Polonium-210 in the environment around a radioactive waste disposal area and phosphate ore processing plant.
Polonium-210 concentrations were determined for soil, vegetation and small mammal tissues collected at a solid radioactive waste disposal area, near a phosphate ore processing plant and at two rural areas in southeastern Idaho. Polonium concentrations in media sampled near the radioactive waste disposal facility were equal to or less than values from rural area samples, indicating that disposal of solid radioactive waste at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory Site has not resulted in increased environmental levels of polonium. Concentrations of 210Po in soils, deer mice hide and carcass samples collected near the phosphate processing plant were statistically (P less than or equal to 0.05) greater than the other sampling locations; however, the mean 210Po concentration in soils and small mammal tissues from sampling areas near the phosphate plant were only four and three times greater, respectively, than control values. No statistical (P greater than 0.05) difference was observed for 210Po concentrations in vegetation among any of the sampling locations.
D000818:Animals; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D005507:Food Contamination, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis; D007061:Idaho; D008906:Mining; D010542:Peromyscus / Q000378:metabolism; D010710:Phosphates; D010944:Plants / Q000032:analysis; D011059:Polonium / Q000032:analysis*; D011850:Radioactive Waste; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis
D010710:Phosphates; D011850:Radioactive Waste; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive; D011059:Polonium