Biological studies of the US Subseabed Disposal Program
The Subseabed Disposal Program (SDP) of the US is assessing the feasibility of emplacing high level radioactive wastes (HLW) within deep-sea sediments and is developing the means for assessing the feasibility of the disposal practices of other nations. This paper discusses the role and status of biological research in the SDP. Studies of the disposal methods and of the conceived barriers (canister, waste form and sediment) suggest that biological knowledge will be principally needed to address the impact of accidental releases of radionuclides. Current experimental work is focusing on the deep-sea ecosystem to determine: (1) the structure of benthic communities, including their microbial component; (2) the faunal composition of deep midwater nekton; (3) the biology of deep-sea amphipods; (4) benthic community metabolism; (5) the rates of bacterial processes; (6) the metabolism of deep-sea animals, and (7) the radiation sensitivity of deep-sea organisms. A multicompartment model is being developed to assess quantitatively the impact (on the environment and on man) of releases of radionuclides into the sea.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA); Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA (USA); Falcon Research and Development, Albuquerque, NM (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 5388315
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-79-2073
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
520302 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- Aquatic Ecosystems & Food Chains-- (-1987)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BACTERIA
BENTHOS
BIOLOGY
ECOLOGY
ECOSYSTEMS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
ISOTOPES
MANAGEMENT
MARINE DISPOSAL
METABOLISM
MICROORGANISMS
RADIATION HAZARDS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIOSENSITIVITY
SEA BED
SEDIMENTS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES