Accumulation of radionuclides in bed sediments of the Columbia River between Hanford reactors and McNary Dam

Water Resources Research
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Abstract

Amounts of radionuclides from the Hanford reactors contained in bed sediments of the Columbia River were estimated by two methods: (1) from data on radionuclide concentration for the bed sediments between the reactors and McNary Dam, and (2) from data on radionuclide discharge for river stations at Pasco, Washington, and Umatilla, Oregon. Umatilla is 3.2 kilometers below McNary Dam. Accumulations of radionuclides in the Pasco to Umatilla reach estimated by the two methods agree within about 8%. In October 1965 approximately 16,000 curies of gamma emitting radionuclides were resident in bed sediments of the river between the Hanford reactors and McNary Dam. Concentrations and accumulations of chromium-51, zinc-65, cobalt-60, manganese-54, and scandium-46 generally are much higher near McNary Dam than they are in the vicinity of the reactors. These changes are caused by an increase downstream from the reactors in the proportion of the bed sediment that is fine grained and the proportions of the transported zinc, cobalt, manganese, and scandium radionuclides associated with sediment particles.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Accumulation of radionuclides in bed sediments of the Columbia River between Hanford reactors and McNary Dam
Series title Water Resources Research
DOI 10.1029/WR006i001p00130
Volume 6
Issue 1
Year Published 1970
Language English
Publisher American Geophysical Union
Contributing office(s) Washington Water Science Center
Description 8 p.
First page 130
Last page 137
Country United States
State Oregon, Washington
City Pasco, Umatilla
Other Geospatial Columbia River, McNary Dam
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
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