Alternative Disposal Options for High-Level Radioactive Waste

Are alternatives to the disposal of high-level radioactive waste in a geology repository conceivable? We present the results of the first phase of a research project on the state of the art in science and technology for alternative disposal options. The project is financed by the Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management. Most recently, in 2015, the German Commission on the Storage of High-Level Radioactive Waste (Endlagerkommission) evaluated possible disposal technologies and classified them as either promising, conceivable, or to be pursued further. Only final disposal in a geological repository was considered promising. Conceivable, but not immediately available or not advantageous, were storage in deep boreholes (DBs), long-term interim storage (LTIS), and partitioning and transmutation (P&T). All other alternative disposal options by burial, dilution, or removal from the planet were determined not to be worth pursuing. The Disposal Commission did conclude that none of the three conceivable methods (DBs, LTIS, P&T) would result in earlier disposal of high-level radioactive waste than the preferred final disposal in a mine. However, it recommended continued tracking and regular monitoring of the future development of alternative disposal options, e.g., disposal in deep boreholes. Finally, in 2017, with the amended Site Selection Act, the federal government specified disposal in a repository mine with the option of retrieval during operation or recovery for 500 years after closure. In a learning site selection process, the Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Disposal (BASE) reviews the proposals of the project managing company, the Federal Company for Radioactive Waste Disposal (BGE), and prepares a reasoned recommendation to the federal government for a site with the best possible safety. Part of the reasoned recommendation is, among other things, a discussion of alternative disposal options to final disposal in deep geological formations. In the presentation, we report on the status of international research on alternative disposal options, discuss advantages and disadvantages of the technologies, and evaluate the potential of the technologies for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste in Germany. The LTIS is designed as dry storage in a building to be constructed above ground or near the surface and is expected to last for a period of several hundred years. With LTIS it would be possible to gain time for the development of a suitable final disposal option; however, this also postpones the disposal issue indefinitely into the future with undetermined methods. DB storage would involve sinking the storage containers into boreholes with depths of up to 5000 m. This could reduce the expense and be particularly advantageous for smaller inventories, although the potential for the use of engineered barriers would be limited and retrievability precluded according to the current state of the art in science and technology. P&T is primarily intended to separate long-lived transuranic elements from high-level radioactive waste and then convert them to short-lived fission products by neutron irradiation in reactors. The main goal is to reduce the necessary containment times in the repository by changing the inventory, but the effort to treat the waste would be significant and a repository for high-level nuclear waste is still needed. More exotic ideas for alternative disposal include deep geological injection of liquid waste, waste forms that melt themselves into rock, storage inside the ocean floor or subduction zones, shipment to space, burial in ice sheets, or dilution in the atmosphere and oceans. None of these exotic options is currently being actively pursued.

Oil and gas wastewater as road treatment: radioactive material exposure implications at the residential lot and block scale

The resurgence of oil and gas extraction in the Appalachian Basin has resulted in an excess of oil and gas brines in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio. Primarily driven by unconventional development, this expansion has also impacted conventional wells and consequently, created economic pressure to develop effective and cheap disposal options. Using brine as a road treatment, directly or as a processed deicer, however, creates substantial concern that naturally occurring radioactive material in the brines can contaminate roads and road-side areas. Current decision making is based on risk exposure scenarios developed by regulatory agencies based on recreational users in rural areas and exposures to drivers during a typical commute. These scenarios are not appropriate for evaluating exposures to residential deicer users or people living near treated streets. More appropriate exposure scenarios were developed in this work and exposures predicted with these models based on laboratory measurements and literature data. Exposure scenarios currently used for regulatory assessment of brine road treatment result in predicted exposures of 0.4-0.6 mrem/year. Residential exposures predicted by the scenarios developed in this work are 4.6 mrem/year. If the maximum range of near-road soil radium concentrations observed in the region is used in this residential scenario (60 pCi/g 226Ra, 50 pCi/g 228Ra), residents living near these roads would be exposed to an estimated 296 mrems/year, above regulatory exposure thresholds used in nuclear facility siting assessments. These results underline the urgent need to clarify exposure risks from the use of oil and gas brines as a road treatment, particularly given the existing disparities in the distribution of road impacts across socioeconomic status.

SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL IN EAST MAMPRUSI MUNICIPALITY: ASSESSMENT OF REASONS FOR DISPOSAL METHODS

Purpose: The study determined the methods of solid waste disposal in the municipality, in relation with awareness and compliance with dumping on approved locations. Methodology: The study adopted simple and purposive sampling techniques to select households and respondents. The target respondents for the study were, planning and Environmental offices, chiefs and opinion leaders, and heads of households. Data were analyzed using a regression model to determine the influencing factors of the disposal options, whiles also evaluating compliance with the disposal on approved lands. Findings: The research found out that; open dumping in the neighborhood, (83.33%), was the main disposal option of the municipality, also, there was a significant relationship between; awareness of approved dumping sites and compliance with dumping on approved sites, distance to the waste disposal sites affected the disposal on approved sites, and lack of knowledge on by-laws on waste management also affected the choice of disposal option. The research concluded that open dumping of waste is mainly driven by low awareness of approved disposal sites and the absence of recycling alternatives. The unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study recommended the need for the provision of more communal containers and waste bins by government and sector players on waste management in the district; intensive education on bye-laws, emphasizing on the significance of dumping waste on approved sites is a welcoming intervention.

The Availability of Sharps Disposal Bins: A Survey of Airports in California

Background: Sharps waste, especially medical sharps waste, can put those who come into contact with it at risk for injury and exposure to blood-borne pathogens. Options for self-injectors to dispose of their sharps while traveling vary greatly – from sharps containers in limited locations in some public restrooms to large kiosks centrally located to no containers at all. Currently, there is a lack of published data on sharps disposal bins in commercial airports. We surveyed commercial airports in California to assess the current state of sharps waste disposal. Many people with diabetes routinely use sharps every day for injecting medications or for self-monitoring glucose concentrations and these people, along with others who self-inject medications, must have a safe mechanism for sharps disposal when travelling by air. Methods: A five-question survey was sent to 30 commercial airports in California. Responses were collected and then analyzed based on the following three metrics: (1) the percentage of airports that responded and indicated that they had any sharps disposal bins, (2) the percentage of airports that responded and indicated that they had sharps disposal bins in over half their restrooms, and (3) the average percentage of bathrooms that have available sharps disposal bins in airports that responded to our survey. Results: Out of 30 commercial airports in California, we received survey responses from 13 airport representatives and direct email responses from 5 airport representatives. Out of 18 total responses, 11 airports (61.1%) reported that they had some form of available sharps disposal options. Out of the 13 survey responses, 6 airports (46.2%) reported that they had sharps disposal in over 50% of their restrooms. Conclusion: There is a lack of consistency in sharps waste disposal options among commercial airports in California. While many commercial airports in California offer sharps waste disposal options, not all commercial airports have sharps waste disposal options in all their public restrooms. There is room for improved availability of sharps disposal bins in California’s commercial airports.

SLUDGE CHARACTERIZATION OF KHARTOUM PETROLEUM REFINING WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT- KHARTOUM-SUDAN

Clearance of sludge has made a major task in latest periods. In the current study sludge from KPRWTP were investigated concerning physicochemical characteristics & disposal options. Organic content of petroleum sludge & clay soil was 0.23 ±0.09% and 0.186±0.1%, respectively. Metals average concentration: Chromium: 130.95±27.32 mg/kg Arsenic: 0.899±0.434 mg/kg lead: 47.83±21.44 mg/kg Cadmium: 18.33±9.04 mg/kg Copper: 209±31.18 mg/kg Zinc: 631±159.57 mg/kg Nickel: 6.6±2.44 mg/kg cobalt: 35.54±10.08 mg/kg manganese: 35.54±10.08 mg/kg: iron: 501±5490.04 mg/kg: titanium: 108.3±18.33 mg/kg, and zirconium: 2.54±0.246 mg/kg respectively. Sludge was made up of particles to some extent of bigger portion compared to soil (sludge: clay and silt 58.9%, sand 41.1% soil: clay and silt 76%, sand 34%). Core constituents of petroleum sludge were Fe2O3 (38.45%), SiO2 (8.55%), CaO (30.35%), MgO (0.85%). According to standards of (NJDEPSCC) As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni, & Zn have significantly lower concentration in sludge comparing guideline for residential and nonresidential utilization. On the other hand, FDEPSCTL showed Cu and Zn were only metals in sludge significantly have high concentration regarding guideline for residential applications only. The study confirmed that heavy metals under investigation were significantly lesser than quantities controlled by (TCLP) of (RCRA), with exception for chromium content.

Environmental Evaluation of Land-Applied Pulp Mill and Municipal Biosolids

In terms of disposal options, a form of waste that has received much attention in recent years is sludge, the by-product of wastewater treatment from both industrial and municipal sources. Negative issues associated with traditional sludge disposal practices (e.g. landfilling or incineration) have resulted in an increased interest to find disposal alternatives such as applying the sludge, or biosolids, to land as a soil amendment for purposes such as agriculture, horticulture, and silviculture. The objective of this study was to assess the environmental impact of pulp mill and municipal biosolids land-application using a suite of ecologically-relevant biota. Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that the practice of pulp mill and municipal biosolids land-application may indeed be a viable and environmentally-sound alternative to other traditional disposal methods. This study did not detect any obvious impact on biota from pulp mill and municipal biosolids land-application and run-off into receiving-water when compared to reference bioassays.

Environmental Evaluation of Land-Applied Pulp Mill and Municipal Biosolids

In terms of disposal options, a form of waste that has received much attention in recent years is sludge, the by-product of wastewater treatment from both industrial and municipal sources. Negative issues associated with traditional sludge disposal practices (e.g. landfilling or incineration) have resulted in an increased interest to find disposal alternatives such as applying the sludge, or biosolids, to land as a soil amendment for purposes such as agriculture, horticulture, and silviculture. The objective of this study was to assess the environmental impact of pulp mill and municipal biosolids land-application using a suite of ecologically-relevant biota. Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that the practice of pulp mill and municipal biosolids land-application may indeed be a viable and environmentally-sound alternative to other traditional disposal methods. This study did not detect any obvious impact on biota from pulp mill and municipal biosolids land-application and run-off into receiving-water when compared to reference bioassays.

Knowledge, Perceptions, and Practices of Electronic Waste Management among Consumers in Kampala, Uganda

Background. Although proper management of electronic waste (e-waste) is key to preventing disease and protecting the environment, there is no clear mechanism for its management in Uganda. This study assessed knowledge, perceptions, and practices of e-waste management among consumers in Kampala city, Uganda. Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional study among people who used, repaired, or sold electronics (consumers). Both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection using a sequential explanatory strategy were utilized. The quantitative survey involved 640 study participants, while qualitative interviews included 18 key informant interviews with stakeholders and six focus group discussions with 57 consumers. Modified Poisson regression was used to establish associations with corresponding 95% confidence intervals, and qualitative data analysed thematically. Results. Two-thirds (67.7%; 433/640) of electronics consumers had poor knowledge on the management of e-waste. More than three-quarters 79.1% (506) of the consumers had positive perceptions towards e-waste management. Consumers perceived e-waste as harmful to human health and the environment. Participants in informal employment were 0.96 times less likely to have positive perceptions towards e-waste management compared to those in formal employment (adjusted PR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.93–0.99). Mobile phones and televisions were the most owned e-waste with only 7.96% (18/226) and 13.2% (7/53) disposed off, respectively. Selling e-waste to repair shops and donation were the common disposal options. Conclusion. Knowledge on proper e-waste management is poor among electronic consumers in Kampala, Uganda, though most have positive perceptions. There is need for increased awareness on e-waste management to prevent its effects on health and the environment. Special attention should be towards sensitisation on e-waste handling practices before disposal and final disposal options available.

Death caused by negligent medical care: Reconsidering the role of gross negligence manslaughter in the aftermath of Bawa-Garba

Gross negligence manslaughter is a well-established common law offence in English jurisdiction. Nevertheless, it remains a troubled area of law. Academic commentators, as well as the Law Commission, have frequently called for reform. We explore this offence through the prism of medical manslaughter and argue that the offence is insufficiently nuanced in certain situations of death caused by gross negligence. This applies particularly to complex professional circumstances where a coalescence of inter-linking factors may converge with disastrous results for the parties concerned. Using the clinical care model as an exemplar, we argue that relentless focus on the offender can result in a disproportionately high level of blame being foisted on an individual. On the basis of decision theory, we suggest that insufficient regard may be given to confounding contextual matters. Failure to address underlying systemic factors may impede wider patient safety initiatives such as professional medical candour and strategies designed for institutional improvements directed at broader societal benefit. We offer an alternative approach based upon principles of fair attribution of blame and transparency. A new statutory offence is suggested for a fault-based standard that is set by law that gives greater prominence to contextual matters. We argue for wider disposal options that include ancillary court orders for rectification of systems failures and more proactive engagement of the coronial process.