A Methodology for Evaluating the Toxicity of Radioactive Waste and Its Application to the Radioactive Waste Generated in Pennsylvania

Abstract

Communicating with the public on the risks of low-level radioactive waste disposal is difficult due to the lack of comparisons that are understandable to the public. This paper presents a methodology for analyzing the intrinsic toxicity of radionuclides in waste and comparing it to that for soil or other wastes that may contain naturally-occurring radionuclides. The intrinsic toxicity of each radionuclide is normalized by dividing its specific activity in the waste by an appropriate ingestion risk standard, such as the U.S. EPA proposed drinking water limits. To illustrate the usefulness of this method, it was used to analyze Pennsylvania's commercial low-level radioactive waste inventory. The results are presented along with an indication of the usefulness of this method for screening purposes to analyze and identify problematic constituents in various waste streams.