19. 



most hazardous from the standpoint of half life, concentration by 

 organisms, and energy of radiations, amounted to 21, 141 curies. 

 Most of this (21,020 curies) was shipped as "sealed sources": 

 metallic cobalt bars used as radiation sources, strontium or cesium 

 samples used as primary radiation sources for calibration of counting 

 equipment, etc. The argument has been made that these "sealed 

 source" activities very likely •will not find their way into commercial 

 disposal routes. The remainder, 121 curies, constitutes the major 

 fraction of the activities (at the time of shipment) that is likely to 

 appear at the dockside for disposal to inshore waters. 



An estimate of the quantities of low level wastes that have been 

 introduced into the oceans is difficult to obtain. The results of an AEC 

 survey of both government agencies and private companies is contained 

 in Appendix II, Tables 3 and 4. The total quantity of activity reported 

 as introduced to the sea (most of it approximately 200 miles offshore) 

 amounts to less than 25 curies. Ten curies of this was Co 60. 



If the 121 curies of "hazardous isotopes" noted above is a fair 

 estimate of the potential supply, then the approximately 25 curies that 

 has been given to sea disposal suggests that approximately 20% of the 

 shipments from Oak Ridge will eventually appear as wastes for sea 

 disposal. 



