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The disposal of radioactive wastes into the marine environment: the presence of hot particles containing Pu and Am in the source term

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 July 2018

E. I. Hamilton
E. I. Hamilton*
Affiliation:
Institute for Marine Environmental Research, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, Devon
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Abstract

Radioactive particulate matter (identified as hot particles) is present in the effluent discharged by the British Nuclear Fuels Ltd (BNFL) uranium reprocessing plant at Sellafield, Cumbria, UK. There is very little information on the abundance or chemical and physical forms of solid matter in the effluent; even less is known of the significance of particulate debris in relation to the uptake of radionuclides for non-occupationally exposed people as a result of transfer along marine foodchains. Some observations on the occurrence and abundance of hot particles in the vicinity of Sellafield are reported, with special reference to those that contain transuranic radionuclides (Pu,Am,Cm). Some of the uncertainties are discussed in an evaluation of the significance of hot particles, albeit aggregates of colloids for the smallest particles, and exposure to man from ionizing radiation. There is no evidence that hot particles derived from BNFL and subsequently dispersed into the marine environment represent a hazard to man. However, further studies are required in order to determine whether or not the pathways followed by the particles are significant, or different to those of other radionuclides through which the radiation exposure of man within this region of Cumbria is assessed.

Keywords

radioactive wastemarine environmentSellafieldCumbriaIrish Sea
Type
Research Article
Information
Mineralogical Magazine , Volume 49 , Issue 351 , April 1985 , pp. 177 - 194
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 1985

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