A two part thesis

Abstract

The first study characterizes anthropogenic and natural radionuclides in litter and duff samples across selected areas at the Savannah River Site (SRS), South Carolina. Spatial analyses were conducted using kriging to describe spatial patterns in radionuclide levels in litter and duff across SRS. 137Cs had the highest number of samples reported above minimum detectable concentration in litter and duff. Spatial trends do not appear to directly link areas with higher activity concentrations with onsite facilities. The second study investigates inflammatory effects in wildland firefighters working at prescribed burns at SRS. Blood samples collected via dried blood spot (DBS) were taken from twelve firefighters. Inflammatory biomarkers in DBS samples were analyzed using Meso Scale Discovery assay. Linear mixed models were used to test whether there were cross-work shift differences in IL-1β, IL-8, CRP, SAA, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1. A significant cross-work shift increase in IL-8 was observed in healthy seasonal wildland firefighters.