Key Issues in Biosphere Aspects of Assessment of the Long-term Impact of Contaminant Releases Associated with Radioactive Waste Management
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U-238 Series Modelling
A project aimed at improving the modelling of U-238 series radionuclides began in 2010. The project aims to:
- improve understanding of the disequilibrium in the U-238 decay chain within the geosphere biosphere interface and in other potential redox front situations, particularly given the differences in assumed equilibrium distribution coefficients for Th-230 and Ra-226.
- improve understanding of the radon emanation rate from soils, sediments and the built environment; and
- to address both the above issues under situations of environmental change, occurring once the contamination is in the environment.
The project is currently focused on the upper part of the decay chain (up to and including Ra-226), with the potential for increasing the scope of the project to the subsequent radionuclides in the decay chain.