title: Radiation dose aspects in the handling of emerging nuclear fuels.
abstract: The occupational annual dose levels, encountered at fabrication of emerging nuclear fuels, have been studied. Emerging fuels for the single and multiple recycling of Pu and MA have resulted in considerably higher gamma and neutron doses in comparison with commercial fuels. The occupational dose limit is exceeded at fabrication by a single fuel rod in all fuel cases with (241)Am and Cm isotopes present in their composition. In the absence of these isotopes, 2-4 adjacent fuel rods are sufficient to exceed the limit. Self-shielding within the fuel reduces significantly only the gamma dose that would have been delivered otherwise. Hence, only the first row of fuel rods in an assembly contributes to the dose, whereas in the case of neutrons, all fuel rods contribute.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Nuclear Technology, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, School of Engineering, Demokritus University of Thrace, Xanthi 67100, Greece nicolaou@ee.duth.gr.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nicolaou
mesh_terms: D008671:Actinoid Series Elements / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D009688:Nuclear Reactors; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011005:Plutonium / Q000009:adverse effects; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011850:Radioactive Waste / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011874:Radiometry
chemical_list: D008671:Actinoid Series Elements; D011850:Radioactive Waste; D011005:Plutonium