Radiological assessment for the dumping of radioactive wastes in the oceans
Over the last three decades or so, a number of international meetings have been convened to treat the specific problem of radioactive waste disposal into the oceans. The first of these meetings was held in 1958 at the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea. Immediately following, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in the Brynielsson Report, recommended measures for ensuring that disposal of radioactive waste into the sea would not result in unacceptable hazards to man (IAEA 1961). Since that time, major changes have occurred in the philosophy and recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection that are crucial to the assessments of impacts arising from this practice. Knowledge of oceanographic processes has improved markedly, providing better understanding of the physical transport process and of the pathways by which radionuclides are transported from marine dumping and disposal sites back to man. Finally, radioecology has developed to the stage where predictions of radionuclide cycling pathways and rates are possible. The IAEA report of 1961 was revised in 1983 (IAEA 1983). The IAEA has published many documents (Safety Series and Technical Documents) covering relevant areas such as oceanographic models, bioaccumulation factors, sediment distribution coefficients, and effects of ionizing radiation on organisms.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 10173061
- Report Number(s):
- PNL-SA--22574; CONF-9306199--2; ON: DE93017148
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
540330
DISTRIBUTION
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
HEALTH HAZARDS
IAEA
OCEANIC CIRCULATION
OCEANOGRAPHY
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS MONITORING AND TRANSPORT
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOECOLOGY
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
SAFETY
SEAS
UNITED NATIONS