Modeled atmospheric radon concentrations from uranium mines Metadata

Title

• Main Title Modeled atmospheric radon concentrations from uranium mines

Creator

• Author: Droppo, J. G.
  Creator Type: Personal

Publisher

• Name: Pacific Northwest Laboratory
  Place of Publication: Richland, Washington
  Additional Info: Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (USA)

Date

• Creation: 1985-04-01

Language

• English

Description

• Content Description: Uranium mining and milling operations result in the release of radon from numerous sources of various types and strengths. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Clean Air Act, is assessing the health impact of air emissions of radon from underground uranium mines. In this case, the radon emissions may impact workers and residents in the mine vicinity. To aid in this assessment, the EPA needs to know how mine releases can affect the radon concentrations at populated locations. To obtain this type of information, Pacific Northwest Laboratory used the radon emissions, release characteristics and local meterological conditions for a number of mines to model incremental radon concentrations. Long-term, average, incremental radon concentrations were computed based on the best available information on release rates, plume rise parameters, number and locations of vents, and local dispersion climatology. Calculations are made for a model mine, individual mines, and multiple mines. Our approach was to start with a general case and then consider specific cases for comparison. A model underground uranium mine was used to provide definition of the order of magnitude of typical impacts. Then computations were made for specific mines using the best mine-specific information available for each mine. These case study results are expressed as predicted incremental radon concentration contours plotted on maps with local population data from a previous study. Finally, the effect of possible overlap of radon releases from nearby mines was studied by calculating cumulative radon concentrations for multiple mines in a region with many mines. The dispersion model, modeling assumptions, data sources, computational procedures, and results are documented in this report. 7 refs., 27 figs., 18 tabs.

Subject

• STI Subject Categories: 050300 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Mining-- (-1987)
• Keyword: Elements
• Keyword: Exhaust Gases
• STI Subject Categories: 54 Environmental Sciences
• Keyword: Fluids
• Keyword: Computer Calculations
• Keyword: Underground Facilities
• Keyword: Ecological Concentration
• Keyword: Data
• Keyword: Radon
• Keyword: Uranium Mines
• Keyword: Theoretical Data
• Keyword: Pollution
• Keyword: Mass Transfer
• Keyword: Rare Gases
• Keyword: Air Pollution
• Keyword: Wastes 053000* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Environmental Aspects
• Keyword: Gaseous Wastes
• Keyword: Numerical Data
• Keyword: Environmental Transport
• Keyword: Information
• STI Subject Categories: 500300 -- Environment, Atmospheric-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
• Keyword: Radioecological Concentration
• Keyword: Gases
• Keyword: Mines
• Keyword: Nonmetals
• STI Subject Categories: 11 Nuclear Fuel Cycle And Fuel Materials
• Keyword: Plumes

Source

• Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products. Original copy available until stock is exhausted

Collection

• Name: Office of Scientific & Technical Information Technical Reports
  Code: OSTI

Institution

• Name: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
  Code: UNTGD

Resource Type

• Report

Format

• Text

Identifier

• Other: DE85011691
• Report No.: PNL-5239
• Grant Number: AC06-76RL01830
• DOI: 10.2172/5677757
• Office of Scientific & Technical Information Report Number: 5677757
• Archival Resource Key: ark:/67531/metadc1093524

Note

• Display Note: NTIS, PC A06/MF A01; 1.