Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-9pm4c Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-27T20:13:05.900Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Characteristics and behaviour of 14C and 36Cl in the biosphere in the context of radioactive waste management

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 June 2009

J. Barescut ,
D. Pérez-Sánchez ,
C. Trueba  and
A. Agüero
D. Pérez-Sánchez
Affiliation:
CIEMAT, Avenida Complutense 22, 28040 Madrid, Spain
C. Trueba
Affiliation:
CIEMAT, Avenida Complutense 22, 28040 Madrid, Spain
A. Agüero
Affiliation:
CIEMAT, Avenida Complutense 22, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Get access

Abstract

Evaluation of the safety of high-level radioactive waste repositories is a requisite included in radioactive waste management policy. Criteria for the safety of those facilities require protection of the population and the environment over a time scale appropriate to the characteristics of the radionuclides present in the disposed wastes. In order to demonstrate compliance with regulations, a quantitative analysis of the system must be carried on, including the transport of radionuclides from the facility to the biosphere and through, and the assessment of radiation doses from both external and internal exposure. Previous assessments, demonstrate that some radionuclides contribute more to the annual dose to humans. Among these, 14C and 36Cl must be considered. Realistic models to simulate transport of radionuclides in the environment are essential. A biosphere model should represent the transport and accumulation of radionuclides in the different media, and include characterization of the pathways through which the contaminants reach the population giving rise to the exposure to radiations. This paper shows general guidelines for the behaviour of 14C and 36Cl in the environment and the definition of a conceptual model of radionuclide transport in the biosphere.

Type
Research Article
Information
Radioprotection , Volume 44 , Issue 5: ECORAD 2008 - Radioecology and Environmental Radioactivity , 2009 , pp. 571 - 575
Copyright
© EDP Sciences, 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

IAEA, 1995. International Atomic Energy Agency. The Principles of Radioactive Waste Management. Safety Series No 111-F. Vienna.
Watkins, B.M. and G.M. Smith, 1999. Important Radionuclides in High Level Waste Disposal: Biosphere Perspective. CIEM-6148A-3, version 3.0. ENVIROS QUANTISCI.
ENRESA, 1999. Inventario de radionucleidos e isótopos estables en el combustible para cálculos de liberación y transporte. 49-1PP-L-02-10.
Öberg G. 1998. Chloride and Organic Chlorine in Soil. Acta hidrochim. Hydrobiol. 26, 137–144.
Rautenstrauch, K.R., A.J. Smith, and R. Andrews, 2003. Technical Basis Document N° 12: Biosphere Transport Revision1, Bechtel SAIC Company, LLC, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Till, J.E. and H.R. Meyer, 1983. Radiological Assessment, a Textbook on Environmental Dose Analysis. NUREG/CR-3332, ORNL-5968, US.
Sheppard, S.C., L.H. Johnson, B.W. Goodwin, J.C. Tait, D.M. Wuschke and C.C. Davison, 1996. Chlorine-36 in nuclear waste disposal-1. Assessment results for used fuel with comparison to 129I and 14C. Waste Management 16, 607–614.
Sheppard M.I., S.C. Sheppard and B. Sanipelli, 2004. Recommended Biosphere Model Values for Chlorine. Report N°: 06819-REP-01200-10119-R00. ECOMatters INC.
White P.J. and Broadley M.R., 2001. Chloride in soils and its uptake and movement within the plant. Ann. Bot. 88: 967–988.
Colle C., Mauger S., Massiani C., Kashparov V.A. and Grasset G., 2002. Behaviour of chlorine-36 in cultivated terrestrial ecosystems. Radioprotection-Colloques 37 (C1): 491–496.