Radioactive Waste Management
575.407
Course Description
This course covers fundamental aspects of radioactive substances in the
environment; remediation processes for these substances; and their eventual
storage, processing, and disposal. It provides a basic understanding of
radioactivity and its effect on humans and their environment, and the techniques
for their remediation and disposal. Topics include radioactivity, the nucleides,
interaction of radiation with matter, shielding, dosimetry, biological effects,
protection standards, sources of environmental radiation, risk evaluation, fate
and transport analysis, cleanup standards, legal requirements, cleanup
technologies, waste disposal, and case studies.
Syllabus
- Physics of Radioactivity. Units of Measure. Atomic Models. Decay Equations
- Use of the Chart of the Nuclides to Gain Information on Isotopes and to Solve Problems
Related to Environmental Impacts. Behavior of Daughter Isotopes. Important Decay Chains.
- Beta, Positron, Gamma and Alpha Emissions. Energy Levels. Interactions with Matter
- Acute Effects. Delayed Effects. Small Dose Theories. ICRP, NCRP, NRC, DOE, and EPA
Standards
- Survey of Major Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials
- Uranium Mining and Milling. Isotope Separation. Power Production. Defense Activities.
Medical Isotope Use
- Testing, Fallout, and Production Contamination
- Radiation Dose Measurement, and Protection
- Calculation of Dose-Based Cleanup Standards
- Theories of Cleanup of Radioactive Contamination. Prescriptive Standards. Risk Based
Standards. UMTRA, FUSRAP
- Treatment, Storage and Disposal of High-level , Low-level, Mixed and TRU Waste
- Accident Descriptions, Health Impacts, and Remediation Activities
- Media Cleanup : Air, Water, Soil
- The UMTRA Program. Ground Water and Surface Pu at Nevada Test Site
Instructor
Ralph Lightner is an Office Director at the Department of Energy's
Environmental Management Program. Dr. Lightner received his Ph.D. from the University of
Maryland in nuclear engineering and has extensive experience in all aspects of nuclear
waste, its management and its remediation.
E-mail the instructor.
Textbook
Environmental Radioactivity by Eisenbud and Gesell
Chart of the Nuclides, Fifteenth Edition, produced by General Electric Nuclear
Energy, San Jose, CA
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Courses | Environmental Engineering
and Science | Part-Time Engineering
Fall 1998