Are nuclear shipments really safe

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1975 · Environ. Lett., v. 9, no. 4, pp. 355-378

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00139307509435863· OSTI ID:4047117

Brobst, W A

The transportation of nuclear materials is on the increase. Although nuclear shipments are only a very small fraction of the Nation's hazardous materials shipments, they attract a great deal of public attention. Shipments of spent nuclear fuel and nuclear wastes are a particular concern. One of the many fears about nuclear energy is the possibility that a nuclear shipment might somehow go awry and cause a serious public hazard. Primarily, the worry is that a shipment of spent reactor fuel or highly radioactive waste could be involved in a serious rail or highway accident and dump its contents all over the countryside. Questions on the possibility of accidents, safety of shipments, number, appearance and testing of packages are answered in the paper. Since public risk is the product of the consequences of an accident and its probability, both aspects are presented so that each person can make up his own mind whether the risk from nuclear shipments is acceptable. (auth)

• Research Organization: Atomic Energy Commission, Washington, DC
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-33-029070
• OSTI ID: 4047117
• Journal Information: Environ. Lett., v. 9, no. 4, pp. 355-378, Journal Name: Environ. Lett., v. 9, no. 4, pp. 355-378; ISSN EVLTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*RADIOACTIVE WASTES-- RADIATION HAZARDS
420600* --Engineering--Safety Engineering
HAZARDS
N42700* --Engineering--Safety Engineering
NUCLEAR FUELS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
SAFETY
SPENT FUELS
TRANSPORT