Biotic transport of radionuclides from a low-level radioactive waste site.

Abstract

In the United States, concern for human exposures to radioactivity associated with the disposal of low-level radioactive waste has resulted in a series of regulatory guides, environmental assessments, management practices, and modeling tools. A large number of radionuclide transport processes and mechanisms that may contribute to human exposure have been modeled, using computer programs to make the required calculations. The objective of our work was to evaluate the relevance of potential biological transport processes in the assessment of potential impacts at low-level waste (LLW) disposal sites. As part of this effort, we developed an order-of-magnitude estimate for potential dose to man resulting from biological transport by burrowing animals and by plant translocation at a reference low-level waste site in the arid west. We also made comparative dose-to-man estimates for a more commonly considered human intrusion exposure scenario. Parameter values for defining a reference arid LLW disposal site and biotic transport processes are based on data reported in current literature. Estimates of waste volumes for the western United States are based on information described by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement in support of 10 CFR Part 61. Our estimates of the dose-to-man resulting from biotic transport are of the same order of magnitude as those resulting from a more commonly evaluated human intrusion scenario. The previously assumed lack of potential importance of biotic transport at LLW sites in earlier assessment studies is not confirmed by our findings. Our results indicate that long-term biological transport processes have the potential to influence LLW site performance, and should be carefully evaluated as part of the impact assessment process.