title: A biosphere assessment of high-level radioactive waste disposal in Sweden.
abstract: Licence applications to build a repository for the disposal of Swedish spent nuclear fuel have been lodged, underpinned by myriad reports and several broader reviews. This paper sketches out the technical and administrative aspects and highlights a recent review of the biosphere effects of a potential release from the repository. A comprehensive database and an understanding of major fluxes and pools of water and organic matter in the landscape let one envisage the future by looking at older parts of the site. Thus, today's biosphere is used as a natural analogue of possible future landscapes. It is concluded that the planned repository can meet the safety criteria and will have no detectable radiological impact on plants and animals. This paper also briefly describes biosphere work undertaken after the review. The multidisciplinary approach used is relevant in a much wider context and may prove beneficial across many environmental contexts.
authors.affiliation: Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co. (SKB), Box 250, Stockholm SE-101 24, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ulrik
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kautsky
authors.affiliation: Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co. (SKB), Box 250, Stockholm SE-101 24, Sweden.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lindborg
authors.affiliation: Jack Valentin Radiological Protection, Öregrundsgatan 15, Stockholm SE-115 59, Sweden jack.valentin@telia.com.
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Valentin
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D017753:Ecosystem; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods*; D011850:Radioactive Waste / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods; D013548:Sweden; D064091:Waste Disposal Facilities; D018505:Waste Management / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D011850:Radioactive Waste