WASTE DISPOSAL INTO A PLASTIC CLAY FORMATION - RISK ANALYSIS FOR PROBABILISTIC SCENARIOS
The clay formation of Boom (Belgium) could be suitable for the creation of a radioactive waste repository. It offers a good test case for the validation of the Joint Research Centre risk assessment methodology, which consists in: identification of the possible release scenarios, assessment of the corresponding occurrence probabilities and release consequences, and calculation of the corresponding risk. A probability distribution is defined for each uncertain input parameter; by a Monte Carlo method, a probability distribution is then obtained. Aquifer contamination followed by radionuclide migration through the subsoil is the most likely scenario for environmental contamination, resulting from radionuclide migration up to the adjacent aquifers (normal scenario) or from clay breaching events, leading to waste exposure to flowing groundwater (probabilistic scenarios). A different probabilistic scenario is linked to the possible occurrence of a new glacial episode. For both probabilistic scenarios, it was demonstrated that the corresponding risk is lower than the individual risk limit derived from ICRP recommendations for life-long exposures.
Bibliographic Reference: EUROPEAN APPLIED RESEARCH REPORTS - NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SECTION, VOL. 6 (1985), NO. 4, PP. 869-947 (EUR 9641 EN).
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Record Number: 1989124008700 / Last updated on: 1987-01-01
Available languages: en