Year
1988
Abstract
Metallic uranium manufacturing wastes are pyrophoric and must be stabilized before transportation or disposal. The wastes can be stabilized by oxidizing them in an incinerator. Uranium oxide is granular and could be dispersed in the event of an accident. The risks associated with transportation and disposal accidents for depleted uranium (DU) oxide are determined, and the radiological risks are compared to the nonradiological risks of physical injuries and deaths. The assessment of risks from transportation accidents is based on accidents that have occurred, assessments of the severity and consequences of accidents in suburban and rural areas, characteristics of the material, and release of material under accident conditions and its dispersion in the atmosphere. The highest doses for the transportation accidents are 22 mrem (0.22 mBq) for an accident in a suburban area and 18 mrem (0.18 mBq) for an accident in a rural area. The probability of an accident occurring in a suburban area times the health effects risk from the consequences of an accident gives an estimate of about 0.0035x10\"° cancers or fatal health effects per shipment for a 340 mile trip. The probability of a fatal nonradiation related injury from a truck accident is about 38xlO~° per trip. Techniques for reducing the potential radiological risk of accidents should be evaluated to ensure they do not increase the overall risk.