Publication Laka-library:
Beyond one million years: The intrinsic radiation hazard of high-level nuclear wastes
| Author | C. Pescatore |
 |
6-01-5-50-96.pdf |
| Date | September 2024 |
| Classification | 6.01.5.50/96 (WASTE - RADIOACTIVE WASTE GENERAL) |
| Front |
From the publication:
NUKLEONIKA 2024;69(4):215224 Beyond one million years: The intrinsic radiation hazard of high-level nuclear wastes Claudio Pescatore Received: 24 July 2024 Accepted: 23 September 2024 C. Pescatore Research affiliate at the UNESCO Chair on Heritage Futures, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden formerly Principal Administrator of Radioactive Waste Management and Decommissioning at the OECD Abstract. This paper highlights the absence of quantitative estimates regarding the intrinsic radiation hazard of high-level nuclear wastes, namely, spent fuel (SF) and vitrified high-level wastes (VHLW), for periods exceeding one million years. Using available data, conducting scoping calculations of radiation doses, and comparing the results to radiation protection guidelines and natural background radiation, this paper shows that high-level wastes cannot be safely handled or left unprotected essentially indefi nitely. By quantitatively evaluating the dose rates of unshielded SF and VHLW, this study identifi es critical new insights, such as the roles of the Np-237 decay chain; the eventual, long-term dominance of the U-238 decay chain; and the interplay of three actinide decay chains, including the signifi cant role of Bi-214. These findings fi ll a gap in the literature and emphasize the need for more detailed investigations in this as-yet-unexplored research area, which has a direct bearing on technical and societal decision-making for both waste disposal safety and the choice of the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle.