xvEPA
Environmental Protection
Agency
Environmental Monitoring
Systems Laboratory
P.O Box 15027
Las Vegas NV89114
EPA 600/3-82-077
August
Research and Development
Animal
Investigation Program
1980 Annual Report:
Nevada Test Site
and vicinity
prepared for the
U.S. Department of Energy
under Interagency Agreement
Number DE-AI08-76DP00539
-------
Available from the
National Technical Information
U.S. Department of Commerce
Springfield, VA 22161
Price Code:
Paper copy, A04
Microfiche, A01
Service
-------
EP ,D,600/3-<)2-077
DOUDP/0C639-045
ANIMAL INVESTIGATION PROGRAM 1980 ANNUAL REPORT
Nevada Test Site and Vicinity
D. D. Smith, K. R. Giles
Nuclear Radiation Assessment Division
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory
D. E. Bernhardt
Office of Radiation Programs, Las Vegas
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Las Vegas, Nevada 89114
Facil ity
prepa red for the
U.S. Department of Energy
under Interagency Agreement
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 in accordance with the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's peer and administrative review policies and approved for
publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not
constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
i i
-------
ABSTRACT
Data are presented from the radioanalyses of tissues collected from
cattle, mule deer, desert bighorn sheep, rabbits, and a horse that resided on
or near the Nevada Test Site during 1980. Routine and special activities of
the Animal Investigation Program are also discussed.
Other than the naturally occurring potassium-40, gamma-emitting
radionuclides were detected infrequently. Iodine-131 was found in the thyroid
of a deer 3 weeks after a nuclear test by the People's Republic of China.
Strontium-gO concentrations in bones from deer, cattle, and desert
bighorn sheep were similar to those of recent years. Plutonium levels in all
tissues from all species showed little variation from those levels in samples
collected in recent years. Radionuclide concentrations were generally higher
in the tissues of animals residing in Area 15 than in similar animals
collected from other Nevada Test Site areas. Surface soil samples from the
Area 15 farm contained plutonium-238 and -239 in nanocurie per kilogram
concentrat ions.
Hypothetical annual dose estimates to man were calculated on the basis of
the daily consumption of 0.5 kilogram of liver or muscle from animals that
contained peak radionuclide levels. The highest postulated dose was 0.4
millirems to whole body for cesium-137 in muscle obtained from cattle. This
dose is about 0.1 percent of the 500 millirems per year radiation protection
guide for individuals in the general population. All other postulated doses
for consumption of tissues containing other radionuclides were less than 0.1
percent of the standard.
Gross and microscopic lesions found in necropsied animals were similar to
those found in animals in other areas of the U.S. and would not be
attributable to ionizing radiation exposure.
The movements of 26 mule deer fi tted with coll ars contai ni ng a radi 0
transmitter unit were monitored weekly. By mid-December, all deer had left
their summer range on the mesas of the Nevada Test Site. In general, deer
captured on Pahute Mesa spend the winter in the 40-Mile Canyon and Timber
Mountain area with some movement off the NTS toward Beatty, while those
captured on Rainier Mesa winter in the Shoshone Mountain area. A deer
captured in December 1979 was observed in July and August 1980 in the Barley
Creek area of Nye County, wh i ch is approximately 160 kilometers from its
capture point. NTS mule deer population estimates were made for 1978, 1979
and 1980 through the Peterson-Lincoln index based on weekly sightings.
i i i
-------
iv
-------
Abstract.
Figures
Tables.
Introduction.
Sample Collection
Analytical
Procedures
and Methods
Results and Discussion.
Quality assurance samples.
Nevada Test Site cattle.
Nevada Test Site mule deer
Desert bighorn sheep
Nevada Test Site horse
Nevada Test Site rabbits
Area 15 soil
Nevada Test Site spring waters
Necropsy and histopathological
Hypothetical dose estimates.
Other Activities.
Deer migration study
Deer census.
Beef herd.
Area 15 farm.
Public information
Speci a1 studi es.
Investigations
References.
List
of
Append i x Tab 1 es
CONTENTS
Page
i i i
vi
vii
1
2
7
examinations.
9
9
9
11
11
12
12
13
13
14
14
18
18
22
23
23
24
24
24
25
28
v
-------
Number
FIGURES
1
2
Sampling sites on the Nevada Test Site. . .
. . . .
. . . .
. . . .
Approximate collection sites of 1980 desert bighorn sheep.
. .. . .
3
Annual averages of strontium-90 in bones of cattle, deer,
and desert bighorn sheep, 1956-1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4
Mule deer capture and wintering areas, 1980 .
...........
vi
Page
3
6
10
21
-------
Number
TABLES
1
2
Sampling Information for Nevada Test Site Cattle, 1980.
Sampling Information for Nevada Test Site Animals, 1980
......
. . . . . .
3
4
Sampling Information for Desert Bighorn Sheep,
1980 . . . . . . . .
Plutonium Concentrations in Soil from the Area 15 farm, 1980. . . .
5
Tritium and Gamma Analyses of Nevada Test Site
Spring Waters, 1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
......
6
Summary of Peak Radionuclide Concentrations in Selected Tissues
from Nevada Test Site Animals, 1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7
Postulated Dose to Man Following Ingestion of Selected
Tissues for 1 year. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8
9
Deer Capture Information, 1980. . . .
. . . . .
..........
Deer Population Estimates by the Peterson-Lincoln Index
Method for 1978, 1979, and 1980 . . . . . . . . . . .
......
vii
Page
2
4
5
13
13
15
17
19
22
-------
INTRODUCTION
Since 1964, the u.s. Environmental Protection Agency IS (USEPA)
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory at Las Vegas (EMSL-LV) has
conducted the Animal Investigation Program (AlP) for the Nevada Operations
Office of the U.S. Department of Energy. During 1980, the major objectives of
the AlP continued to be:
1.
To conduct
the Nevada
present in
bu rdens.
surveillance of domestic and wild animals on and around
Test Site (NTS) in order to assess the radionuclide burden
their tissues and to detect pathological effects from the
2.
To investigate alleged damage to domestic animals and wildlife
resulting from the activities of the Nevada Operations Office of the
u.s. Department of Energy.
3.
To provide public information through education and veterinary advice
to the offsite population.
4.
To conduct special ad hoc investigations.
Progress during 1980 in achieving these objectives and summaries of the
data collected are presented in this report. Previously published reports
(Fountain 1961; Smith and Giles 1970, 1974, and 1975; and Smith et ale 1976,
1977a, 1977b, 1978a, 1978b, 1979, 1980, and 1981) have detailed the history,
evolution, and accomplishments of the AlP since its beginning in 1957.
1
-------
SAMPLE COLLECTION
Nevada Test Site animals sampled during 1980 included cattle, mule deer,
rabbits and a horse. Desert bighorn sheep that range the mountainous areas to
the south and east of the NTS were also sampled. Animals sampled included
those that died from natural causes or through accidents, those collected
through the cooperation of licensed hunters, and those that were sacrificed as
part of the routine sampling activities of the program.
Animals collected by rifle or shotgun fire were necropsied immediately
after death and any gross pathological conditions noted. Animals collected by
other means were also necropsied if a prosector was available. If advanced
pos tmortem chan,]es had not occurred, the adrena 1 s, eyes, heart, kidneys,
liver, lungs, muscle, spleen, thyroid, gonads, and gross lesions (if any) were
sampled and prepared for histopathological evaluation. Tissues collected from
large animals for radioanalyses included rumen or stomach contents, liver,
lungs, tracheobronchial lymph nodes, muscle, thyroids, blood, kidneys, fetus
(if present), and bone (femurs or hock). Tissues collected from the rabbits
for radioanalyses included bone from the entire skeleton, muscle, skin, entire
9astrointestinal tract, and composited internal organs (liver, lungs, kidneys,
and spleen).
Six beef cattle from the NTS herd ~"ere sampled during 1980. Sampling
information is presented in Table 1. Except for a brief weaning period, when
the calves were maintained at the Area 15 farm, each animal sampled spent its
entire life grazing on the Area 13 range of the NTS (Figure 1). The
management of thE: beef herd and soil and range surveys of the Area 18 grazing
area have been published previously (Smith 1970, Leavitt 1970, and Brown and
Mason 1968).
T AS LE 1. SAMPL ING I NFORMA T ION FOR NEVADA TEST SITE CATTLE, 1980
Animal Age Weight Date
Number Sex (years) (kg) Sampled Remarks
M 302 05/14 Bu 11 in good cond it i on
2 F 3 323 05/14 Cow in fair condition
3 F 2 week s 50 05/14 Calf in good condition, Dam was Animal No.2
4 F 7.5 523 10/08 Beginning ocular squamous cell carcinoma
5 F 7.5 500 10/08 Advanced ocular squamous cell carcinoma--pregnant
6 M 0.5 175 10/08 Bull calf in good condition
2
-------
~
1
. Animal Collection Location
. NTS Spring
MD Mule Deer
'...
10
9
7
18
11
I
I
N R D S I
Buffer Zone
:I-
:;
"<
Desert Game
Range
Scale on Miles
o 5 10
~~
o 5 10 15 20
10/81 Scale in Kilometers
Las Vegas
(65 miles from Mercury)
Figure 1.
Sampling sites on the Nevada Test Site.
3
-------
AlP investigators collected tissue samples
(Odocoileus hemionus). Four jackrabbits (Lepus
at the Area 15 experimental farm. Also a horse
was sampled. Collection locations are noted on
information is listed in Table 2.
from four NTS adult mule deer
californicus) were collected
( Equus caba 11 us) from the NTS
Figure 1 and sampling
Through the cooperation of State and Federal wildlife officials and
participating hunters, bone and kidney samples were collected from 14 mature
desert bighorn sheep rams (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) during the annual hunt.
TABLE 2.
Animal
Number
Mule Deer-1
t1u 1 e Deer-2
Mule Deer-3
~1ule Deer-4
Horse-1
R abbit-1-A15
Rabbit-2-A15
Rabbi t-3-A15
Rabbit-4-A15
SAMPLING INFORMATION FOR NEVADA TEST SITE ANIMALS, 1980
Sex
Est i mated
Age
(years)
Est i mated
Weight
(kg)
80
60
50
55
420
2.2
2.3
2
2.2
Date
Sampled
03/27
07/28
09/10
11/06
10/08
03/05
03/05
03/05
03/05
Remarks
Collected at Mine Moun-
tain, had been tracked
with radiotelemetry.
collar applied in June of
1977
Accident victim Area 19,
lactating doe
Killed during capture
attempt, Echo Peak region
of Area 19
Collected Trap Site, Area
19
Aged domestic horse that
was euthanized
Jackrabbit, collected
Area 15 farm
Jackrabbit, collected
Area 15 farm
Jackrabbit, collected
Area 15 farm
Jackrabbit, collected
Area 15 farm
M
5
F
3-4
M
1-2
:1
1.5
M
25
M
1-2
M
<2
F
<2
M
1-2
4
-------
Sampling information for these animals is presented in Table 3 and the
collection sites are shown in Figure 2. The majority of the sheep were
collected from Clark County in southern Nevada, with five coming from the
Desert National Wildlife Range (DNWR). Two animals were collected from the
Silver Peak and lone Mountain areas which are north and west of the NTS.
An i ma 1
Number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12&13
14
15
TABLE 3.
SAMPLING INFORMATION FOR DESERT BIGHORN SHEEP, 1980
Sex
Est i ma t ed
Age
(years)
Date
Co 11 ect ed
Remarks
Killed at DNWR, Area 76*
Killed North Eldorado Range, Area 85*
Killed Arrow Canyon Range, Area 79*
Killed Cathedral Mountain in Black
Mountains, Area 81*
Ki lled Joe i'1ay Canyon, Sheep Range DNWR,
Area 77*
Killed Gass Peak, Area 78*
Killed Mormon Mountains, Area 80*
Killed North Eldorado Range, Area 85*
Kill ed Area 71 *
Killed White Rock Spring, DNWR, Area 77*
Killed McCullough Range, Area 84*
Killed East DNWR, Area 75*. Duplicate
samples were collected from the same
animal and identified as No. 12 and
No. 13.
Killed Newberry Range, Area 86*
Killed Rhyolite Ridge, Silver Peak
Range, Area 70*
DNWR = Desert National Wildlife Range
*Nevada Wildlife Department Bighorn Sheep Management Area
M
M
9
6
11/19
12/07
M
5
11/21
11/15
M
8
M
8
11/23
M
5
11/21
11/16
M
5
5
11/22
11/22
M
M
5
6
11/10
11/10
t~
M
8
9
11/17
M
M
6
11/26
11/25
t~
10
5
-------
----\,. /
", /
/ /
TTR \.. Q C. SMT /
, ,
------, TEMPIUTE I
I 1\. HIKO
COYOTE ~1T \1..
I ''\)
HANCOCK SMT ( ALAMO
I
Lone Mt
o
GOLDFIELD
NELLIS
AIR FORCE
RANGE
0)
o Indicates collection site of
individual animal
10 81
\
SEARCHLlG~ \
\!V \
Figure 2.
Approximate collection sites of 1980 desert bighorn sheep.
6
-------
ANALYTICAL PROCEDURES AND METHODS
Gamma-emitting radionuclides in samples of soft tissues and rumen
contents were analyzed by gamma spectrometry. A sample of blood or of tissue
was collected from each animal and analyzed for tritium. Bone samples were
analyzed for strontium-89 and -90 and plutonium-238 and -239. Selected soft
tissues were also analyzed for plutonium content. The EMSL-LV performed all
of the analyses for tritium and the gamma-emitting radionucl ides. The
Environmental Sciences Department of the Reynolds Electrical and Engineering
Company, Inc. (REECo), Mercury, Nevada, performed the plutonium and strontium
analyses.
Rumen contents and soft tissues of sufficient volume were placed in
300-milliliter aluminum containers with a la-percent Formalin@ solution as a
preservative. The containers were then sealed and stored for gamma analysis.
Those tissues of smaller volume, i.e., thyroid gland, tracheo bronchial lymph
nodes, etc., were fi rs t macerated in a blender and then brought to a standard
volume by suspending in agar. These samples were also sealed in 300-
milliliter aluminum containers. Muscle, liver, lungs, kidneys, and fetal
samples were counted for approximately 1,200 minutes on lithium-drifted
germanium detectors calibrated at approximately 0.5 kilo-clectronvolts (keV)
per channel in the 60-KeV to 2-mega-electronvolts (MeV) range. These
detectors are connected to a Nuclear Data 6620 computerized gamma spectral
accumulation and analysis system. Other tissue samples such as thyroid,
tracheobronch i al lymph node, sk in, and gonad, as well as rumen or stomach and
gastrointestinal contents, were counted for 1,000 minutes using a 4- by 4-inch
NaI(Tl) crystal also connected to the Nuclear Data 6620 for spectral
accumulation. This spectrometer is calibrated at 10 KeV per channel in the
60-KeV to 2-MeV range. The data reduction of the spectra was performed using
a least squares program resident on a CDC-6400 computer.
Tissues collected for strontium and plutonium analyses were placed in
plastic bags and kept frozen until submitted to the analytical laboratory.
The samples were prepared for analyses by ashing and radiochemical separation.
Plutonium was analyzed by alpha spectrometry using plutonium-236 as an
internal tracer. Details of the analytical procedures used by REECo are
proprietary infor/nation but are similar to those described by Talvitie 1971,
1972; Wish and f{mvell 1956; Mitchell 1960; Hagan and Arrhenius 1963; and Major
et ale 1975. The EMSL-LV radionuclide analytical procedures were those
described by Johns et a1. (1979).
All data are reported with the 95 percent confidence interval based on
counting statistics and are corrected to time of sample collection. The
minimum detectable activity (MDA)is defined as 3.3 times the standard
7
-------
deviation of the background counts. Results which show a net sample activity
less than the MDA are reported as such. The approximate MDAs and analytical
procedures are summari zed in Append i x A.
The activity values for plutonium-239 listed in this report are actually
the sums of the individual isotopic activities of plutonium-239 and -240. The
alpha emissions of these two isotopes cannot be separately identified
(resolved) by alpha spectrometric analysis.
Quality assurance samples were included in each group of samples
submitted for plutonium analyses. These were either liver, muscle or bone
samples purchased at a local meat market and to which a known amount of
plutonium was added, or they were duplicate samples collected from sacrificed
animals and submitted for analyses under blind identification numbers. The
purchased bone samples were ashed prior to spiking. The data from the quality
assurance samples are presented in Appendix B.
Tissue and lesion samples collected for histopathological examination
were fixed with a lO-percent Formalin solution and delivered to a pathologist
for interpretation.
8
-------
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
QUALITY ASSURANCE SAMPLES
As shown in Appendix B. the strontium-90 and plutonium-239 analytical
data from a duplicate bighorn sheep bone sample indicate a precision of
analyses of 4 percent and 27 percent. respectively. The accuracy of analysis,
expressed as bias, is also shown in Appendix B. Based on the precision and
bias data for strontium-90 analyses, the 95 percent confidence interval for
the true value was calculated to range from 1.68 to 1.84 times the reported
value in bone and from 1.07 to 1.23 times the reported value in soft tissue.
The 95 percent confidence interval of the true value for plutonium-239 in bone
ranged from 0.98 to 2.05 times the reported value while that for soft tissue
ranged from 0.95 to 2.03 times the reported value. These confidence intervals
were considered when conclusions were drawn from the data.
NEVADA TEST SIT~ CATTLE
The analytical results from tissues collected frorn the Area 18 beef
catt Ie are presented in the tab 1 es of Appendi x C.
Naturally occurring potassium-40 was the only gamma-emitting radionuclide
consistently detected in both the May and October samples. Cesium-137 was
occasionally detected in the ingesta or soft tissue samples. If detected. the
c~sium-137 levels were within a narrow range of activity; for example. five of
six muscle samples contained detectable levels ranging from 15 to 37
picocuries per kilogram (pCi/kg) wet weight.
Tritium was not detected in the blood of any of the cattle sampled during
1980.
Strontium-90 concentrations in the femur samples from the Area 18 cattle
ranged from 2.4 to 3.1 picocuries per gram (pCi/g) of ash with an average of
2.8. As shown in Figure 3, this average value is similar to those reported in
recent years. except for that of 1979 which was significantly lower. As
explained previously (Smith et al. 1981a) the 1979 average was thought to be
due to bias in the analyses by the analytical laboratory. Strontium-89 was
not detected in any of the 1980 bone samples. It was planned to 1 i mit
plutonium analyses to those tissues collected during the spring. because of
bUdgetary restraints and the consistent findings of previous years. However,
a power outage in June at the Area 15 farm resulted in the loss of all frozen
samples. Because of this, the fall samples were submitted for plutonium and
strontium analyses. Ingesta samples were not collected as the cattle were
maintained on purchased alfalfa hay for several days prior to death.
9
-------
30
- Bighorn Sheep
~ 25 c::::=:J 0 e e r
II>
c:t anm Canle
..
c 0 (Number 01 Bone Samples)
'" 20
~
en
'-
U @
...
.E 15
II>
"ii
....... '"
.. 10
0 .....
en
!O
5
o
1956 1951 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966
1961 1968 1969 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1911 1918
1919 1980
Figure 3.
Annual averages of strontium-90 in bones of cattle, deer, and
desert bighorn sheep, 1956-1980.
-------
Detectable plutonium-238 concentrations were not found in any of the soft
tissue samples and in only one bone sample. Liver and lung samples generally
contained detectable plutonium-239 concentrations while muscle, fetal and
gonad tissues did not. The lung and liver concentrations and those in the
femurs (which ranged from 1.5 to 4.2 pCi/kg wet weight). were not
significantly different from concentrations reported in recent years.
NEVADA TEST SIrE MULE DEER
The analytical results from tissues of the NTS mule deer are presented in
the tables of Appendix D. As was the case for the NTS cattle, naturally
occurring potassium-40 was the only gamma-emitting radionuclide that was
consistently detected. Cesium-137 was detected in one kidney sample. The
thyroid from deer No.4, collected on November 6,1980, contained 22:t 1.9 pCi
of iodine-131 per gram (wet weight). The source of this iodine is thought to
be airborne fallout from a nuclear test conducted by the People's Republic of
China on October 15, 1980 (Smith, et al. 1981b).
Tritium concentrations in the blood or kidneys of the deer ranged from
<330 to 470 pCi/l. These levels are well within the range found in
atmospheric moisture at Beatty, Nevada (Smith, et al. 1981).
Strontium-90 concentrations in hock bones ranged from 0.95 to 2.2 pCi/g
of ash witf-J an average of 1. 7 pCi/g ash (Figure 3). Strontium-89 was not
detected in any of the bone samples.
Plutonium-238 and -239 were found in measurable amounts only in the rumen
content samples, one bone sample, and one gonad sample. The plutonium-239
concentration of 1.2 :t 0.52 pCi/kg in the gonads from mule deer No.3 is very
similar to a value reported in 1979 (Smith, et al. 1981a). The plutonium-239
content of all lung and liver samples was below the MDA, contrary to the
results of previous years (Smith, et al. 1980, 1981a). This may have been
caused by the use of a different analytical laboratory for this year's
samples.
DESERT BIGHORN SHEEP
Analytical data from bone and kidney samples are listed in Appendix E.
The average strontium-90 concentration in the hock bones was 1.5 pCi/g of ash
(Figure 3). Detectable levels of strontium-89, plutonium-238 and -239 were
not present in any of the animals sampled. Detectable levels of plutonium-239
have generally been reported in 10 to 25 percent of the bone samples analyzed
during the last few years.
Cesium-137 concentrations ranging from 31 to 91 pCi/kg wet weight were
detected in the kidneys of only two of the sheep. Tritium was not found in
any of the kidney samples.
11
-------
NEVADA TEST SITE HORSE
An aJed domestic horse from the Area 15 farm was euthanized .and sampled
in October. The analytical data from the samples are listed in Appendix F.
Naturally occurring potassium-40 was the only gamma-emitting radionuclide
detected. A blood sample contained less than 400 pCi of tritium per liter.
The bone ash contained 3.5 t 0.5 picocuries of strontium-90 per jram of
ash. Net strontium-89 act ivities wel~e not reported. Net plutonium-239
activities were found in the liver and lung samples with 13 t 1.4 and 4.7 t
0.56 picocuries per kilogram of wet weight, respectively.
NEVADA TEST SITE RABBITS
Four jackrabbits from the Area 15 experimental farm were collected and
sampled in March. Analytical data from analyses of their tissues are
summarized in the tables of Appendix G. Cesium-137 and potassium-40 were
present in all soft-tissue samples. Cesium-137 concentrations in muscle
tissues ranged from 82 to 130 pCi/kg wet weight with a median value of 93
pCi/kg, while the values in skin ranged from 130 to 250 pCi/kg with a median
value of 170 pCi/kg. The Jastrointestinal sample from rabbit No.3 contained
130 pCi of cobalt-60 and rhodium-102m, 2,300 pCi of cesium-137, and 4,300 pCi
of plutonium-239 per kilogram of fresh tissue. However, the concentrations of
gamma-emitting radionuclides and plutonium found in the soft tissues and bones
of this animal were not significantly higher than those reported from the
other three rabbits sampled.
Tritium concentrations in the aqueous portion of the Area 15 rabbit
tissues were all above the lower limit of detection with a median value of
4,700 pCi/l and a range of 1,200 to 6,500 pCi/l. The tritium source is
believed to be the Sedan Crater which is approximately 1 mile south of the
farm.
Strontium-gO values in bone ranged from 1.5 to 3.5 pCi/g of ash with a
median value of 1.5 pCi/g. Strontium-89 was not detected in the bone samples.
Plutonium-239 was detected in 2 of 4 muscle samples and all three of the
internal organ samples. These activities reported were generally higher than
those found in other NTS animals sampled during 1980.
Plutonium concentrations in those samples subject to external
c?ntamination, i..e., the g~strointestinal.tract and the skin, were markedly
hlgher than the lnternal tlssues. Plutonlum concentrations detected in the
rabbit muscle tissue were usually higher than those reported for the cattle.
These findings and similar ones noted for Area 15 animals in previous
reports (Smith et ale 1977b, 1978a, 1978b, 1979, 1980 and 1980a) indicated
that the environs of Area 15 contain elevated levels of tritium and plutonium
when compared to other NTS areas that are frequently sampled by the AlP.
12
-------
AREA 15 SOIL
In view of the above findings, surface soil samples (0 to 5 em) from the
Area 15 farm were collected and analyzed for p1utoniurn content by the
Environmental Sciences Department of REECo. As shown in Table 4, all soil
samples contained plutonium with hiyher levels present in samples froln the
undisturbed soil. These findings indicate that the apparently elevated
plutonium concentrations reported for the gastrointestinal tract and skin
samples from the Area 15 rabbits are reasonable.
TABLE 4.
PLUTONIUM CONCENTRATIONS IN SOIL FROM THE AREA 15 FARM, 1980
Plowed
r10wed
Plowed
Unplowed
Unplowed
Unplowed
Unplowed
4.8 :!.: 0.67
2.7 :!.: 0.4
2.9 :!.: 0.38
5.3 :!.: 0.64
7.5:!.: 1.4
5.8:!.: 1.1
5.3:!.: 1.0
P1utonium-238 (nCi/kg)
0.57 :!.: 0.098
0.42 :!.: 0.075
0.34 :!.: 0.054
1.3 :!.: 0.19
0.71:!.: 0.16
0.72:!.: 0.1
1.1 :!.: 0.16
Soil Type
P1utonium-239 (nCi/kg)
--
NEVADA TEST SITE SPRING WATERS
Se~eral natural springs that serve as a source of water for wildlife were
sampled during 1980. The spring locations are shown in Figure 1. The waters
were analyzed for gamma-emitting radionuclides and tritium. The results are
shown in Table 5. Detectable levels of gamma-emitting radionuclides were not
found in any of the waters and the tritium levels were below detectable
concent rat ions.
TABLE 5.
TRITIUM AND GAMMA ANALYSES OF NEVADA TEST SITE SPRING WATERS, 1980
Water Analysis
Date Trit i um
Spring Name Sampled Gamma Analysis pCi/1
Cane 5/7 GSN* <310
Topopah 5/7 GSN <310
Tippipah 5/7 GSN <310
Green 5/7 GSN <310
~Jhite Rock 5/7 GSN <310
Oak 5/7 GSN <310
TUb 5/7 GSN <310
*GSN = Gamma Spectrum Negligible
13
-------
NECROPSY AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS
Sacrificed animals were necropsied and selected tissue and lesion
samples were collected for histopathological evaluation. The gross and
microscopic pathologies observed are summarized in Appendix H.
Sarcocystis spp. were detected in the skeletal and cardiac muscles of
both cattle and deer. This is a ubiquitous protozoan parasite found in warm-
and cold-blooded vertebrates and is usually considered to be of low
pathogenicity and seldom has any clinical significance (Merck and Company
1973) .
The ocular squamous cell carcinomas observed in two cows (No.4 and 5)
were not unusual. Ocular carcinoma is the most common neoplasm of cattle and
is especially prevalent in aged Hereford cattle subjected to high levels of
sunlight (Merck and Company 1973).
The most unusual lesions noted were the numerous calcified parasitic
nodules found in the liver and lungs of the aged horse. Other occasionally
observed histologic findings; e.g., hemosiderosis of the spleen, mild liver
and kidney changes, and myositis, were felt to be within normal levels by
examining pathologist. No pathology, gross or microscopic, was observed that
could be attributed to ionizing radiation.
HYPOTHETICAL DOSE ESTIMATES
Although meat from animals living on the Nevada Test Site is not
available for consumption by people, the various doses to a standard man based
on postulated consumption of the edible tissues has been 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
Comnission for Radiological Protection (1959, 1968, 1977) and Dillman (1969).
The estimates were calculated using the maximum observed concentrations of the
radionuclides in edible tissues of the cattle, deer, and rabbits sampled
(summarized in Table 6). It was assumed that 500 grams (about 1 pound) of the
meat were consumed each day for a year, and that the radionuclide concentra-
tion remained constant for that time. The minimum detectable values of
Table 6 were used in the dose calculations when they were the maximum value
for a given tissue.
Although doses are calculated for ingestion of tissues from a rabbit
these doses are not compared to the dose guide. Furthermore these doses' are
not used in discussing the maximum hypothetical doses becaus~ it is doubtful
that enough similar tissue could be obtained to provide the I-year intake
qua nt it i es.
The International Commission for Radi?logical Protection (1959) and the
U.S. Department of Energy (1977) present dlfferent dose criteria for various
parts of the body, based on estimates of relative radiosensitivity. The
14
-------
TABLE 6.
SUMMARY OF PEAK RADIONUCLIDE CONCENTRATIONS IN SELECTED TISSUES FROM
NEVADA TEST SITE ANIMALS, 1980
Radionuclide Concentrations (pCi/kg Wet Weight)
Nucl i de
Muscle
Liver
Area 15
NTS Mule Oeer Rabbits
Blood Blood
(pCi/l) Muscle Liver (pCi /1 ) Muscle
NA 0.051 t 0.093** 0.066 t 0.31** NA 0.00 t 0.14
NA 0.053 t 0.081** 0.13 t 0.25** NA 0.88 t 0.21
NA NO NO NA 130 t 20
<390 NA NA 470 t 250 6,500 t 340*
Area 18 Cattle
I-'
U1
Plutonium-238 0.048 t 0.073** 0.039:!: 0.06**
Plutonium-239 0.12 :!: 0.35** 0.64:!: 0.12
Cesium-137 37 :!: 12 14 :!: 8.8
Tritium NA NA
NA = Not analyzed
NO = Not detected
* = pCi/l - aqueous portion of kidney or muscle
** = Counting error exceeds reported activity
-------
National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP 1971)
recognizes 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 NCRP
emphasizes that this is a simplifying administrative decision, rather than a
reduction of the guides based on new technical information.
The indicated confidence intervals in Table 6 are twice the standard
deviation (2s) based on counting statistics. The total analytical
uncertainties at two standard deviations for the plutonium results are
estimated to be about 0.2 pCijkg for results of several tenths of a pCijkg, or
several times the indicated counting uncertainties. Thus, differences between
values, when the values are under several tenths of a pCijkg, have limited
statistical significance given the total analytical uncertainties of the
results.
Table 7 lists postulated doses based on the data summarized in Table 6.
The column on the right shows the respective fraction of the radiation
protection guide of 500 millirems per year for the various postulated doses.
The doses from plutonium and, to a lesser extent, cesium-137 are not delivered
in 1 year. For practical purposes, however, the integrated doses for a 1-year
ingestion period are related to the yearly guide.
The highest postulated dose (other than for rabbit), 0.4 millirems
(mrem), would result from ingesting cattle muscle. This dose is 0.1 percent
of the guide of 500 mrem per year. All of the other postulated doses are
about 0.2 mrem or less and are similar to or lower than those estimated for
1979 (Smith et ale 1981a).
16
-------
TABLE 7. POSTULATED DOSE TO MAN FOLLOWING INGESTION OF SELECTED TISSUES FOR 1 YEAR
pCi/kg
(wet weight) Dose Factor
Human Organ for Animal Tissue or pCi/l mrem:pCi/da
Which Dose was Containing Maxi- of (I-year Dose Percent of
Nuclide Calculated mum Concentratio~ Ti ssue Water ingestion)* (mrem) 500 mrem
Trit i umt Body water NTS mule deer, blood 470 :!: 250 3.6 x 10-5 0.01 <0.1
Trit i umt Body water Area 15 rabbits, muscle 6,500:!: 340 3.6 x 10-5 0.12 +
Cesium-137 Whole body tissue Area 15 rabbit, muscle 130 :!: 20 0.022 1.4 =+=
Cesium-137 Whole body tissue Area 18 cattle, muscle 37 :!: 12 0.022 0.49 0.1
Plutonium-238 Bone NTS mule deer, liver 0.066 :!: 0.31 0.54 <0.1 <0.1
-
-....J
Plutonium-238 Bone Area 18 cattle, liver 0.64:!: 0.12 0.63 0.2 <0.1
* The doses from plutonium-238 and -239, and to a lesser extent cesium-137, are not delivered within
the I-year ingestion period, but, for simplification, the doses have been related to the guide for
1 year. The doses for plutonium are actually for a 50-year period, but it should be recognized
that the doses are resulting from ingestion over a I-year period. The dose factors are based on a
quality factor (QF) of 1 for tritium and cesium-137 and 20 for plutonium-238 and -239 (ICRP, 1977).
The QF of 20 used for plutonium is twice the value used in reports for the program prior to 1979
(Smith et ale 1978b, 1979, 1980).
tThe reported tritium concentrations are for muscle and kidney tissue. It is assumed that the
concentration in edible tissues (water plus organic) is equal to that of the reported results.
=+=The percent of the 500 mrem dose guide is not calculated for these tissues because it is not
reasonable to assume that someone could consume 500 g of meat per day from NTS rabbits.
sSince the analytical counting error term is much larger than the mean, the postulated dose is
calculated for the mean plus the error term and is stated as a "less than" value.
-------
OTHER ACTIVITIES
DEER MIGRATION STUDY
A sizeable mule deer herd resides in the mountainous regions of the NTS
duri ng the summer. If they move to unrestricted lands, these deer may be
hunted by members of the publ ic. A study to determine migration patterns of
the herd through tracking of individual deer fitted with collars containing
miniature radio transmitters was begun in 1975 and continued through 1980.
From August through November 1980, 31 NTS mule deer (Table 8) were
captured, either by chemical restraint of free-ranging animals (Smith et al.
1978a) or by trapping at a water site (Giles 1979). Ten deer were fitted with
collars containing new radio transmitters, ear tags, and reflective numbers.
Two deer were fitted with re-conditioned radio transmitter collars that had
been recovered from deer captured prior to 1980. These 12 newly installed
transmitt~rs brought to 26 the total number of working transmitters in the
field (14 from previous years). AlP personnel monitored the movements of the
deer weekly with hand-held receivers and directional antenna. Nineteen other
deer were captured but were unsuitable for collaring and were released after
visible markers (ear tags and reflective collars) had been attached.
Twenty-four of the deer were captured at the Area 19 trapsite at Echo
Peak and immobilized with M-99@ (etorphine). The other seven deer were free
ranging animals (three on Rainier Mesa in Area 12 and four along the Pahute
\1esa Road in Area 20) and were immobilized with Sernylan@(phencyclidine
hydrochl ori de), and acepromazi ne ma 1 eate (Ayerest Laboratori es, Inc.) injected
via a syringe-dart fired from a Cap ChurTM gun (Palmer Chemical Company).
Deer captured in Areas 19 and 20 remained there until the end of December
when winter storms forced them onto their wintering areas. By mid-January of
1981, nearly all the radio collared deer had moved south to the Timber
Mountain in Areas 29 and 30 or to the 40-Mile Canyon area (Figure 4). From
there they scattered to the Yucca Mountain and Beatty Wash areas. However
there were two exceptions to this migration pattern. A buck moved west fr~m
the NTS onto the Nellis Bombing and Gunnery Range in the vicinity of Black
Mountain north of Beatty, Nevada and a doe moved to the northern edge of Area
19 and stayed there through the entire winter. By mid-April 1981 the deer had
all moved back onto the 1980 summer ranges in Areas 19 and 20.
By mid-December of 1980, two of the three radio-equipped deer captured on
Rainier Mesa moved to Shoshone Mountain in Areas 16, 29 and 14. The remaining
marked deer, a young buck, along with several unmarked deer of both sexes
remained in Area 12 in the vicinity of N tunnel and Captain Jack Spring all
winter long. All of the deer captured on Rainier Mesa returned there by early
June 1981.
18
-------
TABLE 8. DEER CAPTURE INFORMATION, 1980
Age Weight
Est i mate Estimate Date
I. D. (years) Sex (kg) Captured Location Corrments
1 Green 2-3 F 45 7/22 Area 19, Trapsite Old No. F-1; Green Transmitter
Collar (GTC)
2 Green F 28 8/5 Area 19, Trapsite Young doe lactating, GTC
3 Green 3-4 F 38 8/6 Area 19, Trapsite Lactating doe in fair
condition, GTC; Dead Cat
Canyon, Area 30, Nov. 27.
Radio not recovered.
4 Green 4-5 F 46 8/6 1 mile west of U19C Lactating doe with 1 fawn;
reservoir given ear tags GTC
5 Green 2-3 F 40 8/7 Area 19, Traps He Lactating doe in fair
condition, GTC
6 Green 1-2 F 40 8/27 Area 19, TrapsHe Non-lactating doe in good
condition, GTC
7 Green 1-2 M 51 8128 Rainier Mesa 1/4 Young buck in good condition,
mile past Holmes 2 x 2 antlers; spent winter in
Rd. turnoff Area 12, N. Tunnel and Capt.
Jack Spring, GTC
8 Green 1-2 M 50 9/12 Echo Peak repeater Young buck in good condition,
in Area 19 2 x 2 antlers, GTC
9 Green 4-5 M 90 9/16 Area 19, 1/4 mile Large buck, 3 x 3 antlers,
east of U19F excellent condition, GTC
turnoff on Pahute
Mesa Rd.
10 Green 5-6 M 90 9/18 Area 19, Trapsite Large buck, 4 x 4 antlers,
excellent condition, GTC
3 Blue 1-2 F 55 8/29 Rainier Mesa by Non-lactating doe in good
U19R bunker condition, reconditioned blue
transmitter collar
1 Red 1-2 M 68 10/2 Area 19, Trapsite Buck in good condition, 2 x 2
antlers, reconditioned red
transmitter collar
T 1-2 M 74 8/30 Area 19, Trapsite Buck in good condition 2 x 2
antlers, ear tags, reflective
No. only
0-1 3-4 M 74 8/30 Area 19, Trapsite Buck in good condition 4 x 4
ant 1 ers, ear tag sand
reflective No. only
E-1 5-6 M 76 9/12 Rainier Mesa, Buck in excellent condition,
Holmes Rd. turnoff 4 x 4 antlers, ear tags and
reflective No. only
L-1 fawn M 1.8 9/16 Area 19, Trapsite Fawn in good condition, antler
nubs on head, ear tags only
(continued)
19
-------
TABLE 8. (Cant; nued)
Age Weight
Estimate Estimate Date
I. D. (yea rs) Sex (kg) Captured Location Corrments
J-1 3-4 M 70 9/30 Area 19, Trapsite Buck in good condition, 4 x 4
antlers, given ear tags and
reflective No. Only
H-1 2-3 M 70 10/1 Area 19, Trapsite Buck in good condition, 3 x 3
antlers, given ear tags and
reflective No. only
K-1 fawn M 2 10/1 Area 19, Trapsite Fawn in good condition, 1-inch
antler nubs on head, ear tags
only
M-1 2-3 M 78 10/2 Area 19, Trapsite Buck in good condition, 3 x 2
antlers, given ear tags and
reflective No. only
G-1 1-2 M 67 10/16 Area 19, Trapsite Buck in good condition, 2 x 2
antlers, given ear tags and
reflective No. only
N-1 6-7 M 98 10/9 Area 19, Trapsite Buck in excellent condition,
4 x 4 antlers, ear tags only --
too large for reflective No.
P-1 6-7 M 83 10/16 Area 19, Trapsite Buck in excellent condition,
6 x 5 antlers, ear tags and
reflective No. only
A 4-5 M 90 11/6 Area 19, Trapsite Buck in excellent condition,
4 x 4 antlers, ear tags and
reflective No. only
Z 1-2 M 41 11/7 Area 19, Trapsite Buck in good condition, 2 x 2
antlers, ear tags and
reflective No. only
X fawn M 18 11/6 Area 19, Trapsite Fawn given ear tags only
K-G 6-7 M 92 11/5 Area 19, Traps ite Buck in excellent condition,
5 x 4 antlers, ear tags and
reflective No. only
S-l 5-6 M 90 11/19 Area 19, Trapsite Buck in excellent condition,
7 x 5 antlers, ear tags and
reflective No. only
T-1 2-3 M 54 11/18 Area 19, Trapsite Buck in excellent condition,
3 x 3 antlers, given ear tags
and reflective No. only
F-1 3-4 M 82 11/19 Area 19, Trapsite Buck in good condition, 3 x 2
antlers, given ear tags and
reflective No. only
C-G 2-3 F 68 12/4 Area 19, Trapsite Doe in good condition, given
ear tags and reflective No.
only
20
-------
---
Summer Capture Areas
Wintering Areas
9
7
3
11
~
1
I
N.R.D.S. I
Buffer Zone I
I
I
Desert Game
Range
Scale In Miles
~~
o 5 10 15 20
10/81 Scale in Kilometers
Las Vegas
(65 miles from Mercury)
Figure 4.
Mule deer capture and wintering areas, 1980.
21
-------
The 1980 summer and winter ranges of the NTS deer are shown in F~gure 4.
A doe tagged in December 1979 at the Echo Peak trapsite was observed ,n the
Barley Creek area of Nye County during June and August 1980. This deer
migrated over 160 km within 6 or 7 months.
DEER CENSUS
As a result of the deer migration study, there now exists on the NTS a
sizeable number (approximately 125 animals marked since 1975) of identifiable
deer. This base population provided the means for a statistical estimate of
the deer population in certain areas of the NTS.
Weekly sightings of both marked and unmarked deer during 1978, 1979, and
1980 were recorded and provided to Dr. Robert Kinnison, Battelle Pacific
Northwest Laboratories, Richland, Washington, for statistical analysis. The
method used was the annual weighted average of the weekly Peterson-Lincoln
index estimates using capture-recapture sampling plans (Mosby 1963). The
inverse of the weekly variance estimates were used as weights for averaging.
These annual estimates are listed in Table 9.
TABLE 9. DEER POPULATION ESTIMATES BY THE PETERSON-LINCOLN INDEX METHOD
FOR 1978, 1979, AND 1980
Echo Peak Dead Horse Rainier Mesa
Section Flats Section Section
Area 19 .Area 19 Area 20 Area 12
Year Bucks Does Bucks Does Bucks Does Bucks Does
Mean 49 15 11 8 7 8 15 21
C.1. 1978 41-56 10-20 5-17 5-11 5-9 1-15 11-20 15-28
S. D. 14 8 6 2 2 4 7 10
S. S. 13 11 5 3 6 1 9 11
Mean 47 25 6 5 28 5 8 9
C.1. 1979 32-62 17 -33 4-8 2-7 16-39 2-8 6-11 5-13
S. D. 29 15 4 3 15 4 4 5
s. s. 14 14 9 6 7 6 9 6
Mean 97 32 8 14 6 11 15 27
C.1. 1980 63-131 25-39 3-13 9-19 2-10 6-15 8-22 18-37
S. D. 48 10 6 6 6 5 9 12
S. S. 8 9 7 6 7 6 6 6
Mean - Yearly mean.
C. 1. - 95% confidence interval of the yearly means.
S. D. - Population standard deviation.
S. S. - Sample size--number of weeks observation data available.
22
-------
The population estimates were based on weekly sightings during the period
of August through November and were restricted to areas readily accessible to
vehicular traffic and where marked deer were present. However, it seems
logical that these population estimates could be extrapolated to other NTS
areas with similar water sources and habitat.
In general, the population sizes appear to be either stable or slightly
increasing. Population concentrations are dependent upon the avai1ab1ity of
water. As there are no known natural springs in Areas 19 and 20, the deer are
dependent on precipitation or man-made water supplies such as water
reservoirs, pipeline leaks, etc. The availability of these sources fluctuate
with the levels of construction and testing activities carried on within these
areas.
BEEF HERD
All animals of the beef herd were maintained on the Area 18 range for the
entire year except for the 1980 calves which were weaned at the Area 15 farm
during November and December. While on the range all animals subsisted on the
native vegetation supplemented with cottonseed oil meal during the winter
months.
The herd was rounded up in May and October. At each roundup, all
captured animals were identified, weighed and sprayed for ectoparasites.
Health problems were treated. Selected animals were removed from the herd for
sacrifice, weaning, or transfer. Following the October roundup, 35 cattle
were declared surplus to the needs of the AlP and transferred to Iowa State
University (ISU) Ames, Iowa. In return, ISU supplied a registered Hereford
bull for use as a herd sire.
A quarter horse was purchased in October for use in the semiannual
roundups.
AREA 15 FARM
The Area 15 farm, in addition to its major function as a research
facility, also served as the field station for the NTS operations of the AlP.
As such it provided the facilities for the maintenance of the horses,
rumen-fistu1ated steers, and beef bulls; weaning of calves; and production of
alfalfa hay. Lloyd Enterprises, a contractor, operated the farm, maintained
the beef herd and supplied support for studies conducted at the farm.
The 16 acres of croplands produced 65 tons of alfalfa hay during 1980.
This production was achieved despite severe depredation of the alfalfa by
jackrabbits. The rabbits were controlled by intensive hunting. The hay
production was also reduced as the alfalfa was not irrigated for a 2-week
period in May when the deep-well pump had to be replaced after being damaged
by a lightning strike.
23
-------
The abattoir area of the barn was divided into separate high level
("hot") and low level ("cold") radioisotope work rooms. The "hot" area (16
feet x 18 feet) is adjacent to the metabolism room and was designed to
maintain a negative pressure with absolute filtration on the heating and
cooling system. All ALP sampling was conducted in the "cold" area (20 feet x
20 feet x 22 feet). Both areas have their own overhead hoists and rail
systems.-
Other farm improvements during 1980 included repainting of the barn's
interior~ landscaping of the parking area~ removal and relocation of out-
buildings~ modification of the main barn's heating and water systems~ and
repair and relocation of corral pens.
Five surplus dairy heifers were transferred to Iowa State University in
October. Eleven African Pygmy goats were transferred to the farm from the
laboratory at EMSL-LV. The Area 15 farm served as a training site for
participants in the Radiological Emergency Response Course sponsored by the
Nuclear Regu1atory Commission~ Office of State Programs. This course, taught
by REECo for DOE, NVO~ was presented on an approximate biweekly basis.
PUBLIC INFORMATION
The offsite public information program continued by direct contact with
ranchers, and by briefings of groups touring the EMSL-LV or the NTS
Experimental Farm. During 1980~ the objectives and findings of the ALP were
presented to 970 NTS visitors in 42 different tour groups. Approximately 200
additional drop-in visitors to the farm received informal briefings.
"Big Sam"~ the rumen-fistulated steer~ was a featured exhibit at the
December 6 grand opening of the Nevada Cooperative Extension Services' Holly
Park Field Laboratory in Pahrump, Nevada. Approximately 200 people visited
the exhibit and were briefed on the activities and findings of the ALP.
SPECIAL STUDIES
During October~ November and December, the Comparative Animal Research
Laboratory (CARL)~ Oak Ridge~ Tennessee~ conducted an actinide metabolism
study with weaner domestic swine in the metabolism portion of the barn. Fifty
young pigs were administered~ via gavage~ 5 mCi of americium-241 and
sacrificed over a 3-month period for tissue uptake~ cytogenic and
spermatogenesis studies. The results of this study will be published at a
later date by CARL.
I NVESTIGAT IONS
. There were no offsite lives~o~k dama~e claims that required investigation
durlng.1980. ALP personnel partlclp~ted ln the investigation of alleged plant
and anlmal health effects purported ln the Three Mile Island area of
Pennsylvania (Gears et ale 1980) and assisted in preparing the report.
24
-------
REFERENCES
Brown, K. W. and B. J. Mason. 1968. Range Survey, Area 18, Nevada Test Site.
SWRHL-52r. U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare,
Southwestern Radioloyical Health Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 42 pp.
Dillman, L. T. 1969. "Radionuclide decay schemes and nuclear parameters for
use in radiation-dose estimation." Medical Internal Radiation Dose
Committee. J. Nucl. Med. Supplement No.2.
Fountain, E. L. 1961. Offsite Animal Investigation Project. Fourth Annual
Report. U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Nevada Operations Office, Las
Vegas, Nevada. 32 pp.
Gears, G. E., G. LaRouche, J. Cable, B. Jaroslow, and D. Smith. 1980.
I~vestigations of Reported Plant and Animal Health Effects in the Three
Mile Island Area. NUREG-0738, EPA 600/4-80-049. U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency. Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory, Las
Vegas, Nevada. 33 pp.
Giles, K. R. 1979. A summer trapping method for mule deer. EMSL-LV-0539-27.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Monitoring and
Support Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 5 pp.
Hagan, V. 1. and G. Arrhenius.
Talanta 10:865.
1963.
"Ion exchange in mixed solvent."
International Commission on Radiological Protection. 1959. Report of
Committee lIon Permissible Dose for Internal Radiation. ICRP Report No.
2.
International Commission on Radiological Protection. 1968. Evaluation of
Radiation Doses to Body Tissues from Internal Contamination Due to
Occupational Exposure. ICRP Report No. 10.
International Commission on Radiological Protection. 1977. Recommendations
of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. ICRP
Report No. 26.
Johns, F. B., P. B. Hahn, D. J. Thome and E. W. Bretthauer. 1979. National
Environmental Research Center - Las Vegas Handbook of Radiochemical
Analyt ical Methods. EMSL-LV-539-17. U.S. Envi ronmental Protect ion
Agency, Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada.
109 pp.
25
-------
Leavitt, V. D. 1970. Soil Survey of Area 18, Nevada Test Site. SWRHL-74.
U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Southwestern
Radiol~ical Health Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 119 pp.
Major, W. J., K. D. Lee, and R. A. Wessman. 1975. "Analysis of 239Pu and
241Am in NAEG Large-Sized Bovine Samples." NVO-153. .!.!!.: The
Radioecol~y of Plutonium and Other Transuranics in Desert Environments.
M. G. White and P. B. Dunaway (eds.). U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
Merck and Company, Inc. 1973. The Merck Veterinary Manual. Fourth Edition.
O. H. Siegmund (ed.). Merck and Company, Inc., Rahway, New Jersey.
1,618 pp.
Mitchell, R. F. 1960.
concentrations."
"Electrodeposition of actinide elements at tracer
Anal. Chem. 32:326.
Mosby, H. S., editor. 1963. Wildlife Investigational Techniques. Second
edition. The Wildlife Society. Blacksbury, Virginia. 419 pp.
National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements.
Radiation Protection Criteria. Report No. 39.
1971.
Basic
Smith, D. D. 1970. Management History of the AEC Beef Herd - 1 June 1964 - 1
June 1969. SWRHL-80r. U.S. Department of Health, Education, and
Welfare, Southwestern Radiological Health Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada.
26 pp.
Smith, D. D. and K. R. Giles. 1970. Animal Investigation Program 1969 Annual
Report. SWRHL-102r. U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare,
Southwestern Radiological Health Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 20 pp.
Smith, D. D. and K. R. Giles. 1974. Animal Investigation Program 1970 Annual
Report. NERC-LV -539-16. U. S. Envi ronmental Protect ion Agency, National
Environmental Research Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. 53 pp.
Smith, D. D. and K. R. Giles. 1975. 1971 Animal Investigation Program Annual
Report. NERC-LV-539-20. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National
Environmental Research Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. 39 pp.
Smith, D. D., K. R. Giles, and D. E. Bernhardt. 1976.
Pr~ram 1972 Annual Report. NERC-LV-539-35. U.S.
Protection Agency, National Environmental Research
Nevada. 32 pp.
Smith, D. D., K. R. Gi les, and D. E. Bernhardt. 1977a. Animal Investigation
Program 1973 Annual Report: Nevada Test Site and Vicinity.
EMSL-LV-0539-3. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental
Monitoring and Support Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 31 pp.
Animal Investigation
Environmental
Center, Las Vegas,
Smith, D. D., K. R. Giles, D. E. Bernhardt, and K. W. Brown. 1977b. Animal
Investigation Pr~ram 1974 Annual Report: Nevada Test Site and Vicin-
ity. EMSL-LV-0539-10. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environ-
mental Monitoring and Support Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 37 pp.
26
-------
Smith, D. D., K. R. Gil es, D. E. Bernhardt, and K. W. Brown. 1978a.
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.
Smith, D. 0., K. R. Giles, D. E. Bernhardt, and K. W. Brown. 1978b.
Animal Investigation Program 1976 Annual Report: Nevada Test Site and
Vici nity. EMSL-LV-0539-20. U.S. Envi ronmental Protect ion Agency,
Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. III
pp.
Smith, D. D., K. R. Giles, D. E. Bernhardt, A. B. Crockett, and R. R.
Kinnison. 1979. Animal Investigation Program 1977 Annual Report:
Nevada Test Site and Vici nity. EMSL-LV-0539-26. U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory. Las
Vegas, Nevada. 90 pp.
Smith, D. 0., D. E. Bernhardt, and K. R. Giles. 1980. Animal Investigation
Program 1978 Annual Report: Nevada Test Site and Vicinity.
EPA-600j3-80-096, DOEjDPj0059-038. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 65 pp.
Smith, D. D., K. R. Giles, and D. E. Bernhardt. 1981a. Animal Investigation
Program 1979 Annual Report: Nevada Test Site and Vicinity. EPA-600j
3-81-035, DOEjDPj00539-042. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada. 65 pp.
Smith, D. 0., R. F.. Grossman, W. D. Corkern, D. J. Thome, R. G. Patzer, and
J. L. Hopper. 1981b. Offsite Environmental Monitoring Report:
Radiation Monitoring Around United States Nuclear Test Areas, Calender
year 1980. EPA-600j4-81-047, DOEjDPj00539-043. U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency. Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory, Las
Vegas, Nevada. 101 pp.
Talvitie, N. A. 1971. "Radiochemical determination of plutonium in
environmental and biological samples by ion exchange." Anal. Chem.
43: 1827-1830.
Talvitie, N. A. 1972. "Electrodeposition of actinides for alpha
spectrometric determination." Anal. Chem. 44:280-282.
U.S. Department of Energy. 1977. "Standards for Radiation Protection
r~anual." U. S. Department of Energy Transmitta 1 Not ice. Chapter 0524.
Wish, L. and M. Rowell. 1956. Sequential Analysis of Tracer Amounts of Np,
U, and Pu in Fission-Product Mixtures by Anion Exchange. USNRDL-TR-117.
Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory, San Francisco, California.
34 pp.
27
-------
0-3
0-4
0-5
E-1
LIST OF APPENDIX TABLES
Table
A-I
Summary of Analytical Procedures and Minimum Detectable
Act i vi ties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
B-1
C-1
Qual ity Assurance Results. . .
. . . .
.....
........
Plutonium Concentrations in Lungs and Tracheobronchial Lymph
Nodes, Beef Cattle, Area 18, NTS, October 1980. . . . . . . . .
C-2 Plutonium Concentrations in Muscles and Livers, Beef Cattle,
Area 18, NTS, October 1980. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
C-3 Plutonium Concentrations in Gonads and Fetus, Beef Cattle,
Area 18, NTS, October 1980. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
C-4 Plutonium and Strontium Concentrations in Femurs, Beef
Cattle, Area 18, NTS, 1980. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.....
C-5
Gamma-Emitting Radionuclide and Tritium Concentrations in
Selected Tissues, Beef Cattle, Area 18, NTS, May 1980 .
. . . .
C-6
Gamma-Emitting Radionuclide and Tritium Concentrations in
Selected Tissues, Beef Cattle, Area 18, NTS, October 1980 . . .
0-1
Plutonium Concentrations in Muscles and Livers, Mule Deer,
NTS, 1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
0-2
Plutonium Concentrations in Lungs and Gonads, Mule Deer,
NT S, 1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.....
Plutonium Concentrations in Rumen Contents, Mule Deer,
NT S, 1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.....
Plutonium and Strontium Concentrations in Hock Bones,
Mule Deer, NTS, 1980. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
......
Gamma-Emitting Radionuclide and Tritium Concentrations in
Selected Tissues, Mule Deer, NTS, 1980. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Plutonium and Strontium Concentrations in Bones, Desert
Bighorn Sheep, 1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
28
Page
30
31
33
34
35.
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
-------
Table
E-2
F-1
G-1
LIST OF APPENDIX TABLES (Continued)
Gamma-Emitting Radionuclide and Tritium Concentrations in
Kidneys, Desert Bighorn Sheep, 1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Plutonium, Strontium, and Gamma-Emitting Radionuclide
Concentrations in Selected Tissues, NTS Horse, 1980 .
. . . . .
Plutonium Concentrations in Selected Tissues, Rabbits,
Area 15, NTS, 1980. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . .
G-2 Plutonium and Stontium Concentrations in Bones, Rabbits,
Area 15, NTS, 1980. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
G-3
H
. . . .
Gamma-Emitting Radionuclide and Tritium Concentrations in
Selected Tissues, Rabbits, Area 15, NTS, 1980 . . . . .
. . . .
Gross and Microscopic Pathology Found in Necropsied
Animals, 1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.......
29
Page
46
47
48
50
51
52
-------
TABLE A-I.
SUMMARY OF ANALYTICAL PROCEDURES AND MINIMUM DETECTABLE ACTIVITIES
Type of
Analysis
Analytical Equipment
Count i 119
Period
(min)
Analytical Procedures
Sample
Size
Minimum Detectable Activities
(pCi/total sample)*
For:
SI;Mn, 60Co, 9SZr, 103Ru,
121;Sb, 132Te, 1311, 131;1,
137CS, II;0Ba - 7 pCi
12SSb, II;ICS, - 30 pCi
6SZn, 106Ru, Il;l;Ce - 20 pCi
181W - 85 pCi
7Be - 45 pCi
Gamma
Spectrom-
etry
89-90Sr
w
o
3H
238-
239Pu
Lithium-drifted germanium detectors
calibrated at approximately 0.5 KeV
per channel input to 4096 channels
resident in the core of the Nuclear
Data 6620 computer-based gamma
spectrometry system.
or by
10-cm-thick by 10 em-diameter Na!
(Tl-activated) crystal with input to
Nuclear Data 6620 calibrated at 10
keY per channel in the 60 keY to 2
MeV range.
Low-background thin-window, gas-flow
proportional counter with a 2.54-cm
diameter window (900 ~g/cm2).
Automatic liquid scintillation
counter with output printer.
Alpha spectrometer with silicon
surface barrier detectors operated in
vacuum chambers.
1,200
1,000
200
200
1,000
Radionuclide concentrations
quantitated from gamma
spectrum by Nuclear Data 6620
computer-based gamma
spectrometry system using
vendor supplied software.
Radionuclide concentration
quantitated by COC-6400
computer using Least Squares
Technique.
Chemical separation by Sr
(N03)2 precipitation and
Fe(HO)3 scavenge 89-90Sr was
counted as SrC03. 90Sr was
determined by 90y counting.
Purity was checked by two
successive counts at 14-day
intervals for 89-90Sr and 3
separate counts at 24-hour
intervals for 90y.
Sample prepared by
distillation.
Ash sample is digested with
acid, purified by ion
exchal1ge, electroplated on
stainless steel planchet, and
counted by alpha spectrometer.
300-ml
al umi num
cans
300-ml
a1 umi num
cans
10 g of
ash
5 m1
0.1-1 kg
wet weight
1-10 g
of ash
For:
For:
For:
For:
For:
For:
For:
21;1Am - 35 pCi
22Na - 4 pCi
K - 0.08 g
For:
89Sr - .5 pC i
90Sr - .3 pCi
0.4 pCi/m1 H20
For all isotopes - 0.04 pCi
* The minimum detectable activities in terms of total activity per sample for standard geometries and counting times are defined as those
activities which equal 3.29 times the standard deviation based on counting only [Environmental Measurements Laboratory (EML-formerly HASL)
Procedures Manual, HASL-300, pages 0-08-02 through 0-08-06, August 1974]. These values are approximations and are applicable to ideal
conditions and simple complexes of nuclides. Complex spectra or spectra showing naturally occurring radionuclides can raise the minimum
detectable activities considerably.
-------
TABLE B-1. QUALITY ASSURANCE RESULTS
Sample and Act i vity Added Activity Reported Percent
Shipment No. Nuclide (pCi/g Ash) (pCi /g Ash) Bias*
Bone Ash Samples
179960 90Sr 0 1. 3 :!: O. 18
No.3 239Pu 0 <0.013
179961 90Sr 1.5 1.3 :!: 0.35 100
No.3 239pu 0.022 <0.0075 100
179962 90Sr 1.5 1. 8 :!: O. 25 73
No.3 239Pu 0.022 <0.0082 100
179963 90Sr 12.0 5.4 :!: 0.73 67
No.3 2 3 9P u 0.088 0.045 :!: 0.0079 62
179964 90Sr 12.0 6.7 :!: 0.9 56
No.3 239Pu 0.088 0.037 :!: 0.0062 58
221119 90Sr 0 1. 4 :!: 0.2
No.9 2 3 9P u 0 0.0076 :!: 0.0181
221120 90Sr 3.0 1. 2 :!: O. 18 100
No.9 23 9Pu 0.044 0.041 :!: 0.009 33
221121 90Sr 2.9 1.8 :!: 0.25 86
No.9 239pu 0.044 0.043 :!: 0.009 28
221147 90Sr 0 1. 6 :!: O. 27
No.13 23 9pu 0 0.024 :!: 0.0086
221148 90Sr 7.3 5.3 :!: 0.27 47
No. 13 239pu 0.055 0.076 :!: 0.017 -17
Duplicate Bone Samples for Bighorn Sheep No. 12
Precision
of Ana lys i s**
221115 90Sr 0 1.3:!: 0.18
No.9 239pU 0 0.0069 :!: 0.0078
221116 90Sr 0 1.2 :!: O. 17 0.04
No.9 2 3 9p U 0 0.012 :!: 0.012 0.27
(continued)
31
-------
TABLE B-1.
(Cont i nued )
Sample and
Shipment No.
Act i vity Added
(pCi /kg t)
Activity Reported
( p C i /k g t )
Nuclide
Percent *
Bias
Muscle Tissue Samples
179949 90Sr 56.0 46.0 :!: 8.8
No.3 239pU 8.4 4.0 :!: 0.54
179954 90Sr 130.0 120.0 :!: 16.0
No.3 239Pu 13.1 6. 7 :!: 1. 8
179956 90Sr 0 O. 51 :!: O. 11
No.3 239pu 0 <0.009
179958 90Sr 24.0 29.0 :!: 4.3
No.3 23 9pu 2.4 1. 2 :!: O. 22
Liver Tissue Samples
179950 90Sr 140.0 83.0:!: 11.0
No.3 239pu 13.0 6.4 :!: 0.9
179955 90Sr 0 <2.0
No.3 239pu 0 <0.028
179957 90Sr 25.0 23.0 :!: 3.8
No.3 239pu 2.5 1. 7 :!: 0.57
159959 90Sr 48.0 36.0 :!: 5.2
No.3 239Pu 7.2 3. 1 :!: 0.66
*8 i as ( B) = 1 - Recovery where Recovery is average recovery (:i)
where xi = net activity reported
u = activity added
**Precision (Cv) = xl - X2
Xl + X2
where xl = first value
x2 = second value
The formulas for 95% confidence interval limits:
L upper = xi (1 + B + 2Cv)
L 1 ower = X i (1 + B-2 C v )
t Wet weight
32
19
53
8. 1
49
-19
51
41
51
12
33
17
58
-------
TABLE C-1. PLUTONIUM CONCENTRATIONS IN LUNGS AND TRACHEOBRONCHIAL
LYMPH NODES, BEEF CATTLE, AREA 18, NTS, OCTOBER 1980
Animal Number
Plutoniurn-238
(pCi/g Ash)
(pCi /kg*)
Plutonium-239
(pCi/g Ash)
(pCi /kg*)
Ash
(% )
Lung s
4
0.0063 :t 0.012**
0.055 :t 0.11**
5
0.0007 :t 0.00032**
0.006 :t 0.028**
6
0.0062 :t 0.029**
0.029 :t 0.13**
iv1 ed i a n
0.0062**
0.029
0.14:t 0.026
1.2 :t 0.23
0.88
0.17 :t 0.027
1. 5 :t 0.24
0.88
0.057 :t 0.099**
0.26 :t 0.46**
0.46
0.14
1.2
0.88
Rang e
0.0007** - 0.0063** 0.057** - 0.17
0.006** - 0.055** 0.26** - 1.5
0.46 - 0.88
Tracheobronchial Lymph Nodes
4
0.021 :t 0.097**
0.12:t 0.55**
5
-0.13:t 0.26**
-2.8 :t 5.9**
6
0.01 :t 0.049**
0.12 :t 0.57**
Med i an
0.01 **
0.12**
Range
-0.13** - 0.021**
-2.8** - 0.12**
0.56
2.8 :t 0.53
15 :t 3.0
0.15:t 0.29**
3.3:t 6.4**
2.2
0.042 :t 0.097**
0.49 :t 1. 1 **
1. 2
0.15
3.3
1.2
0.042** - 2.8
0.49** - 15
0.56 - 2.2
* Wet weight
** Counting error exceeds reported activity.
33
-------
TABLE C-2. PLUTONIUM CONCENTRATIONS IN MUSCLES AND LIVERS,
BEEF CATTLE, AREA 18, NTS, OCTOBER 1980
Plutonium-238 Plutonium-239
(pCi /g Ash) (pCi /g Ash) Ash
Animal Number (pCi /kg*) (pCi fkg*) (%)
Muscles
4 0.00044 I 0.002** 0.00044 I 0.002** 0.85
0.0037 I 0.017** 0.0037 I 0.017**
5 0.0061 I 0.0094** 0.016 I 0.045** 0.78
0.048 I 0.073** 0.12 I 0.35**
6 0.00055 I 0.0025** 0.0077 I 0.01** 0.81
0.0044 I 0.02** 0.062 I 0.081**
Med i an 0.00055** 0.0077** 0.81
0.0044** 0.062**
Rang e 0.00044** - 0.0061** 0.00044** - 0.016** 0.78 - 0.85
0.0037** - 0.048** 0.0037** - 0.12**
Livers
4 0.0021 I 0.0057** 0.056:t 0.016 1
0.021 I 0.057** 0.56 I 0.16
5 0.0048 I 0.0073** 0.08 I 0.015 0.81
0.039 I 0.06** 0.64 I 0.12
6 0.0013 I 0.003** 0.013 I 0.0043 1
0.013 I 0.03** 0.13 I 0.043
Med i an 0.0021** o. 056 1
0.021** 0.56
Range 0.0013** - 0.0048** 0.013 - 0.08 0.81 - 1
0.013** - 0.039** 0.13 - 0.64
* Wet weight
** Count i ng error exceeds reported act i vi ty.
34
-------
TABLE C-3. PLUTONIUM CONCENTRATIONS IN GONADS AND FETUS~
BEEF CATTLE~ AREA 18, NTS, OCTOBER 1980
.,---------~--
Animal Number
Plutonium-238
(pCi/g Ash)
(pCi/kg*)
Plutonium-239
(pCi/g Ash)
(pCi/kg*)
Ash
(%)
Gonads
4
0.015 :!: 0.034**
0.55 :!: 1. 3**
5
-0.069 :!: 0.12**
-0.6 :!: 1. 1 **
6
0.0027 :!: 0.0042**
0.03 :!: 0.047**
Median
0.0027**
0.03**
0.029 :!: 0.048**
1. 1 :!: 1. 8 **
3.8
0.02 :!: 0.065**
0.17 :!: 0.56**
0.87
0.0006 :!: 0.002**
0.0067 :!: 0.022**
1. 1
0.02**
0.17**
1.1
Rang e
-0.069** - 0.015** 0.0006** - 0.029**
-0.6** - 0.55** 0.0067** - 1.1**
0.87 - 38
5
0.0069 :!: 0.013**
0.12 :!: 0.22**
Fetus
0.0012 :!: 0.0054**
0.02 :!: 0.092**
1.7
* Wet weight
** Counting error exceeds reported activity.
35
-------
TABLE C-4. PLUTONIUM AND STRONTIUM CONCENTRATIONS IN FEMURS, BEEF CATTLE, AREA 18, NTS, 1980
Plutonium-238 Plutonium-239 Strontium-89 Strontium-90
An i mal (pCi /g Ash) (pCi/g Ash) (pCi/g Ash) (pCi /g Ash) Ash
Number (pCi /kg*) (pCi /kg*) (pCi/kg*) (pCi /kg*) (%)
4 0.00041 I 0.0019** 0.012 I 0.0045 12 I 18** 2.4 I 0.35 35
0.14 I 0.67** 4. 2 I 1. 6 4,200 I 6,300** 840 I 120
5 0.0072 I 0.0031 0.0059 I 0.0069** 11 :t 20** 3 :t 0.42 25
1.8 I 0.78 1. 5 I 1. 7** 2,800 :t 5,000** 750 :t 105
w
~
6 0.0007 :t 0.0033** 0.016 I 0.00034 17 :t 26** 3.1 :t 0.49 20
0.14 I 0.66** 3.2 :t 0.68 3,400 :t 5,200** 620 :t 98
Med i an 0.0007** O. 012 12 3 25
0.14** 3.2 3,400 750
Ra~e 0.00041** - 0.0072 0.0059** - 0.016 11** - 17** 2.4 - 3.1 20 - 35
O. 14 ** - 1. 8 1. 5** - 4.2 2,800** - 4,200** 620 - 840
Frozen samples from animals 1-3 were lost because of a power outage at 16 Area 15 farms.
* Wet weight
** Counting error exceeds reported activity.
-------
TABLE C-5. GAMMA-EM ITTI NG RAD IONUCLIDE AND TRI TI UM CONCENTRATIONS IN SELECTED TISSUES,
BEEF CATTLE, AREA 18, NTS, MAY 1980
Muscles Livers Ki dneys Rumen Contents
An i mal K (g/kg*) Lung s K (g/kg*) Thyroids K (g/kg*) K (g/kg*) Blood
Number 137Cs(pCi/kg*) K (g/kg*) 137Cs(pCi/kg*) K (g/kg*) 137CS(pCi/kg*) 137CS(pCi/kg*) 3H (pC i /1 )
1 6.4:!: 0.29 16 :!: 1.5 Sample Lost 41 :!: 3.6 4.1:!: 0.33 3.3 :!: 0.33 <320
37 :!: 12 <27 36 :!: 17
2 6.1 :!: 0.32 7.6 :!: 0.64 3.8:!: 0.22 35 :!: 2.6 5. 1 :!: O. 28 2.6 :!: 0.3 <320
21 :!: 12 14 :!: 8.8 29 :!: 12 <37
w
""-J
3** 6.0:!: 0.3 7.2:!: 0.4 5.4:!: 0.31 GSN 8.2:!: 0.61 Not Sampled <320
33 :!: 12 <24 81 :!: 26
Median 6.1 7.6 4.6 39 5. 1 3.0 <320
33 <19 29 <37
Range 6.0 - 6.4 7.2 - 16 3.8 - 5.4 35 - 41 4.1 - 8.2 2.6 - 3.3 <320 - <320
21 - 37 14 - <24 <27 - 81 36 - <37
* Wet weight sampled; only K at 7.3 :!: 0.8 g/kg was detected.
** Thymus was
-------
TABLE C-6.
GAMMA-EMITTING RADIONUCLIDE AND TRITIUM CONCENTRATIONS IN SELECTED TISSUES,
BEEF CATTLE, AREA 18, NTS, OCTOBER 1980
Muscles
An i mal K (g/kg*) Lungs Livers Thyroids Kidneys Blood
Number 137CS(pCi/kg*) K (g/kg*) K (g/kg*) K (g/kg*) K (g/kg*) Rumen Contents** 3H (pCi /1 )
4 3.5 I 0.26 6.8 I 0.43 4.7 I 0.37 22 I 3.4 4.1 I 0.25 Not Sampled <390
<25
5 6.2 I 0.27 7.9 I 0.77 4.5 I 0.29 9.6 I 1. 4 4.4 I 0.26 Not Sampled <390
15 I 9.2
w
OJ
6 5.8 I 0.28 4.2 I 0.33 4.8 I 0.28 4.1 I 0.56 3.4 I 0.24 Not Sampled <390
24 I 8.8
Median 5.8 6.8 4.7 9.6 4.1 <390
24
Rang e
3. 5 - 6.2
4. 2 - 7.9
4.5 - 4.8
4.1 - 22
3.4 - 4.4
<390 - <390
* Wet weight
** Rumen Contents not sampled as animal maintained on alfalfa hay for several days prior to death.
-------
TABLE 0-1.
PLUTONIUM CONCENTRATIONS IN MUSCLES AND LIVERS,
MULE DEER, NTS, 1980
Animal Number
Plutonium-238
(pCi/g Ash)
(pCi /kg*)
Plutonium-239
(pCi/g Ash)
(pCi /kg*)
Ash
(% )
~~uscles
1
-0.0012 ~ 0.0037**
-0.013 ~ 0.059**
2
-0.0015 ~ 0.0071**
-0.0095 ~ 0.044**
3
0.0051 ~ 0.0093**
0.051 :t 0.093**
4
0.00059 :t 0.0028**
0.0044 ~ 0.021**
Median
-0.0003**
-0.0026**
0.013 ~ 0.004
0.13 ~ 0.042
1
0.0061 :t 0.014**
0.038 ~ 0.09**
0.63
0.0051 :t 0.0093**
0.051 .t 0.093**
1
0.0072 :t 0.011**
0.053 :t 0.081**
0.74
0.0067**
0.052**
0.87
Rang e
-0.0015** - 0.0051** 0.0052** - 0.013
-0.0095** - 0.051** 0.038** - 0.13
0.63 - 1
Livers
1
0.0031 :t 0.0054**
0.039 1: 0.069**
2
0.0013 :t 0.0061**
0.021 :t 0.1**
3
0.006 ~ 0.028**
0.066:t 0.31**
4
0.0019 :t 0.009**
0.018 ~ 0.087**
Median
0.0022**
0.036**
Range
0.0013** - 0.006**
0.018** - 0.039**
0.012 ~ 0.0048
0.15 :]: 0.06
1.3
0.0078 :t 0.015**
0.13 :t 0.25**
1.6
0.006 :t 0.028**
0.066 :]: 0.031**
1.1
0.0039 :t 0.013**
0.038 :t 0.13**
0.97
0.0069**
0.098**
1.2
0.0039** - 0.012
0.038** - 0.15
0.97 - L 6
* Wet weight
** Counting error exceeds reported activity.
39
-------
TABLE 0-2.
PLUTONIUM CONCENTRATIONS IN LUNGS AND GONADS,
MULE DEER, NTS, 1980
Animal Number
Plutonium-238
(pCi/g Ash)
(pCi /kg*)
Plutonium-239
(pCi/g Ash)
(pCi /kg*)
Ash
(%)
1
2
3
4
i~ ed i a n
Range
3
4
Lu ng s
-0.002 I 0.009** 0.044 I 0.014 0.68
-0.013 I 0.062** 0.3 I 0.094
-0.0074 I 0.0016** 0.003 I 0.0097** 1.2
-0.088 I 0.18** 0.035 I 0.12**
0.0015 I 0.0071** 0.0045 I 0.012** 1.2
0.018 I 0.085** 0.054 I 0.14**
0.0011 I 0.005** 0.011 I 0.018** 1.1
0.012 I 0.055** 0.12 I 0.2**
0.0004** 0.007** 1.2
0.00 0.087**
-0.0074** - 0.0015** 0.003** - 0.044 0.68-1.2
-0.088** - 0.018** 0.035** - 0.3
Gonads
0.014 I 0.033** 0.088 I 0.037 1.4
0.2 I 0.46** 1.2 I 0.52
0.0021 I 0.0096** 0.0041 I 0.014** 2.3
0.048 I 0.22** 0.095 I 0.32**
* Wet weight
** Counting error exceeds reported activity.
40
-------
TABLE 0-3.
PLUTONIUM CONCENTRATIONS IN RUMEN CONTENTS, MULE DEER,
NTS, 1980
Plutonium-238 Plutonium-239
(pCi/g Ash) (pCi/g Ash) Ash
Animal Number (pCi/kg*) (pCi /kg*) (%)
1 0.0072 :t 0.0024 0.038 :t 0.0063 1.8
0.13 :t 0.044 0.69 :t 0.11
2 0.007 :t 0.0082** 0.027 :t 0.0079 2.2
0.15 :t 0.2** 0.61 -t 0.17
3 0.006 :t 0.0081** 0.034 :t 0.0085 1.5
0.09 :t 0.12** 0.51 :t 0.13
4 0.025 :t 0.0074 0.23 :t 0.037 1.3
0.33:t 0.096 3.0 :t 0.48
Med i an 0.0071 ** O. 036 1.7
0.14** 0.65
Range 0.006** - 0.025 0.027 - 0.23 1. 3 - 2. 2
0.09** - 0.33 0.51 - 3.0
* Wet weight reported act i vity.
** Counting error exceeds
41
-------
TABLE 0-4. PLUTONIUM AND STRONTIUM CONCENTRATIONS IN HOCK BONES, MULE DEER, NTS, 1980
Plutonium-238 Plutonium-239 Strontium-89 Strontium-90
An i ma 1 (pCi /g Ash) (pCi/g Ash) (pCi/g Ash) (pCi/g Ash) Ash
Number (pCi/kg*) (pCi /kg*) (pCi /kg*) (pCi /kg*) (%)
1 -0.0011 t 0.0037** 0.019 t 0.0071 450 t 510** 2.2 t 0.3 25
-0.28 t 0.93** 4.9 t 1.8 110,000 t 130,000** 550 t 76
2 Sample Lost
~
N 3 0.0004 t 0.0018** 0.0056 t 0.007** 16 t 16** 0.95 t 2.0** 22
0.088 t 0.4** 1. 2 t 1. 5 ** 3,500 t 3,500** 200 t 440**
4 0.0004 t 0.0018** 0.0004 t 0.0018** -176 t 230** 1. 9 t 0.41 33
O. 13 t 0.59** O. 13 t 0.69** 58,000 t 76,000** 630 t 140
Median 0.0004** 0.0056** 16** 1.9 25
0.088** 1.2** 3,500** 550
Range -0.0011** - 0.0004** 0.0004** - 0.019
-0.28** - 0.13** 0.13** - 4.9
-176** - 452**
-5,8000** - 110,000**
0.95** - 2.2
200** - 630
22 - 33
* Wet weight
** Counting error exceeds reported activity.
-------
TABLE 0-5. GAMMA-EM ITTI NG RADIONUCLIDE AND TRITIUM CONCENTRATIONS IN SELECTED TISSUES,
MULE DEER, NTS, 1980
Ki dneys
An i mal Muscles Lungs Livers Thyroids K (g/kg*) Rumen Contents Blood
Number K (g/kg*) K (g/kg*) K (g/kg*) 1311 ( pC i /g *) 137Cs(pCi/kg*) K (g/kg*) 3H (pCi/l)
1 4.9 :t 0.33 6.9 :t 0.44 3.9:t 0.31 <4 4.3 :t 0.32 4. 1 :t 0.31 <420
<30
2 3.6 :t 0.29 4.2 :t 0.36 4.4:t 0.36 Sample Not 4.3:t 0.33 3.6:t 0.29 470 :t 250
Collected 19 15
.j:::a 5.0:t 0.32
w 3 4.5 :t 0.26 8.2 :t 0.47 Sample Not 7.4:t 0.48 5.4:t 0.31 <330
Collected <50
4 5.8 :t 0.31 5.0 :t 0.43 5.3:t 0.35 22 :t 1. 9 9.5:t 0.65 5.0 :t 0.33 <420
<73
Median 4.7 6.0 4.7 <13 5.9 4.6 <420
<40
Range 3.6 - 5.8 4.2 - 8.2 3.9 - 5.3 <4 - 22 4.3 - 9.5 3.6 - 5.4 <330 - 470
19 - <73
* Wet weight
-------
TABLE E-1. PLUTONIUM AND STRONTIUM CONCENTRATIONS IN BONES, DESERT BIGHORN SHEEP, 1980
Plutonium-238 Plutonium-239 Strontium-89 Strontium-90
Ani mal (pCi/g Ash) (pCi /9 Ash) (pCi/g Ash) (pCi/g Ash) Ash
Number (pCi /kg*) (pCi /kg*) (pCi /kg*) (pCi/kg*) (%)
1 0.0042:t 0.011** 0.02 :t 0.027** -1.0:t 7.9** 1. 9 :t o. 34 18
0.76 :t 2.0 3.6 :t 4.9 -180 :t 1,400 340 :t 61
2 0.00041 :t 0.0019** 0.002 :t 0.0042** 0.55 :t 2.2** 0.55 :t 0.086 34
0.14:t 0.65 0.68 :t 1. 4 190 :t 750** 190 :t 30
3 O. 0064 :t O. 011** 0.0032 :t 0.0074** 4. 2 :t 11 ** 2.2 :t 0.33 34
2.2 :t 3.7 1. 1 :t 2.5 1,400 :t 3,700 750 :t 110
4 0.0034 :t 0.0072** 0.0069:t 0.010** 1. 4 :t 3.8** 0.68 :t O. 11 31
1.1 :t 2.2 2. 1 :t 3. 1 430:t 1,200** 210 :t 34
..j:::.
..j:::.
5 0.0044 :t 0.0078** 0.00063:t 0.0029** -1.1 :t 9.0** 1.7 :t 0.27 28
1. 2 :t 2.2 0.18 :t 0.81 -300 :t 2,500 470 :t 76
6 Sample Lost
7 0.00036 :t 0.0017** 0.0029:t 0.0048** o. 41 :t 8. 8 ** 2.1 :t 0.29 33
0.12:t 0.56 0.96:t 1.6 140 :t 2,900 690 :t 96
8 0.0004:t 0.0018** 0.0056:t 0.007** 1.7 :t 3.1** 0.58 :t O. 11 25
0.1 :t 0.45 1.4 :t 1.8 430 :t 780 150 :t 28
9 0.00042 :t 0.0019** 0.0089:t 0.0094** -1. 5 :t 5.9** 1. 5 :t O. 2 15
0.063 :t 0.29 1.3 :t 1.4 -230 :t 890 230 :t 30
10 0.00031 :t 0.0015** O. 013 :t O. 0042** 3.0:t 6.5** 1.3:t 0.19 26
0.081 :t 0.39 3.4 :t 1.1 780 :t 1,700 340 :t 49
(continued)
-------
TABLE E-1. (Continued)
Plutonium-238 Plutonium-239 Strontium-89 Strontium-90
Ani ma 1 (pCi/g Ash) (pCi/g Ash) (pCi /g Ash) (pCi/g Ash) Ash
Number (pCi /kg*) (pCi /kg*) (pCi/kg*) (pCi /kg*) (%)
11 0.003 :t 0.0058** 0.0076 :t 0.0088** 2.2 :t 4.6** 0.84 :t 0.13 27
0.81 :t 1.6 2.1 :t 2.4 590 :t 1,200 230 :t 35
12 0.00036 :t 0.0017** 0.0069 :t 0.0078** 0.71:t 5.6** 1.3:t 0.18 26
0.094 :t 0.44 1.8 :t 2.0 180 :t 1,500 340 :t 47
13 0.0011 :t 0.0035** 0.012 :t 0.012** 2.4 :t 5.4** 1. 2 :t O. 17 28
(dupli- 0.31 :t 0.98 3.4 :t 3.4 670 :t 1,500 340 :t 48
~ cate
(.11 No. 12)
14 0.00056 :t 0.0026** 0.00056 :t 0.0026** 4.1 :t 4.4** 2.8 :t 1.4 39
0.22 :t 1.0 0.22 :t 1.0 1,600 :t 1,700 1,100 :t 550
15 0.0019 :t 0.0039** 0.0045 :t 0.0064** o. 73 :t 1. 2** 2.9 :t 0.4 28
0.53 :t 1. 1 1.3:t 1.8 200 :t 340 310 :t 110
Med i an 0.00083** 0.0063** 1.1** 1.4 28
0.27 1.4 310 340
Rang e 0.00031** - 0.0064** 0.00056** - 0.02** 1. 5** - 4.1** 0.55 - 2.9 15 - 39
0.063 - 2.2 0.18 - 3.6 -300 - 1,600 150 - 1,100
* Wet weight
** Counting error exceeds reported activity.
-------
TABLE E-2. GAMMA-EMITTING RADIONUCLIDE AND TRITIUM CONCENTRATIONS
IN KIDNEYS, DESERT BIGHORN SHEEP, 1980
K Cesium-137 Hydrogen-3
Ani mal Number (g/g*) (pCi/kg*) (pCi/l*)
1 13 + 0.78 <84 <420
2 17 + 1.1 <112 <420
3 14 + 1. 4 <123 <420
4 8 + 0.65 <51 <420
5 7.9 + 0.67 <93 <420
6 5.6 + 0.42 91 + 22 <330
7 11 + 0.64 <61 <420
8 6.1 + 0.45 <40 <330
9 8.6 + 0.69 <88 <330
10 6.1 + 0.39 31 + 18 <420
11 9.9 + 0.68 <80 <420
12 7.3 + 0.58 <50 <420
Median 8.3 <82 <420
Range 5.6 - 17 31 - <123 <330 - <420
* Wet weight
+ Aqueous portion of kidney tissue
46
-------
TABLE F-1. PLUTONIUM, STRONTlU~1, AND GAMMA-EMITTING RADIONUCLIDE CONCENTRATIONS IN
SELECTED TISSUES, NTS HORSE, 1980
Plutonium-238 Pluton i um-239 Stront ium-89 Strontium-90
Tissue (pCi /g Ash) (pCi /g Ash) (pCi/g Ash) (pCi/g Ash) Ash
Type (pCi /kg*) (pCi/kg*) (pCi/kg*) (pCi /kg*) (%) K (g/kg*)
Bone -0.0012 I 0.004** 0.015 I 0.015 150 :!: 515** 3.5 I 0.5 27 NA
-0.32 I 1.1** 3.9 I 3.9 40,000 I 140,000** 950 I 130
Mu sc 1 e 0.0031 I 0.0059** 0.0057 I 0.0081** NA NA 0.78 6.3 I 0.32
+:> 0.024 I 0.046** 0.044 I 0.063**
-....J
Liver 0.034 I 0.0088 0.98 I 0.11 NA NA 1.3 4.4 I 0.18
0.44 I 0.11 13 :!: 1.4
Lung 0.014 I 0.014 0.42 I 0.045 NA NA 1.1 7.2 I 0.57
0.15 IO.15 4.7 :!: 0.56
Thyrai d NA NA NA NA NA 24 I 2. 7
* Wet weight
** Counting error exceeds reported activity.
NA Not Analyzed
-------
TABLE G-1. PLUTONIUM CONCENTRATIONS IN SELECTED TISSUES, RABBITS,
AREA 15, NTS, 1980
Plutonium-238 Plutonium-239
(pCi /g Ash) (pCi/g Ash) Ash
An i ma 1 Number (p C i /k 9 *) (pCi/kg*) (%)
Muscles
1 -0.0027 1: 0.0055** 0.0441:0.011 2.0
-0.053 1: 0.11** 0.88 1: 0.21
2 -0.0011 1: 0.0052** 0.018 1: 0.021** 1.4
-0.016 1: 0.073** 0.25 1: 0.3**
3 0.00 1: 0.0088** 0.037 1: 0.041** 1.6
0.001:0.14** 0.59 1: 0.65**
4 -0.0029 1: 0.0066** 0.051 1: 0.013 1.4
-0.04 1: 0.093** 0.71 1: 0.18
M ed i an -0.0019** 0.041 1. 5
-0.028** 0.65
Rang e -0.0029** - 0.00** 0.018** - 0.051 1.4 - 2
-0.053** - 0.00** 0.25** - 0.88
Internal Organs
1 0.031 1: 0.012 0.61 1: 0.079 1.4
0.43 1: 0.17 8.5 1: 1.1
2 Sample Lost
3 0.067 1: 0.028 0.93 1: 0.018 1.5
1.0 1: 0.42 14 1: 2.7
4 0.011 1: 0.016** 0.141:0.027 1.3
0.15 1: 0.21** 1.8 1: 0.35
Median 0.031 0.61 1.4
0.43 8.5
Range 0.011** - 0.067 0.14 - 6.93 1.3 - 1.5
0.15** - 1. 0 1. 8 - 14
(continued)
48
-------
TABLE G-1. (Cont i nued)
Plutonium-238 Plutonium-239
Animal Number (pCi/g Ash) (pCi /g Ash) Ash
(pCi/kg*) (pCi /kg*) (%)
G. I. Tract
1 0.016 :!: 0.008 0.38 :!: 0.042 2.1
0.34:!: 0.12 7.9 :!: 0.88
2 0.038 :!: 0.01 0.88 :!: 0.096 2.4
0.9 :!: 0.25 21 :!: 2.3
3 1. 5 :!: O. 28 33 :!: 4.8 13
200 :!: 30 4,300 :!: 630
4 0.017 :!: 0.0063 0.63 :!: 0.063 1.9
0.32 :!: 0.12 12 ::!: 1. 2
Medi an 0.028 0.76 2.3
0.62 17
Range 0.016 - 1. 5 0.38 - 33 1.9 - 13
0.32 - 200 7.9 - 4,300
Skin
1 0.28:!: 0.057 10 :!: 0.95 2.2
6. 2 ::!: 1. 3 220 ::!: 21
2 0.33 ::!: 0.096 16 ::!: 2.3 2.4
8.0 ::!: 2.3 380 ::!: 56
3 0.46 :!: 0.079 19 ::!: 1. 8 2.2
10 ::!: 1. 8 420 ::!: 40
4 0.25 ::!: 0.052 7.8:!:0.74 2.3
5.8 ::!: 1.2 180 :!: 17
Median 0.31 13 2.3
7.1 300
Rang e 0.25 - 0.46 7.8 - 19 2.2 - 2.4
5.8 - 10 180 - 420
* Wet weight exceeds reported activity.
** Counting error
49
-------
TABLE G-2. PLUTONIUM AND STRONTIUM CONCENTRATIONS IN BONES, RABBITS, AREA 15, NTS, 1980
Plutonium-238 Plutonium-239 Strontium-89 Strontium-90
An i mal (pCi /g Ash) (pCi/g Ash) (pCi /g Ash) (pCi/g Ash) Ash
Number (pCi /kg*) (pCi /kg*) (pCi/kg*) (pCi /kg*) (%)
1 -0.0012 ! 0.0039** 0.018! 0.0069 530 ! 830** 2.6 ! 0.38 12
-0.14 ! 0.48** 2.2 ! 0.86 66,000 ! 100,000** 320 ! 47
2 0.0 ! 0.0024** 0.02 ! 0.0071 170 ! 1,000** 3.5 ! 0.49 14
0.0 ! 0.36** 2.9 ! 1.0 24,000 ! 110,000** 500 ! 71
01 3 0.00065 ! 0.003** 0.049 ! 0.01 -140 ! 780** 2.4 ! 0.36 15
a 0.098 ! 0.46** 7.3 ! 2.0 -22,000 ! 110,000** 360 ! 55
4 0.0006 ! 0.0026** 0.042 ! 0.012 350 ! 470** 1.5 ! 0.22 14
0.08 ! 0.37** 6. 1 ! 1. 8 51,000 ! 68,000** 270 ! 32
Med i an .0003** 0.031 260** 2.5 14
0.04** 4.5 38,000** 340
Rang e -0.0012**- 0.00065** 0.018 - 0.049 -140** - 530** 1. 5 - 3.5 12 - 15
-0.14** - 0.098** 2.2 - 7.3 -22,000**- 66,000** 220 - 500
* Wet weight
** Counting error exceeds reported activity.
-------
TABLE G-3. GAMMA-EMITTING RADIONUCLIDE AND TRITIUM CONCENTRATIONS IN
SELECTED TISSUES, RABBITS, AREA 15, NTS, 1980
G. I. Tract
Mu sc 1 es K (g/kg*)
K (g/kg*) Interna 1 Organs 137CS(pCi/kg*) Skin
Ani mal 137Cs(pCi /kg) K (g/kg*) 102mRh(pCi/kg*) K (g/kg*)
Number 3H (pCi /1) 137Cs(pCi/kg*) 60Co(pCi/kg*) 137CS(pCi/kg)
1 9.2 :t 0.57 9.3 :t 0.3 4.7 :t 0.34 13 :t 1.3
98 :t 16 71 :t 14 63 :t 16 250 :!: 91
4,100 :t 310 <28
<28
2 5.7 :!: 0.43 5.9 :!: 0.45 6.3 :t 0.44 10 :t 1.6
130 :t 20 90 :t 23 150 :t 22 200 :t 120
1,200 :t 270 <42
<42
3 5.0 :t 6.34 4.6 :t 0.34 11 :t 0.56 4.9 :t 1. 3
82 :t 16 37 :!: 18 2,300 :t 61 140 :t 71
6,500 :t 340 130 :t 25
130 :!: 13
4 6.0 :t 0.37 3.9 :t 0.35 4.6 :t 0.34 15 :t 1. 6
88 :t 13 46 :t 16 33 :t 15 130 :t 87
5,300 :t 320 <29
<29
M ed i a n 5.9 5.3 5.5 11. 6
93 59 107 170
4,700 <36
<36
Range 5.0 - 9.2 3.9 - 9.3 4.6 - 11 4.9 - 15
82 - 130 37 - 99 33 - 2,300 130 - 250
1,200 - 6,500 <28 - 130
<28 - 130
* Wet weight
51
-------
TABLE H.
GROSS* AND MICROSCOPIC PATHOLOGyt FOUND IN
NECROPSIED ANIMALS, 1980
AREA 18 CATTLE
1
Necropsy findings: The lungs were emphysematous from agonal struggling.
Metal fragments were found in the reticulum.
Histopathological findings: No significant lesions noted.
spermatogenesis in the testes.
No act i ve
Clinical diagnosis:
Normal immature bull.
2
Necropsy findings:
on skin.
Adhesions between diaphragm and liver.
Lice are present
Histopathological findings: Sarcocyst observed in cardiac muscle. There is
noderate hemosiderosis of the spleen. The skin shows mild superficial dermal
mononuclear infiltrate, etiology undetermined. An incidental finding was
scattered tubular mineral deposits in the kidneys.
Clinical diagnosis:
Normal lactating cow.
3
Necropsy findings:
No g r os s 1 e s ion s not ed .
Histopathological findings: No significant lesions noted.
finding was diffuse fatty changes in the liver.
An incidental
Clinical diagnosis:
Normal 2-week old female calf.
4
Necropsy findings: Cauliflower growth on left eye (squamous cell carcinoma).
Lungs contain areas of emphysema and atelectasis probably resulting from
agonal struggling.
* As reported by senior author
t As reported by Dr. Billy C. Ward, College of Veterinary Medicine,
Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi.
52
-------
Histopathological findings: Mild hemosiderosis of the spleen. Sarcocysts are
found in the cardiac muscle and the skeletal muscle shows moderate fatty
inf~ltration. The neoplastic mass on the cornea is composed of moderate
undlfferentiated squamous cells which occasionally form pearls on the corneal
surface. The only significant lesion is the presence of an ocular squamous
cell carcinoma.
Clinical diagnosis:
Mature cow with beginning ocular squamous cell carcinoma.
5
Necropsy findings: The left eye was completely enucleated by a squamous cell
carcinoma and secondary bacterial infections. Uterus contained a 3-month male
fetus.
Histopathological findings: Sarcocysts are scattered throughout the
myocardium. The spleen shows moderate hemosiderosis.
Clinical diagnosis:
Mature cow with advanced ocular squamous cell carcinoma.
6
Necropsy findings:
No gross lesions noted.
Histopathological findings: Mild peribronchial lymphoid proliferation noted
in the lungs. No evidence of active spermatogenesis in the testes.
Clinical diagnosis:
Normal 6-month old bull calf.
NEVADA TEST SITE MULE DEER
1
Necropsy findings: Trauma associated with bullet passage through the lungs,
antlers stunted and knobby.
Histopathological findings:
were autolyzed.
No significant lesions noted.
Tissue samples
Clinical diagnosis:
Normal mature male deer.
2
Necropsy findings: Mature doe in lactation.
collision. Neck was broken.
Histopathological findings: Foccal hemorrhage in l~ng.
noted. Samples showed advanced post-mortem autolyslS.
Trauma associated with vehicular
No other lesions
Clinical diagnosis:
Normal mature lactating female deer.
53
-------
3
Necropsy findings:
gun.
Histopathological findings:
spermatogenesis in testes.
Fractured vertebrae from syringe fired from Cap-Chur
No significant lesions.
No evidence of active
4
Clinical diagnosis:
Normal immature male deer.
Necropsy findings:
Trauma associated with bullet passage through lungs.
Histopathological findings: A few sarcocysts are observed in the myocardium
and skeletal muscle. There are small mineralized foci in the pelvis of the
kidney. No evidence of active spermatogenesis in the testes.
Clinical diagnosis:
Normal immature male deer-
AREA 15 HORSE
Necropsy findings: The liver and lung surfaces and parenchyma contained
numerous spherical nodules 2-5 mm in diameter. These nodules were whitish
yellow in color and very hard. The urinary bladder contained several hundred
cubic centimeters of a thick pustular exudate. The same exudate was found in
the pelvis of the left kidney. Thyroid was very dense and hard.
Histopathological findings: There are multifocal calcific nodules scattered
throughout the liver and lung parenchyma. These nodules are surrounded by
dense fibrous connective tissue bands which occasionally have a few
infiltrating inflammatory cells, many of which are eosinophils. The center of
the nodule is composed of dense calcified tissue. There is some linear
mineralization in the choroid behind the retinal epithelium. The thyroid
displays marked irregularity of follicular size and of choloid content. The
muscle shows some fatty infiltration. There are a variety of mild, probably
age-associated lesions in the kidney. These consist of mild multifocal
interstitial fibrosis with moderate accumulation of mononuclear cells
associated with fibrotic lesions. There are some protein casts in dilated
tubules and an occasional granular cast. Focal glomerular scarring is
occasionally observed.
Clinical diagnosis: Aged horse showing the degenerative changes of advanced
age. The major findings in this horse include mineralization behind the
retina, mild interstitial nephritis and degenerative changes of the kidney,
and mild thyroid atrophy and regeneration. The multifocal calcific nodules in
the liver and lungs are probably associated with old calcified parasitic
9 ranu lomas.
54
-------
AREA 15 RABBITS
All of these animals were collected by shotgun fire. All were placed il1 a
freezer until sampled. No gross lesions were noted by dissector. All were
apparently normal at time of death. Samples were not collected for
histopathological examination.
DESERT BIGHORN SHEEP
All of these animals were mature males that were killed by licensed hunters.
Necropsies were not performed but all were apparently normal at time of death.
Samples were not collected for histopathological examination.
55
-------
TECHNICAL REPORT DATA II
(Please read Instructions on the reverse before completing)
12. 3. RECIPIENT'S ACCESSION NO. II
1. REPORT NO.
4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5. REPORT DATE
ANIMAL INVESTIGATION PROGRAM 1980 REPORT ----
Nevada Test Site and Vicinity 6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE
EP A/600/07 --
7. AUTHOR(S) 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NO'
1). D. Smith, K. R. Giles and D. E. Bernhardt
9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS 10. PROGRAM ELEMENT NO.
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory X6EHI0
Office of Research and Development 11. CONTRACT/GRANT NO.
U. S. Envi ronmental Protection Agency IA
Las Vegas, Nevada 89114 DE-AI08-76DP00539
-- 13. TYPE OF REPORT AND PERIOD COVERED
12. SPONSORING AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS
U. S. Depa rtment of Energy Cal encliJf 1 qgn ----
Nevada Operations Office 14. SPONSORING AGENCY CODE
P.O. Box 14100
Las Vegas, Nevada 89114 --
15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES
Performed under Interagency Agreement DE-AI08-76DP00539
for the u.S. Department of Energy ----1
16.ABSTRACTUata are presented from the radioanalysis of tissues collected from animals!
that resided on or near the Nevada Test Site (NTS). Gamma-emitting radionuclides were
detected infrequently. Iodine-131 was found in the thyroids of a deer 3 weeks after a
nuclear test by the People IS Republic of China. Strontium-90 and plutonium con centra-
tions in NTS animal tissues were similar to those of recent years. Radionuclide tissue
concentrations were generally higher in the tissues of animals residing in Area 15.
Annual dose estimates to man were calculated based on the daily consumption of 0.5
kg of tissue with peak radionuclide levels. The highest postulated dose was 0.4
millirems to the whole body from consuming cattle muscle containing 37 pCi cesium-137
per kg. This dose is about 0.1 percent of the radiation protection guide.
The movements of 26 mule deer fitted with collars containing a radio transmitter
unit were monitored. By mi d-December, all deer had left their summer ranges. In
general, deer captured on Pahute Mesa winter in the 40-Mile Canyon and Timber Mountain
areas with some movement off the NTS toward Beatty, while those captured on Rainier
Mesa winter in the Shoshone Mountain area. A deer captured in December 1979 was seen
in July and August, approximately 160 kilometers from its capture point. NTS mule deer
population estimates based on weekly sightings were made for 1978, 19 7 9 and 1980.
No gross or microscopic lesions in necropsied animals were found that could be
directly attributed to the effects of ion i zing radiation.
17. KEY WORDS AND DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
a. DESCRIPTORS b.IDENTIFIERS/OPEN ENDED TERMS C. COSA TI Field/Group
18. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT 19. SECURITY CLASS (This Report) 21. NO. OF PAGES
UNCLASSIFIED
RELEASE TO PUBLIC 20. SECURITY CLASS (TlJis page) 22. PRICE
UNCLA<\SIFTFn
EPA Form 2220-1 (Rev. 4-77)
PREVIOUS EDITION IS OBSOLETE
------- |