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CsCesium132.9

Radionuclide Levels and Harvest Rates of American

Alligators: Considerations for Exposure

Presenter: Dennis G. Jackson P.E. Fellow EngineerCo-Authors: Timothy Jannik, John (Jack) Mayer Ph.D, & William G. Wabbersen

24th Annual RETS/REMP & EPRI Groundwater Workshop,June 24 - 26, 2014, The Westin Savannah, Savannah, GA

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HgMercury200.59

The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

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• Historical Range

• Social & Economic value

• Demise

• Classification under the Endangered Species Act (ESA)

Recovery – Alligators role as ESA success

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• Stronghold States (FL & LA)

• Other Southeastern States(MS, AL, GA, & SC)

W. “Bill” Wabbersen –Alligator Sampler (Hunter),

Nuclear Engineer – UF.

• Brisbin et al. 1989, 1992, 1997

• Jagoe et al. 1998

Surveys by the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory

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American alligators in Popular Culture

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• The History Channel’s “Swamp People”

• Applications for Harvest Tags

Potential Exposure Vector

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Alligators at SRS. How many can you find?

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American alligators baskingin the sun on the banks of L-Lake.

Public alligator hunting is prohibited on SRS!(Photo Credit: Steve Ashe, SRS Photography)

Driver for Department of Energy

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• Evaluation of Exposures to Contaminants in Biota Originating fromthe Savannah River Site. (ATSDR, 2012)–DOE should continue to monitor all types of biota consumed by humans both on and off

the site …

–DOE should keep informed of the types of biota consumed by humans and provideadequate monitoring for those types that may be contaminated by site activities. Therewere limited or no data available from 1993 through 2008 for review on some animalspotentially consumed by humans, such as alligators, rabbits, squirrel, ducks, turtles, andother small animals.

• DOE HANDBOOK - Environmental Radiological Effluent Monitoringand Environmental Surveillance (2014 DRAFT)“Reptile species (e.g., turtles and alligators) that are categorized as

game should also be considered if a pathway exists.”

Observations from the Savannah River (RM 134)

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SC-10697 GA-01100 GA-0003766 SC-12113Harvest Date 10/11/2013 9/8/2013 9/24/2012 9/24/2011Length 5 feet & 9 inches 9 feet & 2 inches 8 feet & 8 inches 6 feet & 5 inches

Mercury (ug/g) 0.59 0.90 0.70 0.50

Americium-241 (pCi/kg) ND ND ND NDCurium-244 (pCi/kg) ND ND ND NDCobalt-60 (pCi/kg) ND ND ND NDCesium-137 (pCi/kg) 55.2 72.5 43.3 68.9Potasium-40 (pCi/kg) 3120 3250 2070 2690Neptunium-237 (pCi/kg) ND ND ND NDPlutonium-238 (pCi/kg) ND ND ND NDPlutonium-239 (pCi/kg) ND ND ND NDUranium-234 (pCi/kg) ND ND 1.98 0.248Uranium-235 (pCi/kg) ND ND ND NDUranium-238 (pCi/kg) 0.12 0.17 1.75 0.28

Comparison to other media.

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X

X

Total Hg (ug/g)0 0.5 1 1.5 2

2010

2011

Results from American Alligator Samples Compared to RangeObserved from SRS Fish Surveillance Program

X AmericanAlligatorRange Observed From

SRS Fish Surveillance Program(2012 SRS Annual Environmental Report)

Observations from 2013: 0.59 and 0.90 µg/g

Proposed Future Work

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2014 Proposal to Increase Sample Population

• SCDNR collect samples from hunters & processors,

• DOE-EM Minority Programs for Sample Analysis• Mercury – EPA Method 7473/7474• Organics – PCB via EPA Method 1668/1656• Radionuclides – , & and fission products• Considering Arsenic as constituent

Questions?

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