Practical Use of Personal Air Sampling (PAS) Data in the Internal Dosimetry Program at the Y-12 National Security Complex

Authors

L. M. Snapp, M. L. Souleyrette, K. G. Veinot

Abstract

Personal air sampling (PAS) data took on an added importance during restart operations at the Y-12 National Security Complex beginning in June 1998. It was during this time that the Radiological Control Organization (RADCON) began observing that the uranium exposures appeared to involve primarily insoluble materials rather than the more soluble materials that were observed prior to stand-down in 1994. These observations led to changes in the Y-12 bioassay program, including increased use of PAS devices, institution of routine fecal sampling for insoluble uranium workers, and use of the mathematical models presented in ICRP Publication 78 for the interpretation of bioassay data for uranium. A uranium exposure study was also conducted in 1999 to determine the correlation between intakes predicted by PAS and intakes predicted by bioassay (Eckerman and Kerr 1999). This study concluded that there was poor correlation between the two methods for estimating intakes. Instead of using the PAS data to estimate intakes, Y-12 makes use of the PAS data in the following ways: (1) as an early indicator of workplace incidents to trigger special bioassays that include fecal sampling, urinalysis, and lung counting, (2) as a tool to indicate the potential for acute exposures superimposed on top of ongoing chronic exposures when modeling bioassay data, and (3) to identify potential problem areas with increased airborne activity through review and trending of the applicable PAS data.

Meeting

This abstract was presented at the 37th Annual Midyear Meeting, "Air Monitoring and Internal Dosimetry", Personal Air Sampling, Part 1 Session, 2/8/2004 - 2/11/2004, held in Augusta, GA.

 
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