Simulation of radionuclide transport and fate in surface waters in the vicinity of a past uranium processing plant

Abstract

This paper describes an application of a transport and fate model for radionuclides in surface waters. The generic approach was based on the IAEA models used for assessing the impact of discharges of radioactive substances into the environment. The case study refers to a discharge of an effluent with high radium concentration into a stream that in turn is affluent into a river. Several exposure points were considered along the minor watercourse strategically defined by the measured data. Radium concentrations were estimated for these points permitting to establish a relationship between concentrations and the distance to the discharge location. The concentration in the river sediments was also estimated for the same exposure points.