Plutonium release from the 903 pad at Rocky Flats.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDH) sponsored a study to reconstruct contaminant doses to the public from operations at the Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant. This analysis of the accidental release of plutonium from the area known as the 903 Pad is part of the CDH study. In the 1950's and 1960's, 55-gallon drums of waste oil contaminated with plutonium, and uranium were stored outdoors at the 903 Pad. The drums corroded, leaking contaminated oil onto soil subsequently carried off-site by the wind. The plutonium release is estimated using environmental data from the 1960's and 1970's and an atmospheric transport model for fugitive dust. The best estimate of total plutonium release to areas beyond plant-owned property is about 0.26 TBq (7 Ci). Off-site airborne concentrations and deposition of plutonium are estimated for dose calculation purposes. The best estimate of the highest predicted off-site effective dose is approximately 72 microSv (7.2 mrem).
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ChemRisk Division, McLaren/Hart Environmental Engineering, Inc., Alameda, CA 94501, USA.
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D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D003120:Colorado; D006801:Humans; D009689:Nuclear Warfare; D011005:Plutonium / Q000032:analysis*; D018788:Radioactive Hazard Release; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*
D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive; D011005:Plutonium