Re: - Re: saftey of being in the proximity of someone on RAI therapy

[Russ Johnson <rujohnso@nmsu.edu>]

Wow, this little topic has mushroomed a bit, hasn't it? And taken quite the

detour from the original question. So many opposing and logical viewpoints,

including regulations to support them. I can see this might be a problem in an

area with many high volume rad waste generators, all with sewerage discharge

permits. Lots of "hotcakes" after reconcentration and dehydration.

But at least with the very short half-life radiopharms, the risk to the public

should be minimal.

Here today, gone tomorrow.

-Russ



Rick Orthen wrote:



> The disposal of RAM to sanitary sewers and the resulting reconcentration of

> nuclides in the POTW sludge cycle is an ongoing challenge for POTW operators

> and landfill operators alike.  It has been known for some time now (at least

> since the 1980's--see NRC IN 88-22 and GAO's letter report GAO/RCED-94-133)

> that licensee discharges to sewers in compliance with the solubility

> requirements of Part 20 does little to reduce reconcentration effects at the

> end of the sludge cycle (POTW natural dewatering systems, landspreading,

> landfilling).  POTW operators are coming to grips with the reality that they

> produce LLW biosolids.  The economic ramifications are not trivial for them.

> Not to mention the investigative time consumed by portal alarms at landfills

> from POTW sludge cake.

>

> The 'problem' is real for select POTW's and has been detailed by ISCORS in

> NUREG-1777 published last November.

>

> Rick Orthen

> CEC Inc.

>

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