Oceanic Disposal of Radioactive Wastes: Effects and Proposals

An investigation of the effects of radioactive waste disposal into the oceans pursued by an examination of the hazards involved, the present sources of radioactive wastes and future prospects. The longevity of many radioactive elements, coupled with the awesome consequences to which even a slight miscalculation may lead, are convincing arguments for the most conservative approach to the problem of disposal of radioactive wastes. Present day disposal of radioactive wastes in the oceans, while significant, have not yet had major discernible effects on man or marine life. However, with the worldwide explosion of electrical power demand and the increasing use of nuclear fission as a source of power, the accumulation of non-destructible radioactive wastes on land will tempt industrially crowded nations to turn to the sea as a receptacle for this unwanted material. It is not reasonable to assume that nations can store in perpetuity an ever increasing volume of long lived radioactive waste. Development of controlled nuclear fusion as a source of power, eliminating the generation of radioactive wastes, is urged. No international rules being in effect concerning radioactive pollution of the seas, greater international cooperation in development of controls is recommended

Conceptual bases of design of information systems of accounting and control of radioactive wastes

This paper presents the conceptual basis of the automation of accounting and control of radioactive wastes in the framework of separately taken facility. Accounting and control of radioactive wastes is one of the primary measures aimed at ensuring the safety of radioactive waste management. The effectiveness of the accounting and control procedures can be significantly increased by implementation of specialized information system. System based on the concept of using of technology of automated data collection and processing allows to provide continuous accounting and control even in the case of facilities with complex infrastructure, to increase staff efficiency, to improve the accuracy of accounting and reporting data, to reduce the radiation exposure to staff. This work was performed as part of the development of information systems of accounting and control of radioactive wastes

Study of extraterrestrial disposal of radioactive wastes. Part 1: Space transportation and destination considerations for extraterrestrial disposal of radioactive wastes

A feasibility study of extraterrestrial disposal of radioactive waste is reported. This report covers the initial work done on only one part of the NASA study, that evaluates and compares possible space destinations and space transportation systems. The currently planned space shuttle was found to be more cost effective than current expendable launch vehicles by about a factor of 2. The space shuttle requires a third stage to perform the waste disposal missions. Depending on the particular mission, this third stage could be either a reusable space tug or an expendable stage such as a Centaur

Localization of the gamma-radiation sources using the gamma-visor

The search of the main gamma-radiation sources at the site of the temporary storage of solid radioactive wastes was carried out. The relative absorbed dose rates were measured for some of the gamma-sources before and after the rehabilitation procedures. The effectiveness of the rehabilitation procedures in the years 2006-2007 was evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively. The decrease of radiation background at the site of the temporary storage of the solid radioactive wastes after the rehabilitation procedures allowed localizing the new gamma-source

Long-term field and laboratory leaching tests of cemented radioactive wastes

Experiments with real and simulated radioactive cementitious wasteforms were set up to compare the leaching behaviour of cementitious wasteforms containing nuclear power plant operational waste in field and laboratory test conditions. Experiments revealed that the average annual Cs-137 leach rate in deionised water was about thirty-five times greater compared with the measured average value for the 1st year of the field test. Cumulative leached fraction of Cs-137 for 1st year (3.74%) was close to values reported in literature for similar laboratory experiments in deionised water, however more than two orders of magnitude higher than the 1st year leached fraction of Cs-137 in the repository test (0.01%). Therefore, to compare field and laboratory test results, a scaling factor is required in order to account for surface to volume factor difference, multiplied by a temperature factor and a leach rate decrease coefficient related to the ground water composition. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Nuclear system that burns its own wastes shows promise

A nuclear fission energy system, capable of eliminating a significant amount of its radioactive wastes by burning them, is described. A theoretical investigation of this system conducted by computer analysis, is based on use of gaseous fuel nuclear reactors. Gaseous core reactors using a uranium plasma fuel are studied along with development for space propulsion

Специфіка екологічного аудиту місць захоронення та зберігання радіоактивних відходів на прикладі ЧАЕС

 The specificity of ecological audit of burial places and storages of radioactive wastes on the example of CHNPP is considered; namely main principles, positions, requirements, tasks, objects, subjects of ecological audit, a team of specialists for its fulfillment, ecological problems, connected with storing of radioactive wastes and their influence on the human’s health. Main possibilities of improving radioactive wastes control system are also considered. Рассмотрена специфика экологического аудита мест захоронения и хранения радиоактивных отходов на примере ЧАЭС, принципы, позиции, требования, задачи, объекты, субъекты экологического аудита, состав команды специалистов для его проведения, экологические проблемы, связанные с хранением радиоактивных отходов и их влияние на здоровье людей, а также основные возможности улучшения системы контроля радиоактивных отходов. Розглянуто специфіку екологічного аудиту місць захоронення і зберігання радіоактивних відходів на прикладі ЧАЕС, принципи, позиції, вимоги, задачі, об’єкти, суб’єкти екологічного аудиту, склад команди спеціалістів для його проведення, екологічні проблеми, пов’язані зі зберіганням радіоактивних відходів і їх вплив на здоров`я людей, а також основні можливості поліпшення системи контролю радіоактивних відходів