More about Ra-226

["J. J. Rozental" <josrozen@netmedia.net.il>]

The recent IAEA TEC-886, Conditioning and Interim Storage of spent radium
sources, June 1996, mention: " The estimated total quantity of radium for
the entire world is a few  kg " (spent  source, medical, industry, etc).
A point of concern   is the Uranium tailing. At least 97% of the Ra-226 in
the ore fed  to the mill remains undissolved through the leaching process;
therefore the total radium in the tailings is only slightly less than in the
ore. Because  of the presence of Ra-226 in the tailings, Rn-222 will be
continuously produced from the tailings
With respect  sea disposal, in terms of risk,  technical valuable
information can be found in the  IAEA TECDOC-725 -- Risk comparisons
relevant to sea disposal of low level radioactive waste, November 1993

J. J.  Rozental, Israel
<Josrozen@netmedia.net.il>