring 4 4 5.0 - 5.9 5.6
Fall Samples lost
1960 Spring 5 5 6.6 - 28 17
Fall 5 5 6.7 - 14 12
1961 S pr in g 5 5 3.7 - 13 11 Fall 1961 through 1963
data not available
1964 Spring 6 6 5.5 - 21 12 1964-1967 data from
Fall 6 6 8.7 - 24 13 unpublished files of
Animal Investigation
Program, EMSL-LV
1965 Spring 5 5 13 - 30 18
Fall 6 6 13 - 27 17
1966 Spring 6 6 9.7 - 15 11
Fall Samples lost
1967 Spring 6 6 6.4 - 14 9.0
*MDA = Minimum Detectable Activity
4.5
-------
APPENDIX TABLE 6. SUMMARY OF STRONTIUM-gO CONCENTRATIONS IN
FEMURS FROM KNOLL CREEK CATTLE
Median of
Number of Range of Results
Number Samples Positive Greater
of Greater Samples Than MDA*
Year Season Samples Than MDA* (pCi/g Ash) (pCi/g Ash) Remarks
1958 Spring 3 3 2.4 - 14 11 1958-1961
Fall 4 4 4.0 - 12 6.1 Fountai n, 1961
1959 Samples lost
1960 Spring 5 5 18 32 22
Fall 5 5 14 - 22 18
1961 Spring 5 5 3.5 - 22 14 Fall 1961 through 1963
data not available
1964 Spring 3 3 38 - 60 50 1964-1967 data from
Fall 6 6 12 - 39 23 unpublished files of
Animal Investigation
Program, EMSL-LV
1965 Spring 6 6 14 - 30 22
Fall 6 6 16 - 33 20
1966 Spring 6 6 15 - 32 17
Fall Samples lost
1967 Spring 6 4 10 - 16 13
*MDA : Minimu~ Detectable Activity
46
-------
APPENDIX TABLE 7. SUMMARY OF CESIUM-137 CONCENTRATIONS IN SELECTED
TISSUES AND RUMEN CONTENTS FROM NEVADA TEST SITE CATTLE
Median of
Number of Range of Results
Number Samples Posi tive Greater
Year Season of Greater Samples Than MDA*
Tissue Samples Than MDA* (pCi/kg**) (pCi/kg**) Remarks
1957 Fall Mu sc 1 e 1 1 390 390 Data for 1957-1961 from
Fountai n, 1961
1958 Spring Liver 1 1 230 230 1958 muscle and liver
t'uscl e 1 1 470 470 samples from NTS,
Delamar Valley, and
Fall Liver 1 1 350 350 Kno 11 C reek he rds were
Muscle 1 1 770 770 composited and analyzed
by gamma spectromet ry
1959 S pri ng Liver 4 3 140 - 280 180
Muscle 4 4 230 - 500 310
Fall L her 5 5 110 - 230 150
Mu sc 1 e 5 5 120 - 220 160
1960 Fall Liver 5 4 76 - 170 120 Spring samples lost
Muscle 5 5 150 - 440 190
1961 Spring Liver 8 5 29 - 100 46 Fall 1961 through 1963
. Mu sc 1 e 8 8 39 - 180 100 data not available
1964 S pri ng Liver 6 6 130 - 250 240 1964-1968 data from
Muscle 6 6 270 - 490 390 unpublished files of
Rumen contents 5 5 550 - 1 ,000 720 Animal Investigation
Program, EMSL-LV
1964 Fall Liver 4 2 65 - 70 68
Mu sc 1 e 6 5 30 - 300 180
Rumen contents 6 5 45 - 380 120
1965 Spring Liver 6 6 200 - 560 260
Lung 6 6 180 - 580 320
Muscle 6 6 360 - 750 530
RUfl1!n contents 6 5 150 - 270 200
1965 Fall Liver 6 0 The 1965 Fall and 1966
Lung 6 0 Spring data are very
Mu sc 1 e 6 0 suspect as it is unlikely
Rumen contents 6 1 750 750 that the tissue levels of
137CS would have been as
1966 Spring Liver 6 0 low as reported.
Lung 6 0
Muscle 6 0
Rumen contents 6 0
1966 Fall Liver 6 2 100 - 110 105
Lung 6 3 100 - 140 120
Muscl e 6 3 100 - 140 120
Rumen contents 6 2 85 - 160 120
1967 Spring Liver 6 2 56 - 78 70
Lung 6 0
Muscle 6 5 64 - 120 72
RUfl1!n contents 6 0
(continued)
47
-------
APPENDIX TABLE 7. (Continued)
Median of
Number of Range of Results
Number Samples Positive Greater
of Greater Samples Than MDA*
Year Se a so n Tissue Samp 1 es Than MDA* (pCi/kg**) (pCi/kg**) Remarks
1967 Fall Liver 6 2 61 - 140 100
Lung 6 1 190 190
Mu sc 1 e 6 1 70 70
Rumen contents 6 3 60 90 60
1968 Spring Li ve r 6 4 78 140 100
Lung 6 1 160 160
Muscle 6 3 65 - 120 84
Rumen contents Not sampl ed
1968, Fall Liver 6 1 110 110
Lung 6 1 150 150
Mu sc 1 e 6 1 43 43
Rumen contents 6 1 450 450
1969 Spr i ng Li ver 6 0 1969 data from Smith
Lung 6 0 and Giles, 1970
Muscle 6 0
Rumen contents 6 0
1969 Fall Li ve r 6 0
Lung 6 0
Muscle 6 0
Rumen contents 6 0
1970 Spring Li ver 6 2 42 - 92 67 1970 data from Smith
Lung 6 0 and Giles, 1974
Mu sc 1 e 6 5 25 62 41
Rumen contents 6 0
1970 Fall Liver 7 0
Lung 7 1 230 230
Muscle 7 2 29 - 50 40
Rumen contents 7 0
1971 Spring Live r 7 4 20 - 90 30 1971 data from Smith
Lung 7 1 80 80 and Gi 1 es, 1975
Mu sc 1 e 7 6 30 - 120 45
Rumen contents 7 0
1971 Fall Li ver 6 6 23 - 57 39
Lung 6 6 22 - 190 83
Muscle 6 6 27 - 59 40
Rumen contents 6 6 35 - 94 75
1972 Spring Liver 7 0 1972 data from Smith,
Lung 7 0 et al., 1976
Mu sc 1 e 7 5 29 - 40 30
Rumen contents 7 0
1972 Fall Li ver 7 2 24 - 32 28
Lung 7 0
Muscle 6 4 29 - 50 35
Rumen contents 6 3 31 - 300 40
(continued)
48
-------
APPENDIX TABLE 7. {Cant; nued)
Median of
Number of Range of Results
Number Samp 1 es Positive Greater
Year of Greater Samples Than MDA*
Se a so n Ti ssue Samp 1 es Than MDA* (pCi/kg**) (pCi/kg**) Remarks
1973 S pr i ng Live r 6 0 1973 data from Sm it h ,
Lung 6 0 et a1., 1977a
Musc 1 e 6 5 20 50 30
Rumen contents 6 2 40 - 80 60
1973 Fall li ver 6 1 20 20
Lung 6 1 20 20
Muscle 6 4 14 - 20 20
Rumen contents 6 4 20 60 35
1974 Spring li ve r 6 0 1974 data from Smith,
Lung 6 2 22 - 42 32 et a1., 1977b
Mu sc 1 e 6 2 28 - 53 40
Rumen contents 5 2 45 - 120 83
1974 Fall liver 6 0
Lung 6 0
Muscle 6 0
Rumen contents 6 2 40 - 79 60
1975 Spring Liver 7 0 1975 data from Smith,
Lung 6 0 et a 1 ., 1978a
Mu sc 1 e 7 5 41 - 71 44
Rumen contents 7 2 19 - 58 39
1975 Fall li ver 6 0
Lung 6 0
Muscle 6 1 29 29
Rumen contents 6 3 15 - 27 20
1976 Spri ng li ve r 6 2 13 - 21 12 1976 data from Smith,
Lung 6 0 et a1., 1978a
Mu sc 1 e 6 2 19 - 39 29
Rumen contents 6 1 26 26
1976 Fall Liver 6 1 18 18
Lung 6 0
Muscle 6 0
Rumen contents 6 2 27 - 33 30
1977 Spri ng Liver 6 0 1977 data from Smith.
Lung 6 0 eta1.,1979
Muscle 6 1 16 16
Rumen contents 6 1 45 45
1977 Fall li ver 6 0
Lung 6 0
Mu sc 1 e 6 0
Rumen contents 6 2 28 - 36 32
*MDA Minimum Detectable Activity
**Wet Weight
49
-------
APPENDIX TABLE 8. SUMMARY OF CESIUM-137 CONCENTRATIONS IN SELECTED
TI SSUES AND RUMEN CONTENrS FROM DELAMAR VALLEY CATTLE
Median of
Number of Range of Results
Number Samples Posit i ve Greater
of Greater Sampl es Than MDA*
Year Season Ti s sue Sampl es Than MDA* (pCi/kg**) (pCi/kg**) Remarks
1958 Spring Li ve r 23D 230 Data for 1958-1961
Muscle 470 470 from Fountain, 1961.
1958 liver and muscle
Fall Li ver 1 1 350 350 samples from NTS
Mu sc I e 1 1 770 770 Delamar Valley, and
Knoll Creek herds
were composited and
1959 Spring Li ver 4 4 190 - 450 290 analyzed by gamma
Mu sc I e 4 4 250 - 840 380 spectrometry
Fall Liver 3 3 100 - 170 130
Muscle 3 3 83 130 120
1960 Fall Li ver Samples not analyzed 1960 Spring samples
Musc 1 e 5 5 46 - 91 51 lost
1961 S pr i ng Liver 2 2 19 - 22 21 Fall 1961 through 1963
Muscle 2 2 48 - 100 74 not avail ab 1 e
1964 Spring Li ver 6 4 45 - 75 60 1964- 967 data from
Muscle 6 5 40 - 170 140 unpublished files of
Rumen contents 6 6 35 - 210 58 Animal Investigation
Program, EMSL-LV
Fall Li ver 6 6 50 220 110
Musc 1 e 3 3 25 - 55 30 3 muscle samples lost
Rumen contents 6 6 20 - 150 83
1961 Spr i ng Li ver 2 2 19 - 22 21 Fall 1961 through 1963
Musc Ie 2 2 48 - 100 74 not available
1965 Spring Liver 6 6 150 - 510 300
Lung 6 5 300 - 1,000 560
Muscl e 6 6 220 - 660 400
Rumen contents 6 6 260 - 490 320
Fall Liver 6 0 1965 Fall and 1966
Lung 6 0 Spring data are very
Musc Ie 6 0 suspect
Rumen contents 6 0
1966 Spring Li ve r 6 0
Lung 6 0
Mu sc Ie 6 0
Rumen contents 6 0
Fall Li ver 6 4 60 - 240 80
Lung 6 1 750 750
Muscle 6 3 85 - 300 180
Rumen contents 6 4 120 - 380 120
1967 Spring Li ver 6 3 72 - 150 110
Lung 6 0
Musc Ie 6 4 71 - 150 100
Rumen contents 6 1 120 120
*MDA - Minimum Detectable Activity
**Wet Weight
50
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APPENDIX TABLE 9. SUMMARY OF CESIUM-137 CONCENTRATIONS IN SELECTED
TISSUES AND RUMEN CONTENTS FROM KNOLL CREEK CATTLE
Median of
Number of Range of Results
Number Sampl es Positive Greater
Year of Greater Sampl es Than MDA*
Season Ti s sue Samples Than MDA* (pCi/kg**) (pCi/kg**) Remarks
1958 Spring Liver 230 230 Data for 1958-1961 from
Mu sc 1 e 470 470 Fountain, 1961. 1958
liver and muscle
Fall Liver 1 1 350 350 samples from NTS,
Mu sc 1 e 1 1 770 770 Delamar Valley, and
Knoll Creek herds were
1959 Spring Liver 4 4 160 - 290 200 composited and analyzed
Muscle 4 4 290 - 370 300 by gamma spectrometry
Fall li ver 4 4 140 - 210 160
Mu sc 1 e 4 3 240 - 340 240
1960 Fall Liver 5 4 53 - 84 82 1960 Spring samples
Mu sc 1 e 5 4 62 330 160 lost
1961 Spring Li ver 5 5 5 78 27 Fall 1961 through 1963
Muscl e 5 5 27 - 98 55 data not available
1964 S pri ng Liver 3 3 75 - 230 120 1964-1968 data from
Muscle 3 3 240 - 350 350 unpublished files of
Rumen contents 3 3 160 - 240 190 Animal Investigation
Program, EMSL-LV
Fall li ver 6 6 240 - 770 460 Three muscle and Rumen
Muscle 6 5 510 - 1,10 770 content samples were
Rumen contents 6 6 370 - 880 690 lost in Spring 1964
1965 Spring li ver 6 6 230 - 480 340
Lung 6 6 210 - 550 450
Muscle 6 6 290 - 700 470
Rumen contents 6 4 150 400 300
Fall Liver 6 0 Fall 1965 and Spring
Lung 6 0 1966 data are very
Mu sc 1 e 6 0 suspect
Rumen contents 6 0
1966 Spring li ver 6 0
Lung 6 0
Mu sc 1 e 6 0
Rumen contents 6 0
Fall Liver 6 3 120 - 180 150
Lung 6 3 180 - 320 280
Muscl e 6 3 140 - 420 360
Rumen contents 6 1 320' 320
1967 Spr i ng li ver 6 1 32 32
Lung 6 0
Muscle 6 2 94 - 96 95
Rumen contents 6 2 52 - 100 75
*MDA = Minimum Detectable Activity
**Wet Weight
51
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APPENDIX TABLE 10. SUMMARY OF CESIUM-137 CONCENTRATIONS IN SELECTED
TISSUES AND RUMEN CONTENTS fROM NEVADA TEST SITE MULE DEER
Number of Range of Results
Number Samples Positive Greater
of Greater Samples Than MDA*
Year Season Tissue Samples Than MDA* (pCi/kg**) (pCi/kg**) Remarks
1964 4th Li ver 6 1 420 420 1964-1968 data from
Quarter t-1uscl e 6 4 110 - 560 290 unpublished files of
Rumen contents 6 2 440 - 570 510 Animal Investigation
Program, EMSL-LV
1965 1st Li ve r 2 1 350 350 Fawns
Quarter Lung 2 2 75 - 560 320
Mu sc 1 e 2 2 190 - 560 380
Rumen contents 2 2 200 - 460 330
2nd Li ver 12 3 190 - 1,100 340
Quarter Lung 12 7 270 480 300
Mu sc 1 e 12 8 300 800 520
Rumen contents 11 8 120 - 600 440
3rd Li ve r 5 1 210 210
Quarter Lung 5 1 670 670
Muscl e 5 5 140 - 280 210
Rumen contents 5 3 130 - 280 200
4th Li ver 6 0
Quarter Lung 6 0
Musc I e 6 1 130 130
Rumen contents 6 1 290 290
1966 1st Liver 4 1 180 180
Quarter Lung 4 0
Muscle 4 3 130 - 280. 220
Rumen contents 4 1 350 350
2nd Li ve r 4 0
Quarter Lung 4 0
Mu sc 1 e 4 4 100 - 220 170
Rumen contents 4 0
3rd Li ver 3 2 100 - 150 130
Quarter Lung 3 3 110 - 120 120
Muscle 3 3 110 - 300 120
Rumen contents 3 0
4th Liver 4 2 60 - 90 75
Qua rter Lung 4 1 45
Mu sc 1 e 4 3 30 - 440 65
Rumen contents 4 1 140 140
1967 1st Li ve r 2 0
Quarter Lung 2 0
Muscle 2 2 4 - 70 37
Rumen contents 2 1 8 8
3rd Liver 3 0
Quarter Lung 3 0
Mu sc 1 e 3 1 10 10
Rumen contents 3 3 80 - 320 140
(continued)
52
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APPENDIX TABLE 10. (Continued)
Median of
Number of Range of Results
Number Samp I es Positive Greater
Year of Greater Samples Than MCA*
Season Ti ssue Samples Than MDA* (pCi/kg**) (pCi/kg**) Remarks
1968 2nd Liver 4 2 1,600 2,900 2,300 Inc I uded doe and
Quarter Lung 4 2 590 1,000 800 fetuses sampled in Cat
Mu sc I e 6 5 280 - 4,700 1,600 Canyon after Buggy Event
Rumen contents 4 0
3rd and Li ver 5 0
4th Lung 5 1 180 180
Quarters Musc I e 5 2 72 - 120 95
Rumen contents 5 0
1969 All Four Liver 5 0 1969 data from Smith
Quarters Lung 5 0 and Gil es, 1970
Mu sc I e 5 0
Rumen contents 5 0
1970 All Four Li ver 4 0 1970 data from Smith
Quarters Lung 4 0 and Giles, 1974
Mu sc I e 4 2 30 - 61 45 Positive samples
Rumen contents 4 0 collected in September
and November
1971 All Four Li ver 4 2 30 - 37 34 1971 data from Smith
Quarters Lung 4 1 55 55 and Giles, 1975
Muscle 4 3 32 - 40 34
Rumen contents 4 2 30 - 2BO 160
1972 All Four Live r 3 1 40 40 1972 data from Smith
Quarters Lung 3 0 and Gil es, 1976
Mu sc Ie 3 1 24 24
Rumen contents 3 0
1973 All Four Li ver 4 0 1973 data from Smith
Quarters Lung 4 2 40 - 50 45 and Giles, 1977a
Muscle 4 2 20 - 30 25
Rumen contents 4 1 110 110
1974 All Four Liver 5 0 1974 data from Smith,
Quarters Lung 5 0 et al., 1977b
Musc Ie 5 1 20 20
Rumen contents 3 1 3,000 3,000
1975 All Four Li ver 8 0 1975 data from Smith,
Quarters Lung 7 2 24 - 43 34 et al., 1978a
Muscle 8 5 23 - 140 38
Rumen contents 5 3 15 - 53 29
1976 All Four Liver 6 0 1976 data from Smith,
Quarters Lung 6 0 et al., 1978b
Muscl e 6 0
Rumen contents 6 2 24 - 38 31
1977 All Four Li ver 8 1 17 17 1977 data from Smith,
Quarters Lung 8 0 et a 1 ., 1979
Muscle 8 3 11 - 52 23
Rumen contents 8 3 23 - 69 33
* MDA = Minimum Detectable Activity
**Wet Weight
53
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APPENDIX TABLE 11. SUMMARY OF CESIUM-137 CONCENTRATIONS IN SELECTED TISSUES
AND RUMEN CONTENTS FROM WILDLIFE OFF THE NEVADA TEST SITE AND FROM UTAH CATTLE
Medi an of
Number of Range of Results
Number Samp 1 es Positive Greater
of Greater Samples Than MDA*
Year Season Species Tissue Samples Than MDA* (pCi/kg**) (pCi/kg**) Remarks
1959 Sept. Cattle Liver 2 2 120 - 150 140 Cedar City, Utah
Musc 1 e 2 2 110 - 140 130
19"60 Nov. Cattl e Li ver 3 3 60 - 60 60 St. George, Utah
Mu sc 1 e 3 3 16 - 30 18
1961 May Cattle Liver 3 3 13 - 26 17 St. George, Utah
Muscle 3 3 21 - 25 24
1967 Dec. Mule Deer Li ver 2 0 Near Gasbuggy
Lung 1 0 Site,
Muscle 2 1 70 70 Stone Lake,
Rumen contents 2 1 95 95 N. Mex.
1968 Jan. Mule Deer Li ve r 2 1 58 58 Supplemental
Lung 2 0 Test Si te
Musc 1 e 2 1 92 92 Centr a 1, Nev.
Rumen contents 2 0
1968 Dec. Mule Deer Li ver 2 0 White Pi ne
Lung 2 0 Co., Nev.
Muscle 2 0
Rumen contents 2 0
1970 Oct. Mule Deer Liver 1 0 Lincoln Co., Nev.
Lung 1 0
Muscle 1 0
Rumen contents 1 0
1972 Oct. Buffalo Liver 7 0 Flagstaff, Ariz.
Lung 7 0
Muscle 7 0
Rumen contents 7 0
* MDA = Minimum Detectable Activity
**Wet Weight
54
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TECHNICAL REPORT DATA
(PI- Tt!tId IlfSlTIlctions on the reverse before completing)
1. REPORT NO. 12. 3. RECIPIENT'S ACCESSION NO.
EPA-60013-81-027
4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5. REPORT DATE
~ELECTED RADIOISOTOPES IN ANIMAL TISSUES IN NEVADA: Aoril 1981
90Sr and 137CS Meas urements from 1956 to 1977 6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE
7. AUTHOR(SI 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NO.
p. D. Smith, V. E. Andrews
9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS 10. PROGRAM ELEMENT NO.
Envi ronmental Moni tori ng Systans Laboratory X6EH1 0
pffice of Research and Development 11. CONTRACTlGRANT NO.
~.S. Environmental Protection Agency
~as Vegas, Nevada 89114 lAG DE-AI08-76DP00539
12. SPONSORING AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS 13. TYPE OF REPORT AND PERIOD COVERED
~.S. Department of Energy Resoonse - 1956-1977
~he Nevada Operations Office 14. SPONSORING AGENCY CODE
P. O. Box 14100
~as Vegas, Nevada 89114 EPAj600j07
15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES
Perfo nned under Memo randum of Understandi ng DE-AI08-76DP00539
I,. 0 r the U. S. Depa rtment of Ene rgy
16. ABSTRACT
Measurements have been made since 1956 of the strontium-90 and cesium-137 concentra-
t ions in tissues from cattle, deer, and bighorn sheep living on and around the Nevada
Test Site (NTS). Examination of this data cumulation indicates that the measured tissue
concentrations reflect global fallout rather than local sources of these isotopes.
Maximum strontium-90 concentrations in bone are related to exposure during maximum
bone growth. During, or immediately followi~g, periods of high fallout, younger animals
exhibited higher concentrations of strontium-90 in bone. During low-fallout periods
older animals, which had been young during heavy fallout periods, had the highest
concentrations of strontium-90 in bone. The effective half-life of strontium-90 in bone
of desert bighorn sheep is estimated to be 4.8 years while the effective half-life of
cesium-137 in soft tissue appears to be only a few weeks.
The maximum observed concentration of cesium-137 in edible tissue was 2,900
picocuries per kilogram in liver from a deer collected 5 weeks after a nearby nuclear
cratering experiment. Using standard-man data, the daily consumption of 500 grams of
such tissue would result in an annual dose of 32 mill iran, which is 6.4 percent of the
radiation protection guide established for individuals of the general population.
The husbandry, necropsy, and histopathological records of the NTS beef herd indicate
It-hat the nuclear testing program has had no observable long-tenn impact on the herd.
17. KEY WORDS AND DOCUMENT ANAL YSIS
a. DESCRIPTORS b.IDENTIFIERS/OPEN ENDED TERMS C. COSA TI Field/Group
18. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT 19. SECURITY CLASS (This Report) 21. NO. OF PAGES
IINrl IICCT~T~n 59
RELEASE TO PUBLIC 20. SECURITY CLASS (This page) 22. PRICE
1I~lrl IIC'C' T rT rl"\
E PA Form 2220-1 (Re.. "-77)
PAltVIOU8 EDITION 18 OBSOLETE
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