Nuclear waste Educator's workshop: What and how do we teach about nuclear waste?

A workshop was held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on July 25th and 26th, 2022. The objective was to develop a blueprint for educating next-generation engineers and scientists about nuclear waste management and disposal, which requires knowledge from diverse disciplines, including nuclear, chemical, civil, environmental, and geological science and engineering. The 49 participants included university professors, researchers, industry experts, and government officials from different areas.

Radiological and non-radiological leaching assessment of alkali-activated materials containing ground granulated blast furnace slag and phosphogypsum.

Alkali-activated materials (AAMs) based on ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) and phosphogypsum (PG) were investigated in order to quantify leaching of naturally occurring radionuclides (NOR) and inorganic non-radiological elements according to an up-flow percolation column test as described in CEN/TS 16637-3. Gamma spectroscopy and neutron activation analysis (NAA) were applied for radiological characterization, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and ion-chromatography (IC) for chemical characterization. Upon leaching, U, Ra, Pb, and Ra were retained very well.

Verification of I-125 brachytherapy source strength for use in radioactive seed localization procedures.

A general-purpose nuclear medicine dose calibrator was assessed as a potential replacement for a dedicated air-communicating well-type ionization chamber (brachytherapy source strength verification instrument) for (125)I seed source strength verification for radioactive seed localization, where less stringent accuracy tolerances may be acceptable. The accuracy, precision and reproducibility of the dose calibrator were measured and compared to regulatory requirements. The results of this work indicate that a dose calibrator can be used for (125)I seed source strength verification for radioactive seed localization.

Determination of the internal exposure hazard from plutonium work in an open front hood.

The particle size and quantity of a plutonium dioxide surrogate escaping an open front hood during routine work was measured. Aerosols were collected using a cascade impactor, and the amount of surrogate on each stage of the impactor was measured using neutron activation analysis. The aerodynamic mass median diameter of particles in the breathing zone of a worker was found to be 0.

Evaluation of flow scintillation analysis for the determination of Sr-90 in bioassay samples.

An automated procedure for the determination of (90)Sr was adapted from existing methods of flow scintillation analysis (FSA) for use on aqueous samples with low levels of activity (<1000 dpm per sample). This technique employs high-performance extraction chromatography (HPEC) and an on-line liquid scintillation counter to provide automated separation and subsequent detection of (90)Sr. The total analysis time is 30 min per sample.

Ambient silver concentration anomaly in the Finnish Arctic lower atmosphere.

Mean silver concentrations in weekly particle samples collected at Kevo, northern Finland, were determined for the period of October 1964-March 1978 by neutron activation analysis. Two distinct periods were observed in the silver concentration levels over this time frame. During 1964-1970, mean weekly silver concentration levels were found in the range of 0.

Development of composite materials for non-leaded gloves for use in radiological hand protection.

Lead is a hazardous material, and the U.S. Congress has mandated the rapid reduction of all hazardous waste generation as a matter of national policy.

Source-Receptor Modeling Using Trace Metals in Aerosols Collected at Three Rural Canadian Great Lakes Sampling Stations.

High-volume air samplers were used to collect aerosol samples on Whatman 41 air filters at the Canadian air sampling stations Burnt Island, Egbert, and Point Petre. The samples were analyzed for trace elements by neutron activation analysis. Air concentrations of over 30 trace elements were determined.