[en] For some time, at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, radioiodine in the gaseous effluents of nuclear reactors and radiochemical plants has been monitored with cartridges containing activated charcoal. Recently, a modified version of a device which is popularly known as the May Pack has been in use for monitoring radioiodine aerosols which are likely to exist in different chemical and physical forms

[en] Short communication

[en] India has at present an operating plant for reprocessing spent fuel located at Tarapur on the west coast of India. The plant has a capacity of 100 t/y of spent fuel. This report gives an example of the evaluation of health and environmental aspects of a reprocessing plant. (author)

[en] Several aspects of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident had attracted world-wide attention and scientific interest especially among those concerned with nuclear radiological safety. This paper mainly deals with the environmental and ecological consequences of the accident and does not go into detail on aspects related to dose estimates and health effects. 2 refs., 9 figs., 5 tabs

[en] This paper describes the various health and safety considerations employed in the operation and maintenance of a fuel reprocessing facility. Provisions for meeting the basic containment objectives for normal and accidental release of activity into the operating areas or the environment are mentioned. Criticality considerations in the fuel, transport, storage and solvent extraction systems, management of active wastes and radiation monitoring aspects are also discussed. (author)

[en] The ALARA criterion, the cornerstone of the ICRP system of dose limitation, has been generally misunderstood, misinterpreted and more often than not misapplied. This paper traces the evolution of this concept, the difficulties that arose in its application and the distortions that have crept in. It is an attempt to remove some of the misconceptions by explaining what ALARA is, what it is not, what it has turned out to be, what it can be and what it should be. It is about ALARA in practice as distinct from ALARA in theory. Radiation exposure to members of the public has been well controlled; attention must now shift to the application of the ALARA principle to occupational exposure reduction. The key concepts of an ALARA design philosophy for meeting this objective for a nuclear plant are enunciated and an example is given of an evaluation system for testing the ALARA criterion applicable to the design and operation of such a plant. (author). 7 refs., 2 figs., 2 annexures

[en] India needs to develop and deploy all sources of electric power as rapidly as possible if it is to fulfill its mission of ensuring a decent standard of living for its people. Electricity generating technologies, like many other technologies, can have deleterious effects on the environment if due attention is not paid to this aspect in the development and deployment of these technologies. Issues related to environment and ecological aspects of electricity generation are receiving considerable attention not only by the scientific community but also by economists, development planners and most notably the public at large. The Indian Nuclear Society (INS) has chosen the theme Electricity Generation and the Environment for its Sixth Annual Conference held at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Bombay during March 14-16, 1995 (INSAC-95). The conference dealt with environmental aspects of different modes of electricity generation with special reference to nuclear energy. Several contributed papers on the topic of relevance were presented at the conference. Papers relevant to INIS are indexed separately

[en] A variety of detection systems are currently in operation at Trombay for monitoring intakes of actinides by occupational workers of fuel fabrication/reprocessing plants. This paper describes the detection systems, their associated electronic instrumentation and performance characteristics and brings out the advantages offered by them in investigating actual cases of actinide intakes. Illustrative data for one case are presented which appeared initially to be of inhalation intake, at one stage as that of inhalation and injection intakes, and was finally identified as that of an intake by injection (i.e. through a contaminated wound) alone, thanks to the availability of various detection systems and sophisticated data analysis techniques. (author)

[en] Fuel-reprocessing plants are characterized by a large inventory of fission products and plutonium present in the form of highly concentrated solutions in a mobile and often dispersible form. When selecting sites for plants of this type due consideration has therefore to be given to the potential exposure of the nearby population to radiation from accidentally released radioactive materials in addition to routinely released effluents. However, in contrast with reactor siting practices, where the concept of the maximum credible accident is widely used, a number of credible and relatively minor incidents will need careful consideration in evaluating the hazards of radiochemical plants. These factors are examined in this paper with the objective of formulating suitable guidelines for the siting of such a facility. (author)

[en] This paper summarises the results of a study conducted to define the extent of interference from the daughter products of radon/thoron to the plutonium channel of a continuous plutonium-in-air monitor. The effect on the detection limits of the instrument due to chemical form (transportable or non-transportable) and isotopic composition of plutonium aerosol are briefly discussed. (author)