roRadiation Safety & Radioactive Waste Management Project

RS&RWM
Newsletter No.17
March 2022
Issued & Edited by FNCA Secretariat

Radiation Safety & Radioactive Waste Management Workshop
9-10 November 2021, Japan, Online
FNCA 2021 Workshop on Radiation Safety andRadioactive Waste Management (RS&RWM) was
held on November 9 - 10, 2021. The workshop in thisfiscal year was held online again as in 2020 due tothe COVID-19 pandemic. At this workshop, there
were 23 representatives involved in the radiation
safety and radioactive waste management from 10
member countries, namely Australia, Bangladesh,Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mongolia,
The Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. In the
opening session, the welcome remarks weredelivered by Mr.Takahisa Funabiki, MEXT, and Mr.
Tomoaki Wada, FNCA Coordinator of Japan. Mr.
Funabiki mentioned FNCA activities and importanceof the nuclear waste management in the member
countries. Mr. Wada introduced the suggestions of

Coordinators Meeting, which was held in June 2021,
related to the RS&RWM Project via video message.
Following the opening session, Professor Toshiso
Kosako, Project Leader of Japan, explained the
problems with Naturally Occurring Radioactive
Materials (NORM) and Technologically Enhanced
Naturally
Occurring
Radioactive
Material(TENORM), which are expected to become a serious
social problem in many Asian countries. The goal of
7th phase of this project from 2021 to 2023 is tocompile a consolidated report on NORM and
TENORM. He also described the workflow tocompile the consolidated report. After his
presentation, participants presented their current
situations, problems, and future plans on NORM and
TENORM in their own countries.

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Workshop participants

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Professor Kosako mentioned that NORM and
TENORM are radioactive materials more complex
and harder to manage than previously handledradioactive wastes, and the situations and issues
involved are completely different depending on the
country. He also said that it will be vital to share abroad spectrum of knowledge among the member
countries, carry out fact-finding surveys based on aninternational consensus, and consider what sort ofresponse will be necessary.
Summary of each presentation and comments can befound on the FNCA website.

On the second day,there were 2 topicalpresentations on NORM and TENORM from Japan.
Dr. Kazuki Iwaoka, National Institutes for Quantum
Science and Technology (QST), introduced the
NORM data base in QST while explaining thecurrent status of NORM survey in Japan. Professor
Hiroshi Yasuda, Hiroshima University, presented
on the management of uranium wastes from theperspective of humanities and social sciences.
After their presentations, the participants weredivided into 3 groups and discussed about contents
for the consolidated report. Later the leader of eachgroup presented the summary of their ideas.

Open seminar
In usual years, FNCA holds open seminars at thesites of its workshops, in which it attempts todisseminate what the activities of its projects are andtheir results to local people. In FY2021, due to the
COVID-19 pandemic, RS&RWM workshop washeld online. To continue our past efforts on open
seminar, a project member of Japan, Mr. Tatsuo
Saito, video-recorded his presentation about low
level radioactive waste disposal project and NORM
Guidelines in Japan.
The recording is available on the following websites:
https://www.fnca.mext.go.jp/english/rwm/e_ws_2021.html

FNCA Activities in JFY 2021
Activity

Date

Host Country

The 21st Coordinators Meeting

June 30, 2021

Japan （online）

Workshop on Radiation Safety andRadioactive Waste Management

November 9 - 10, 2021

Japan （online）

The 22nd Ministerial Level Meeting

December 9, 2021

Japan （online）

FNCA 2022 Study Panel

March 9, 2022

Japan （online）

For more details, please refer to the following FNCA website.
https://www.fnca.mext.go.jp/english/index.html

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Forum for Nuclear Cooperation in AsiaroImmobilisation of contaminated materials
different containers. From the measurement theradiation dose rate and surface activity prior toimmobilisation andsafe storage of thecontaminated material in different packages B7,
B14, B17 and B19 were found to be varied as 13.8
- 19.7 µSv/h and 12.2 - 22.8 Bq/cm2 respectively.
At 1 m distance from the contaminated material thedose rate and surface activity recorded which are in
the ranging from 4.16 - 5.78 µSv/h and 4.05 - 6.05
Bq/cm2. Presence of 137Cs radionuclide in the
packages containing ZnO was detected by using aradio isotope identification device. Furthermore,from the gamma spectral analysis by using a HPGe
detector a distinct photo peak at the energy of 661.7
keV indicates the presence of 137 Cs in the analysedsamples. The specific activity of the 137Cs in thecontaminated materials was determined by using
HPGe detector having 20% efficiency. Measured
activity of the contaminated material in different
packages shown in Table 1. Fig 2 shows thecalculated activity concentration due to 137Cs in thecontaminated materials and how the activity
concentration would change overtime. This
indicates required time frame for regulatory controlof the materials contained in the packages B7, B14
and B17, B19.
On the basis of the activity concentration of 137 Cs
containing contaminated ZnO were carefully
segregated and converted to a stable solid form
through the cementation process in order to preventthe dispersion of the contaminated materials in thesurroundings environment by maintaining anappropriate water cement ratio. The Portland
composite cement, sand and water were used toimmobilise the contaminated ZnO ashes inside a
250L Galvanized Iron (GI) cylindrical drum ofheight 36 inch and diameter of 24 inch. A rotary
mixing method applied for the mixing of the various
components thoroughly and allowed to set
uniformly.
Reduction in the surface activity and radiation dose
rate of waste packages after immobilisation of thecontaminated materials are shown in Fig 3 and Fig
4.

Bangladesh

Dr. M. Moinul Islam （Project Leader）
Chief Scientific Officer and Head
Health Physics and Radioactive Waste Management
Unit
Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC)
Introduction
In order to limit the potential dispersion of the waste
conversion of a waste into a waste form bysolidification method is widely used for radioactive
waste conditioning. Solidification reduces the voidwithin the container and provides integrity andstability of the waste package during handling,transportation, storage and disposal of theradioactive wastes.
Cement matrix has been used for many years forimmobilisation of low- and intermediate level
waste. The advantages of immobilisation ofradioactive waste by cementation are that it isreadily available, low cost, good thermal, chemicaland physical stability, good compressive strengthand provides good self-shielding [1].
The main objective of the present work to converts
raw waste containing mobile contaminants into asolid and stable form physically surround waste
component with set cement matrix enable it to be
stored safely and conveniently, significantly
reducing the potential for release of radionuclides
into the environment. The Portland composite
cement used for immobilisation of the contaminatedZinc Oxides (ZnO) ashes which were stored in two
different containers.
System of work:
Segregation of the contaminated material was
performed carefully for the measurement ofradiation dose rate and surface activity and stored in

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Fig.1. Radionuclide detection incontaminated material using radio isotope
identification device

Fig.2. Calculated specific activity of
the contaminated materials

Fig.3. Surface activity of the contaminated material before and after immobilisation

Fig 4. Dose rate measurement of the contaminated material before and after immobilisation

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Package
ID

Dose rate(µSv/h)Dose rate at 1 m
distance (µSv/h)

Surface activity(Bq/cm2)

Surface activity at 1 m
distance (Bq/cm2)

Activity ( 137Cs )concentration (Bq/kg)

B7

14.1

4.3

13.4

4.2

B14

13.8

4.2

12.2

4.05

2,45,060

B17

19.6

5.7

18.4

5.4

2,49,516

B19

19.7

5.8

22.8

6.05

1,23,643

2,53,647

Table 1. Dose rate and surface activity on the surface of the packages

Dose rate (µSv/h)After Immobilisation

Surface activity (Bq/cm2)
After Immobilisation

B7

4.2

3.6

B14

3.8

3.3

B17

5.6

4.6

B19

5.4

4.3

Package ID

Table 2. Dose rate and surface activity on the surface of the immobilised waste packages

Conclusion:

Reference:

Results show the reduction in the radiation dose rateand surface activity level of the immobilised
packages. Dose rate reduction of the immobilised
packages are approximately 70 to 72% and at lm
distance 85 to 90%.Whilst, the reduction in thesurface activity are ranging from 72 to 82% and atlm distance which was found 83 to 84%. On thebasis of the calculated activity contaminated with137
Cs contained in the packages B7, B14, B17, andB19, exempt activities of radionuclide from
regulatory regime will occur approximately after
4.7 and 4.2 half life respectively [2].
Leach resistance and compressive strength study of
the waste form are required to verify the integrity of
the waste form and it is an important consideration
for safe handling and transport of radioactive waste
prior to disposal.

[1] M.I. Ojovan, and W.E Lee, An Introduction to
Nuclear Waste Immobilisation, 2nd edition, Elsevier,(2014), 206.
[2] Bangladesh Gaette, Nuclear safety and radiation
control rules, Exempt activity concentrations andexempt activities of radionuclides, September(1997), 49.

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Short Summary of LLW disposal project and NORM
Guidelines in Japan
2. Introduction of the outline of guideline formeasures in handling Naturally Occurring
Radioactive Materials (NORM) in JapanJapan

Mr. Tatsuo Saito
Assistant Principal Engineer
Predisposal Management OfficePlanning Department
Decommissioning and Radioactive Waste
Management Head Office
Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA)

1. Disposal Concept of Radioactive Waste inJapan and Japan Atomic Energy Agency(JAEA)’s mission
JAEA’s mission is promoting the disposal project oflow level radioactive waste (LLW) generated fromthe nuclear energy research / medical and industrial
use of radio isotopes in Japan.

The FNCA 2020 Workshop on RS&RWM Project
was held online on December 14-15, and 11 FNCA
member countries participated in this workshop.

The report outlined JAEA's conceptual design ofnear surface radioactive waste disposal site. The
conceptual image of the disposal site is as follows.

As this country report of Japan, 2 topics wereintroduced:
1. Disposal Concept of Radioactive Waste in Japanand Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA)’s
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2. Introduction of the outline of guideline formeasures in handling Naturally Occurring
Radioactive Materials (NORM) in Japan

unnecessary radiation exposure when handling
natural ores, etc.
For the purpose of "reducing unnecessary exposureof workers at manufacturing sites" and "reducing
unnecessary exposure of public, Japan has two
guidelines for NORM.

In a new phase, which starts in FY2021 (FY2021FY2023), our RS&RWM Project decided newtheme of activities that are aimed at making a reporton NORM and Technologically Enhanced
Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials(TENORM).

The first is for NORM categorization with its
containing minerals or generic streams, into 8 groups
to lead to each guideline dose (1mSv/y or 10μSv/y)for action/exemption.

In Japan, raw materials (Monazite, titanium ore,
phosphate ore, etc.) and products (Titan oxide,
Phosphate fertilizer, refractory bricks), eachcontaining U or Th, are prevailing and used in large
amount. In addition, products manufactured basedon natural ores containing radioactive substances
are used by many people as general consumer
goods.

The second guideline is for ensuring safety of
NORM with preparing measures by screening withflow chart of guideline radioactivity (1 or 10 Bq/g)
to the targeted manufactures and consumer goods for
exposure reduction.
The figure below is a screening flowchart of NORM
containing products according to the guidelines. The
management of public exposure by NORM in Japanis currently carried out using these guidelines.

As a result, public are exposed to radiation fromsources other than natural radiation in their daily
lives.
Measures are needed to reduce health risks due to

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FNCA Consolidated Report on Low Level Radioactive
Waste Repository
promoted a favorable development of nuclear
safety culture between the participating countries.
As a pioneering project, the results of these
activities were compiled in March 2003 in the
FNCA RWM Consolidated Report (FNCA
RWM-R001): “The Consolidated Report on
Radioactive Waste Management in FNCACountries”.
Then, in March 2007, the revised version was
published as FNCA RWM-R004. Since then,nearly 20 years have passed, and the progresshas been made in the actual site of low-level
radioactive waste (LLW) disposal repositories in
FNCA countries. In consideration of this, theadditional following-up investigations on the LLW
disposal repositories were necessary.
A comprehensive study was conducted on thecurrent situation of FNCA countries regarding thesiting, public acceptance, planning, safety analysis
and construction of LLW disposal repositories, intaking into account of actual surrounding
situations of each participating country. The study
results are summarized in this integrated report.

Japan

Toshiso Kosako （Project Leader）
Professor Emeritus, The University of Tokyo

Project team of RS&RWM in FNCA has been
prepared the project summary reports. We would
like to introduce the newest report. The title is;“FNCA Consolidated Report on Low Level
Radioactive Waste Repository”
The full text can be obtained from the following
website;https://www.fnca.mext.go.jp/english/rwm/e_proje
ctreview.html
Here, we would like to show the overview of thisreport.
-----Outline----The FNCA Radioactive Waste Management
Project started in 1995 with the aim of
improving the safety of radioactive waste
management in the Asian region. Since then, theFNCA member countries have been conducting
the activities to exchange and share
information/experience gained from radioactive
waste management among FNCA member
countries. It goes without saying that enhancing
radioactive waste management activity ensuresand improves the nuclear safety in Asia. With
the considerations of growing-up use ofradiation and nuclear science/technology in Asian
countries, the promoting exchange of knowledge
and experience related to radioactive waste
management will lead to more effective
international cooperation.
The workshop activities on radioactive waste
management, which has long been implemented
between FNCA member countries, has been

Prof. Toshiso Kosako explaining the contentsof the Consolidated Report on LLRWR(2019 RS&RWM workshop, Vietnam)

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The structure of this report is divided into twoparts, one for general matters and for specificmatters according to each country report. We are
expecting a useful application of this reportamong the people concerned. Regarding theformulation of the report, we received various
assistance from the persons. We appreciate muchthese related persons.

✧✧FNCA Consolidated Report on Low Level Radioactive
Waste Repository✧✧< CONTENTS >PREFACE
Framework of Regional Cooperation under FNCA
〇 AUSTRALIAPart I. General Outline of LLW Repository
Part II. Specific Site Safety Assessment of LLW Repository〇 BANGLADESH
Part I. & Part II.
〇 CHINA
Part I. & Part II.
〇 INDONESIA
Part I. & Part II.
〇 JAPAN
Part I. & Part II.
〇 KAZAKHSTANPart I. & Part II.
〇 MALAYSIA
Part I. & Part II.
〇 MONGOLIA
Part I.
〇 THE PHILIPPINES
Part I. & Part II.
〇 THAILAND
Part I. & Part II.
〇 VIETNAM
Part I.
ACTIVITIESCONTRIBUTORS

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Australia
Mr. Duncan Kemp
Manager
Waste Management Services
Australian Nuclear Science andTechnology Organisation (ANSTO)

Bangladesh

China

Malaysia
Dr. Moinul Islam
Chief Scientific Officer and Head
Health Physics & Radioactive Waste
Management Unit, Atomic Energy
Research Establishment (AERE)
Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission(BAEC)FNCA member
countries

TBD

Mongolia

Dr. Zhang Jintao
Deputy Director General
Department of Safety, Protection andQuality
China National Nuclear Corporation(CNNC)

Ms. Oyuntulkhuur Navaangalsan
Head
Radiation Safety Council
Nuclear Energy Commission

Philippines

Indonesia

Ms. Kristine Romallosa
Head of Radiation Protection Services
Section
Nuclear Services Division
Philippine Nuclear Research Institute(PNRI)

Mr. Heru Umbara
Director of the Center for Research
and Technology of Radioactive Waste
National Research and Innovation
Agency (BRIN)

ThailandJapan

Dr. Klitsadee Yubonmhat
Nuclear Scientist
Radioactive Waste Management Section
Radioactive Waste Management Center
Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology(TINT)

Prof. Toshiso Kosako
Professor Emeritus
The University of Tokyo

Vietnam

Kazakhstan
Mr. Vyacheslav Gnyrya
Deputy Director for Tests
Institute of Atomic Energy of the
National Nuclear Center of the
Republic of Kazakhstan (IAE NNC RK)

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Thi Mai Huong
Deputy Director
Nuclear Training Center - Vietnam
Atomic Energy Institute10