Concentrations of 239,240Pu and 241Am in drinking water and organic fertilizer
Alberts, J.J.; Wahlgren, M.A.
Health Physics 32(4): 295-297
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0017-9078 PMID: 881317 Document Number: 124103
Among several investigations dealing with the chemistry and aquatic distribution of fallout-derived 239,240Pu and 241Am in the aquatic environment, was a study of the concentration of these nuclides in the drinking water and organic fertilizer distributed to the populace of the Chicago [Illinois, USA] area. The concentration of 239,240Pu is always lower in the water which has been treated at the plant than the raw water concentration of 239,240Pu. The values for the 239,240Pu concentration in the raw waters are also consistent with the normal levels of 239,240Pu found in Lake Michigan [USA] waters which are approximately 6 orders of magnitude below the maximum permissible concentration standard for drinking water. Due to the extremely low concentrations of 241Am present in the water and particulate matter of the lake, it was not possible to measure the concentration of this nuclide without increasing the sample size tenfold. No values are reported for 241Am in waters either before or after filtration. There is little evidence to indicate that 239,240Pu in drinking water or 239,240Pu and 241Am from organic sludge are health hazards in the Chicago area under current conditions.