University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 1988 Radioactive fallout monitoring before and after the 1963 nuclear weapons test ban treaty Robert E. Tarkalson The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Tarkalson, Robert E., "Radioactive fallout monitoring before and after the 1963 nuclear weapons test ban treaty" (1988). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 8902. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/8902 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. COPYRIGHT ACT OF 1976 Th i s is an unpublished m a n u s c r i p t in w h i c h c o p y r i g h t SUBSISTS. Any f u r t h e r r e p r i n t i n g of its c o n t e n t s m u s t be APPROVED BY THE AUTHOR. Mansfield Library University of Montana Date : 1 S RADIOACTIVE FALLOUT MONITORING BEFORE AND AFTER THE 1963 NUCLEAR WEAPONS TEST BAN TREATY by Robert E. Tarkalson B.S., Weber State College, 1971 B.S., Weber State College, 1976 M.S., University of Montana, 1986 Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA 1988 Approved by: ________ Chairman, Board or Examiners Dean, Graduate School Date UMI Number: EP39703 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI Dissortation Publish*ng UMI EP39703 Published by ProQuest LLC (2013). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code ProQuest ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Interest for this research was sparked by Dr E.W. Pt@iffer. I am indebted to him for his patience during my search for answers to key questions. His suggestions for locating information and ideas on issues needing further study, proved invaluable. Dr Wayne VanMeter, spent time to teach a portion of necessary background for this study in environmental radioactivity, and nuclear and radiochemistry. Reference materials for this topic were phenomenal. I have appreciated the correspondance with many environmental personnel. Numerous organizations have sent documents, journals, volumes, and booklets. The information sent by many U.S. Government organizations were most beneficial - the Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Health and Human Services, and Department of Commerce. Conversations with Carl G. Welty, Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Environmental Guidance and Compliance, and Edward P. Hardy, Jr. , Director Environmental Studies Division, were also enlightning. 11 TABLE OF CONTENTS page ACKNOWLE DGEMENTS i i LIST OF FIGURES ......................................... v LIST OF TABLES ........................................... vi TEXT ....................................................... 1 I. INTRODUCTION ..................................... 1 PROBLEM ......................................... 1 PURPOSE STATEMENT ............................. 2 SCOPE ............................................ 2 BACKGROUND ...................................... 2 II. HISTORY OF U.S. OFFICIAL RADIOACTIVE FALLOUT MONITORING SYSTEMS ...................... 9 A. EARLY MONITORING SYSTEMS - BEFORE 1963 .. 9 First Attempts ........................... 9 Strontium-90 of Great Concern ......... 10 High Incidence of Strontium-90 in ND .. 11 Public Health Service Report in 1959 .. 13 B. CURRENT MONITORING SYSTEMS - AFTER 1963 . 14 Systems Updated .......................... 14 EML Dietary Strontium-90 .................... 15 Human Bone and Strontium-9 0 ............ 17 Worldwide Deposition of Strontium-90 .. 2 0 111 page EPA Environmental Protection Agency ....... 2 4 1. Drinking Water and Surface Water . 2 6 2. Air Program ......................... 28 3. Milk Program ........................ 29 The Chernobyl Accident .................. 3 6 III. CONSIDERATION OF CURRENT EFFORTS .............. 39 A. 1980 ' s Bring New Programs .............. 39 B. Forum Special Report - Documents, Studies, Personal Testimony ............ 4 5 Personal Testimony ...................... 4 6 Scientists Search for Answers ......... 48 Medical Studies .......................... 50 Other Viewpoints ......................... 51 IV. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .............. 53 V. GLOSSARY OF TERMS ............................... 54 VI. REFERENCES ....................................... 58 VII. APPENDICES ....................................... 61 A. Historical Overview - Agencies Responsible for Radioactive Fallout ..... 61 B. Radiation - External & Internal/ Units/Sources ............................... 65 C. Radiation Protection Standards ........... 71 IV LIST OF FIGURES page 1. Production of Sr90 by nuclear weapons tests ... 6 2. Sr90 in total diet ............................... 18 3. Sr90 in liquid whole milk in New York City .... 18 4. Sr90 in adult vertebrae .......................... 21 5. Fallout sampling stations ....................... 23 6. Annual fission yield tests in N/S hemispheres . 23 7. Cummulative Sr90 deposits in N/S hemishperes .. 27 8. Drinking water sampling sites .................. 27 9. Surface water sampling sites .................... 30 10. Air & precipitation sampling sites ............ 30 11. Kr85 in air samples .............................. 31 12. Pasteurized milk sampling sites................. 31 13. H3 in Kingston, T N ............................... 33 14. H3 in surface water Doswell, VA................. 3 3 15. 1131 & Csl37 in pasteurized m i l k ............... 34 16. Sr90 in pasteurized m i l k ........................ 34 17. Csl37 in pasteurized milk ....................... 35 18. Phases of ORERP soil collection ................ 4 3 LIST OF TABLES page 1. Est. yields of atmos. nuclear weapons tests ... 6 2. Announced U.S. nuclear tests .................... 7 3. Sr90 in the diet during 1982 ................... 19 4. Sr90/89 composites in pasteurized milk ......... 35 5. REE values for various types of radiation ..... 69 6. General radiation protection standards ......... 7 2 VI INTRODUCTION Problem In 1939, it was discovered that energy locked within the atom's nucleus could be released. From this discovery numerous technological developments followed. As fossil fuels dwindled, the feasibility of nuclear reactors supplying the world with power was demonstrated on a small scale in 1942, at Hanford, WA. However, with thoughts of this potential to serve humanity came the reality of another use of nuclear power. During the month of August 194 5 the course of mankind's history changed. In a concerted effort to consummate a quick end to the devastating effects of World War II, two man-made nuclear weapons were detonated over Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. Since then, much of the world has had to deal with the legacy of man-made environmental radiation effects. Although the U.S. was the first nation to use nuclear power in such a manner, it is conceivable, eventually, some nations would have used similar devices for military purposes. Yet, the fact remains, the United States initiated and furthered the development of nuclear fission and fusion by testing and stockpiling nuclear weapons. As a result of the events described, a multitude of governmental agencies and assisting public organizations were instituted to monitor, regulate, and set standards for ionizing radiation exposure (see appendix A). 2 Purpose of Report The following research reviews U.S. radiation monitoring systems, with an emphasis on those systems currently in service. Along with current policies related to radioactive fallout, maximum amounts and types of radioactivity in food, water and the necessities of life are examined. After a review of available data, documentation of recent literature and personal testimony, conclusions are given to the primary purpose of this study - are we or aren't we monitoring radiation levels adequately for our protection. Ultimately, the United States is responsible for a major contribution toward the potential hazards of environmental radioactivity - past and present. Scope This research is mostly concerned with U.S. monitoring systems that have assessed the effects of atmospheric radioactive fallout from nuclear weapons tests. However, the data from low-level radiation venting by two nuclear facilities are included - in particular, the Chernobyl accident. Background The Atomic Energy Commission's(AEG) Nevada Test Site(NTS), located 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada, conducted atmospheric nuclear weapons tests in 3 the United States from 1951-1958. The test site was established to experiment with nuclear fission devices of low-yield — up to 50 Kilotons(KT) - thus complimenting the efforts of the Pacific Proving Ground — performing high-yield tests up to