Contaminated Soil

DOE-HDBK-3010-94

5.0 Surface Contamination; Solid, Noncombustible Surfaces

greater than normally assumed (GSD 2) and provides greater fractions in the larger size

ranges (a nonconservative assumption for the assessment of radiological impacts). Due to the

rapid change in size distribution, the maximum mass of inert material airborne in the

respirable fraction is for an MR of 1. Therefore, a bounding ARF and RF of inert material

equal in mass to the TNT Equivalent for the detonation are assumed. This correlation

previously used for solids and liquids is considered bounding for concrete forms as well. The

amount of surface contamination driven airborne as a respirable aerosol will be the amount of

contamination associated with the mass of inert material driven airborne. This association

may be on a per volume or surface area basis. The depth or area fragmented by the

detonation must be estimated based on general explosive information in texts or specific data.

5.3.2.1.2 C on tam in ated S oil. For soil or soil-like powders (aggregated, compacted

powder), the ARF and RF assessed in subsection 4.4.2.1 for suspension of powders from

shock effect (ARF mass of material suspended is calculated 0.8 TNT Equivalent for the

explosion, RF 0.25) may be applied. The amount of the radioactive contaminant made

airborne is estimated by multiplying the mass of soil/powder airborne by the concentration of

the contaminant (Ci/g).

5.3.2.2

B last E ffects

No experimentally measured values for ARF and RF are available. Potential releases for

loose surface contamination on metal are bounded by the assessed values for venting

pressurized gases over metal given in the following subsection.

5.3.2.3

V en tin g of P ressurized G ases O ver S olid s

Release of pressurized gases over the solid could suspend material if the surface of the solid

were covered with loose oxide (corroded) and the aerodynamic profile over the surface

possessed the characteristic to entrain the oxide. For loose, externally deposited surface

contamination, there are two mechanisms defined for powders that can be used to assess this

situation. The first is if the venting gas source does not significantly pressurize the

confinement in which the contamination exists. In this case, the ARF and RF of 5E-3 and

0.3 for accelerated flow parallel to powder on a surface given in subsection 4.4.2.2.2 would

be an appropriate bound.

The second case is when the venting gases pressurizes the volume in which the contamination

exists. The ARF and RF values (5E-3 and 0.4 for pressure < 0.17 MPag, 1E-1 and 0.7 for

greater pressures) determined in subsection 4.4.2.3 to bound the venting of pressurized

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