RE: Health effects near nuclear power plants

["Somerville, Mark" <MOS3@pge.com>]

Norm and all;
Be careful about the environmental reports you read.  There are two parts to
the story.

On the effluents side, typically the strontiums are in exceedingly low
concentrations.  If they can be measured at all above background or the
lower limit of detection, it is because monthly compositing is performed.
This gives you a huge volume of air in which to detect truly minuscule
concentrations.  This sampling is at or near the point of discharge.

The second part is the radiological environmental monitoring part.  Chances
are that the amount actually found in the environment is zero.  The numbers
shown, if not zero, are probably the lower limit of detection.

Mark Somerville

Certified Health Physicist
PG&E Diablo Canyon Power Plant
Senior Radiation Protection Engineer
NVLAP Technical Director
(805) 545-4007
mailto:mos3@pge.com


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