Management of a High Hazard, Low Risk Environmental Issue at Dounreay, Scotland
- UKAEA, Dounreay, Caithness (United Kingdom)
- Entec, Forss Business Park, Thurso, Caithness (United Kingdom)
- Sheffield University, Sheffield (United Kingdom)
Dounreay hot particles (Particles) are small fragments of irradiated nuclear fuel that are present in littoral and marine environments adjacent to the Dounreay nuclear establishment in northern Scotland. The first Particle was identified by UKAEA, the site operator, and recovered from the Dounreay foreshore, in 1983 and a single Particle was recovered from the adjacent, publicly accessible Sandside Beach the following year. It was not until 1996, however, that significant numbers of Particles were identified and recovered. Since that time an extensive research and development programme (described herein) has been undertaken to identify the source of Particles, their movement and lifetimes in the marine environment and their effects on human and environmental health. Particles were released to the North Atlantic Ocean in the mid to late 1960's and early 1970's. There is no evidence of an on-going source of Particles from the Dounreay site. The source of Particles recovered from the Dounreay foreshore and from local beaches is the cache currently residing in marine sediments adjacent to Dounreay. Sediment modelling studies indicate that the Dounreay Particles are generally transported sub-parallel to the coast in a north easterly direction. Studies to define contact frequencies and risks to human health suggest that the health risks associated with Particles are insignificant. There is, however, a significant perception of risk. UKAEA hopes to define a long term Particle management programme via the development of a best practical environmental option (BPEO) facilitated through consultation with all stakeholders. (authors)
- Research Organization:
- WM Symposia, Inc., PO Box 13023, Tucson, AZ, 85732-3023 (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 21210758
- Report Number(s):
- INIS-US-09-WM-06545; TRN: US09V1186081220
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Waste Management 2006 Symposium - WM'06 - Global Accomplishments in Environmental and Radioactive Waste Management: Education and Opportunity for the Next Generation of Waste Management Professionals, Tucson, AZ (United States), 26 Feb - 2 Mar 2006; Other Information: Country of input: France; 15 refs
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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