Volume : I, Issue : VI, March - 2012

Hanford and Radioactive Tumbleweeds: A Case Study

Rajesh Gopinath

Abstract :

Hanford facility is the most contaminated nuclear site in Washington. Since the cessation of plutonium production in 1987, it is also the site of the largest and most expensive environmental cleanup project in History. Without prior knowledge of the dangers associated with radioactive wastes, the DoE had disposed gallons of nuclear wastes directly into the soil and Columbia River. The presence of ‘Russian thistle’ has further aggravated the contamination problem at the facility’s underground zones. The taproot of the ‘invader species’ grows as deep as 20 feet sucking up radio–nuclides such as strontium & cesium. Upon drying, its shoot eaks up and tumbles along with the wind spreading radioactivity in the process. Hence it garnered the name ‘Radioactive Tumbleweeds’. Among 1100 documented findings of contaminated vegetation of the past 50 years in Hanford, 80% were radioactive tumbleweeds. Literature review has also revealed that these plants were capable of carrying as much as 66 mega Becquerel’s of radioactivity. Mulching techniques and controlling the thistles from coming in contact with contaminated sites are potential mitigation measures for preventing possible radiation disasters.

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Article: Download PDF   DOI : 10.36106/ijar  

Cite This Article:

Rajesh Gopinath Hanford and Radioactive Tumbleweeds: A Case Study Indian Journal of Applied Research, Vol.I, Issue.VI March 2012

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