Abstract
Ore extraction and processing may lead to enhanced levels of naturally occurring radionuclides (NORs) in products, by-products and waste and in surroundings and installations of the facility. In the framework of the EC-DGXI Common Approach for REstoration of contaminated sites project (CARE) [ [1,2] H. Vandenhove, A. Bousher, P. Hedemann Jensen, D. Jackson, B. Lambers, Th. Zeevaert, Investigation of a Possible Basis for a Common Approach with Regard to the Restoration of Areas Affected by Lasting Radiation Exposure as a Result of Past or Old Practice or Work Activity (CARE), EC-DG XI-project 96-ET-006, Radiation Protection 115 (EC, Luxembourg), 2000; H. Vandenhove, European Sites Contaminated by Residues from the Ore-Extracting and -Processing Industries, Proc. Int. Symp. Arlington, VA, USA, 1999, IAEA, Vienna, in preparation] information was collated on the industrial processes and the levels of NORs in parent material, waste and by-products of mentioned industries and their spreading in Europe. Nine important categories of industries were identified and discussed. The most contaminating industries are uranium mining and milling, metal mining and smelting and the phosphate industry. Radionuclide levels in products and/or waste products from the oil and gas extraction industry and of the rare earth and zirconium and ceramics industries may be particularly elevated, but waste streams are limited. Impact on the public from coal mining and power production from coal is commonly considered low. No typical values are available for contaminant levels in materials, buildings and surroundings of radium extraction and luminising plants, nor for thorium extraction and processing plants. An attempt to give an overview of sites in Europe contaminated with NORs, with emphasis on past practices, was only partly successful since information was often limited or unavailable. Extent of contamination can be possibly assessed from production figures.
Published Version
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