Listing of Radionuclides Released from Hanford - Hanford Health Information Network

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A Listing of Radionuclides
Released from Hanford

Radionuclides Estimated To Have Been Released to the Air
Legend for Tables 1 and 2
Table 1: Radionuclides Released to the Air (1944-1972)
Table 2: Radionuclides Released to the Columbia River (1944-1971)
Incompleteness and Uncertainty of Release Estimates
Approach for Reconstructing Release Amounts
References
Suggested HHIN Publications

Introduction

In this report you will find a listing of the names of 237 radionuclides that Hanford released into the air and into the Columbia River. This report will also briefly describe what would need to be done to estimate the amount released for each of the radionuclides.

During the years that Hanford produced plutonium for use in nuclear weapons, hundreds of different radionuclides were released into the environment. The Hanford Environmental Dose Reconstruction Project (HEDR) calculated release estimates for about two dozen radionuclides. Of these, HEDR calculated dose estimates for only 11 radionuclides. The HEDR Project’s preliminary work indicated that those 11 accounted for more than 99 percent of the total dose a person was likely to have received from Hanford. However, some citizens wanted a more comprehensive release estimate.

Over the past several years, many downwinders have asked the Network for more information. They want to know about the other radioactive elements (or radionuclides) released from Hanford in addition to the 11 that HEDR used in the calculation of dose estimates. Some downwinders want this information to enable them to do further research on their own while others feel they should have the most complete information possible.

The Hanford Health Information Network’s initial investigation indicated that it was not possible for the Network to determine (independent from HEDR) what other radionuclides were released or to estimate the total amounts released. It was then decided, in consultation with the HHIN Resource Center Citizen Advisory Board, that many downwinders would find it useful to know at least the names of the radionuclides. The Network located listings of the radionuclides’ names among some of HEDR’s preliminary work.

The HEDR reference that provided the names of the 237 radionuclides is titled “Selection of Dominant Radionuclides for Phase I of the Hanford Environmental Dose Reconstruction Project” (PNL-7231 HEDR). The following tables are derived from Appendix D (for atmospheric releases) and Appendix E (for river releases) of the Dominant Radionuclides report. HEDR provided release estimates for about two dozen radionuclides and these estimates are included in the following tables.

Radionuclides Estimated To Have Been Released to the Air ¹

The following (Table 1) is a listing of 166 radionuclides estimated to have been released to the air from nuclear weapons production activities at Hanford, from 1944 through 1972. The order of the list is the same as in the HEDR reference report and represents a ranking related to the degree of contribution to radiation dose. This particular ranking scheme used only a gross estimate of relative radionuclide inventories and no Hanford-specific environmental data, so the ranking implied in the ordering is somewhat different than the ranking that led to the selection of the radionuclides used in the HEDR dose estimates.² The release estimates in the table below come from more recent HEDR reports (see References list).

Legend for Tables 1 and 2

Radionuclide — name of the radioactive isotope released from Hanford. (Isotopes are different forms of a chemical element which have the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons.)

m — For some of the radionuclides, the isotope numbers are followed by an “m.” This “m” stands for metastable which denotes a metastable state for that radionuclide. Metastable means that the atom is only slightly stable, and will continue its decay process after a delay.

Example: The table shows that tellurium-129m is metastable, has a half-life of just over 33½ days and the amount of it released by Hanford was not estimated by HEDR.

Physical Half-Life — The length of time in which one half of the material decays. The values have been rounded to the first place after the decimal point. In the Half-Life column, there are letters following the numbers. The letters refer to the unit of time: “s” for second, “m” for minute, “h” for hour, “d” for day and “y” for year.

HEDR Release Estimate — For certain radionuclides, HEDR estimated how much was released into the atmosphere or into the Columbia River. The release estimate is also known as the source term. The estimates are in a measuring unit called a curie. Curie is the unit used in measuring radioactivity. It is equal to the quantity of any radioactive material in which the number of atoms that decay each second is 37 billion. The release estimates have been rounded from the values listed in the referenced reports.

Table 1
Radionuclides Released to the Air (1944-1972)
Radionuclide Physical Half-Life
in seconds (s), minutes (m),
hours (h), days (d) or years (y) HEDR Release Estimate
(in curies)
(where provided by HEDR)

iodine-131 8.0 d 739,000

ruthenium-103 39.3 d 1,200

ruthenium-106 368.2 d 390

cobalt-60 5.3 y 1

zirconium-95 64.0 d 1,200

iodine-132 2.3 h 3,820

cerium-144 284.3 d 3,770

cesium-137 30.0 y 42

strontium-90 29.1 y 64

yttrium-91 58.5 d -

strontium-89 50.5 d 700

barium-140 12.7 d -

niobium-95 35.2 d -

tellurium-129m 33.6 d -

cerium-141 32.5 d -

plutonium-239 24,065 y 2

xenon-133 5.3 d 418,000

praseodymium-143 13.6 d -

lanthanum-140 40.3 h -

cesium-134 2.1 y -

neodymium-147 11 d -

plutonium-240 6,540 y -

iodine-129 15,700,000 y 46

plutonium-241 14.4 y -

antimony-125 2.8 y -

tellurium-132 78.2 h -

cesium-136 13.1 d -

promethium-148m 41.3 d -

plutonium-238 87.7 y -

promethium-147 2.6 y -

europium-154 8.8 y -

xenon-131 11.9 d -

silver-111 7.5 d -

tin-125 9.6 d -

cadmium-115m 44.6 d -

iron-59 44.5 d -

yttrium-90 64.0 h -

tellurium-125m 58 d -

europium-155 5 y -

niobium-95m 88.6 h -

neptunium-239 2.4 d -

promethium-148 5.4 d -

silver-110m 249.9 d -

krypton-85 10.7 y 18,500,000

uranium-238 4,470,000,000 y -

americium-241 432.3 y -

molybdenum-99 66.0 h -

neptunium-237 2,140,000 y -

rubidium-86 18.7 d -

antimony-124 60.2 d -

cobalt-58 70.8 d -

curium-242 162.8 d -

manganese-54 312.5 d -

praseodymium-144 17.3 m -

xenon-133m 2.2 d -

tin-126 10,000 y -

iron-55 2.7 y -

tin-119m 293 d -

uranium-235 703,800,000 y -

technetium-99 213,000 y -

europium-152 13.3 y -

samarium-151 90 y -

rhodium-106 29.9 s -

uranium-236 23,400,00 y -

rhodium-103m 56.1 m -

silver 108m 127 y -

barium-137m 2.6 m -

tellurium-129 69.6 m -

promethium-149 53.1 h -

technetium-99m 6.0 h -

thorium-234 24.1 d -

plutonium-236 2.9 y -

iodine-133 20.8 h -

curium-244 18.1 y -

plutonium-242 376,000 -

cadmium-115 53.5 h -

americium-243 7,380 y -

zinc-65 243.9 d -

cesium-132 6.5 d -

uranium-234 244,500 y -

zirconium-93 1,530,000 y -

samarium-153 46.7 h -

cesium-135 2,300,000 y -

nickel-63 96 y -

chromium-51 27.7 d -

tin-117m 13.6 d -

gadolinium-153 242 d -

tritium (H-3) 12.4 y 200,000³

carbon-14 5,730 y 55⁴

cerium-143 33 h -

curium-243 28.5 y -

tin-121m 55 y -

cadmium-109 464 d -

antimony-122 2.7 d -

indium-115m 4.5 h -

xenon-129m 8.0 d -

niobium-94 20,300 y -

plutonium-237 45.3 d -

holmium-166m 1,230 y -

protactinium-231 32,760 y -

nickel-59 75,000 y -

xenon-127 36.4 d -

thorium-231 25.5 h -

niobium-93m 13.6 y -

gallium-72 14.1 h -

arsenic-77 38.8 h -

thorium-228 1.9 y -

bromine-82 35.3 h -

silver-110 24.6 s -

actinium-227 21.8 y -

curium-245 8,500 y -

samarium-147 106,000,000,000 y -

radon-224 3.7 d -

tin-121 27.1 h -

thulium-170 128.6 d -

thorium-230 77,000 y -

radon-220 55.6 s -

beryllium-10 1,600,000 y -

curium-246 4,730 y -

lead-212 10.6 d -

curium-241 32.8 d -

silver-108 2.4 m -

thorium-229 7,340 y -

zirconium-97 16.9 h -

copper-67 61.9 h -

krypton-81 210,000 y -

bismuth-212 60.6 m -

nickel-66 64.6 h -

arsenic-76 26.3 h -

niobium-97 72.1 m -

thorium-232 14,050,000,000 y -

radon-222 3.8 d -

thallium-208 3.1 m -

niobium-97m 60 s -

praseodymium-142 19.13 h -

radon-225 14.8 d -

indium-115 500,000,000,000,000 y -

barium-135 m 28.7 h -

thulium-171 1.9 y -

iodine-130 12.4 h -

lead-210 22.3 y -

radium-226 1,600 y -

gadolinium-152 108,000,000,000,000 y -

polonium-210 138.4 d -

radium-228 5.8 y -

krypton-79 35 h -

palladium-109 13.4 h -

uranium-240 14.1 h -

bismuth-210 5 d -

scandium-48 43.7 h -

curium-248 339,000 y -

actinium-228 6.1 h -

berkelium-249 320 d -

sodium-24 15 h -

lead-214 26.8 m -

bismuth-214 19.9 m -

xenon-135 9.1 h -

copper-64 12.7 h -

californium-249 350.6 y -

calcium-47 4.5 d -

strontium-91 9.5 h -

yttrium-91m 49.7 m -

magnesium-28 20.9 h -

aluminum-28 2.2 m -

europium-152m 9.3 h -

argon-41 1.83 h 9,000,000⁵

Radionuclides Estimated To Have Been Released to Columbia River⁶

Table 2 lists 71 radionuclides released to the Columbia River from the operation of Hanford’s plutonium production reactors, from 1944 through 1971. The order of this list is the same as in the Battelle-PNL reference document. It lists the radionuclides by their mass number. The mass number is the number of neutrons and protons in the nucleus of an atom. The release estimates come from more recent HEDR reports (see References list).

Table 2
Radionuclides Released to the Columbia River (1944-1971)
Radionuclide Physical Half-Life
in seconds (s), minutes (m),
hours (h), days (d) or years (y) HEDR Release Estimate⁷
(in curies)
(where provided by HEDR)

tritium (H-3) 12.3 y -

sodium-24 15 h 13,000,000

silicon-31 2.6 h -

phosphorus-32 14.3 d 230,000

calcium-45 165 d -

scandium-46 83.8 d 120,000

chromium-51 27.7 d 7,200,000

manganese-54 312.5 d -

manganese-56 2.6 h 80,000,000

iron-59 44.5 d -

cobalt-60 5.3 y -

copper-64 12.7 h -

nickel-65 2.5 h -

zinc-65 243.9 d 500,000

zinc-69m 13.8 h -

gallium-72 3.3 d 3,700,000

arsenic-76 26.3 h 2,500,000

strontium-87m 2.8 h -

strontium-89 50.5 d -

strontium-90 29.1 y -

yttrium-90 64 h 450,000

strontium-91 9.5 h -

yttrium-91 58.5 d -

strontium-92 2.7 h -

yttrium-92 3.5 h -

yttrium-93 10.1 h -

zirconium-95 64 d -

niobium-95 35.2 d -

molybdenum-99 66 h -

technetium-99 213,000 y -

ruthenium-103 39.3 d -

ruthenium-106 368.2 d -

antimony-122 2.7 d -

antimony-124 60.2 d -

iodine-131 8.0 d 48,000

iodine-132 2.3 h -

iodine-133 20.8 h -

iodine-134 52.6 m -

iodine-135 6.6 h -

cesium-136 13.1 d -

cesium-137 30 y -

cesium-138 32.2 m -

barium-139 82.7 m -

barium-140 12.7 d -

lanthanum-140 40.3 h -

cerium-141 32.5 d -

cerium-143 33 h -

cerium-144 284.3 d -

praseodymium-142 19.1 h -

praseodymium-143 13.6 d -

praseodymium-147 13.4 m -

promethium-147 2.6 y -

promethium-149 53.1 h -

promethium-151 28.4 h -

samarium-153 46.7 h -

europium-152m 96 m -

europium-152 13.3 y -

europium-156 15.2 d -

gadolinium-153 241.6 d -

gadolinium-159 18.6 h -

terbium-160 72.3 d -

terbium-161 6.9 d -

dysprosium-165 2.3 h -

holmium-166 1,230 y -

erbium-169 9.4 d -

erbium-171 7.5 h -

thorium-232 14,050,000,000 y -

uraniun-238 4,468,000,000 y -

plutonium-239 24,065 y -

plutonium-240 6,537 y -

neptunium-239 2.4 d 6,300,000

Incompleteness and Uncertainty of Release Estimates

HEDR did not consider all of the points at which the 237 radionuclides (the 166 released to the air and the 71 released to the river) were released into the environment. Based on the preliminary work, HEDR scientists were satisfied that they had identified the most important release points. Because of the incompleteness of HEDR’s work and the gaps in the historical documentation, there is some uncertainty in the HEDR release estimates. Other sources of uncertainty include unknown accuracy of historical measurements and assumptions that form the basis for computer calculations.

The HEDR Project is not completed yet and several tasks are planned that will lead to changes in HEDR’s release estimates, such as those involving the plutonium and ruthenium particles. In addition to the HEDR work, other scientists are estimating Hanford’s releases of radioactive materials. As new information becomes available, this HHIN report will be updated.

Approach for Reconstructing Releases Amounts

How would somebody estimate release amounts for each of the 237 radionuclides listed here? The basic approach for reconstructing how much material was released from any industrial operation is to search through the plant records and collect information that is related to the processing. At Hanford the basic information that is needed includes: the power level of the reactors, how long the fuel was in the reactor, where in the reactor the fuel was located, how long the fuel was cooled between leaving the reactor and being processed, the amount of fuel processed, and the existence and efficiency of exhaust filters.

The HEDR Project obtained this information for the 11 radionuclides included in the 1994 representative dose estimates. To obtain this information for the additional radionuclides, an extensive review of thousands of pages of HEDR reports and Hanford historical documents would be required.

To compile a truly comprehensive estimate of Hanford’s releases of radioactive materials, one would also need to consider the following additional sources: releases to the air from underground waste storage tanks, fires in processing areas and burial grounds, laboratories and experimental facilities, and releases due to accidents.

For a more complete description of reconstructing release amounts, please refer to Chapter 3, “Estimating and Confirming the Source Term,” in the National Research Council’s 1995 book, Radiation Dose Reconstruction for Epidemiologic Uses.

References

Note: The documents listed below with a “PNWD” number are reports prepared by Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratory while under contract to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The documents listed below with a “PNL” or “BN” number are reports prepared by Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratory while under contract to the U.S. Department of Energy.

1. Derived from Appendix D (pp. D.1-D.6) in B.A. Napier "Selection of Dominant Radionuclides for Phase 1 of the Hanford Environmental Dose Reconstruction Project," PNL-7231 HEDR, July 1991.

2. B.A. Napier, "Determination of Radionuclides and Pathways Contributing to Cumulative Dose, HEDR Dose Codeecovery Activities-Calculation 004," BN-SA-3673 HEDR, December 1992, p.4.

3. This estimate is incomplete as it does not include the tens of thousands of curies from Hanford's chemical separation facilities and the plutonium production reactors.

4. Amount from the reactor stacks only. Extrapolated from C.M. Heeb, "Radionuclide Releases to the Atmosphere from Hanford Operations, 1944-1972," PNWD-2222 HEDR, May 1994, pp. 5.3-5.4.

5. Amount from the reactor stacks only. Extrapolated from C.M. Heeb, "Radionuclide Releases to the Atmosphere from Hanford Operations, 1944-1972," PNWD-2222 HEDR, May 1994, pp. 5.3-5.4.

6. Derived from Appendix E (Table IV, pp. E.8-E.9) in PNL-7231. Appendix E is a reprint of a 1969 draft report.

7. These values have been rounded to two significant figures from what is reported in HEDR reports. This was in response to a review comment by Maurice Robkin, Ph.D., former Technical Steering Panel (TSP) member and chair of the Source term Committee. The reason for rounding is that the HEDR estimates are somewhat uncertain and the rounding is representative of the uncertainty.

Heeb, C.M. “Radionuclide Releases to the Atmosphere from Hanford Operations, 1944- 1972.” PNWD-2222 HEDR. May 1994.

Heeb, C.M., and D.J. Bates. “Radionuclide Releases to the Columbia River from Hanford Operations, 1944-1971.” PNWD-2223 HEDR. May 1994.

Heeb, C.M., and S.P. Gydesen. “Sources of Secondary Radionuclide Releases from Hanford Operations.” PNWD-2254 HEDR. May 1994.

Napier, B.A. “Determination of Radionuclides and Pathways Contributing to Cumulative Dose, HEDR Dose Code Recovery Activities—Calculation 004.” BN-SA-3673 HEDR. December 1992.

Napier, B.A. “Selection of Dominant Radionuclides for Phase I of the Hanford Environmental Dose Reconstruction Project.” PNL-7231 HEDR. July 1991.

National Research Council’s Committee on an Assessment of CDC Radiation Studies. Radiation Dose Reconstruction for Epidemiologic Uses. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1995.

Robkin, M.A., and B. Shleien. “Estimated Maximum Thyroid Doses from I-129 Releases from the Hanford Site for the Years 1944-1995.” Health Physics, Vol. 69 (6), December 1995, pp. 917-922.

Suggested HHIN Publications

Radioactivity in the Body, Spring 1994
Potential Health Problems from Exposure to Selected Radionuclides, Fall 1994
Radionuclides in the Columbia River, Summer 1995

Published October 1996

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A Listing of Radionuclides Released from Hanford

A Listing of Radionuclides
Released from Hanford