March 1, 2001
Journal Article

Improvements in Modeling Sagebrush Concentrations of Radioiodine Released from the Hanford Site

Abstract

Hanford Environmental Dose Reconstruction Project validation studies using predicted activity concentrations of 131I on sagebrush showed a systematic underestimation against historical data during cold weather months, indicating a need for sagebrush model improvement. A deposition model for semi-volatile organic materials, including a temperature-dependent term based on an integrated van't Hoff equation, was adapted for gaseous iodine onto sagebrush. Calibration data for the model are obtained from a release of 131I in 1963. Modeling results for releases in 1946 show a good match between historical data and predicted results using the new model.

Revised: March 28, 2002 | Published: March 1, 2001

Citation

Napier B.A., P.W. Eslinger, W.E. Nichols, and L. Anderlini. 2001. Improvements in Modeling Sagebrush Concentrations of Radioiodine Released from the Hanford Site. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 54, no. 3:377-389. PNNL-SA-33571.