A recommendation on minimization of wastes from natural uranium purification and conversion / 中国辐射卫生

In the process of natural uranium purification and conversion, low-level uranium-containing radioactive wastes will be produced. On the basis of introducing the characteristics of wastes from natural uranium purification and conversion and their treatment, we review the main strategies and good practices of minimization of wastes from natural uranium purification and conversion, analyze the main problems in minimization of wastes from natural uranium purification and conversion in China, and propose corresponding improvement measures, which provides a reference for the implementation and management of minimization of wastes from natural uranium purification and conversion.

Investigation and analysis of concentrations of radium-226 and uranium in agricultural products around uranium tailings pond / 中国辐射卫生

@#<b>Objective</b> To investigate the radionuclide radium-226 and natural uranium content in the main agricultural products around a decommissioned uranium tailings pondand to determine the radioactivity level in the food around the tailings pond. <b>Methods</b> From 2017 to 2021, several samples of rice and beans were collected in the surrounding area of the tailings pond for five consecutive years, and the concentrations of radium-226 and natural uranium were measured by a high-purity germanium gamma spectrometer. The annual accumulated effective dose of internal exposure caused by radium-226 ingested through local standard human diet was estimated by the indirect method. <b>Results</b> The detection rate of natural uranium in rice was 96.0%, and the detection rate of radium-226 was 74.0%; the detection rate of natural uranium in beans was 96.7%, and the detection rate of radium-226 was 73.3%. The annual accumulated effective dose caused by radium-226 ingested through diet was about 170.22 μSv/a in surrounding residents. <b>Conclusion</b> The concentrations of radium-226 and natural uranium in the main agricultural products around the tailings pond are within the limit of the national standard. By comparing with the research results in related fields in China, the radiation effects caused by radium-226 ingested through dieton the residents around the tailings pond are acceptable.

Radiational dose detection for natural uranium container port / 上海预防医学

Objective To determine the level of radiation dose in port workplace for loading and unloading natural uranium ore containers, and to provide a basis for occupational health management of the operators. Methods Workplace investigation was conducted to understand the loading and unloading process of natural uranium ore containers, operation time and frequency, etc. A radiation dose rate meter was used to detect the radiation dose rate at 5 cm from the outer surface of 168 natural uranium ore containers. At the same time, we selected one container and detected the level of dose rate at 5-200 cm away from each side surface of the 5 container surfaces except for the bottom side. Results The dose rate level at 5 cm at outer surface of 168 containers ranged from 27 μSv/h to 44 μSv/h, and the average dose rate level was 35.6 μSv/h. The average dose rate levels at 5, 30, 50, 100 and 200 cm were 21.3, 14.6, 11.3, 7.1 and 3.5 μSv/h, respectively. In normal operation, the personal exposure dose of port worker were estimated to be less than 580 μSv/a. Conclusion In normal operation, the dose rate level at any workplace on the outer surface of natural uranium ore container is far below the national standard limit.