The legacy of monazite processing in Brazil.
The exploitation of natural resources containing naturally occurring radionuclides may lead to enhanced levels of radioactive isotope and enhanced potential for exposure to naturally occurring radionuclides in products, by-products, residues or wastes. Such resources include, for instance, monazite, the processing of which, in Brazil, generated a great amount of radioactive residues, being stored in buried concrete tanks, in temporary storage buildings and in sealed trenches. In addition, during the 1980s there were no radiological protection rules concerning the storage and transportation of these kinds of residues. Mineral radioactive residues were used as landfills and the residues of chemical processes contaminated floors and buildings. The decommissioning process and cleaning of old plants have generated tons of wastes that has been added to previously produced wastes. This paper reports and discusses the cycle of monazite in Brazil and its consequences in terms of site remediation and amount of wastes and residues generated and stored.
da Costa Lauria
Dejanira
D
Institute of Radiation Protection and Dosimetry (IRD), Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear, Caixa Postal 37750, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Rochedo
Elaine R R
ER
D001938:Brazil; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods*; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000517:prevention & control; D008674:Metals, Rare Earth / Q000737:chemistry*; D008906:Mining; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods*; D011850:Radioactive Waste / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis
D007220:Industrial Waste; D008674:Metals, Rare Earth; D011850:Radioactive Waste; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive; C015370:monazite