Prospects for the Introduction of Wide Area Monitoring Using Environmental SamplingNed WogmanPNNL

October 2011

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RN Environmental Sampling Relationships

Gas

Aquatic

Particle

Soil &Sediment

Biota(Flora & Fauna)

Workshop

Survey

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Past Large Radionuclide Environmental Sampling Efforts

Nuclear fallout detection Environmental clean-up work from nuclear activitiesWide-area monitoring to detect undeclared nuclear activitiesPapers

International Paper, IAEA, STR-321, Ned Wogman et al., IAEA Use of Wide Area Environmental Sampling in the Detection of Undeclared Nuclear ActivitiesA Discussion of Factors Affecting CTBT OSI Environmental Sampling and analysis, PNNL-SA-72065 Radionuclide Environmental Sampling and Analysis Factors for OSIUnder the CTBT, N. Wogman (PNNL), http://www.inmm.org/PNNL_Conference_Papers.htmA Discussion of Procedures and Equipment for the CTBT OSI Environmental Sampling and Analysis, PNNL-20143

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How is ES Different than Past Environmental Sampling Efforts?

ES aims at the detection of short-, medium-, and long-lived radionuclidesES is constrained by area, time, cost, and manpowerES is aimed at the detection of proliferation signature radionuclidesES is specific to detection of nuclear proliferation effluents

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Therefore, IAEA’s Environmental Sampling (ES) is different than CTBT OSI which is designed for the detection of a nuclear test. Sampling must be applied to likely deposition choke points of opportunity as well as anomalous areas.

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Environmental Sampling and Analysis Factors

Cost/complexity/manpower Target the facility first; however, could encompass an entire country (100,000s of km2)Techniques that integrate signals for aquatic, vegetation, sediments/soil, fauna, and sometimes air particulates allow samples to be taken without a fixed presence. Techniques that rely on detecting gas or particulates from intermittent plumes require a fixed presence during the entire sampling period. Detection from weeks to years after release event.Man-made and primordial radionuclide backgrounds.

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Environmental Sampling Factors

Topography of the sampling site Regional surface water features, the local surface water systems, land use, and the surficial and regional geologyThe climatology, such as predominant wind speeds and direction, atmospheric stability, rain, snow, and topographic effects on ground-level wind patterns Migration pathways which consist of release mechanisms, migration routes, chemical transformations, and the natural concentrating effect of vegetation and organismsAll effluent radionuclides must be considered at each point in the environmental fate and transport cycle

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Environmental Sampling Factors (2)

Materials escape the “proliferation" area at different geographic and temporal points

Scenarios must include northern and southern latitudes, temperatures, precipitation, and terrestrial/marinePre-operational planning must occur – what equipment to take? What knowledge must inspectors have?……….……….

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Effluent Sources – Modeling

Assessment of the source term and identification of environmental signatures (observables)A prediction of expected signature levels in environmental media in the facility and at various distances and timeAtmospheric and aquatic modelingA determination of whether the predicted environmental levels are above given detection levels that depend, inter alia, on assumptions about background levels and background variations

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Environmental Chemistry

In order to consider any sampling scenario, the chemical and physical forms of the signatures and the transformations that occur after their release to the environs must be known. Their mobility in the environment has an impact as do the mechanisms that concentrate the material in the environs in different forms.Radionuclide sample analysis data must be coupled with physical measurements to establish an understanding of the hydrologic, atmospheric, and radiometric conditions from which past and present indications of possible radionuclide interferences (background) can be inferred

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Environmental Radionuclide Backgrounds

Operating reactors or reprocessing plants must be identified

Accidents, absorption, breakthrough, etc. from fuel reprocessingoperations release detectable quantities of short- and long-lived fission and activation isotopes into their wastewater and atmospheric effluents

Short-lived radionuclides are only released from reprocessing plants if their irradiated fuel has not had a long decay time; short-lived radionuclides are released from operating power reactorsAn additional source of background is the release of short-lived medical or industrial radioisotopes to the air and water environs during their production Most signatures will transport away from the site via air or aquatic means or concentrate preferentially in one or more specific media

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Environmental Sampling of Varying Chemical and Physical Forms

Non-reactive noble gases are emitted fairly quickly through leaks. Typical releases of these signatures are in a "puff” lasting 24 hours or less (for release of a significant percentage of the non-reactive gas). Reactive gases are those such as iodine and rutheniumParticulates in airAqueous state upon release Precursor radionuclides that may be in a gas form originally, typically decay to a radionuclide with different chemistry and mostly likely will adhere to a particle.

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Air Particulate Samplers

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Large Volume30,000

SCM/Day

Low Volume Commercial

3000 SCM/Day

Large VolumeAutomated

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Concept of Operations Development Cycle

Equipment is available but not:Specific source termSpecific backgrounds Customized sampling science, although it is matureSampling ConopsMeasurement ConopsData quality plan (How many samples? What type? How long to measure? How many detectors? What is an acceptable background? ……)…..

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Sampling Techniques

Local air sampling requires that the samplers be operated continuously, because of the transient nature of the releases, with a sampling system designed to sample an area under differing meteorological conditions. Aquatic sampling requires equipment for water as well as sediments since the RN may concentrate in the sediments whereas the water plume has passed the sampling point.Effective detection demands that an optimum number of samplers be deployed and that they collect a sufficient number of samples for analysis. Even if real-time sampling and analysis is utilized, the number of samplers required to cover the atmospheric and aquatic transport is larger than that required for any type of sampling/analysis system that utilizes an integrating method.

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Large Volume Water Sampler(up to 40,000 liters)

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Deployed Large Volume Water Sampler

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Core Sample for Sediments

Box Sampler

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Collection Media – Advantages and Disadvantages (An Advantage may become a Disadvantage depending on the scenario)

Medium Advantage DisadvantageAquatic Long-range Aquatic background

Opportunities – signature release

Dilution as a function of distance

Attribution to sourceIntegrator, wide range of environs and techniques

Air Particulate

Long-range, sampling simplicity

Costly compared to aquatic, vegetation, and sediment sampling

Integrator, background minimized

Continuous sampling, network, attribution may be difficult, meteorology conditions

Real-time analysis, short-lived RNTechniques available

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Collection Media – Advantages and Disadvantages (2)

Medium Advantage DisadvantageGas Long & short range Meteorology conditions, number of

samplers, continuous operation, multiple elements

Prime signatures (gases) Not a good integrator, impacted by local sources

Techniques available Fleeting sampleMost likely signature

Vegetation Integrator, seasonal, quick, easy simple equipment, techniques available, attribution

Attribution difficult, seasonal, spatial limit large number of samples/analyses background, sample prep

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Collection Media – Advantages and Disadvantages (3)

Medium Advantage DisadvantageSediment/ soil

Integrator or point source Attribution difficult, seasonal, spatial limits, large number of samples/analyses background

Simple techniquesFauna Integrator or point source Special handling/storage, more

sample prep, could be from a large area (animal roaming)

Simple techniques

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High-Volume Air Sampling

Scuba tank compressor capable of collecting 2 m3 of air (200 bar)Designed for radioxenon system

Laboratory manifold to process compressed gas

Air sample21

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Low-Volume Air Sampling Setup

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SAUNA Lab System (Swedish laboratory Xe)

SAUNA Lab system on left is the processing components (no collection capability)Two nuclear detectors are shown on the rightThe gas processing unit receives field samples from the portable unit. Both of these units stay at a laboratory location and await samples.

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How Do We Move Forward?Guiding Principles

Concentrate on topical and sub-topical areas working on technology integrated with NPT/AP policy for Environmental Sampling, Analysis, and Equipment integration.Focus on:

ConopsPolicy GapsTechnology GapsIntegration of TechnologiesAnalysis and EvaluationEquipment

Provide a consensus Conops strategy that is comprehensive, cost effective, and easy to communicate

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Guiding Principles (2)

Create an integrated programReduces transaction costs

Linked with all relevant organizations to:Understand and leverage relevant state party investmentsHarvest technology from academiaWork with industry to commercialize technology – look for early interactions and partnerships

Coordinate/engage with formal NPT/IAEA requirements processTwo-tiered time horizon

Rolling 2-year – maturing near-term technology3-5 years – ensuring the next-generation of near-term technologyFocused on contemporary issues, but also looking at revolving issues

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Concept

1. Identify and organize activities via topical areas (see following figure)

2. Write Conops goals and objectives document for program – could be based on observables, signatures, and equipment to develop an integrated solution.

3. Engage a process to review, test, and execute.4. Measure existing technology against requirements and

policy5. Unmet requirements yield technology needs6. Manage the emerging technology process7. Measure and report progress8. Update policy and research needs, as needed9. Develop a Decision Tree that includes all

aforementioned Factors and Concepts26

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Environmental Sampling Topical Areas

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A 2012 Workshop is suggested

Environmental Sampling and Equipment

Atmospheric Particulates

Aquatic (surface water)

Soil and Sediments

Biota (Flora and Fauna)

Gases

Survey (if possible)

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Decision Tree Thought Process

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Decision Tree Parameters

How much time has elapsed since release of proliferation signatures?

Controls which radionuclides remain.Which hemisphere (latitude, specific nuclear facilities,..)?

Background, Medical isotope production, past nuclear tests or facilities, nuclear reactors, nuclear wastes,….

What climate (temperature, precipitation,…)?Snow, frozen ground, tropical rain forest, swamp, desert,..

What environs (marine, terrestrial)?Defines need – boat, trucks, all-terrain vehicles….

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Decision Tree Parameters (2)

What type of sampling (continuous, intermittent)?Defines sampling for puffs or particle fallout (air/dry-wet surfaces)

What type of sample (particulate, soil, sediment, water, flora, fauna, gas)?

Defines sampling analysis requirements/manpowerWhat types of equipment (mobile, fixed, handheld)?

Power (generators, batteries), size, weightChemistry

….?

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Questions?

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