Vol. 1, NO. 3
Oct. 1, 1971
bulletin
RADIATION EXPOSURE VARIES BY STATE
People living in Louisiana and Texas are exposed on the
average to the lowest levels of natural radiation found in
the country. Residents of Colorado are exposed to the
highest levels of natural radiation.
These facts are among information compiled by an
interagency Special Studies Group, made up of representa-
tives of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Atomic
Energy Commission, the Department of Health, Education
and Welfare, and the Department of Defense. The inter-
agency group is developing information on radiation doses
in the United States from all sources. The study is part of
EPA's review of the basic radiation protection guidances
recommended by the former Federal Radiation Council in
1960; these guidances are used as a basis for establishing
standards for radiation exposure to humans.
The Special Studies Group found that, on the average,
each person in the United States receives a dose from
natural radiation of 130 millirems a year. The next highest
amount comes from medical diagnosis and treatment,
which in 1970 gave an estimated dose of about 90 millirems
per person per year.
This is followed by an average of about 200 millirems per
year to each of the approximately 772,000 workers
exposed to radioactivity on the job. This amounts to an
average of 0.8 millirems per person in the entire population.
Fallout from past atmospheric tests gives an average
exposure of four millirems per person per year. Radiation
from nuclear power reactors and allied facilities is, on the
average, a fraction of one millirem per person per year.
Natural radiation may come from outer space—cosmic
rays-or from terrestrial sources. Terrestrial sources are
classed as either external, i.e., from radioactive materials in
rocks or the earth's crust; or internal, i.e., from ingested
food, or from radiation in air and water that is taken into
the body.
One reason natural radiation varies from place to place is
that natural levels rise with higher altitudes, such as are
found in the mountainous western States. This is mainly
due to increased cosmic radiation at these high altitudes.
Radiation levels also rise with an increase in geomagnetic
latitude, up to 50 degrees. High concentrations of radio-
See Radiation page 2
STATE ATTORNEYS-GENERAL
MEET EPA OFFICIALS
The National Association of Attorneys-General, in co-
sponsorship with EPA, presented a one-day Conference on
Environmental Protection, September 20th at Airlie House,
Warrenton, Virginia. The purpose of the Conference was to
provide a legal briefing for State attorneys-general, or their
official designates, who will have primary responsibility in
the States for handling environmental litigation.
Attorneys-general who attended the Conference
included: John B. Breckenridge (Ky.); Robert Warren
(Wise.); Francis B. Burch (Md.); Anthony Park (Idaho);
Vincent Perez (Guam); Donald Williams (American Samoa);
William Scott (III.); David L. Norvell (New Mexico);
Gordon Mydland (S. Dak.); and Andrew P. Miller (Va.).
Other States were represented by assistant or acting
attorneys-general.
Featured speakers included EPA Administrator William
D. Ruckleshaus, who discussed Federal-State relations in
the environmental field, and Illinois Attorney-General
William Scott who discussed the role of the attorney-
general in implementing State environmental policy.
If conference proceedings are published at some future
time, the EPA Bulletin will carry an announcement of
availability.
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TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
Application of the best available technology—whether in
sewage treatment plant design, or some other pollution-
control system—is essential in order ot meet increasingly
stringent environmental quality standards. In large-scale
construction projects this is particularly necessary to delay
obsolescence and protect the capital investment involved.
In an effort to disseminate information concerning the
latest pollution-control technology, and to minimize the
time between its development and widespread application,
the Environmental Protection Agency has established a
Technology Transfer Program, within the Office of Re-
search and Monitoring. Presently, the Program is designed
to promote new wastewater treatment techniques. How-
ever, the activity will be expanded to convey information
concerning all EPA research and development projects, that
have been proven, and which provide practical solutions to
environmental problems.
The Technology Transfer Program sponsors seminars
throughout the country for the benefit of State, municipal,
and consulting engineers. Each seminar includes a half-day
session on the EPA construction grants program and on
Federal guidelines for design, operation and maintenance of
wastewater treatment facilities. Three half-day sessions are
devoted to discussion of various new technologies such as
phosphorous removal, carbon absorption, physical-chemical
treatment, and introgen removal.
In addition to sponsoring technical seminars, the Tech-
nology Program prepares pamphlets, films, exhibits and
other materials which process design manuals have been
published, and several others are now being developed.
For further information concerning the Technology
Transfer Program, and how it may be of benefit to you,
please write:
Technology Transfer Program
Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, D.C. 20460.
RADIATION con t.
active materials in the earth also contribute to increased
levels in the air.
The following figures, by State, give estimated annual
whole-body doses from natural radiation in millirems, from
cosmic and terrestrial sources.
A1. 135; Ak. 130; Az. 145; Ar. 140; Ca. 115; Co. 250; Ct.
125; De. 125; D.C. 120; Fl. 120; Ga. 125; Hi. 115; Id. 170;
II. 135; In. 125; la. 135; Ks. 135; Ky. 130; La. 100; Me. 150;
Md. 120; Ma. 140; Mi. 135; Mn. 150; Ms. 130; Mo. 130; Mt.
175; Nb. 155; Nv. 150; NH 135; NJ 125; NM 200; NY 135;
NC 145; ND 145; Oh. 140; Ok. 135; Or. 135; Pa. 125; Rl
130; SC 135; SD 210; Tn. 140; Tx. 100; Ut. 180; Vt. 120;
Va. 125; Wa. 135; WV 135; Wi. 130; Wy. 245; AS 115; Gu.
120;PR 115;CZ115;VI 115.
TO HEAD
SOLID WASTE
PROGRAM
Samuel Hale, Jr.
Samuel Hale, Jr., has been appointed Deputy Assistant
Administrator for EPA's Solid Waste Management Pro-
grams.
Hale, 29, was formerly Director of Special Projects for
EPA. His appointment became effective October 4.
In making the announcement, Administrator
Ruckleshaus said, "Hale, has been in charge of a number of
important projects, cutting across all the programs of EPA.
He carried them out effectively and has greatly assisted in
efforts to develop EPA into a cohesive agency." '
He replaces Richard D. Vaughn, who resigned last
month to accept a position in private industry.
Hale, during his tenure as Director of Special Projects,
helped to establish EPA's noise abatement program and en-
vironmental impact statement program. He has been re-
sponsible for the management of EPA's economic analysis
activities, including a major study of the economic impact
of pollution control.
He was also in charge of evaluating EPA's implemen-
tation of the Resource Recovery Act of 1970 and has been
participating in a joint EPA-CEQ study of recycling of
wastes. He has conducted numerous other studies of such
areas as the Refuse Act Permit Program, implementation of
the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1970, and EPA man-
power development activities.
Prior to joining EPA, Hale was a member of the Manage-
ment Planning Group, Office of the Undersecretary, De-
partment of Health, Education, and Welfare. During his two
years with HEW, he conducted management studies, served
as project manager for the Department's Health Main-
tenance Organization and provided staff liaison with the
Environmental Health Service. He also served on a
three-man White House team that assisted in the establish-
ment of the EPA.
A graduate of Stanford University with a bachelor of
arts in political science, Hale received a master of business
administration from the Harvard Graduate School of Bu-
siness Administration. He is presently enrolled in the doc-
torate program in economics at the University of California
at Los Angeles.
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SPOTLIGHT ON RESEARCH: TIRE DISPOSAL
Worn and discarded automobile tires present one of
the most troublesome-and common-problems in solid
waste disposal. Whether piled in a dump, buried in a
landfill, or incinerated, the rubber tire is often associated
with visual blight and various environmental insults.
Open burning of tires, or incineration without special
equipment, results in gross air pollution. Because of their
elastic quality, tires cannot be compressed as most other
refuse in a sanitary landfill.
A means has, however, been demonstrated to dispose
of very large numbers of worn tires with apparent benefit
to the environment. Fishermen have long been aware that
natural reefs and sunken wrecks constitute ideal sites of
refuge for many forms of marine life. Small fish and other
organisms seek the protection of reefs, while larger fish are
attracted to prey upon inhabitants of protected areas-a
situation which results in an abundance of marine life in
proximity to reefs. It seemed logical, therefore, that tire
groupings might serve as artificial reefs for exposed areas of
the ocearv floor with the dual benefit for promoting marine
life, while offering a safe disposal technique.
Financed by a grant from EPA, and its predecessor
agencies, a research project involving the tire-reef concept
was undertaken by the Sandy Hook Marine Laboratory,
U.S. Department of Commerce in Highland, New Jersey.
Through field investigation, the project initiated in 1967,
was concerned with determining: 1) where and how best to
use tires as artificial reefs; 2) the costs involved; 3) the
number of reefs to be built; 4) the most suitable design for
the reefs; and 5) the type of oceanic environment most
receptive to artificial reefs.
There are two basic tire construction units with
which the Sandy Hook Marine Laboratory has been
conducting its study. In one method, the tires are piled
one on top of another into columns of 8, attached with 2
pieces of rod, and then weighted with cement. Two holes
are drilled in the top of each tire to facilitate sinking of the
vertical rod unit. Although these vertical units are capable
of being easily rolled, they are heavy and bulky and must
be transported by large boat or barge.
The single-tire unit is more suitable for emplacement
by individuals concerned with marine life protection, and
who will cooperate with a reef construction project; this
unit may be easily prepared and readily transported by
small private boat. A #10 tin can filled with cement is
placed inside the edges of the worn tire in order to weight
Each year an estimated 214 million worn auto and truck
tires are scrapped. Disposal of tires presents a special
problem since incinerating them usually results in gross air
pollution, and they are difficult to compact in landfills.
the unit. Two holes are then drilled at the top of.the tire to
assure that it sinks directly to the designated reef.
The use of both the vertical rod unit and the single
tire unit were found to result in a varied reef atmosphere;
the vertical units increase the height of the reef, while the
single units add to the surface area.
Once the field studies had indicated the practicality
of the tire-reef concept, a successful campaign was launched
to encourage reef-building projects. Sport fishermen in the
Sandy Hook vicinity and other areas from the New Jersey
coast to Florida were urged to contribute old tires to reef
sites each time they fished—with the prospect of increasing
the numbers of game fish for their own purposes.
Communities, too, were asked to participate in the
reef-building projects. Wtih the cooperation of local
businesses, many have been practicing a very economical
system for constructing reefs of single tire units: tires are
initially contributed by local tire dealers, with support of
the National Tire Dealers and Retailers Association; #10
cans are donated by schools and restaurants; waste concrete
left over in cement trucks has also been donated. Assembly
of the single tire units is done completely through volunteer
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efforts, after which the tires are delivered to nearby
marinas; fishing boats then unload the tires over pre-
determined reef sites.
Since the establishment of the first tire reefs several
years ago, 25 areas along the East coast are currently
considered "active"-that is, citizens regularly contribute
tire units to the sites. Many more reefs are in the planning
stages, while approximately 75 other reefs, considered "in-
active," currently support large numbers of marine
organisms.
Properly weighted and sited, tire reefs have caused no
reported ecological problems. Indeed, observations of such
reefs indicates that they are quickly covered by barnacles
and other organisms, and that they resemble natural reef
formations.
For additional information write: Mr. Clarence A.
demons, Environmental Protection Agency, National
Environmental Research Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268.
A standard #10 can filled with concrete is inserted between
the sidewalk of a single tire as ballast. Single-tire units are
often dropped at reef sites by sport fishermen who
cooperate with reef-building pro/ects.
Larger artificial reef units are held together by steel rods
and must be taken to reef sites by barge. Reefs made of
worn tires are quickly covered by barnacles and other
marine organisms, and resemble natural reef formations.
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TRITIUM SYMPOSIUM HELD
The first EPA-sponsored symposium dealing with
radiation was held in Las Vegas, Nevada, August 30 through
September 2, 1971. This Symposium was jointly organized
and co-sponsored by EPA's Western Environmental
Research Laboratory and the University of Nevada, Las
Vegas,
Dr. Stanley M. Greenfield, Assistant Administrator for
Research and Monitoring of EPA, stated in his keynote
address the importance of tritium as an environmental
contaminant. According to Dr. Greenfield, tritium is not
yet an acute problem from the environmental standpoint,
but it can become one. The Assistant Administrator asked
the Symposium and researchers in the field to concentrate
on four areas with respect to tritium: a prediction
regarding future production and environmental levels of
tritium; determination as to whether there is any biological
magnification of tritium in the food chain and in the
biological system; an understanding of biological effects of
low levels of tritium; and finally, a solution to the problem
of disposal of tritium waste. Dr. Greenfield stated, "We in
EPA want .to encourage tritium disposal research before,
rather than after, it becomes an acute problem."
Tritium production from various sources such as
nuclear reactors and particularly various types of power
reactors, nuclear weapons, and Plowshare experiments was
discussed in the following session.
The behavior of tritium in soils, in plants, in various
animals, and human beings was extensively discussed. Dr.
William L. Russell from Oak Ridge National Laboratory
described their recent findings of genetic effects of tritium.
Although these findings were preliminary, their significance
as the first extensive genetic studies with tritium was
apparent. Several other sessions dealt with environmental
surveillance, detection and measurement techniques, health
physics aspects and results of extensive surveillance by EPA
and other similar organizations in the world,
Dr. Walter Seelentag from the World Health
Organization described the history and medical findings of
two deaths which resulted from tritium contamination.
Both cases involved careless handling of large amounts of
tritium.
The question of biological effects of tritium, in
particular tritium as a carcinogen, was discussed
extensively. Dr. D. J. Mewissen from the University of
Chicago described the production of tumors in mice as a
result of incorporation of tritiated thymidine at birth. He
indicated that tumors could be produced at lower levels of
exposure than had been shown in previous experiments.
Dr. Willard F. Libby, Professor-at-Large at UCLA, speaking
before over 400 attendees of the Tritium Symposium, Las
Vegas, Nevada.
Two scientists from Belgium and Germany,
respectively, discussed tritium behavior in cow's milk. Also,
results of experiments in aquatic systems were presented.
One session was dedicated to the application of tritium in
biology and medicine. A group headed by Dr. Wood from
the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory presented a new
approach to combat cancer using tritiated tetracycline.
The overall impression of the Symposium was that the
interest in tritiujn research was high. Investigators all over
the world are concerned about the environmental aspects of
tritium, and the questions raised by the Assistant
Administrator of EPA were of great interest to the
audience. Approximately 400 participants from 11 nations
attended the Symposium banquet where the Novel laureate
W. F. Libby described circumstances leading to the
discovery of tritium and its development, a matter in which
Dr. Libby played a prominent role. His description of the
acquisition of first-class French wines to study tritium
decay added a note of humor to the evening.
Published proceedings of the Symposium will be
available in July, 1972. The Symposium participants
suggested that the next Tritium Symposium be held in
Europe during the summer of 1975.
Please address all communications, other than requests
for publications, to: Editor, EPA Bulletin, Office of
Public Affairs, Environmental Protection Agency,
Washington, D.C. 20460.
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RECENT PUBLICATIONS I
, ,._.. ;.^.,..„,.-..-..-..-. --^..j^. - -g. —r^:—•-;:-;•—- J|
Single copies of all EPA publications listed below are
distributed without charge to,representatives of State and
local agencies. Address requests in writing to:
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Public Affairs
Public Inquiries Branch
4th & M Streets, S. W.
Washington, D.C. 20460
Requests for multiple copies will be considered on an
individual basis. Prices are given for publications available
from the Superintendent of Documents, Government
Printing.pff ice, j^ashinflton,.,D.C._2Q402. .
Summaries of Solid Waste Research and Training Grants
1970 (with addendum). Of interest to researchers an
persons concerned with the most progressive efforts in th
field of solid waste management; comprises a collection of
abstracts citing the objectives, approaches, and findings of
each Federally financed solid waste grant awarded through
July 31,1971.134 p. $1.25.
Petttgrew, Robert J., Roninger, Frank H., Markiewicz,
Walter J., and Gransky, Michael J. Rubber Reuse and Solid
Waste Management. Pi. 1 and 2. Consists of two sections
which, respectively, discuss solid waste management in the
fabricated rubber products industry, and waste rubber and
its reuse. Each features a breakdown of discussion by
industry and provides conclusions and recommendations
drawn from the study^ 120 p. $1.25
Radiological Survey Around Power Plants Using Fossil
Fuel. Considers the environmental radioactive contribution
related to selected fossil-fuel-burning steam power plants.
5rr>'af single coal-tjorning
'• installation and the sampling techniques used to obtain data
I for estimating radiation exposure to man. 16 p.
5 Investigation of Tritiated Luminous Compounds. A study
I of the absorption and metabolism of several commercially
| available tritium-containing luminous compounds in the
i mammalian organism. Useful to those involved in the dial*
| and instrument-painting industries and other users of
| luminescent devices. 14 p.
Composting of Municipal Solid Wastes in the United States
Presents a comprehensive view of the composting process,
including technical and economic aspects. The potential for
composting as a means for solid waste disposal in the U.S. is
assessed, 103 p. $1.00.
NEW FILM AVAILABLE
"The Realities of Recycling" - 38 minutes, 16-mm, sound,
color, 1971. Shows a variety of equipment being used to
recover and reuse materials from solid,wastes. Existing
markets for glass, aluminum and steel containers, paper,
and old car hulks are described along with new technology
being investigated and demonstrated under provisions of
the Solid Waste Disposal Act. The film is designed for
technical audiences and is particularly intended to assist
public works directors and elected officials who must
evaluate alternative systems and equipment.
This film may be obtained on a free-loan basis from:
National Medical Audiovisual
Center (Annex)
Station K
Atlanta, Georgia 30324.
Refer to Order N6TM-2120-Xs
90909
uo
48
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