The Story of Strontium-90 at Hunter's Point Naval Shipyard

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This video discusses the Navy’s collaborative process with federal and state regulatory agencies to identify the best Strontium (Sr)-90 analytical method to use for testing soil samples from the former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard. Beginning in 2021, Navy chemists observed inconsistent results when testing Parcel G soil samples for Sr-90 using the initial standard laboratory method, EPA Method 905. This method failed to produce consistent results upon reanalysis of the same sample. Due to concerns about accuracy, the Navy collaborated with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, California Department of Toxic Substances Control, and California Department of Public Health to identify an alternate method to detect Sr-90 at very low levels with the precision required for decision-making. The Eichrom Method for Total Beta Strontium (TBS) analyzes for all Sr in in soil samples. It has been shown to be reliable and accurate for the low Sr-90 concentration level for the Parcel G Sr-90 remedial goal set at 0.331 pCi/g. This goal is more than 10 times lower than the typical regulatory standard and ensures protectiveness of human health and the environment. Using the validated and verified Eichrom Method for TBS, the Navy is able to accurately and reliably detect low levels of Sr-90 in soil samples. By following this standard, the Navy ensures that the cleanup at HPNS goes beyond regulatory requirements, offering extra protection to human health and the environment.

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