Long term environmental radiological assessment of solid radioactive waste disposal - a case of study

Instituto de Radioproteçao e Dosimetria, Departamento de Proteçao Radiologica Ambiental, Av. Salvador Allende s/n, Jacarepagua, CEP 22780-160 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Abstract

Since the time when the repository for the radioactive wastes from the Goiânia accident has been licensed, the uses of surrounding area have changed, leading to different exposure scenarios related to a simulated event of ground water contamination. Other changes can be foreseen for the short-medium term occupation of the surrounding area. Using this situation as an example and considering the simplicity that it deals with only one radionuclide, a probabilistic assessment and an uncertainty study were carried out where the effect of changes on both the exposure scenarios and parameter values have been considered. Results shows that more simulations must be performed when a national low level repository is to be licensed, as land use in developing countries can present significant changes in times of concern even for low level radioactive waste repositories.