Nuclear issues Books

Book SynopsisJointly developed by the lAEA Advisory Group on Nuclear Security (AdSec) and the International Nuclear Safety Group (INSAG), this publication examines the commonalities and differences of nuclear security and nuclear safety, with a view to stimulating new thinking on how the common elements of nuclear security and nuclear safety can be further recognized to enhance excellence in the management of nuclear activities. Although safety and security have a somewhat different focus, they may overlap with each other and have a common goal – protecting people and society. Actions taken to further one activity can have implications for the other. This publication, written for professionals working in the area, focuses on the interfaces between nuclear safety and security with the aim of ensuring that safety and security actions are integrated with each other as appropriate and serve to reinforce each other. It seeks to establish a framework for a more holistic capability to further both safety and security.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWritten for use by operating organizations of nuclear power plants and regulatory bodies, this Safety Guide provides specific recommendations on maintenance, testing, surveillance and inspection to ensure that the levels of reliability and availability of all structures, systems and components important to safety remain in accordance with the assumptions and intent of the design, and also that the safety of the plant is not adversely affected after the commencement of operation. The publication covers the establishment and implementation of preventive and corrective maintenance programmes; testing surveillance and inspection; the repair of defective plant equipment; the provision of related facilities and equipment; procurement; and generating and retaining records of maintenance activities

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe terms for describing advanced nuclear power plants (NPPs) need to conform to the broad, general, common understanding by the public as well as by the technical community. This publication is a revision of IAEA-TECDOC-936 incorporating developments and initiatives since 1997 in the areas of advanced, evolutionary, and innovative nuclear reactor designs, description of design development phases, inclusive of relevant safety and regulatory terminology, consistent with current IAEA safety standards and glossaries. The objective of this publication is to provide Member States with up-to-date terms for describing advanced NPPs, to draw distinctions between design phases reflecting the maturities of designs, and to clarify definitions of commonly used terms in describing advanced NPPs.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis Safety Report provides practical guidance to governments, regulatory bodies, other relevant competent authorities, and building and construction material industries on setting up arrangements for regulatory control relevant to building and construction materials that give rise to radiation exposures at any step in their life cycle. These steps would include raw material production, manufacturing, supply and end use. It also considers the responsibilities of the suppliers of raw, waste or recycled materials for incorporation into building or construction materials, and it covers verification programmes for building and construction materials prior to their use as well as in completed construction projects.

Read more less

Book SynopsisLegacy sites are areas contaminated by residual radioactive material deriving from past activities or events that may pose risks to health and safety or the environment, and present technical or administrative challenges to timely remediation. Established in 2010, the International Working Forum on Regulatory Supervision of Legacy Sites (RSLS) aims to promote effective and efficient regulatory supervision of the management of legacy sites, consistent with the IAEA safety standards and good international practices. Intended for use by regulators and operators, this publication presents a summary of activities and outcomes of the first decade of the RSLS with the aim of contributing to a better understanding of the concept of 'legacy sites' and the challenges inherent in their management. It focuses on uranium legacy sites including mines and mills and provides examples of regulatory practices adopted by IAEA Member States. It details key lessons on successful regulatory practices of Member States for managing existing, and preventing future, legacy sites, through the establishment of an efficient national regulatory framework, establishment of clearly defined remediation criteria, requirements necessary to ensure safe remediation, and the importance of and key strategies for engaging stakeholders.

Read more less

Book SynopsisContainment barrier systems are among the most widely used technologies for remediating contaminated sites. Various structures have been engineered to address site-specific needs, while barrier selection depends largely on whether regulatory requirements are prescriptive, or performance based. This publication provides an introduction to the design and construction of different containment barriers for low-level radioactive waste generated from remediation activities: basal (bottom) liners, final covers, in situ vertical barriers and in situ permeable reactive barriers. Practical aspects of each structure are discussed in theoretical case studies, which allow remediation project designers, implementers and regulators to make more informed decisions about the use of these barriers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis IAEA Safety Report describes neutron monitoring procedures and equipment that may be used for radiation protection in nuclear power production, medical and industrial applications, research institutions and civil air service. It provides guidance on measuring operational quantities of neutron radiation and practical advice for safely carrying out neutron radiation protection dosimetry, including methods for establishing traceability of those measurements to national standards. This publication is intended for designers and manufacturers of radiation monitors and personal dosimeters and radiation protection professionals who develop radiation protection standards or neutron monitoring programmes.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe development and implementation of an appropriate infrastructure to support the successful introduction of nuclear power and its safe, secure, peaceful and sustainable application is an issue of central concern, especially for countries that are considering and planning their first nuclear power plant. In preparing the necessary nuclear infrastructure, there are several activities that need to be completed. These activities can be split into three progressive phases of development. This publication provides a description of the conditions expected to be achieved by the end of each phase to assist with the best use of resources. ‘Milestones’ refer to the conditions necessary to demonstrate that the phase has been successfully completed.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis publication aims to assist States in identifying the responsibilities of those involved in nuclear security so that suitable regulations, agreements and associated administrative measures may be developed for establishing and sustaining an effective nuclear security regime. The publication is structured to provide an overview of the most important aspects to be covered by a State's legislative and regulatory framework for governing nuclear security. States may therefore use this publication to undertake a gap analysis of their legislative and regulatory framework for nuclear security in order to take actions to update their framework as necessary.

Read more less

Book SynopsisSecurity management for radioactive material in use, storage and associated facilities includes the establishment and implementation of policies, plans, procedures and processes for the security of radioactive material. Security management assists to ensure that the security systems are effective, reliably operated and maintained with the necessary resources. Based on extensive input from technical and legal experts, this publication sets forth security management as an essential tool to verify that personnel, procedures and equipment operate interdependently and in an integrated manner, and that the leadership and personnel responsible for security demonstrate the highest commitment towards promoting a robust nuclear security culture within the organization. This Technical Guidance references and takes into account other IAEA Nuclear Security Series publications that provide guidance relating to security management and relating to security plans. The document further provides guidance , including on the development of a security plan for radioactive material in use and in storage and for associated facilities. The Security Plan is an essential component of an operators licensing submission package.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis publication is a revision of an earlier Safety Guide of the same title issued in 1994. It recommends revised waste management strategies that reflect changes in practices and approaches since then. It sets out a classification system for the management of waste prior to disposal and for disposal, driven by long term safety considerations. It includes a number of schemes for classifying radioactive waste that can be used to assist with planning overall national approaches to radioactive waste management and to assist with operational management at facilities.

Read more less

Book SynopsisCe document présente les principes généraux de l'appui technique et scientifique aux organismes de réglementation et les caractéristiques des structures qui fournissent cet appui. Il décrit les services fournis à l'appui des fonctions réglementaires ainsi que les activités et processus qui s'imposent pour garder le niveau de compétence requis et faire en sorte que les outils et équipements restent à la pointe. Le présent document est le premier que l'AIEA consacre spécifiquement aux pratiques des organismes d'appui technique et scientifique et aux défis que ceux-ci ont à relever.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTo assure the safe, technically optimal and cost effective management of spent fuel and radioactive waste, appropriate policies and strategies are required. This publication clarifies the differences between a policy and a strategy, and provides principal advice to Member States on the typical composition, mutual links and the process of compilation of such documents. It also offers options for and indicates approaches to the management of spent fuel and radioactive waste, thus enabling an effective spent fuel and radioactive waste management infrastructure to be developed.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis publication provides guidance to States, competent authorities and operators on how to develop and maintain contingency plans for nuclear facilities. It can be used as a starting point for organizations that have not previously prepared or developed contingency plans, as well as a reference for organizations that wish to validate or improve their existing contingency plans. It is intended for use by senior managers and security specialists charged with developing such plans and by competent authorities responsible for their oversight.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis publication presents a systematic approach to establishing and operating a national nuclear security support centre (NSSC) as a means to strengthen the sustainability of nuclear security in a State. It provides specific practical guidance to States, detailing a straightforward decision making and project management process drawn from good practices in establishing and operating an NSSC that were identified through the experience and lessons learned from States within the NSSC Network. The publication, which is a revision of TECDOC-1734, is intended for use by the IAEA and the NSSC Network as the primary reference for activities to support States with the establishment and operation of an NSSC.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis INSAG report defines in detail the independence needed in the regulatory decision making process and how to meet the potential challenges to that independence. Thus, the report identifies a number of measures that need to be implemented at different levels to promote and protect independence in the regulatory decision making process. The basic principles have to be embedded into the legal framework and followed up by systematic quality management of regulatory processes and activities.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis publication provides guidance to States and their competent authorities on how to implement and maintain a physical protection regime for transport of nuclear material. It will also be useful to shippers or carriers in the design and implementation of their physical protection systems. The publication builds upon IAEA Nuclear Security Series No. 13, Nuclear Security Recommendations on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and Nuclear Facilities (INFCIRC/225/Revision 5), and provides additional guidance on how to implement these recommendations in practice.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe development and implementation of an appropriate infrastructure to support the successful introduction of nuclear power and its safe, secure, peaceful and sustainable application is an issue of central concern, especially for countries that are considering and planning their first nuclear power plant. In preparing the necessary nuclear infrastructure, there are several activities that need to be completed. These activities can be split into three progressive phases of development. This publication provides a description of the conditions expected to be achieved by the end of each phase to assist with the best use of resources. 'Milestones' refer to the conditions necessary to demonstrate that the phase has been successfully completed.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA number of IAEA Member States generate relatively small quantities of radioactive waste and/or disused sealed sources in research or in the application of nuclear techniques in medicine and industry. This publication presents a modular approach to the design of waste processing and storage facilities to address the needs of such Member States with a cost effective and flexible solution that allows easy adjustment to changing needs in terms of capacity and variety of waste streams. The key feature of the publication is the provision of practical guidance to enable the users to determine their waste processing and storage requirements, specify those requirements to allow the procurement of the appropriate processing and storage modules and install and eventually operate those modules.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis publication provides detailed guidance on developing, implementing, and integrating computer security as a key component of nuclear security. This guidance applies to computer security aspects of nuclear security and its interfaces with nuclear safety and with other elements of a State's nuclear security regime, including the security of nuclear material and nuclear facilities, of radioactive material and associated facilities, and of nuclear and other radioactive material outside of regulatory control. The scope of this publication includes: computer-based systems, the compromise of which could adversely affect nuclear security or nuclear safety; the State's and relevant entities roles and responsibilities in relation to computer security in the nuclear security regime; the activities of the State in establishing and implementing a computer security strategy for nuclear security; the elements and measures for subordinate computer security programmes; and the activities to sustain the strategy.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe present report is a revision of Safety Series No. 75-INSAG-3 (1988), updating the statements made on the objectives and principles of safe design and operation for electricity generating nuclear power plants. It includes the improvements made in the safety of operating nuclear power plants and identifies the principles underlying the best current safety policies to be applied in future plants. It presents INSAG's understanding of the principles underlying the best current safety policies and practices of the nuclear power industry.

Read more less

Book SynopsisRadioisotopes are used worldwide in a range of medical, industrial, research and academic applications. A large proportion of these radioisotopes are produced in particle accelerators, and the number of institutions that operate linear accelerators or cyclotrons and manufacture and distribute radiopharmaceuticals, for example, is significant and increasing. The production of radioisotopes using particle accelerators poses significant radiation hazards to workers, members of the public, and the environment when accelerators are operated without adequate radiation safety measures. This Safety Guide provides practical guidance for implementing radiation protection and safety measures in such facilities involved in the production and use of radioisotopes.

Read more less

Book SynopsisNuclear material accounting and control (NMAC) measures are designed to protect nuclear facilities and nuclear material from adversaries such as non-State actors both inside and outside the nuclear facility. This publication focuses on measures to prevent and mitigate the risk posed by insider threats. It describes elements of a programme that can be implemented at a nuclear facility in coordination with other systems existing at the facility level, such as operations, measurements and physical protection, for the purpose of deterring and detecting unauthorized removal of nuclear material.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis publication provides guidance on the actions to be taken by a State in implementing an effective nuclear security infrastructure for a nuclear power programme. The topics covered are: development of national policy and strategy; common nuclear security measures; infrastructure issues relating to nuclear and other radioactive material; associated facilities; and cooperation with other States. The guidance provided is intended primarily for use by national policy makers, national legislators, competent authorities, institutions and individuals involved in the establishment, implementation, maintenance or sustainability of the nuclear security infrastructure for a nuclear power programme.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn recent years, mobile systems have increasingly been deployed for the processing of different types of radioactive waste. Such systems offer flexibility in selection and application of the optimum technology for a specific waste stream by bringing the process to the point where the waste is generated, with the additional benefit that there can be equipment sharing among multiple generating sites. This publication provides the basic information on utilization of mobile systems for waste processing and introduces a methodology for the assessment required to determine the viability of mobile systems for specific applications. In addition, it informs the reader on the accurate assessment of mobile systems that employ one or more technologies. The target audience is professionals involved in the planning, selection, design, deployment and regulation of radioactive waste processing facilities.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis publication is the lead Implementing Guide in a suite of guidance on implementing the Nuclear Security Recommendations on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and Nuclear Facilities (INFCIRC/225/Revision 5), IAEA Nuclear Security Series No. 13. It provides guidance and suggestions to assist States and their competent authorities in establishing, strengthening and sustaining their national physical protection regime and implementing the associated systems and measures, including operators' physical protection systems.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA number of IAEA Member States generate relatively small quantities of radioactive waste and/or disused sealed sources in research or in the application of nuclear techniques in medicine and industry. This publication presents a modular approach to the design of waste processing and storage facilities to address the needs of such Member States with a cost effective and flexible solution that allows easy adjustment to changing needs in terms of capacity and variety of waste streams. The key feature of the publication is the provision of practical guidance to enable the users to determine their waste processing and storage requirements, specify those requirements to allow the procurement of the appropriate processing and storage modules and install and eventually operate those modules.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis Safety Guide provides recommendations on meeting the safety requirements concerning communication and consultation with the public and other interested parties by the regulatory body about the possible radiation risks associated with facilities and activities, and about processes and decisions of the regulatory body. The Safety Guide can be used by authorized parties in circumstances where there are regulatory requirements placed on them for communication and consultation. It may also be used by other organizations or individuals considering their responsibilities for communication and consultation with interested parties.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis publication provides recommendations on meeting the requirements of IAEA Safety Standards Series No. GSR Part 1 (Rev. 1), Governmental, Legal and Regulatory Framework for Safety, in respect of the organizational structure, management and staffing of the regulatory body. It addresses the arrangements and processes regulatory bodies need to consider in carrying out their responsibilities and functions efficiently and effectively and in an independent manner. It also provides guidance on how an integrated management system should be established and implemented in order to have in place both the core processes that help the regulatory body to perform its core functions and the management and support processes that are necessary to run the regulatory body. The publication is intended for use by all regulatory bodies, irrespective of the size and type of facilities and activities they regulate.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis Safety Guide provides recommendations on meeting the safety requirements concerning communication and consultation with the public and other interested parties by the regulatory body about the possible radiation risks associated with facilities and activities, and about processes and decisions of the regulatory body. The Safety Guide can be used by authorized parties in circumstances where there are regulatory requirements placed on them for communication and consultation. It may also be used by other organizations or individuals considering their responsibilities for communication and consultation with interested parties.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis publication provides recommendations on meeting the requirements of IAEA Safety Standards Series No. GSR Part 1 (Rev. 1), Governmental, Legal and Regulatory Framework for Safety, in respect of the organizational structure, management and staffing of the regulatory body. It addresses the arrangements and processes regulatory bodies need to consider in carrying out their responsibilities and functions efficiently and effectively and in an independent manner. It also provides guidance on how an integrated management system should be established and implemented in order to have in place both the core processes that help the regulatory body to perform its core functions and the management and support processes that are necessary to run the regulatory body. The publication is intended for use by all regulatory bodies, irrespective of the size and type of facilities and activities they regulate.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis Safety Guide supports Member States in developing arrangements for communicating with the public and media and coordinating official information in the response to a nuclear or radiological emergency. These arrangements facilitate the successful implementation of protective actions and the delivery of consistent messages. Specifically, the Safety Guide describes the infrastructure and processes needed to provide useful, timely, truthful, consistent, clear and appropriate information to the public in the event of a nuclear or radiological emergency; respond to incorrect information and rumors; and respond to requests for information from the public and from the news and information media. It will help ensure effective and uniform public information and media communications arrangements during nuclear and radiological emergencies. The guidance is applicable for such emergencies, irrespective of the initiator, whether that be natural event, human error, mechanical or other failure, or a nuclear security event.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis Safety Guide provides recommendations on how to meet the requirements of the IAEA International Basic Safety Standards with regard to irradiation facilities. It gives practical information on the safe design and operation of gamma, electron and X ray irradiators in accordance with these requirements, and discusses the beneficial applications of ionizing irradiation and how to avoid potential radiation hazards at industrial irradiators, including contamination arising from damaged radioactive sources. The Safety Guide is intended for use by the designers and operating organizations of these facilities and also by regulatory bodies.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAccidents involving orphan sources and other radioactive material in the metal recycling and production industries have resulted in serious radiological accidents as well as in harmful environmental, social and economic impacts. This Safety Guide provides recommendations, the implementation of which should prevent such accidents and provide confidence that scrap metal and recycled products are safe.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis Safety Guide is intended to provide recommendations on the establishment of a national strategy for regaining control over orphan radioactive sources and for improving control over vulnerable radioactive sources. It provides guidance on how to assess the national situation, and develop and implement a national strategy to achieve these goals.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis publication provides an overview, based on practical experience and lessons learned, for establishing nuclear security systems and measures for major public events. It covers technical and administrative nuclear security measures for developing the necessary organizational structure, developing plans, strategies and concepts of operations, and making arrangements for implementing the developed plans, strategies and concepts.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis publication provides guidance to States and their competent authorities on how to implement and maintain a physical protection regime for transport of nuclear material. It will also be useful to shippers or carriers in the design and implementation of their physical protection systems. The publication builds upon IAEA Nuclear Security Series No. 13, Nuclear Security Recommendations on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and Nuclear Facilities (INFCIRC/225/Revision 5), and provides additional guidance on how to implement these recommendations in practice.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis publication addresses the sustainability of all aspects of a national nuclear security regime, including those relating to nuclear material and nuclear facilities, other radioactive material and associated facilities, and nuclear and other radioactive material out of regulatory control. The publication is relevant for States that have established a nuclear security regime as well as for States that are in the process of establishing one. It includes guidance on how to address challenges in sustaining a nuclear security regime over time. It also addresses the initial development and implementation of the regime, particularly where sustainability can be built into it as part of its design.

Read more less

Book SynopsisEach State has the primary responsibility to build the capacity of organizations and people in order to develop, implement and sustain a nuclear security regime. To discharge its responsibilities, the State has to strengthen its capacity at national, organizational and individual levels. Specifically, the State has to be able to enhance the competences and capabilities of relevant stakeholders in fulfilling their responsibilities within the nuclear security regime. Such endeavour involves various elements in capacity building, ranging from education and training to the development of a knowledge network. This publication is intended to serve as a reference for Member States to develop a national capacity building strategy for nuclear security. It addresses all organizations involved in nuclear security and reflects the multidisciplinary and cross-institutional nature of this task, as well as the long term efforts that are required.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis publication provides guidance to States, competent authorities and operators on appropriate nuclear security measures during each stage in the lifetime of a nuclear facility, from initial planning of the facility through to its final decommissioning. The publication addresses effective nuclear security in the transition between stages and applies to the nuclear security of nuclear material and nuclear facilities throughout the lifetime of all types of nuclear facility. Although focused on nuclear power, the guidance contained in this publication may be useful for States developing nuclear programmes with other types of facility, including those for research and development.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis publication provides guidance to States on the development, implementation, maintenance and sustainment of a national framework for managing the response to nuclear security events. Such a framework involves a structure and a set of principles and agreements around which a State can frame its nuclear security response functions, addressing the interfaces which need to exist between responding agencies to ensure effective, coordinated response. By using this Implementing Guide, a State will ensure that it has considered all relevant key issues as it develops its national framework for responding to nuclear security events.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis publication is a revision of IAEA Nuclear Security Series No. 8, Preventive and Protective Measures against Insider Threats, published in 2008. The new publication provides updated guidance to States, their competent authorities and operators, and shippers and carriers on selecting, implementing and evaluating measures for addressing insider threats. It applies to any type of nuclear facility, notably nuclear power plants, research reactors and other nuclear fuel cycle facilities (e.g. enrichment plants, reprocessing plants, fuel fabrication plants, storage facilities), whether in design, redesign, construction, commissioning, operation, shutdown or decommissioning.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTo assure the safe, technically optimal and cost effective management of spent fuel and radioactive waste, appropriate policies and strategies are required. This publication clarifies the differences between a policy and a strategy, and provides principal advice to Member States on the typical composition, mutual links and the process of compilation of such documents. It also offers options for and indicates approaches to the management of spent fuel and radioactive waste, thus enabling an effective spent fuel and radioactive waste management infrastructure to be developed.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book provides a readable and thought-provoking analysis of the issues surrounding nuclear fuel reprocessing and fast-neutron reactors, including discussion of resources, economics, radiological risk and resistance to nuclear proliferation. It describes the history and science behind reprocessing, and gives an overview of the status of reprocessing programmes around the world. It concludes that such programs should be discontinued. While nuclear power is seen by many as the only realistic solution to the carbon emission problem, some national nuclear establishments have been pursuing development and deployment of sodium-cooled plutonium breeder reactors, and plutonium recycling. Its proponents argue that this system would offer significant advantages relative to current light water reactor technology in terms of greater uranium utilization efficiency, and that separating out the long-lived plutonium and other transuranics from spent fuel and fissioning them in fast reactors would greatly reduce the duration of the toxicity of radioactive waste. However, the history of efforts to deploy this system commercially in a number of countries over the last six decades has been one of economic and technical failure and, in some cases, was used to mask clandestine nuclear weapon development programs. Covering topics of significant public interest including nuclear safety, fuel storage, environmental impact and the spectre of nuclear terrorism, this book presents a comprehensive analysis of the issue for nuclear engineers, policy analysts, government officials and the general public. "Frank von Hippel, Jungmin Kang, and Masafumi Takubo, three internationally renowned nuclear experts, have done a valuable service to the global community in putting together this book, which both historically and comprehensively covers the “plutonium age” as we know it today. They articulate in a succinct and clear manner their views on the dangers of a plutonium economy and advocate a ban on the separation of plutonium for use in the civilian fuel cycle in view of the high proliferation and nuclear-security risks and lack of economic justification." (Mohamed ElBaradei, Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency (1997-2009), Nobel Peace Prize (2005))"The 1960s dream of a ‘plutonium economy’ has not delivered abundant low-cost energy, but instead has left the world a radioactive legacy of nuclear weapons proliferation and the real potential for nuclear terrorism. Kang, Takubo, and von Hippel explain with power and clarity what can be done to reduce these dangers. The governments of the remaining countries whose nuclear research and development establishments are still pursuing the plutonium dream should pay attention.” (Senator Edward Markey, a leader in the US nuclear-disarmament movement as a member of Congress since 1976)"The authors have done an invaluable service by putting together in one place the most coherent analysis of the risks associated with plutonium, and the most compelling argument for ending the practice of separating plutonium from spent fuel for any purpose. They have given us an easily accessible history of the evolution of thinking about the nuclear fuel cycle, the current realities of nuclear power around the world and, arguably most important, a clear alternative path to deal with the spent fuel arising from nuclear reactors for decades to centuries to come." (Robert Gallucci, Chief US negotiator with North Korea (1994); Dean, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service (1996-2009); President, MacArthur Foundation (2009-2014)) Trade Review“This book is highly recommended. The entire remarkable story of plutonium is told with crystal clarity and detailed scholarship, fully referenced with helpful end notes.” (Gordon Edwards, Peace Magazine, Vol. 36 (3), 2020)Table of ContentsOVERVIEW 1. Overview Dreams of plutonium breeder reactors Downsides of breeders Much more uranium found and demand growth much lower than projections Reprocessing spent power-reactor fuel A wake-up call from India’s nuclear test Plutonium fuel for light-water reactors Reprocessing for radioactive-waste management? The nightmares THE DREAM 2. The dream: a future powered by plutonium Dual-purpose reactors How plutonium is made ­Light-water reactors and uranium enrichment Plutonium breeder reactors THE NIGHTMARES 3. Civilian plutonium separation and nuclear-weapon proliferation Nuclear-weapon proliferation The wake-up call of Smiling Buddha The Carter administration’s review of the US breeder-reactor program Electricity consumption growth slows and nuclear power stalls Fading of the breeder dream Legacies of the failed breeder-reactor dream 4. Continuation of plutonium separation without breeder reactors France: Recycling plutonium in light-water reactors United Kingdom: A reprocessing program finally winding down Japan: The only non-nuclear-armed country with a reprocessing program Russia: Continuing breeder reactor development Weapon-usability of reactor-grade plutonium The persistence of civilian reprocessing 5. A much worse accident that almost happened in Fukushima: A fire in a dense-packed spent fuel pool Concerns about fires in spent-fuel pools Land contamination by cesium-137 Regulatory considerations in the United States Potential impacts from spent-fuel-pool fires in South Korea A PATH FORWARD 6. Early dry-cask storage: A safer alternative to dense-packed pools and reprocessing Dry storage Cost advantages Safety advantages Central storage How long can dry storage endure? Transport Conclusions 7. Deep disposal of spent fuel without reprocessing Reprocessing and proliferation The modest environmental hazard from plutonium in a spent-fuel repository Can reprocessing significantly reduce the size of a radioactive-waste repository? Hazards of reprocessing Conclusions 8. The case for a ban on reprocessing A Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty Attempts to limit stocks of civilian plutonium Parallel efforts to limit HEU use A ban on plutonium separation Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book Synopsis​This book examines the impacts of radionuclides released from the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident on inland aquatic environments. The focus is on the dynamics of radiocesium in inland aquatic environments.The book comprises three parts: migration behavior of radiocesium in river and lake environment, accumulation of radiocesium into organisms in freshwater, and integrated environmental analysis in a lake system and a forest-freshwater system. Many studies on the dynamics of radionuclides have been published after the FDNPP accident, especially of radiocesium (134Cs 137Cs) in land and marine environment. The key features of this book are the new data of freshwater environment including transport of radionuclides in river and lake watershed, and accumulation of radiocesium in freshwater fishes and insects. Another feature of this book is that it summarizes the dataset of a model lake, Lake Akagi-Onuma, from geochemical and biological approaches.Readers will learn the actual dispersion behavior of radionuclides released from the Fukushima accident and their impacts on freshwater environments since the accident in 2011. The book presents valuable information for assessing the impacts of the FDNPP accident on ecosystem and human health, which are also useful in developing countermeasures for similar accidents and environmental contaminations.Table of ContentsChapter 1 Introduction Seiya NAGAOChapter 2 Rivers and lake environment2.1 Migration behavior of radiocesium released from the Fukushima accident in Japanese river systems during four months after the accident Seiya NAGAO, Shinya OCHIAI 2.2 Spatial and temporal fluctuations of nuclear accident-derived 137Cs and 3H concentration in river waters in eastern Fukushima, Japan Shinji UEDA 2.3 Spatial and temporal changes of 137Cs concentrations in river waters and the relations with the radiocesium inventory in Fukushima and adjacent areas Shinya OCHIAI, Shinji UEDA, Hideki TSUJI, Seiya NAGAO 2.4 Radiocesium Dynamics in a Dam Lake after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident Hideki TSUJI 2.5 Record of income and outgo of radioactive cesium in lake Cyuzenji Seiichi NOHARA, Tetsuya YOKOTUKA, Isao KOBORI Chapter 3 Ecosystem 3.1 Annual changes of 137Cs concentrations in freshwater fishes Nobuyoshi ISHII 3.2　Radiocesium concentrations in brown trout in Lake Chuzenji after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident Tetsuya YOKOTUKA, Masahiro AKUTSU, Takatoshi TSUNAGAWA, Isao KOBORI, Seiichi NOHARA3.3A review of radioactive contamination in a freshwater ecosystem in Nikko area, Japan Mayumi YOSHIMURA, Akio AKAMA 3.5 Radiocesium concentrations in great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) after the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident Kyuma SUZUKI, Shun WATANABE, Hideki TANAKA, Masanobu MMORI, Kin-ichi TSUNODA 3.4 Variations in 134+137Cs radioactivity level of suspended particulate matter in streams and its respond to aquatic insect after FDNP accident Takeshi FUJINO, Sho SATO, Masaru SAKAI, and Takashi GomiChapter 4 Case study—Lake Akagi Onuma The dynamics of radiocesium in the lake ecosystem of lake Onuma on Mt. Akagi Shun WATANABE

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book, the third in the series Behavior of Radionuclides in the Environment, is dedicated to Fukushima. Major findings from research since 2011 are reviewed concerning the behavior of radionuclides released into the environment due to the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, including atmospheric transport and fallout of radionuclides, their fate, and transport in the soil-water environment, behavior in freshwater, coastal and marine environment, transfer in the terrestrial and agricultural environment. Volume III discusses not only radionuclides dynamics in the environment in the short- and mid-term, but also modeling and prediction of long-term time changes.Along with reviews, the book contains original data and results not published previously. It was spearheaded by the authors from the Institute of Environmental Radioactivity at Fukushima University, established two years after the Fukushima accident, with their collaborators from Japan, Russia, and Ukraine. The knowledge emerging from the studies of the environmental behavior of Fukushima-derived radionuclides enables us to move forward in understanding mechanisms of environmental contamination and leads to better modeling and prediction of long-term pollution effects in general. Table of ContentsPart 1 Atmospheric transport and fallout of radionuclides 1 Air dose rate in Fukushima Prefecture measured during March 2011, the first organized measurement after Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident 2 Atmospheric transport and deposition of Fukushima-derived radionuclides 3 Airborne radiation survey after the accident Part 2 Fate and transport of radionuclides in soil-water environment 4 Behavior of Fukushima-derived radiocesium in the soil-water environment: Review 5 Dynamics of radiocesium solid–liquid distribution coefficient in a soil-water environment 6 An overview of Fukushima-derived strontium radioisotopes 7 Erosion and redeposition of sediments and sediment-associated radiocesium on river floodplains (the Niida River basin and the Abukuma River as an example) Part 3 Radionuclide behavior in freshwater environment 8 Dynamics of radiocesium in urban river in Fukushima-city 9 Temporal variations in particulate and dissolved 137Cs activity concentrations in the Abukuma River during two high-flow events in 2018 10 The effect of groundwater bypass at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in 2014 by detailed facies analysis and 3D groundwater simulation 11 Modeling of behavior of Fukushima-derived radionuclides in freshwater Part 4 Radionuclide behavior in coastal and marine environment 12 Spatiotemporal variation of radiocesium in coastal and oceanic seawater 13 Spatiotemporal variation of radiocesium in coastal marine sediment 14 Cesium radioactivity in marine and freshwater products and its relation to the restoration of fisheries in Fukushima: A decade review Part 5 Radionuclide transfer in agricultural environment 15 Spatial distribution and temporal change of 137Cs activity concentration in dissolved and suspended fractions of irrigation waters collected from Fukushima 16 Mineralogical factors controlling the ability to retain 137Cs in Andosols in Japan 17 Soil Properties Affecting Soil-to-Crop Transfer of Fukushima-Derived Radiocesium 18 Model of radionuclide uptake by plants via foliar pathway: Kyshtym, Сhernobyl, Fukushima Part 6 Radionuclide transfer in terrestrial environment 19 Behavior of Fukushima-derived radiocesium in forest ecosystems 20 Radiocesium contamination in wild rodents inhabiting forested areas inside the evacuated area in Fukushima, Japan 21 Concentrations and transfer parameters of 137Cs for wild boar 22 Variation of cesium-137 concentration in wild boar and Asian black bear 23 Physicochemical fractions of radiocesium in the stomach con-tents of wild boar and its transfer to muscle tissue

Read more less

Book SynopsisBased on a variety of interviews with residents, farmers, scientists, journalists, and activists who have been affected by the Fukushima catastrophe, the authors underscore the personal, political, and humanitarian impacts in testimonies, science, and photos. The book engagingly addresses diverse issues that continue to haunt and persist and calls for collective responsibility to deal with the devastating environmental, economic, and social consequences of nuclear energy. The book offers a critique of the violent history of modernism and the supremacy of science that has been articulated into all forms of social injustice and ecological injustice.Table of ContentsForeword: Not Again, Please, Never Again - Rebecca Johnson.- Foreword: Charting Contested Contours Of Sustainaiblity, Development, Social And Ecological Justice - Anita Rampal.- Introduction: No Solutions In Sight, Making Possible The Impossible - Lau Kin Chi.- Introduction: Education For Ecological Justice And Social Justice – Cultivating The Capacity For Affect, Thinking, Autonomy And Action – Lau Kin Chi.- Introduction: When We Talk About Nuclear Energy, What Are We Talking About? - Huang Xiaomei.- Introduction: We Are In A Critical State - He Zhixiong.- Preface.- Part One.- I. What Happened In Fukushima?.- Ii. Natural Disasters Or Human-Caused Calamity.- Iii. Fairy Tale Of Astro Boy.- Iv. Three Questions On Nuclear Power.- V. The Long Road Home.- Vi.Revival? Clearing Evacuees To Zero?.- Vii. Glint Of Hope Ignited By The Olympic Torch?.- Viii. Where Did Contaminated Substances Go?.- Ix. Heart Of Darkness – The Molten Reactor Core.- X.Returning To The Scene: “Back Then, How Nice It Would Have Been, If Only….”.- Xi. Absent Supervision.- Xii. Radioactive Contamination Spread Worldwide – The Threat From Nuclear-Contaminated Water.- Xiii. Who Protects Decontamination Workers And Nuclear Energy Workers?.- Xiv. Mourning Of Nature.- Xv. From Nuclear Weapon To Nuclear Energy, From Nuclear Energy To Nuclear Weapon.- Xvi. The People’s Self Rescue.- Epilogue Resonance That Lit Up The Earth.- Part Two.- What I Saw After Shooting Fukushima For 10 Years – Toyoda Naomi.- Thoughts On Nuclear Power In Fukushima, Bangladesh, Rio, And Geneva - Ohashi Masaaki.- Eight Years From The Great East Japan Earthquake: Current Situation Of Fukushima And Its Challenges - Aihara Hiroko.- Double Challenges To Japanese Farmers: The Nuclear Disaster And Transpacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement - Ando Takemasa.- Buildup Of Nuclear Armament Capability And The Post-War Statehood Of Japan: Fukushima And The Genealogy Of Nuclear Bombs And Power Plants - Muto Ichiyo.- "Obsession With Normalcy" And The World Today - Sun Ge.- Light Of The Sun Or Fire Of Purgatory: Nuclear Power Is The Destiny Of Industrial Civilization - Tian Song.

Read more less