Computerized methodology for evaluating the long-range radiological impact of shallow-land burial
A computerized methodology has been implemented to calculate the risk to local and intermediate-range (up to 80 km distant) populations resulting from water- and air-borne transport of radionuclides present in low-level wastes buried in shallow trenches such as those used at Oak Ridge. Our computer code, PRESTO (Prediction of Radiation Effects from Shallow Trench Operations), was developed under United States Environmental Protection Agency funding to evaluate possible health effects resulting from shallow burial operations. Sources of contamination include radionuclide releases from the trenches and from areas contaminated with operational spillage. The model is intended to predict radionuclide transport and the ensuing exposure and health impact to at-risk populations for a 1000-year period following cessation of burial ground operations. Several classes of submodels are used in PRESTO to represent scheduled event, unit system response, and risk evaluation processes. Examples of scheduled events are trench cap failure, stabilization of insoluble surface contaminant, the onset of farming or reclamation practices, and human intrusion. Unit system response submodels simulate processes such as infiltration of rainwater into the trench and erosion of soil overburden from the trench cover. System response submodels generate parameters used repeatedly in the 1000-year simulation loop.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-26
- OSTI ID:
- 6604252
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-810462-1; TRN: 81-008247
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: UCCND environmental protection seminar, Paducah, KY, USA, 20 Apr 1981
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Evaluation of proposed shallow-land burial sites using the PRESTO-II (Prediction of Radiation Effects from Shallow Trench Operations) methodology and code
Simulations of long-term health risk from shallow land burial of low-level radioactive waste
Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RISK ASSESSMENT
COMPUTER CODES
ORNL
P CODES
RADIATION HAZARDS
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
053000* - Nuclear Fuels- Environmental Aspects
510302 - Environment
Terrestrial- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- Terrestrial Ecosystems & Food Chains- (-1987)
510301 - Environment
Terrestrial- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- Soil- (-1987)