TMI venting of noble gas

[Field@amrf-po.pmeh.uiowa.edu]

          Mike, 

          Thank you for acknowledging that I almost spoke the truth.

          Nevertheless, suffice it to say the public health concern
          about the noble gas venting was not great enough to stop the
          venting of the noble gases at TMI.  I'd like to respond to
          your comment concerning iodine releases, even if it is
          a bit off the subject,

          The filters for iodines had little impact on the noble gas
          release.  In addition, radioactive iodines were detected in
          the wild animal food chain in the vicinity of TMI and as
          far away as England. However, you are correct, the filters
          prevented a much higher release of iodines.

          Bill Field
          ------------------
          R. William Field, Ph.D.
          Department of Preventive Medicine
          University of Iowa
          bill-field@uiowa.edu




To all,

Almost true...

Actually, in 1979 there was a GREAT DEAL of concern and
discussion of possibly using cryogenic "freeze-out" techniques
to collect the Kr-85 being released from TMI Unit 2.

To summarize a huge amount of work, suffice it to say it was
decided that the concentration of radioactivity into drums
or other containers would be a greater hazard (including set-up
and operation of cryogenic freezers on line with all vents from unit
2) than allowing the release to continue.  Filters were installed in
an amazingly short period of time (about 24 hours) immediately
after the accident to capture "any" radioiodines.

The EPA/US NRC/State of Pennsylvania/entire world press were
aware of the gas release issue (a not insignificant amount of
xenon was being emitted that was of considerably more interest
regarding immersion doses than krypton) and were briefed every
day (for a long time).

A long ago recollection (1979 era)...

MikeG.