Using Lapel Air Sampling as an Important Internal Dosimetry Tool at a Decommissioning Nuclear Power Plant with TRU Contamination

Author

J. P. Tarzia

Abstract

The Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Plant began operating in 1968 and was permanently shut down in 1996. After a period of management improvements, the plant began full-scale decommissioning in 1998. During operations of this older facility, degraded fuel and other operational events resulted in a substantial amount of transuranics (TRU) contamination being deposited within plant systems and on plant surfaces. Throughout the plant dismantlement process, workers are potentially exposed to airborne sources of radioactivity that contain a substantial fraction of TRU activity. In order to assess potential worker exposures to these sources, many workers routinely wear lapel air samplers. Together with whole-body counting, personnel contamination monitoring, and general area air sampling, lapel air samplers play an important role in the internal dosimetry program. The implementation of the lapel air sampling program is discussed along with the results of routine internal dose assessments. Comparisons between intake assessment methods from workers are presented. From the data provided, it is shown that lapel air samplers are an invaluable tool to identify potential intakes and as negative documentation to demonstrate the absence of potential inhalation intakes of TRU.

Meeting

This abstract was presented at the 37th Annual Midyear Meeting, "Air Monitoring and Internal Dosimetry", Personal Air Sampling, Part 2 Session, 2/8/2004 - 2/11/2004, held in Augusta, GA.

 
Index of Midyear Meeting Abstracts