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Title: An assessment of the disposal of radioactive petroleum industry waste in nonhazardous landfills using risk-based modeling.

Abstract

Certain petroleum production activities cause naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) to accumulate in concentrations above natural background levels, making safe and cost-effective management of such technologically enhanced NORM (TENORM) a key issue for the petroleum industry. As a result, both industry and regulators are interested in identifying cost-effective disposal alternatives that provide adequate protection of human health and the environment. One such alternative, currently allowed in Michigan with restrictions, is the disposal of TENORM wastes in nonhazardous waste landfills. The disposal of petroleum industry wastes containing radium-226 (Ra-226) in nonhazardous landfills was modeled to evaluate the potential radiological doses and health risks to workers and the public. Multiple scenarios were considered in evaluating the potential risks associated with landfill operations and the future use of the property. The scenarios were defined, in part, to evaluate the Michigan policy; sensitivity analyses were conducted to evaluate the impact of key parameters on potential risks. The results indicate that the disposal of petroleum industry TENORM wastes in nonhazardous landfills in accordance with the Michigan policy and existing landfill regulations presents a negligible risk to most of the potential receptors considered in this study.

Authors:
; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
FE; OUS
OSTI Identifier:
961082
Report Number(s):
ANL/EA/JA-44455
Journal ID: ISSN 0013-936X; ESTHAG; TRN: US1003254
DOE Contract Number:  
DE-AC02-06CH11357
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Environ. Sci. Technol.
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 37; Journal Issue: 10 ; May 15, 2003; Journal ID: ISSN 0013-936X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
ENGLISH
Subject:
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; 02 PETROLEUM; PETROLEUM INDUSTRY; RADIOACTIVE WASTES; RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL; RADIUM 226; RISK ASSESSMENT; SANITARY LANDFILLS; SIMULATION; WASTES

Citation Formats

Smith, K P, Arnish, J J, Williams, G P, Blunt, D L, and Environmental Assessment. An assessment of the disposal of radioactive petroleum industry waste in nonhazardous landfills using risk-based modeling.. United States: N. p., 2003. Web. doi:10.1021/es0261729.
Smith, K P, Arnish, J J, Williams, G P, Blunt, D L, & Environmental Assessment. An assessment of the disposal of radioactive petroleum industry waste in nonhazardous landfills using risk-based modeling.. United States. https://doi.org/10.1021/es0261729
Smith, K P, Arnish, J J, Williams, G P, Blunt, D L, and Environmental Assessment. 2003. "An assessment of the disposal of radioactive petroleum industry waste in nonhazardous landfills using risk-based modeling.". United States. https://doi.org/10.1021/es0261729.
@article{osti_961082,
title = {An assessment of the disposal of radioactive petroleum industry waste in nonhazardous landfills using risk-based modeling.},
author = {Smith, K P and Arnish, J J and Williams, G P and Blunt, D L and Environmental Assessment},
abstractNote = {Certain petroleum production activities cause naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) to accumulate in concentrations above natural background levels, making safe and cost-effective management of such technologically enhanced NORM (TENORM) a key issue for the petroleum industry. As a result, both industry and regulators are interested in identifying cost-effective disposal alternatives that provide adequate protection of human health and the environment. One such alternative, currently allowed in Michigan with restrictions, is the disposal of TENORM wastes in nonhazardous waste landfills. The disposal of petroleum industry wastes containing radium-226 (Ra-226) in nonhazardous landfills was modeled to evaluate the potential radiological doses and health risks to workers and the public. Multiple scenarios were considered in evaluating the potential risks associated with landfill operations and the future use of the property. The scenarios were defined, in part, to evaluate the Michigan policy; sensitivity analyses were conducted to evaluate the impact of key parameters on potential risks. The results indicate that the disposal of petroleum industry TENORM wastes in nonhazardous landfills in accordance with the Michigan policy and existing landfill regulations presents a negligible risk to most of the potential receptors considered in this study.},
doi = {10.1021/es0261729},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/961082}, journal = {Environ. Sci. Technol.},
issn = {0013-936X},
number = 10 ; May 15, 2003,
volume = 37,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2003},
month = {Thu May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2003}
}