Papers in this volume: 5
1. What to do with nuclear waste
Author(s): Duncan I.J.
Page: 23
Keywords: Hazardous waste, Radioactive waste disposal, Radioactive waste management - transport and disposal, Retrievability, Reversible, Sociology
Abstract: Technical progress is being made for the geological disposal of radioactive waste but still the concept does not have strong public support. Part of the underlying cause of this resistance is the technical complexity of containment of radiation, geological space and time and mathematical expressions of degrees of hazard and risk. There are additional community concerns, typified by the inherent limitation to forward time projection, and industry must apply more sociology so as to understand better the base to these. There is underlying public support for the proper disposal of all hazardous waste but the schemes must conform to public requirements. A disposal regime that can be reversed, or where the wastes can be recovered if necessary, probably has a higher public acceptance but this needs to be tested. The next advancement in solving the waste issue will come from a better understanding of the public psyche by industry and not by a better understanding of the industry by the public.
2. Whither the nuclear fuel cycle?
Author(s): Bertel E. and Wilmer P.
Page: 27
Keywords: Nuclear fuel cycle, OECD - Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), Reactor systems, Reprocessing, Research & development, Research and development
Abstract: The government context that serves as a backdrop to energy policy-making at the turn of the millennium is characterised by trends towards deregulation of the electricity markets and increasing awareness of sustainable development goals. Both trends are affecting nuclear energy and its fuel cycle, offering new opportunities and raising new challenges for the future. Industrial practices and research and development programmes supported by governments and/or industry are responding to evolving market and social requirements. Ongoing R&D programmes in the field of nuclear rectors and the fuel cycle are contributing to the enhancement of the technical, safety and economic performance of nuclear systems in operation and under development. Scientific and technological progress follow either evolutionary or innovative routes, but always aim at improving overall efficiency throughout the nuclear energy chain.
3. Passive storage of radioactive waste
Author(s): Butler G. and Curtis C.
Page: 35
Keywords: Radiation monitoring and dose management, Radiation protection, Radioactive waste management - transport and disposal, Safety & hazards, Waste management & disposal
Abstract: The absence of a policy for long-term management of either intermediate- or high-level waste has led to increased emphasis by both regulators and waste producers on long-term storage in regimes in which the need for human intervention is minimised. The concepts of `passivity' of waste and its `passive storage' have been much discussed, and their attributes defined. However, there has been a tendency to take `passive' as an absolute, which it simply cannot be. This paper discusses passivity and passive storage, suggests definitions for relevant terms, and makes a case for a semi-quantitative index to measure the level of passivity represented by a given waste inventory. It also suggests that such an index would prove a valuable tool for judging the progress of waste treatment and decommissioning programmes. Further, increasing passivity may well reduce security concerns, and a preliminary discussion of this concept is presented.
4. Health effects of low-level radiation: ethical issues for patients and workforces
Author(s): Slovak A.
Page: 41
Keywords: Health physics, Legislation, Public health, Radiological health and safety
Abstract: In the light of recent media-driven furores concerning the sensitive matter of patient consent, and the new legislation that impinges upon this issue, the nature of ethical practices for epidemiological research needs to be looked at anew. This paper considers the present landscape, with particular reference to the nuclear workforce and BNFL's current practice in this regard. [There are many who believe that Ethics is a county to the East of London: Sir Robert Mark, 1964]
5. Ionising radiation, environmental protection and nuclear power
Author(s): Pentreath R.J.
Page: 45
Keywords: Fauna and flora, Protection systems, Radiation monitoring and dose management, Reference flora and fauna
Abstract: There is now a general appreciation of the need for an explicit approach to be taken with regard to the demonstration of protection of the environment itself (as well as of human beings) from all large-scale industrial practices, including the nuclear industries. It is therefore argued that a sensible approach for ionising radiation would be one that was closely allied to, or an integral part of, the system that has been developed for human radiological protection. This could entail the use of Reference Fauna and Flora to enable relationships to be established between exposure and dose and effect, for different radionuclides and a range of faunal and floral types. Such a combined approach could also be of some value in setting out the basis for future comparisons of the risk (or lack of it) of different forms of energy generation on the environment.