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Risks associated with nuclear material recovery and waste preparation

Journal Article · · Nucl. Saf.; (United States)
The nuclear fuel cycle remains an open question. If it is ever to be closed, it will be after a full understanding of the risks that are involved. Under the assumption that a fatality is a fatality regardless of the cause, the risks at the fifth recycle of a uranium-plutonium fuel cycle are assessed for radiological and nonradiological, accident and routine, and occupational and nonoccupational contributors. This includes construction, operation, and decommissioning for a cycle consisting of material recovery, fabrication, waste preparation, and the connecting transportation links. Results show that nonradiological risk dominates by a factor of 170 over radiological risk and that radiation exposure to workers and routine radiological releases contribute 4000 times that of radiological accident risk to the public. Thus major attention has been given to the least significant risks. This article provides background information on the fuel cycle and a review of previous work on fuel-cycle risk analysis. A section on procedures describes the key elements and assumptions used in the risk assessment.
Research Organization:
Science Applications, Inc., Palo Alto, CA
OSTI ID:
6077603
Journal Information:
Nucl. Saf.; (United States), Journal Name: Nucl. Saf.; (United States) Vol. 25:5; ISSN NUSAA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English