Environmental aspects of nuclear power

Journal Article · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1973 · Atmos. Environ., v. 7, no. 12, pp. 1205-1211

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0004-6981(73)90129-7· OSTI ID:4347812

Beattie, J R

From atmosphere and man; London, Eng. (3 Jan 1973). About half of the U. K.'s electrical generating capacity is likely to be nuclear by the end of this century. With this in mind, the gaseous effluents from nuclear reactors and plants are reviewed in this paper. Uranium mining and fuel manufacture produce no significant gaseous wastes. Nuclear Power reactors and fuel reprocessing plants produce small but significant quartities of radioactive gases which are discharged under controlled conditions. There are no long-term widespread or even moderately significant effects from gaseous discharges from reactors. Krypton 85 and tritium in spent fuel are liberated mainly at the reprocessing plants, and an International Group has concluded that various factors make it desirable to plan for the installation of krypton removal equipment in reprocessing plants during the 1980's. When this action has been taken, it may then be necessary to give consideration to reducing tritium discharges. Gaseous effluent discharges to the atmosphere from nuclear reactors and plants are under good control and do not raise issues now or in the future which are not solved or capable of solution when required. (auth)

• Research Organization: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, Risley, Eng.
• NSA Number: NSA-29-018322
• OSTI ID: 4347812
• Journal Information: Atmos. Environ., v. 7, no. 12, pp. 1205-1211, Journal Name: Atmos. Environ., v. 7, no. 12, pp. 1205-1211; ISSN ATENB
• Country of Publication: United Kingdom
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*ENVIRONMENT-- CONTAMINATION
*FUEL REPROCESSING PLANTS-- RADIOACTIVE WASTES
*NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS-- RADIOACTIVE WASTES
*RADIOACTIVE WASTES-- GASEOUS WASTES
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
KRYPTON 85
N40450 --Chemistry--Radiochemistry & Nuclear Chemistry--Reactor Fuel Processing
N44210* --Environmental & Earth Sciences--Radioactive Effluents--Atmosphere
N77900 --Reactors--Reactor Safety & Environmental Aspects
RADIATION HAZARDS
REACTOR SAFETY
SPENT FUELS
TRITIUM