Radionuclides in Lake Michigan Fish
Authors
Nelson, D. M.
Romberg, G. P.
Prepejchal, W.
Issue Date
2011-04-14T17:36:00Z
Type
Technical Report
Language
en_US
Subject
Lake Michigan , Fish , Nuclear Power Plants , Contamination , Radionuclide concentrations , Big Rock Station , Point Beach Nuclear Reactor , Samples
Alternative Title
Abstract
One apsect of the siting of nuclear power plants on Lake Michigan
which has received considerable attention is the question of reactor-produced
radionuclides entering the aquatic ecosystem. Once released into the
environment, many of these isotopes reconcentrate in the biota, producing
potentially important routes to man. Since fish constitute the most important
food sources derived from Lake Michigan, it is important to know
the concentrations of radionuclides present in food fishes, as well as any
changes in these concentrations near power reactors. In assessing the
biological significance of reactor-produced isotopes, it is necessary to
consider also the natural radioactivity and the substantial inventories of
nuclides already present in Lake Michigan owing to the testing of nuclear
weapons.
In order to provide baseline information needed to evaluate any additional
radioactive releases, fish samples were collected from Lake
Michigan during 1970 and 1971 and analyzed for gamma-ray emitting radionuclides.
Data collected during October 1970 at the Big Rock Nuclear
Reactor near Charlevoix, Michigan (a 70-MW boiling water reactor completed
in 1962) indicated radionuclide concentrations in fish to be higher than
expected for fish elsewhere in the lake. A repeat sampling trip was made
to Big Rock in June of 1971, as well as several visits to the Point Beach
Nuclear Reactor near Two Rivers, Wisconsin (a 480-MW pressurized water
reactor completed in 1970).
Description
TABLE 1. Radionuclide Concentrations in Lake Michigan Fish during 1971.; TABLE 2. Radionuclide Concentration of Fish Collected near the Big Rock Reactor.; FIG. 1 . Cs/K ratio in Lake Michigan fish. Trout, salmon, bass, and
carp were measured as fillets , the others as whole fish.; TABLE 3. Contribution of Big Rock Fish Toward the Maximum Permissible
Ingestion of Radionuclides.