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A Preliminary Chemical Toxicity Assessment for the Nirex Disposal Concept

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

M. M. Askarieh ,
R. Atkinson ,
A. J. Baker ,
A. V. Chambers ,
T. G. Heath  and
S. J. Williams
M. M. Askarieh
Affiliation:
United Kingdom Nirex Limited, Curie Avenue, Harwell, Didcot, Oxon, OX11 0RH, UK
R. Atkinson
Affiliation:
Serco Assurance, Building 150, Harwell, Didcot, Oxon, OX11 0QJ, UK
A. J. Baker
Affiliation:
Serco Assurance, Building 150, Harwell, Didcot, Oxon, OX11 0QJ, UK
A. V. Chambers
Affiliation:
Serco Assurance, Building 150, Harwell, Didcot, Oxon, OX11 0QJ, UK
T. G. Heath
Affiliation:
Serco Assurance, Building 150, Harwell, Didcot, Oxon, OX11 0QJ, UK
S. J. Williams
Affiliation:
AEA Technology plc, Building 220, Harwell, Didcot, Oxon, OX11 0QJ, UK
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Abstract

The role of Nirex is to provide the United Kingdom with safe, environmentally sound and publicly acceptable options for the long-term management of all intermediate level and some low level radioactive waste. Nirex has developed its Phased Disposal Concept as one option for the long-term management of radioactive materials. The Phased Disposal Concept represents a stepwise and reversible approach to the disposal of radioactive waste within a deep geological repository that involves the immobilisation of wastes in containers (mainly fabricated from stainless steel) that are surrounded by a cementitious backfill.

The wastes for potential disposal contain materials that may require consideration on the basis of their potential non-radiological hazards. This paper describes a preliminary two-stage methodology for assessing the post-closure impact of the disposal of chemically toxic materials to a conceptual Nirex repository. The study suggests some materials either exceeded current estimates of safe levels, or their impact could not be quantified at this stage but was considered to be of concern. These materials included beryllium, phenol, benzene, and nitrite.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 807: Symposium Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XXVII , 2003 , 911
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2004

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References

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