Biological ramifications of the subseabed disposal of high-level nuclear waste

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:5479167

Gomez, L S; Hessler, R R; Jackson, D W; Marietta, M G; Smith, Jr, K L; Talbert, D M; Yayanos, A A

The primary goal of the US Subseabed Disposal Program (SDP) is to assess the technical and environmental feasibility of disposing of high-level nuclear waste in deep-sea sediments. The subseabed biology program is charged with assessing possible ecosystem effects of radionuclides as well as possible health effects to man from radionuclides which may be released in the deep sea and transported to the ocean surface. Current biological investigations are attempting to determine benthic community structure; benthic community metabolism; the biology of deep-sea mobile scavengers; the faunal composition of midwater nekton; rates of microbial processes, and the radiation sensitivity of deep-sea organisms. Existing models of the dispersal of radionuclides in the deep sea have not considered many of the possible biological mechanisms which may influence the movement of radionuclides. Therefore, a multi-compartment foodweb model is being developed which considers both biological and physical influences on radionuclide transport. This model will allow parametric studies to be made of the impact on the ocean environment and on man of potential releases of radionuclides.

• Research Organization: Sandia Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA); Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA (USA); Falcon Research and Development, Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-04-0789
• OSTI ID: 5479167
• Report Number(s): SAND-79-2117C; CONF-800420-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
DIAGRAMS
ECOLOGY
ECOSYSTEMS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FLOWSHEETS
FOOD CHAINS
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
MANAGEMENT
MARINE DISPOSAL
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
SEA BED
SEAS
SEDIMENTS
SURFACE WATERS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES