402-R-12-011 ENVIRONMENTAL RADIATION DATA REPORT 150 April-June 2012 United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Radiation and Indoor Air ------- This page intentionally left blank 11 ------- Contents Page List of Tables v Preface vii Acknowledgments ix Data Reporting Conventions xi 1. Air Program 1 Airborne Particulates and Precipitation 1 Plutonium and Uranium in Airborne Particulates 17 2. Water Program 19 3. Milk Program 23 Pasteurized Milk 23 in ------- This page intentionally left blank IV ------- List of Tables Table Page 1 Reporting Units and Minimum Detectable Concentrations xiii 2 Gross Beta in Airborne Participates: April 2012 2 3 Gross Beta in Airborne Particulates: May 2012 6 4 Gross Beta in Airborne Particulates: June 2012 10 5 Specific Gamma in Precipitation: April 2012 14 6 Specific Gamma in Precipitation: May 2012 15 7 Specific Gamma in Precipitation: June 2012 16 8 Tritium in Drinking Water: April-June 2012 20 9 Radionuclides in Pasteurized Milk: April-June 2012 24 ------- This page intentionally left blank VI ------- Preface Environmental Radiation Data (ERD) contains data from the RadNet monitoring system (formerly ERAMS), which is operated by the Office of Radiation and Indoor Air's National Analytical Radiation Environmental Laboratory (NAREL) in Montgomery, Alabama. ERD is published in both hard-copy and electronic formats. Electronic reports are available online at http://www.epa.gov/radnet/radnet-data/erd.html and in a searchable database at: http://www.epa.gov/enviro/facts/radnet The United States Environmental Protection Agency established RadNet in 1973 with an emphasis on identifying trends in the accumulation of long-lived radionuclides in the environ- ment. RadNet is comprised of a nationwide network of sampling stations that provide air particulate, precipitation, drinking water, and milk samples. Sampling locations are selected to provide population and geographic coverage for the United States. The radiation analyses performed on RadNet samples may include gross alpha and gross beta analysis, gamma analyses, and radionuclide-specific analyses for isotopes of uranium, plutonium, strontium, iodine, radium, and tritium. This monitoring effort also provides informa- tion on natural background levels and possible accidental releases into the environment. vn ------- This page intentionally left blank Vlll ------- Acknowledgments All sampling for the RadNet monitoring system (formerly ERAMS) is performed by volunteer collectors who are frequently members of health departments or related environmental agencies of their respective states. The National Analytical Radiation Environmental Laboratory (NAREL), on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, would like to acknowledge the time and effort of these volunteer collectors, who are so essential to the successful operation of RadNet. The efforts of the sample collectors are especially appreciated during times of emergency operation when sampling frequencies are increased and schedules are sometimes demanding. IX ------- This page intentionally left blank ------- Data Reporting Conventions Every laboratory measurement involves uncertainty. When there is little or no radioactivity in a sample, one consequence of measurement uncertainty is the possibility of obtaining a measured value that is less than zero. Such a negative result occurs when random effects in the measure- ment process cause the measured value for the sample to be less than that of the blank or back- ground, which is subtracted from it. From April 1991 to December 1995, negative results were reported as "not detected" or "ND," and gamma analysis results that were less than their estimated measurement uncertainties were also reported as "ND." In January 1996, both of these practices were discontinued. Although negative activities are physically impossible, the inclusion of negative results in the report allows better statistical analysis of the data. Results of gamma analyses are still reported as "ND" when gamma-emitting radionuclides not detected. are Measurement Uncertainty Each measured valuey is reported with an expanded uncertainty U=k uc(y\ which is determined from the combined standard uncertainty uc(y) and the coverage factor k=1. The interval from y— Uioy + C/is estimated to have a level of confidence of approximately 95 %. Significant Figures Expanded uncertainties are reported to two significant figures. Measurement results are rounded to the corresponding number of decimal places. Detection Capability The minimum detectable concentrations (MDCs) for each radionuclide are shown in Table 1. The MDC is defined as the minimum concentration that gives a 95 % probability of detection when the detection criteria are chosen to give only a 5 % probability of false detection in a sample that is analyte-free. XI ------- This page intentionally left blank xn ------- Table 1 Reporting Units and Minimum Detectable Concentrations for Radionuclide Analyses Radionuclide Gross Alpha Gross Beta Tritium * Plutonium-23 8,23 9/240 f Uranium-234,235,238 Radium-226 Strontium-90 { Iodine-131 Cesium-137 { Barium-140 Potassium Potassium-40 Media Water Air Water Precipitation Water Air Water Air Water Water Milk Water Milk (gamma) Water (gamma) Water Milk Water Milk Water Milk Water Water Reporting Unit pCi/L pCi/m3 pCi/L pCi/L pCi/L aCi/m3 pCi/L aCi/m3 pCi/L pCi/L pCi/L pCi/L pCi/L pCi/L pCi/L pCi/L pCi/L pCi/L pCi/L g/L g/L pCi/L Minimum Detectable Concentration 2 0.0015 2 2 150 0.75 0.1 0.75 0.1 0.02 2 1 4 4 0.3 5 5 15 15 0.06 0.06 50 * The MDC for air is based on an assumed total sample volume of 120,000 m3. Measurement by alpha spectrometry includes combined activities of 239Pu and 240Pu, since the relative contributions of these two isotopes cannot be determined. f The MDC for air is based on an assumed total sample volume of 120,000 m3. J Activity as of the day of counting. Xlll ------- This page intentionally left blank xiv ------- 1. Air Program Airborne Particulates and Precipitation Gross beta radioactivity measurements and certain specific analyses are performed on air partic- ulates and precipitation samples as indicator measurements in assessing the general (national) impact of all contributing sources on environmental levels of radiation. Continuous air samplers collect airborne particulates at field stations representing wide geographic coverage throughout the United States. Filters (10 cm diameter synthetic fiber) from air samplers are changed routinely, and generally field measurements are made with a dual-phosphor scintillation counter at least 5 hours after collection to allow 222Rn progeny to decay. Field estimates are reported to appropriate EPA officials by telephone or mail depending on the activity levels found; however, as of the first quarter of 2012, NAREL no longer reports field estimates in Environmental Radiation Data. The filters are sent to NAREL for more sensitive analysis in a gas proportional counter. Gamma scans are performed on all filters showing gross beta activity greater than 1 pCi/m3. All stations routinely submit precipitation samples as rainfall, snow, or sleet occurs. The precip- itation samples are composited at NAREL into single monthly samples for each station. Each month that precipitation occurs, an aliquant of the composited sample is analyzed for gamma- emitting radionuclides. NAREL discontinued gross beta analysis of precipitation in January 2010 and discontinued tritium analysis of precipitation in January 2012. ------- Table 2 Gross Beta in Airborne Participates April 2012 Location AK: Anchorage AK: Fairbanks AK: Juneau AL: Birmingham AL: Montgomery/408 AR: Fort Smith AR: Little Rock AZ: Phoenix AZ: Phoenix/956 AZ: Tucson AZ: Yuma CA: Anaheim CA: Bakersfield CA: Eureka CA: Los Angeles CA: Richmond CA: Riverside CA: Sacramento CA: San Bernardino Cty. CA: San Diego CA: San Francisco CA: San Jose CO: Colorado Springs CO: Denver CO: Grand Junction CT: Hartford DC: Washington DE: Dover FL: Jacksonville FL: Miami FL: Orlando FL: Tallahassee GA: Atlanta GA: Augusta HI: Hilo HI: Honolulu IA: Des Moines IA: Mason City Number of Samples 7 8 6 8 9 4 8 9 8 9 1 7 6 1 5 4 8 9 8 4 9 8 1 5 6 9 8 5 8 4 9 5 3 6 9 8 8 6 NAREL Lab Measurement Max Min (pCi/m3) 0.004 0.011 0.009 0.017 0.014 0.009 0.012 0.017 0.015 0.015 0.011 0.010 0.011 0.001 0.008 0.005 0.010 0.005 0.014 0.008 0.003 0.005 0.010 0.010 0.011 0.009 0.008 0.008 0.009 0.006 0.010 0.015 0.009 0.011 0.007 0.006 0.014 0.010 0.002 0.004 0.001 0.007 0.008 0.008 0.006 0.006 0.006 0.006 0.011 0.004 0.002 0.001 0.004 0.002 0.003 0.002 0.003 0.003 0.001 0.002 0.010 0.006 0.007 0.003 0.004 0.004 0.005 0.004 0.005 0.008 0.008 0.009 0.002 0.001 0.006 0.006 Avg 0.003 0.007 0.003 0.010 0.011 0.009 0.009 0.011 0.010 0.011 0.011 0.006 0.006 0.001 0.006 0.004 0.006 0.003 0.007 0.006 0.002 0.003 0.010 0.008 0.009 0.006 0.006 0.006 0.007 0.005 0.008 0.011 0.008 0.010 0.004 0.004 0.009 0.007 ------- Table 2 (continued) Gross Beta in Airborne Participates April 2012 Location ID: Idaho Falls IL: Aurora IL: Chicago IN: Fort Wayne IN: Indianapolis KS: Kansas City KS: Topeka KS: Wichita KY: Lexington KY: Louisville LA: Baton Rouge LA: Shreveport MA: Boston MA: Worcester MD: Baltimore ME: Orono ME: Portland MI: Bay City 48708 MI: Detroit MI: Grand Rapids MI: Lansing MN: Duluth MN: St. Paul MO: Jefferson City MO: Springfield MO: St. Louis MS: Jackson/Deq MT: Billings NC: Charlotte NC: Raleigh NC: Wilmington ND: Bismarck NE: Kearney NE: Lincoln NE: Omaha NJ: Edison NM: Albuquerque NM: Carlsbad Number of Samples 7 8 9 3 9 8 9 7 8 7 9 4 9 7 9 o 3 9 9 9 5 8 4 4 9 7 4 8 4 8 4 4 7 9 8 4 8 4 5 NAREL Lab Measurement Max Min (pCi/m3) 0.011 0.015 0.011 0.009 0.013 0.010 0.013 0.014 0.016 0.010 0.010 0.009 0.007 0.010 0.012 0.008 0.009 0.010 0.010 0.010 0.029 0.007 0.007 0.010 0.014 0.011 0.012 0.008 0.010 0.006 0.006 0.010 0.010 0.014 0.014 0.007 0.009 0.016 0.005 0.007 0.005 0.008 0.005 0.005 0.006 0.006 0.009 0.005 0.004 0.006 0.003 0.005 0.004 0.003 0.004 0.005 0.005 0.006 0.010 0.004 0.005 0.004 0.006 0.006 0.006 0.005 0.007 0.004 0.005 0.007 0.005 0.005 0.007 0.002 0.006 0.010 Avg 0.008 0.009 0.007 0.008 0.009 0.007 0.010 0.010 0.012 0.007 0.006 0.007 0.005 0.008 0.007 0.005 0.005 0.008 0.008 0.007 0.019 0.005 0.006 0.007 0.010 0.008 0.009 0.007 0.008 0.005 0.006 0.008 0.008 0.008 0.009 0.005 0.007 0.013 ------- Table 2 (continued) Gross Beta in Airborne Participates April 2012 Location NM: Navajo Lake St Park NV: Las Vegas/913 NV: Reno NY: Albany NY: Lockport NY: New York City NY: Rochester NY: Syracuse NY: Yaphank OH: Cincinnati OH: Cleveland OH: Painesville OH: Toledo OK: Oklahoma City OK: Tulsa OR: Corvallis OR: Portland PA: Philadelphia PA: Pittsburgh PR: San Juan RI: Providence SC: Barnwell SC: Columbia SD: Pierre SD: Rapid City TN: Knoxville TN: Memphis TN: Nashville TN: Oak Ridge/Bethel TN:OakRidge/K25 TN: Oak Ridge/Melton TN:OakRidge/Y12E TN:OakRidge/Y12W TX: Austin TX: Dallas TX: El Paso TX: Ft. Worth TX: Harlingen Number of Samples 3 6 8 7 9 4 6 2 6 7 4 8 8 6 1 8 8 4 6 8 3 1 4 9 6 5 5 7 7 7 7 7 7 4 8 6 7 5 NAREL Lab Measurement Max Min (pCi/m3) 0.011 0.011 0.021 0.012 0.010 0.008 0.009 0.007 0.005 0.014 0.014 0.010 0.011 0.013 0.008 0.004 0.004 0.007 0.012 0.007 0.008 0.009 0.011 0.009 0.009 0.015 0.013 0.010 0.012 0.015 0.017 0.013 0.010 0.010 0.014 0.016 0.014 0.014 0.009 0.005 0.006 0.005 0.003 0.005 0.003 0.005 0.004 0.006 0.006 0.005 0.005 0.006 0.008 0.001 0.001 0.004 0.005 0.003 0.004 0.009 0.006 0.004 0.005 0.009 0.008 0.007 0.007 0.004 0.009 0.007 0.007 0.008 0.002 0.006 0.007 0.007 Avg 0.010 0.008 0.009 0.009 0.007 0.006 0.007 0.006 0.004 0.009 0.010 0.008 0.008 0.009 0.008 0.002 0.003 0.005 0.007 0.004 0.006 0.009 0.009 0.006 0.008 0.012 0.010 0.008 0.009 0.010 0.012 0.010 0.009 0.009 0.010 0.013 0.010 0.010 ------- Table 2 (continued) Gross Beta in Airborne Participates April 2012 Location TX: Houston TX: Laredo TX: Lubbock TX: San Angelo TX: San Antonio UT: Salt Lake City VA: Harrisonburg VA: Lynchburg VA: Richmond VA: Virginia Beach VT: Burlington WA: Olympia WA: Richland WA: Seattle WA: Spokane WI: Madison WI: Milwaukee WV: Charleston Number of Samples 8 7 4 9 9 8 9 9 9 9 9 8 9 4 8 8 8 5 NAREL Lab Measurement Max Min (pCi/m3) 0.015 0.008 0.015 0.008 0.011 0.007 0.018 0.006 0.014 0.007 0.012 0.007 0.013 0.006 0.012 0.006 0.009 0.004 0.006 0.003 0.008 0.002 0.004 0.001 0.008 0.002 0.003 0.001 0.010 0.002 0.012 0.006 0.009 0.003 0.008 0.006 Avg 0.011 0.011 0.009 0.010 0.010 0.009 0.009 0.008 0.007 0.005 0.005 0.002 0.004 0.002 0.005 0.008 0.006 0.007 ------- Table 3 Gross Beta in Airborne Participates May 2012 Location AK: Anchorage AK: Fairbanks AK: Juneau AL: Birmingham AL: Montgomery/408 AR: Fort Smith AR: Little Rock AZ: Phoenix AZ: Phoenix/956 AZ: Tucson AZ: Yuma CA: Anaheim CA: Bakersfield CA: Eureka CA: Fresno CA: Los Angeles CA: Richmond CA: Riverside CA: Sacramento CA: San Bernardino Cty. CA: San Diego CA: San Francisco CA: San Jose CO: Colorado Springs CO: Denver CO: Grand Junction CT: Hartford DC: Washington DE: Dover FL: Jacksonville FL: Miami FL: Orlando FL: Tallahassee FL: Tampa GA: Atlanta GA: Augusta HI: Hilo HI: Honolulu Number of Samples 6 10 5 10 9 1 7 8 9 9 2 9 7 5 4 4 5 9 6 9 3 8 8 4 9 o 3 8 9 4 9 4 8 3 5 4 8 9 9 NAREL Lab Measurement Max Min (pCi/m3) 0.005 0.007 0.002 0.022 0.026 0.009 0.017 0.019 0.022 0.015 0.012 0.011 0.013 0.004 0.010 0.012 0.006 0.011 0.008 0.016 0.006 0.005 0.008 0.014 0.014 0.015 0.007 0.011 0.007 0.008 0.006 0.008 0.012 0.013 0.013 0.013 0.009 0.006 0.001 0.002 0.001 0.006 0.006 0.009 0.006 0.011 0.009 0.009 0.009 0.003 0.004 0.001 0.006 0.005 0.002 0.003 0.003 0.004 0.003 0.001 0.002 0.010 0.007 0.012 0.001 0.004 0.003 0.003 0.003 0.005 0.008 0.007 0.007 0.008 0.002 0.001 Avg 0.002 0.004 0.001 0.010 0.014 0.009 0.010 0.015 0.013 0.012 0.010 0.008 0.009 0.002 0.008 0.008 0.004 0.008 0.005 0.011 0.005 0.003 0.005 0.011 0.010 0.014 0.004 0.007 0.005 0.005 0.004 0.006 0.010 0.009 0.010 0.011 0.005 0.004 ------- Table 3 (continued) Gross Beta in Airborne Participates May 2012 Location IA: Des Moines IA: Mason City ID: Idaho Falls IL: Aurora IL: Chicago IN: Fort Wayne IN: Indianapolis KS: Kansas City KS: Topeka KS: Wichita KY: Lexington KY: Louisville LA: Baton Rouge LA: Shreveport MA: Boston MA: Worcester MD: Baltimore ME: Orono ME: Portland MI: Bay City 48708 MI: Detroit MI: Grand Rapids MI: Lansing MN: Duluth MN: St. Paul MO: Jefferson City MO: Springfield MO: St. Louis MS: Jackson/Deq MT: Billings NC: Charlotte NC: Raleigh NC: Wilmington ND: Bismarck NE: Kearney NE: Lincoln NE: Omaha NJ: Edison Number of Samples 8 5 6 3 9 5 8 8 7 9 8 8 7 5 8 9 8 4 6 8 9 5 8 4 5 8 7 5 9 4 8 4 4 9 8 8 5 8 NAREL Lab Measurement Max Min (pCi/m3) 0.012 0.011 0.018 0.009 0.011 0.013 0.018 0.010 0.011 0.013 0.026 0.013 0.011 0.014 0.007 0.008 0.010 0.005 0.005 0.013 0.014 0.012 0.025 0.007 0.010 0.010 0.017 0.015 0.021 0.015 0.015 0.007 0.008 0.010 0.013 0.012 0.011 0.006 0.005 0.004 0.004 0.007 0.002 0.008 0.007 0.005 0.006 0.009 0.009 0.005 0.003 0.004 0.002 0.002 0.004 0.004 0.002 0.004 0.004 0.007 0.010 0.004 0.004 0.005 0.006 0.006 0.006 0.008 0.008 0.004 0.006 0.002 0.006 0.003 0.008 0.002 Avg 0.008 0.007 0.012 0.008 0.007 0.010 0.011 0.008 0.009 0.011 0.016 0.008 0.007 0.010 0.004 0.006 0.008 0.005 0.004 0.007 0.008 0.009 0.018 0.006 0.007 0.007 0.011 0.010 0.013 0.011 0.010 0.006 0.007 0.007 0.009 0.008 0.010 0.004 ------- Table 3 (continued) Gross Beta in Airborne Participates May 2012 Location NM: Albuquerque NM: Carlsbad NM: Navajo Lake St Park NV: Las Vegas/913 NV: Reno NY: Albany NY: Lockport NY: New York City NY: Rochester NY: Syracuse NY: Yaphank OH: Cincinnati OH: Cleveland OH: Painesville OH: Toledo OK: Oklahoma City OK: Tulsa OR: Corvallis OR: Portland PA: Philadelphia PA: Pittsburgh PR: San Juan RI: Providence SC: Columbia SD: Pierre SD: Rapid City TN: Knoxville TN: Memphis TN: Nashville TN: Oak Ridge/Bethel TN:OakRidge/K25 TN: Oak Ridge/Melton TN:OakRidge/Y12E TN:OakRidge/Y12W TX: Austin TX: Dallas TX: El Paso TX: Ft. Worth Number of Samples 3 5 4 5 8 7 8 5 6 4 8 9 9 8 10 2 7 10 10 5 5 8 5 6 9 8 8 o 3 7 8 8 8 8 8 3 9 6 8 NAREL Lab Measurement Max Min (pCi/m3) 0.010 0.021 0.016 0.015 0.018 0.013 0.010 0.008 0.015 0.010 0.007 0.021 0.015 0.012 0.018 0.015 0.021 0.005 0.005 0.007 0.012 0.012 0.005 0.018 0.011 0.018 0.040 0.015 0.013 0.015 0.019 0.019 0.019 0.016 0.014 0.015 0.021 0.014 0.008 0.013 0.013 0.009 0.006 0.004 0.005 0.004 0.005 0.007 0.001 0.006 0.007 0.006 0.005 0.011 0.007 0.001 0.001 0.003 0.007 0.002 0.002 0.008 0.002 0.005 0.009 0.007 0.006 0.007 0.008 0.008 0.008 0.006 0.010 0.005 0.011 0.005 Avg 0.009 0.017 0.014 0.012 0.013 0.009 0.007 0.006 0.010 0.009 0.004 0.010 0.010 0.009 0.010 0.013 0.011 0.003 0.003 0.006 0.009 0.007 0.003 0.013 0.007 0.010 0.017 0.011 0.009 0.011 0.012 0.013 0.013 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.016 0.010 ------- Table 3 (continued) Gross Beta in Airborne Participates May 2012 Location TX: Harlingen TX: Houston TX: Lubbock TX: San Angelo TX: San Antonio UT: Salt Lake City VA: Harrisonburg VA: Lynchburg VA: Richmond VA: Virginia Beach VT: Burlington WA: Olympia WA: Richland WA: Seattle WA: Spokane WI: Madison WI: Milwaukee WV: Charleston Number of Samples 7 9 4 5 5 9 8 6 8 9 8 8 8 o 3 9 9 9 7 NAREL Lab Measurement Max Min (pCi/m3) 0.011 0.005 0.021 0.005 0.016 0.014 0.012 0.008 0.011 0.006 0.021 0.009 0.011 0.004 0.011 0.007 0.009 0.005 0.007 0.002 0.008 0.003 0.005 0.001 0.009 0.002 0.003 0.001 0.011 0.002 0.013 0.006 0.011 0.005 0.017 0.009 Avg 0.008 0.013 0.015 0.010 0.009 0.014 0.009 0.009 0.007 0.005 0.005 0.003 0.006 0.002 0.006 0.010 0.007 0.011 ------- Table 4 Gross Beta in Airborne Participates June 2012 Location AK: Anchorage AK: Fairbanks AK: Juneau AL: Birmingham AL: Montgomery/408 AR: Little Rock AZ: Phoenix AZ: Phoenix/956 AZ: Tucson CA: Anaheim CA: Bakersfield CA: Eureka CA: Fresno CA: Los Angeles CA: Richmond CA: Riverside CA: Sacramento CA: San Bernardino Cty. CA: San Diego CA: San Francisco CA: San Jose CO: Colorado Springs CO: Denver CO: Grand Junction CT: Hartford DC: Washington DE: Dover FL: Jacksonville FL: Miami FL: Orlando FL: Tallahassee FL: Tampa GA: Atlanta GA: Augusta HI: Hilo HI: Honolulu IA: Des Moines IA: Mason City Number of Samples 6 5 5 8 8 8 8 6 8 8 9 4 5 4 4 9 9 9 1 8 8 2 7 6 8 9 5 8 2 9 4 6 5 8 8 9 5 6 NAREL Lab Measurement Max Min (pCi/m3) 0.002 0.005 0.003 0.014 0.015 0.014 0.018 0.011 0.018 0.008 0.013 0.001 0.006 0.009 0.002 0.008 0.005 0.011 0.003 0.002 0.004 0.011 0.012 0.012 0.008 0.012 0.012 0.008 0.005 0.009 0.009 0.011 0.009 0.014 0.003 0.003 0.009 0.007 0.000 0.003 0.000 0.006 0.006 0.006 0.007 0.006 0.006 0.004 0.004 0.001 0.003 0.005 0.002 0.004 0.001 0.006 0.003 0.001 0.002 0.010 0.008 0.007 0.002 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.003 0.004 0.005 0.005 0.006 0.007 0.001 0.001 0.005 0.003 Avg 0.001 0.004 0.001 0.008 0.010 0.009 0.011 0.009 0.010 0.007 0.008 0.001 0.005 0.007 0.002 0.006 0.003 0.008 0.003 0.001 0.003 0.010 0.009 0.009 0.004 0.007 0.006 0.005 0.004 0.006 0.007 0.007 0.008 0.009 0.002 0.002 0.007 0.006 10 ------- Table 4 (continued) Gross Beta in Airborne Participates June 2012 Location ID: Idaho Falls IL: Aurora IL: Chicago IN: Fort Wayne IN: Indianapolis KS: Kansas City KS: Topeka KS: Wichita KY: Lexington KY: Louisville LA: Baton Rouge LA: Shreveport MA: Boston MA: Worcester MD: Baltimore ME: Orono ME: Portland MI: Bay City 48708 MI: Detroit MI: Grand Rapids MI: Lansing MN: Duluth MN: St. Paul MO: Jefferson City MO: Springfield MO: St. Louis MS: Jackson/Deq MT: Billings NC: Charlotte NC: Raleigh NC: Wilmington ND: Bismarck NE: Kearney NE: Lincoln NE: Omaha NH: Concord NJ: Edison NM: Albuquerque Number of Samples 3 7 7 4 9 8 6 9 9 8 9 8 9 8 9 4 9 6 8 4 8 7 4 9 5 o 3 8 4 9 2 3 7 6 7 4 5 7 4 NAREL Lab Measurement Max Min (pCi/m3) 0.010 0.011 0.009 0.009 0.012 0.010 0.017 0.023 0.019 0.009 0.009 0.013 0.007 0.009 0.011 0.005 0.006 0.012 0.008 0.008 0.022 0.004 0.007 0.016 0.015 0.007 0.018 0.009 0.010 0.010 0.006 0.012 0.013 0.011 0.010 0.014 0.008 0.010 0.007 0.004 0.003 0.005 0.004 0.004 0.006 0.006 0.006 0.004 0.003 0.005 0.002 0.003 0.003 0.003 0.002 0.004 0.003 0.005 0.007 0.002 0.005 0.004 0.006 0.006 0.006 0.007 0.004 0.003 0.004 0.005 0.004 0.005 0.006 0.002 0.003 0.006 Avg 0.009 0.008 0.006 0.008 0.007 0.007 0.009 0.010 0.012 0.006 0.005 0.007 0.004 0.005 0.007 0.004 0.004 0.006 0.006 0.006 0.015 0.004 0.006 0.007 0.009 0.006 0.010 0.008 0.008 0.007 0.005 0.007 0.008 0.009 0.008 0.007 0.004 0.008 11 ------- Table 4 (continued) Gross Beta in Airborne Participates June 2012 Location NM: Carlsbad NM: Navajo Lake St Park NV: Las Vegas/913 NV: Reno NY: Albany NY: Lockport NY: New York City NY: Rochester NY: Syracuse NY: Yaphank OH: Cincinnati OH: Cleveland OH: Paine sville OH: Toledo OK: Oklahoma City OK: Tulsa OR: Corvallis OR: Portland PA: Philadelphia PA: Pittsburgh PR: San Juan RI: Providence SC: Columbia SD: Pierre SD: Rapid City TN: Knoxville TN: Memphis TN: Nashville TN: Oak Ridge/Bethel TN:OakRidge/K25 TN: Oak Ridge/Melton TN:OakRidge/Y12E TN:OakRidge/Y12W TX: Austin TX: Dallas TX: El Paso TX: Ft. Worth TX: Harlingen Number of Samples 2 4 3 9 8 6 2 2 3 6 7 8 9 8 9 6 8 8 3 5 6 o 3 7 8 7 7 5 6 8 7 8 8 8 1 9 8 7 5 NAREL Lab Measurement Max Min (pCi/m3) 0.021 0.016 0.011 0.012 0.012 0.009 0.007 0.006 0.008 0.007 0.010 0.013 0.010 0.013 0.024 0.010 0.003 0.003 0.009 0.010 0.017 0.005 0.009 0.011 0.017 0.017 0.013 0.010 0.016 0.021 0.021 0.020 0.015 0.010 0.024 0.024 0.021 0.012 0.015 0.010 0.005 0.005 0.003 0.004 0.004 0.004 0.004 0.003 0.004 0.004 0.004 0.004 0.007 0.005 0.001 0.001 0.003 0.006 0.010 0.003 0.007 0.005 0.005 0.005 0.007 0.004 0.005 0.006 0.007 0.006 0.005 0.010 0.006 0.012 0.005 0.002 Avg 0.018 0.013 0.008 0.009 0.007 0.006 0.006 0.005 0.006 0.004 0.008 0.008 0.007 0.007 0.012 0.009 0.002 0.002 0.006 0.008 0.013 0.004 0.008 0.007 0.009 0.012 0.009 0.007 0.009 0.010 0.011 0.011 0.009 0.010 0.010 0.016 0.009 0.007 12 ------- Table 4 (continued) Gross Beta in Airborne Participates June 2012 Location TX: Houston TX: Laredo TX: Lubbock TX: San Angelo TX: San Antonio UT: Salt Lake City VA: Harrisonburg VA: Lynchburg VA: Richmond VA: Virginia Beach VT: Burlington WA: Olympia WA: Richland WA: Seattle WA: Spokane WI: Madison WI: Milwaukee WV: Charleston Number of Samples 9 1 4 8 9 8 2 9 8 8 7 8 8 4 7 5 8 5 NAREL Lab Measurement Max Min (pCi/m3) 0.022 0.006 0.009 0.009 0.016 0.009 0.018 0.007 0.016 0.006 0.015 0.006 0.010 0.008 0.013 0.005 0.013 0.002 0.008 0.001 0.008 0.003 0.003 0.001 0.006 0.001 0.002 0.001 0.006 0.002 0.010 0.005 0.007 0.003 0.019 0.007 Avg 0.012 0.009 0.012 0.009 0.008 0.011 0.009 0.008 0.006 0.005 0.005 0.002 0.003 0.002 0.003 0.008 0.005 0.012 13 ------- Table 5 Specific Gamma in Precipitation April 2012 Location AL: Montgomery/408 AR: Little Rock CA: Richmond CO: Denver CT: Hartford FL: Jacksonville GA: Atlanta HI: Honolulu ID: Idaho Falls KS: Kansas City MA: Boston MI: Lansing MN: St. Paul MN: Welch/510 NC: Charlotte NC: Wilmington NY: Albany NY: Yaphank OR: Portland PA: Harrisburg TN: Knoxville TN: Nashville TN:OakRidge/K25 TN: Oak Ridge/Melton TN:OakRidge/Y12E UT: Salt Lake City VA: Lynchburg WA: Olympia Nuclide Be-7 Be-7 Be-7 Be-7 Be-7 Be-7 Be-7 Pb-212 Be-7 Be-7 Be-7 Be-7 Pb-212 Ra-228 Be-7 Be-7 Be-7 Be-7 pCi/L± ND 59 29 ND 50 26 40 28 ND ND 79 3.1 26 ND 58 31 25 2.5 3.5 ND ND ND ND ND 59 64 60 ND ND 31 2u 28 19 25 21 12 23 24 2.4 22 28 22 22 2.4 3.3 24 27 26 23 14 ------- Table 6 Specific Gamma in Precipitation May 2012 Location AL: Montgomery/408 CA: Richmond CO: Denver CT: Hartford FL: Jacksonville GA: Atlanta ID: Idaho Falls KS: Kansas City MA: Boston MI: Lansing MN: St. Paul MN: Welch/510 NC: Charlotte NC: Wilmington NY: Albany NY: Yaphank OR: Portland PA: Harrisburg TN: Knoxville TN: Nashville TN: Oak Ridge/K25 TN: Oak Ridge/Melton TN: Oak Ridge/Y12 E UT: Salt Lake City VA: Lynchburg WA: Olympia Nuclide Be-7 Be-7 Cs-137 Be-7 Be-7 Be-7 Be-7 Be-7 Be-7 Be-7 Be-7 Be-7 Be-7 Be-7 pCi/L± 29 64 2.2 35 38 59 44 101 ND 64 ND ND 50 46 ND 31 ND ND ND ND ND 36 ND 35 ND ND ND 2u 21 23 1.6 16 21 21 22 46 21 26 23 20 23 14 15 ------- Table 7 Specific Gamma in Precipitation June 2012 Location AL: Montgomery/408 AR: Little Rock CO: Denver CT: Hartford FL: Jacksonville GA: Atlanta HI: Honolulu ID: Idaho Falls KS: Kansas City MA: Boston MI: Lansing MN: St. Paul MN: Welch/510 NC: Charlotte NC: Wilmington NY: Albany NY: Yaphank OR: Portland PA: Harrisburg TN: Knoxville TN: Nashville TN: Oak Ridge/K25 TN: Oak Ridge/Melton TN: Oak Ridge/Y12 E VA: Lynchburg WA: Olympia Nuclide Be-7 Be-7 Be-7 Be-7 K-40 Be-7 Be-7 Be-7 Be-7 Be-7 Be-7 Be-7 Be-7 Be-7 pCi/L± ND 35 25 43 ND 89 21 ND 41 64 ND 26 ND 44 ND 11.9 ND ND ND 16.2 ND 48 46 32 ND ND 2u 10 18 18 16 21 21 12 18 19 9.4 9.8 21 19 16 16 ------- Plutonium and Uranium in Airborne Particulates Environmental radiation levels of plutonium and uranium are determined by the analysis of annually composited samples (air filters) collected from the airborne particulate samplers. Plutonium and uranium results are published in the ERD for the third quarter of the following year. Concentrations of plutonium-238, combined plutonium-239 and 240, and uranium-234, 235, and 238 are determined by alpha-particle spectrometry following chemical separation. The volume of air represented by the annual composite typically ranges from 120,000 to 500,000 cubic meters. 17 ------- This page intentionally left blank 18 ------- 2. Drinking Water Program The RadNet drinking water program provides data on radionuclide concentrations in the nation's drinking water supplies. Sampling sites are either major population centers or selected nuclear facility environs. Drinking water data are used to assess trends and anomalies in concentrations. The analysis scheme for RadNet samples is similar to that of EPA's "National Interim Primary Drinking Water Regulations." The analyses include (a) tritium on a quarterly basis; (b) gross alpha, gross beta, and gamma on annual composites; (c) radium-226 if the gross alpha exceeds 2 pCi/L and radium-228 if the radium-226 falls between 3 and 5 pCi/L on annual composites; (d) iodine-131 on one quarterly sample per year for each station; (e) plutonium-238, combined plutonium-239 and 240, and uranium-234, 235, and 238 for stations that demonstrate gross alpha levels greater than 2 pCi/L on annual composites; and (f) strontium-90 on one-fourth of the annual composites on a four year rotating schedule. Composite results are published in the ERD for the third quarter of the following year. RadNet drinking water data should not be used to monitor compliance with drinking water regu- lations or for comparisons to those data since different procedures for collection and analysis may be used. 19 ------- Table 8 Tritium in Drinking Water April-June 2012 Location AK: Fairbanks AL: Dothan AL: Montgomery AL: Muscle Shoals AL: Scottsboro AR: Little Rock CA: Los Angeles CA: Richmond CO: Denver CT: Hartford DE: Dover FL: Tampa GA: Baxley GA: Savannah HI: Honolulu IA: Cedar Rapids ID: Boise ID: Idaho Falls IL: Morris IL: W. Chicago KS: Topeka LA: New Orleans MD: Baltimore MD: Conowingo MI: Detroit MN: St. Paul MN: Welch MO: Jefferson City MS: Jackson MS: Port Gibson MT: Helena ND: Bismarck NE: Lincoln NJ: Trenton NJ: Waretown NM: Santa Fe NY: Albany NY: New York City NY: Niagara Falls NY: Syracuse Date Collected 04/03/12 04/10/12 05/31/12 04/05/12 04/04/12 05/03/12 05/07/12 05/01/12 05/02/12 04/10/12 05/08/12 05/02/12 06/19/12 05/30/12 06/25/12 05/30/12 04/04/12 04/12/12 05/25/12 05/14/12 04/23/12 06/22/12 04/02/12 04/17/12 04/10/12 04/03/12 04/03/12 05/01/12 05/08/12 05/08/12 05/01/12 05/01/12 04/11/12 04/10/12 04/16/12 05/11/12 06/18/12 05/01/12 04/02/12 05/07/12 3H pCi/L ±2« 102 77 37 73 0 78 36 74 92 92 -43 80 -80 78 5 82 -60 78 82 91 -66 79 -17 88 14 78 -78 75 -16 78 12 79 110 77 2 88 -81 77 -36 80 68 91 16 79 96 76 26 88 82 76 71 75 11 72 12 88 -57 78 -37 80 18 88 69 90 57 90 98 77 55 90 -23 81 44 84 -71 86 132 78 62 84 20 ------- Table 8 (continued) Tritium in Drinking Water April-June 2012 Location OH: Cincinnati OH: Columbus OH: E. Liverpool OH: Painesville OH: Toledo OR: Portland PA: Columbia PA: Harrisburg PA: Philadelphia/Baxter PA: Philadelphia/Belmont PA: Philadelphia/Queen PA: Pittsburgh RI: Providence SC: Barnwell SC: Columbia SC: Jenkinsville SC: Seneca TN: Chattanooga TN: Knoxville TN: Oak Ridge/#360 TN:OakRidge/#371 TN: Oak Ridge/#4442 TN:OakRidge/#768 TN: Oak Ridge/#772 TX: Austin VA: Ashland VA: Lynchburg WA: Richland WI: Madison Date Collected 05/02/12 05/15/12 05/03/12 05/02/12 05/14/12 06/28/12 04/10/12 04/04/12 05/23/12 05/23/12 05/23/12 05/01/12 05/01/12 04/24/12 04/30/12 04/11/12 04/09/12 05/18/12 05/01/12 04/03/12 04/03/12 04/03/12 04/03/12 04/03/12 05/24/12 06/12/12 05/02/12 06/28/12 04/19/12 3H pCi/L ±2« 12 88 -39 80 18 82 123 95 85 84 -32 77 40 75 114 77 48 81 -23 78 -49 76 11 82 -32 79 36 89 63 90 35 86 18 88 252 93 57 90 30 73 79 76 125 78 73 75 139 79 -28 79 1810 160 -34 80 9 79 10 88 21 ------- This page intentionally left blank 22 ------- 3. Milk Program Pasteurized Milk Milk is a reliable indicator of the general population's intake of certain radionuclides since it is consumed fresh by a large segment of the population and can contain several of the biologically significant radionuclides that result from environmental releases from nuclear activities. A primary function of this program is to obtain reliable monitoring data relative to current radio- nuclide concentrations and determine any long-term trends. Milk samples are collected quarterly at each of the sampling sites. The samples are analyzed for gamma-emitting nuclides, including iodine-131, barium-140, cesium-137, and potassium-40. Total potassium concentrations in g/L are determined from potassium-40 activities assuming natural isotopic abundances. During the third quarter collection, one-fourth of the samples are also analyzed for strontium-90 on a four year rotating schedule. 23 ------- Table 9 Radionuclides in Pasteurized Milk April-June 2012 Location AR: Fort Smith AZ: Phoenix CA: Los Angeles CA: San Francisco CT: Hartford DE: Wilmington FL: Plant City HI: Hilo IA: Des Moines KS: Wichita KY: Louisville MA: Boston MD: Baltimore MO: St. Louis NJ: Trenton NV: Las Vegas NY: Buffalo NY: Syracuse OH: Cincinnati OH: Cleveland PA: Pittsburgh TN: Chattanooga TN: Knoxville TN: Memphis TX: Dallas TX: San Antonio WA: Spokane WV: Charleston Date Collected 05/16/12 06/29/12 04/23/12 04/11/12 05/29/12 04/16/12 04/24/12 04/17/12 05/07/12 05/07/12 04/16/12 06/07/12 04/09/12 05/09/12 04/04/12 04/23/12 04/18/12 04/05/12 05/14/12 06/25/12 04/04/12 04/11/12 04/10/12 05/01/12 04/24/12 04/17/12 04/27/12 04/10/12 K g/L ±2w 1.65 0.19 1.60 0.19 1.69 0.20 1.89 0.23 1.73 0.20 .75 0.20 .59 0.20 .74 0.21 .64 0.19 .68 0.19 .59 0.19 .71 0.20 .65 0.19 .57 0.19 .70 0.19 .69 0.20 .66 0.20 .59 0.19 .72 0.20 .68 0.20 .71 0.20 .70 0.19 .71 0.19 .61 0.19 .63 0.19 .63 0.19 .58 0.19 .64 0.19 137Cs pCi/L ±2« ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND 2.1 1.6 ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND 140Ba pCi/L ±2« ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND mj pCi/L ±2« ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND NR ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND NR ND ND NR ND Note: ND = Not detected NR = No result (not analyzed within 5 half-lives of collection) 24 ------- For More Information Environmental Radiation Data (ERD) is published quarterly by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Radiation and Indoor Air. Requests for information concerning the operation of RadNet and the data that are generated should be directed as follows: Requests for information concerning the operation of RadNet, the data that are generated, or publication and distribution of ERD should be directed to: Charles M. Petko Office of the Director National Analytical Radiation Environmental Laboratory 540 South Morris Avenue Montgomery, Alabama 36115-2601 email: petko.charles@epa.gov Requests for information concerning policies of the Office of Radiation and Indoor Air should be directed to: Jonathan Edwards USEPA - ORIA Radiation Protection Division (MC6608J) 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W. Washington, DC 20460 email: edwards.jonathan@epa.gov *** 25 ------- This page intentionally left blank 26 ------- |