1 - paducah environmental information center

Paducah Site
discharges, whereas SS 28 is located in a similar
type stream providing a regional reference site.
present, are not significantly above background
values.
The Bayou and Little Bayou Creek
downstream concentrations are higher than the
background upstream concentrations for all
uranium radionuclides. The uranium increase is
attributed to plant operations. This is verified by
the assay values (% 235U present) that are lower
than would be seen for naturally occurring
uranium (about 0.7% assay). These results
concur with past studies in which uranium was
detected. As shown in Table 5.5, total uranium
concentrations in sediment in 1999 were not
analyzed to a low enough level to be compared
with past years~_
The Little Bayou Creek downstream
concentrations are higher than the background
upstream concentration for 99'J'c. Table 5.6
shows that 99'fc concentration in sediment at SS
2 increased significantly in 1999, similar to the
increase noted at SS 1 in 1998. Historical data
collected in the past five years indicates that
these increases at SS 2 and SS 1 may be
anomalies because the value for 99'J'c is
significantly higher than for the other years.
Continued surveillance will prove or disprove
this assumption. Other radionuclides, although
Terrestrial Wildlife,
Annual Deer Harvest
In 1999, a total of eight deer were harvested
in the WKWMA as part of DOE's ongoing effort
to monitor the effects of the Paducah Site on the
ecology of the surrounding area. Two deer
obtained as background samples from the
Ballard Wildlife Management Area (BWMA)
were used for reference. Liver, muscle, and
bone samples were analyzed for several
radionuclides [I37CS, 237Np, 23 9 Pu, 99'J'c, 23%,
234U, 235U, 238U, and 90Sr ~bonesamples only)].
In addition, thyroid samples were analyzed for
99'fc. Because the liver and muscle tissue. are
considered consumable by hunters, these tissues
can be evaluated for radiological risks (dose) if
analyses reveal detectable levels above
background, or reference, deer; Bone and
thyroid saIIlples are used only as indicators of
contamination. Table 5.7 lists deer with
detectable levels of radionuclides;
TableS.S Five-Year Uranium Concentrations in Sediment
Total Uranium (JIg/g)
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
UpstreamIReference Locations
Bayou Creek
SS 20 0.9 5.1 0.83 0.83 NO
Little Bayou Creek
SS 21 2.2 2.6 2.24 2.32 NO
Massac Creek
SS 28 0.51 1.8 0.31 0.33 NO
Downstream Locations
SS 1
SS 2
SS 27
Bayou Creek
2.97 3.5 2.59
Little Bayou Creek
12.5 43.5 21.3
8.6 10.0 10.8
60.1
12.4
2.18
NO
ND
NO
5-6
Radiological Environmental Surveillance