Assessment of Potential Risk due to Accidental Melting of Scrap Metal Containing Depleted Uranium Using a Computational Method

Abstract

Depleted uranium (DU) has a beneficial use, such as ballast in aircraft and radiation shielding. Due to the chemical and radiological toxicity it may have adverse consequences to human health, particularly if it enters the body through inhalation, ingestion or wounding. One significant problem area, when working with DU, comes from finely divided airborne particles, which can result from some manufacturing operations such as machining and grinding. In this study RESRAD-Recycle computer code is used to estimate the exposure of workers and public to the recycling of scrap metal including depleted uranium and to evaluate the risk. Two general types of exposure scenarios have been incorporated into RESRAD-Recycle. The First scenario (worker scenario), evaluates worker's doses during the recycled material process. The second scenario (product scenario), determines public dose and risk from the use or exposure to products made of contaminated scrap metal. The obtained results indicate that the slag worker exposed to the highest dose and risk. In addition, the produced products cause a public hazard. Therefore, strengthen the nuclear safety and security regulations to this material type is mandatory. Spreading safety, security and safeguard culture is requisite to reduce the hazards of the radioactive materials.