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Summary of the Transport of Cesium in the Environment
Citation:
Lemieux, P., S. Lee, A. Mikelonis, T. Boe, AND S. Hudson. Summary of the Transport of Cesium in the Environment. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/S-18/289, 2018.
Impact/Purpose:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Homeland Security Research Program (HSRP) is assessing strategies and methodologies for remediation of areas contaminated with radionuclides. Most of EPA’s research efforts have focused on Cesium (Cs), an extremely mobile and difficult to clean up radionuclide. This technical brief discusses the transport of Cesium in the environment.
Description:
Cesium (Cs) is a likely contaminant that would either be used (probably in the form of Cesium Chloride [CsCl]) in a radiological dispersal device (RDD), or either released or generated through decay processes from nuclear power plant (NPP) accidents or an improvised nuclear device (IND). The contamination could be potentially widespread, involving many square miles of contaminated area involving urban areas, agricultural areas, and forest areas. The EPA would likely be involved with remediation of areas contaminated after one of these types of radiological incidents. In support of its customers, the EPA’s Homeland Security Research Program (HSRP) is assessing strategies and methodologies for remediation of areas contaminated with radionuclides. Most research efforts have focused on Cs, an extremely mobile and difficult to clean up radionuclide. Because of its mobility, knowledge of the transport of Cs in the environment is crucial to inform cleanup and sampling strategies. EPA’s HSRP has conducted a series of experimental studies and acquired field data from the Fukushima and Chernobyl accidents focused on assessing how Cs moves within the environment following an intentional or accidental release. This Tech Brief discusses the various modes of transport of Cs within the environment.