Long-term radiation damage

Brown, B. 1966. Long-Term Radiation Damage Evaluation of Life-Span Studies. Memoran. RM-5083-TAB. Rand Corp., Santa Monica, CA. 66 pp. 

Many concepts are being studied to treat the high level liquid waste from reprocessing so that the environment is protected against short and long term radiation damage. The final treatment concepts are ... 

All equipment, interlock systems and monitoring equipment at an irradiation facility should be checked periodically for proper operation and should be serviced and maintained in accordance with the suppliers instructions. Equipment in the irradiation room is susceptible to long term radiation damage. Crucial safety systems such as radiation monitors, interlocks and alarms should be checked daily. 

Both short-term and long-term radiation exposure can cause damage to living cells. 

The accident reportedly killed 31 people, injured 299 others, and caused tlic evacuation of 135,000 from the site. The full extent of tlie damage from tliis incident probably will not be known for years. It is tlie long-term effects from exposure to radiation that frighten most people, and tliese fears may still become a horrible reality. 

As long as radiation dose equivalent exposures are low, radiation damage is non-detectable. General effects of short-term radiation exposure are summarized in Table 17.5. The dose equivalents in Table 17.5 are listed in rems. These values are several orders of magnitude greater than what humans received in a year. Annual human exposure... 

Using the criteria listed in the introduction, we now provide a brief summary of the performance of these materials. With reference to criterion number 5, physical properties, we restrict out discussion here to the effects of radiation damage on the crystalline structure. For materials destined for geological disposal, the long-term performance in natural systems over long periods of time (e.g., 103 to 106 years) is of critical concern. Therefore, we believe that it is necessary to consider one more criterion (6) natural samples exist and allow for an assessment of the... 

Good adherance of the coatings to the substrate is most critical with respect to thermal shocks, to radiation damage, and to chemical changes over long-term exposure to a hydrogen plasma. To achieve the desired adherence properties requires a proper choice of materials with respect to their thermal expansion and chemical compatibility, as well as careful control of the deposition conditions137. ... 

It was expected that defueling and dismantlement of the damaged NSs would be possible after long-term (100-200 years) hold up at the storage facility, i.e. after radionuclide decay down to levels allowing necessary dismantling works with acceptable radiation bmden for involved personnel, no environmental damage and risk for the nearby population. 

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