epr-method (2003) - IAEA Publications - International Atomic Energy ...

Fuel cycle
Practice
Uranium milling and
mining
Yellow cake
processing
UF 6 conversion
plants
Enrichment plants
Fuel fabrication
using uranium
Fuel fabrication
using plutonium
Threat summary
On site: If uncontrolled, potential for severe tissue damage or fatal
exposure. The threat is dependant on the inventory of the source
(See appendices 8 and 18)
Off site: No potential for releases in excess of urgent GILs.
Contamination warranting intervention (e.g. water contamination)
could result from tailing pond failures.
On site: No potential for exceeding urgent GILs.
Same as uranium milling and mining.
Off site: Potential for deaths from a UF 6 release due to chemical
toxicity from HF (product of UF 6 release). The potential is a
function of UF 6 inventory. Greatest risk appears to be ruptures of
heated tanks of many tons.
On site: Same as off site.
Off site: Same as UF 6 conversion plants.
On site: Same as UF 6 conversion plants.
Off site: Risk for UF 6 same as for UF 6 conversion plants. Potential
for doses in excess of urgent GILs from criticality accidents 21 if
the fissile material is processed in an unshielded location within
200-500 m of the site boundary.
On site: Risk for UF 6 same as for UF 6 conversion plants. Potential
for deterministic health effects and doses in excess of urgent GILs
on-site from criticality accidents.
Off site: Potential for doses in excess of urgent GILs from
criticality accidents 21 if the fissile material is processed in an
unshielded location within 200-500 m of the site boundary. Large
fires or explosions could result in doses off site in excess of
urgent GILs near the facility. This will be a function of inventory.
On site: Potential for deterministic health effects and doses in
excess of urgent GILs from criticality accidents. Fires and
explosions could result in doses in excess of urgent GILs from
inhalation.
Typical threat
category
None 54
None 54
54, 57,
None
None 54,57
II or III 55
II or III 55
New fuel (notirradiated)
Off site: No potential for doses in excess of urgent GILs. None 54
57 Chemical toxicity due to a UF 6 release is far more important than radiation dose even for highly enriched uranium. Lethal
(due to chemical toxicity) concentration of HF may be possible off site (See Ref. [19]).
121