NT-87-12-2 -- An Overview of Airborne Radioactive Emissions at a National Laboratory PDF

Strict control is essential over any emissions of radioactivity in the ventilation exhaust from facilities where radioactive materials may become airborne. At Los Alamos National Laboratory, 87 stacks exhaust ventilation air to the environment from operations with a potential for radioactive emissions. These stacks cover the diverse operations at all laboratory faciiities where radioactive materials are handled and require continuous sampling/monitoring to detect levels of contamination. An overview is presented of the operations, associated ventilation exhaust cleanup systems, and analysis of the emissions. In keeping with the as-low-as-reasonably- achievable concept, emissions of radionuclides are reduced whenever practicable. A specific example is presented describing the reduction of emissions from the linear accelerator beam stop area at the Meson Physics Facility during 1985 by a factor of 8 over previous emissions.

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