[en] In Malaysia, a radiological impact assessment (RIA) report has to be compiled in order to comply with the Atomic Energy Licensing Act 1984, Act 304 and the Guidelines LEM/TEK/30 SEM.2, September 1996 for activity related to the landfill disposal of NORM wastes. Most of the NORM problems in Malaysia are associated with tin mining, mineral sands processing and oil production activities. The Malaysian Nuclear Agency has experience in conducting the RIAs for the disposal of NORM wastes by landfill. This paper describes an example of RIAs to dispose of tin slag at a specified site in the northern region of Malaysia. (author)

[en] Work activities with materials containing an enhanced content of natural radioactivity may lead to increased exposures of workers or members of the public. Thus they are subject to radiation protection regulations if reference levels are exceeded as described in the German Radiation Protection Ordinance which has been in force since July 2001. To optimize monitoring and/or possible radiation protection measures, reliable methods for measurements and exposure assessments have to be developed, taking into account material matrices, radionuclides involved, workplace conditions and exposure pathways. In this context, case studies have been carried out for both radiation exposure of workers at several work places and exposure of members of the public due to the disposal of industrial residues. In the paper, practical results and conclusions are summarized for two cases: (i) exposure of workers during handling and/or milling of zircon sand and (ii) exposure of members of the public who live close to a red mud disposal site of an aluminium oxide production plant. (author)

[en] The impact on members of the public from the extraction and beneficiation of naturally occurring radioactive materials is of primary concern for responsible operators. In Phalaborwa, South Africa, two companies mine and beneficiate an igneous orebody in close proximity to the community. The unique features of this community allow an integrated look into the radiological impact of these activities. It is shown that the doses received by members of the public in the surrounding community are far below the public dose limit and similar to or less than the statistical variation in natural background. (author)

[en] The presence of NORM in rare earth minerals in varying concentrations is quite often significant enough to result in occupational and environmental radiation exposures during their mining, milling and chemical processing for the extraction of the rare earth elements and compounds. Depending on the monazite concentration in the raw sand, radiation exposures of the order of 0.13-1.00 man mSv per tonne are involved in the mining and separation of monazite. The chemical extraction of rare earths from monazite involves occupational radiation exposures in the range of 0.30-1.00 (mean: 0.64 ± 0.19) man mSv per tonne of rare earth concentrate. The paper discusses comprehensively the various resources of rare earths and the different processes adopted in the industry. The influence of NORM on the radiation backgrounds, radiation fields encountered in processes, radiation exposures, generation of radioactive wastes and the environmental impact of the mining and milling of rare earth minerals and chemical extraction of rare earths are also discussed. (author)

[en] Greenhouse pot experiments were carried out to study the mobility of U and Th in soil and the bioavailability of these radionuclides to two widely cultivated plants (wheat and rye). The purpose of this research was to estimate an ability of the crops to accumulate U and Th, thus removing these metals from contaminated soil. Rye and wheat grown in radionuclide enriched soils demonstrated a significant increase in concentrations of U and Th in the roots of both these plants. Th was less available for plant uptake than U. The ratios of radionuclide concentrations in roots of the plants grown in contaminated soil to those in roots of the control plants were 45 (U) and 25 (Th). Despite such a significant increase of radionuclide concentrations in the plants, the U content in the soils decreased by only two times, and the Th concentration in the contaminated soils remained unchanged. No transfer of U and Th to plant leaves was detected in any of the plants. As a result of soil contamination at trace levels, wheat and rye were able to accumulate U and Th in the roots but were unable to translocate these radionuclides to leaves at measurable concentrations. (author)

[en] In order to prevent a potentially negative impact on the phosphate industry of the European Council Directive 96/29/Euratom, IMPHOS participated in several events where discussions were held on the issue of NORM and the consequences of the application of the Directive for the non-nuclear industries, including all the NORM symposia from September 1997 to May 2004. In addition, IMPHOS has undertaken actions to establish an ad hoc committee with members designated by member companies and to initiate a desktop study conducted by CEPN to review the implications of applying the Directive for the phosphate industry. This study is an important collection of data on radiological protection, including doses expected to be received by exposed individuals and monitoring considerations. The main conclusions of these actions are that the radioactivity in the phosphate industry is relatively insignificant, with the total annual exposure of a phosphate worker being less than three thousandths of the limit recommended by the ICRP. (author)

[en] In the Netherlands, different types of NORM coming from the various industries are produced. These materials are partly waste and partly suitable for recycling. If the NORM is considered waste, there are two options available: treatment and storage as radioactive waste or disposal as a hazardous substance. If recycling is foreseen, there are specific demands on the process and use. A summary of the current types and amounts of NORM wastes and recyclable materials is given. The relevant legislation and the opportunities for the NORM industry are discussed and treatment options that COVRA has developed for conditioning prior to long term storage are shown. An overview of the conditions under which the hazardous waste depositories are allowed to process specific NORM wastes is given. (author)

[en] In recent years, the Regional Agency for the Environmental Protection of Veneto (ARPAV) has carried out surveys in the refractory and tile industries investigating, in particular, the natural radioactivity levels of residues and dusts. Elevated activity concentrations have been recorded for ²¹⁰Pb and ²¹⁰Po (21 000 and 35 000 Bq/kg, respectively) in dust generated in a refractory fusion furnace. In addition, high values of ²¹⁰Po (up to 46 000 Bq/kg) have occurred in the hydrated lime used for trapping dust in the tile firing process. Doses to the public as a result of airborne dust emissions from these two processes are estimated using a comprehensive prediction model (PC Cream) for refractories and a simplified model for tiles. In both cases, individual effective doses appear to be less than 1 μSv/a while collective doses are slightly more than 1 man mSv/a. The PC Cream simulation data were obtained in the course of collaboration between ARPAV and the Catholic University of Brescia. (author)

[en] The strengthening of radiation protection regulations (including border controls) in consumer countries may potentially lead to the partial or complete loss of market for some mineral producers, and the resulting economic and logistical constraints have become a serious consideration for individual industries. The IAEA Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material (IAEA Safety Standards Series No. TS-R-1) and Advisory Material (IAEA Safety Standards Series No. TS-G-1.1) provide detailed instructions on the transport of material with elevated concentrations of natural radionuclides. However, these documents are somewhat complex for a common user and this paper presents an overview of a simplified step by step guideline developed for both the minerals industry and the appropriate regulatory authorities. Also presented are considerations for the regulatory control of natural radioactivity in international transport and trade and the potential radiation protection and regulatory problems that may arise during transport and at international border crossings. Solutions for these problems are offered in the conclusion. (author)

[en] This study gives the results of measurements of thorium and its progeny in titanium minerals and an assessment of NORM related radiological issues in mineral separation and chemical processing plants in India. The concentrations of ²³²Th and ²²⁸Ra in titanium minerals and titanium dioxide are presented. External gamma exposure rates and airborne thorium concentrations in plants processing such minerals are studied. The radionuclide concentrations in liquid effluent and solid wastes are analysed and disequilibrium with respect to ²²⁸Ra is observed. (author)