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Burdening Port Hope:

Material releases, human exposure and biological
effects remain unclear and unmeasured


                Port Hope
                October 10, 2006

                Tedd Weyman
                Deputy Director
                Uranium Medical Research Centre




      U ranium M ed ical Research C entre
John Goffman, Head Biomedical Research Division
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Lead AEC radiation health research – Manhattan Project

The uniquely violent and concentrated energy-transfers, resulting
from xrays (and other types of ionizing radiation), are simply absent
in a cell's natural biochemistry. As a result of these "grenades" and
"small bombs," both strands of opposing DNA can experience a level
of mayhem far exceeding the damage which metabolic free-radicals
(and most other chemical species) generally inflict upon a
comparable segment of the DNA double helix.




                  Dr Kleihues, Director, IARC
                  International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)

                  The global burden of cancer is on the increase. Ten million people
                  developed a malignant tumour in 2000. … , the number of new
                  cases will rise by half by 2020 – to 15 million new cancer cases
                  per year. For every person with cancer, there are families and
                  friends who also must cope with the threat and fear of the
                  disease.
                                                                                 2
Photo of uranium annihilating a DNA molecule




                  Northern Arizona University, Diane Stearns 2005   3
CNSC’s licensed Cameco products


• 2,800 tonnes/yr of uranium as UO2
• 12,5000 tonnes/yr uranium at UF6
• 2,000 tonnes/yr DU (depleted uranium) and uranium metals
  and alloys
• 1,000 tonnes/yr UO2 and 1,000 tonnes/ADU (ammonium
  diuranate) waste recovery
• Increase to 45 tU/day in 2003
• Licensed waste
   – Uranium discharge to atmosphere.
   – Uranium discharge to water courses
   – Several million cubic meters of waste licensed separately from
     current operations and not factored into “operating release
     limits” (i.e. public dose).


                                                                      4
Cameco’s uranium emissions and sources


•    Uranium-loaded, airborne powders, particulates, dusts, smoke and
     gases. U is presented in both pure and compound forms.
          •   UO2 main plant stack air emissions
          •   North UO2 stack emissions
          •   UF6 main stack emissions
          •   E-UF6 plant (not in operation)

•    Direct gamma radiation from all of the above and …
          • Centre pier (uranium storage; DUO2/Ti; military uranium; magnox)
          • Dorset St east warehouse
          • Recycling operation

•    Incinerator – no quantity of discharged uranium reported

•    Uranium emissions to free flowing water courses - plant discharge
     direct to Lake Ontario, to municipal sewage treatment, to storm
     sewer. The quantities are unreported.
          • 2001, DRL was 1018.85 Kg/yr (1 metric tonne of uranium)
          • Actuals were reported to range between 2 Kg/y to 5 Kg/y.

                                                                               5
Emissions and sources

•   Neutron radiation from U238, uranium materials’
    stockpiles, containers; from depleted uranium, enriched
    uranium, UF6, uranium powder mixed with dysprosium
    and beryllium.

•   2282 t of UO2 rich NH4NO3 – ammonium nitrate fertilizer
    -10 mg/L (10 PPM) and 370 Bq/L (U and Ra).

•   Soil and surface “shine” (i.e. fallout) (depositions of the low-
    mobility, insoluble industrial-commercial, anthropogenic
    uranium).

•   34 t/mo UF6 slurry, shipped to Utah for recovery of
    uranium.

•   Floods, storms, snow melt wash uranium-rich fall-out and
    dust out of facilities into streets and sewers.

•   UF6 cylinder leaks
                                                                       6
Ionizing radiation




Alpha, beta, gamma and neutron radiations are continuously
delivered into Port Hope’s breathing and living space, directly
from Cameco’s facilities and as products of the nuclear waste
discharged into the community’s air, soils and water.


Artificial radiation emitters are permanently incorporated into
all our bodies in Port Hope; and, are continuously reinforced by
the arrival of fresh radiogenic materials, hourly.




 Tasteless, colorless and odourless …
                                                                   7
… but nonetheless deadly to cells and genetic materials




                                                          8
Ionizing radiation's character: Linear Energy Transfer



                                           Elementary particle
                                           tracks exemplifying
                                           ionizations by
                                           charged particles




 Electron –
 positron tracks
 (pair formation)


                                                                 9
Alpha are dense and heavy high energy particles –
each track consists of 10’s of thousands to millions of
ionizations in less than a millimetre.




                                                          10
LET’s outcomes




  Source: LLNL
                 11
Ionizing radiation: “Q” – the relative biological effectiveness

   Type               HIGH Linear Energy Transfer Radiations                   LOW Linear Energy Transfer Radiation

  Features               α-Radiation                n-Radiation                  β-Radiation                γ-Radiation
                           Alpha                      Neutron                       Beta                      Gamma

Nature                                           Particle radiation                                   EM radiation – no mass

Composition     He (helium) nuclei        Free nuclei of an atom            Unbound electrons – “e”   Photon (light packets)
Charge          Positive (+2)             No charge (0)                     Negative (-1)             Pure energy, neutral (0)

Mass            6.64 X10e-24 g            1.68X10e-24 g                     9.11X10e-28g              0
                4.003 amu                 1.0087 amu                        0.00055 amu
Energy eV       4 - 8 MeV                 2keV – 20MeV                      Several keV to 5 MeV      0.5 MeV – >5 MeV

Relative size   7,352 X’s larger than e   1,838 X’s larger than “e”         10e-16 cm                 No mass

Bio-damage
efficiency
                4K -9K ion pairs/um       A few K to Millions of            6-8 ion pairs/um tissue   Indirectly ionizing
Ionization      tissue                    ions/um tissue.
Penetration                               Induces radiation in targets.     4 meters in air           Kilometres in air.
Attenuation     10 cm in air                                                Few mm in tissue          Meters in tissues.
Dose            60 um in tissue           Free “n” life – 12 – 15 minutes

                Dose Q – 20               Dose Q:                           Dose Q: 1                 Dose Q - 1
                                          •CNSC: 3 – 20
                Most efficient, most      •LANL: 3 – 300
                damage.
Velocity, c     1/20 c (0e7 m/s)          Thermal n - 2.2 Km/s              0.9 C                     C - 1.0
                                                                                                                            12
Relative biological damage:
Linear Energy Transfer (LET) effects

 Low LET radiations                    High LET radiations




  Electron tracks

                                             Alpha tracks




Gamma effects
                                           Neutron effects   13
The wide, open space of atoms and molecules and their
size relative to ionizing radiation (particles and photons)




                                                              14
DNA coil @ 10 e-8 (marked with square) in double –helix




                                   DNA 10 e-9             15
Scale and comparative effects of high vs. low LET
ionizing radiation

                              Gamma, X-Rays &
                              Beta particles– Low
                                     LET




                            Alpha particles and
                            neutrons – High LET




                                                    16
Neutron (“n” )emissions

Origin of artificial neutrons:
• (a, n) reactions occur when alpha emitters are mixed with light elements:
   uranium-fluorine, uranium-beryllium, uranium-dysprosium, uranium-
   magnesium.
• SF – spontaneous fission – uranium has high SF factor

Ingredients of nuclear fuels and critical mass generators use the physics of the
    (a, n) reactions to start up a reactor and drive it towards criticality.
In nuclear fission and fusion bombs, Californium and Polonium are high-volume
    alpha emitters that when mixed with DU (238U) and H3 (tritium), generate
    an instant, dense flux (energetic field) of neutrons.

One (1) 48W or 48X canister contains 13 tonnes of pure separated
                                UF6,
   (a, n) + SF result in 569,000 neutrons per second/canister



Does not include the 50 – 100 kilo’s of “heels” of uranium daughter products in-
   growth (thorium protactinium, etc) or possible transuranics from canisters
   used by uranium enrichment facilities.
                                                                              17
UF6 cylinder emissions




One (1) 48W or 48X canister
contains 13 tonnes of “pure
separated UF6”; its (a, n) + SF
reactions result in the production
of 569,000 neutrons per
second/canister …
                                     18
Residual contaminants in UF6 canisters

Statement of Work: Cylinder Management
DUF6 Conversion
John Shepard
Source Evaluation Board
US DOE
Dec 2000



• Heels mass ranged from 216 - 1399 pounds of uranium
  progeny – beta and gamma emitters; and,
• Transuranics (if cylinders are interchanged with
  enrichment plants (i.e. Paducha cylinders)

                                                        19
Ionizing radiation



   – NIOSH CARCINOGEN LIST
   – Center for Disease Control, USA http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npotocca.html#uz

                 » Uranium, insoluble compounds
                 » Uranium, soluble compounds



              International Agency for Research on Cancer

              PRESS RELEASE N° 168           20 April 2006
   WHO



             Group 1: Carcinogenic to humans
             Radionuclides, a-particle-emitting, internally deposited (Vol.
             78; 2001)
             Radionuclides, b-particle-emitting, internally deposited (Vol.
             78; 2001)
                                                                                 20
Neutrons (neutral particles) collide with nuclei of atoms and
initiate a series of massive, indirect effects
Neutrons are penetrating like gamma but many times larger




                                                                21
Uranium discharged by monitored stacks
Cameco Port Hope Conversion Facility

UF6 and UO2 stack releases are combined – Uranium mass only, no other metals

2000 – 2001                   2001 study to set 2001 Future      2002 – 2005
Licensing period              PHCF ORL’s        release targets  Licensing Period
average                       (Operating        provided to CNSC average
                              Release Limits)


Actuals reported              Consultants’        Predicted for                 Actual emissions
to CNSC                       measurements,       “future period” –             for period avg./yr
                              empirical study for basis for current
                              DRL’s               licence approval


    6.16 gU/hr                     15.17 gU/hr                    29.9 gU/hr      14.22 gU/hr

   54.O KgU/yr                     133 KgU/yr                    262.1 KgU/yr     122.5 KgU/Yr



*Fugitive emissions and unmonitored release point not included
gU/hr - Grams of uranium per hour released into atmosphere
KgU/yr - Kilograms of uranium per year released                                                  22
Stack discharge rates and volumes compared by licensing periods



        Reported releases                          Reported releases
           2000 – 2001                               2002 – 2005
 Previous Licensing Period average         Current Licensing Period average
                                                (4 years data available)



            6.16 gU/hr                              14.0 gU/hr

          54.O KgU/yr                            122.72 KgU/Yr


Reported emissions have increased              ~ 2.3 X’s (230%) over
the previous licensing period.
  gU/hr – Grams of uranium per hour
  KgU/yr – Kilograms of uranium per year
                                                                              23
Extremely shocking:
CNSC permitted maximum stack discharge limits



        1996 – 2011              Reported           Reported
Licensed Limits for Uranium     2000 – 2001        2002 – 2005
                              Licensing Period   Licensing Period
Set by the Canadian Nuclear       average            average
     Safety Commission


     440.00 gU/hr              6.16 gU/hr        14.22 gU/hr

  3,850.04 tonnes of          54.O KgU/yr        124.7 KgU/Yr
   uranium per year




                                                                    24
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health
NTIS Publication No. PB-94-195047


 Insoluble Uranium - Revised IDLH: 10 mg (milligrams) U/m3

 Basis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for insoluble uranium compounds
 is 10 mg U/m3 based on sub-chronic inhalation toxicity data in animals [ILO
 1972] and to be consistent with soluble uranium compounds which have a
 revised IDLH of 10 mg U/m3. [Note: NIOSH recommends as part of its
 carcinogen policy that the "most protective" respirators be worn for insoluble
 uranium compounds at concentrations above 0.2 mg/m3.]

Soluble Uranium - Revised IDLH: 10 mg (milligrams) U/m3

Basis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for soluble uranium compounds is
10 mg U/m3 based on chronic toxicity data in animals [Wilson et al. 1953]. [Note:
NIOSH recommends as part of its carcinogen policy that the "most protective"
respirators be worn for soluble uranium compounds at concentrations above
0.05 mg U/m3.]
                                                                                  25
Air concentrations of uranium (suspended particulate)


•Cameco monitoring stations avg.
              2000 – 2001                     0.004 ugU/m3
              2002 – 2005                     0.087 ugU/m3

•North America background
                                              0.0000625 ugU/m3

•NIOSH IDLH 10mg U/m3 -                 10,000.00 ugU/m3

•At the stack mouths (est.)
  IDLH at 3 seconds UF6                   3,940.00 ugU/m3/s (est.)
  IDHL at 15 seconds UO2                    770.00 ugU/m3/s (est.)

•CNSC permissible levels               122,000.00 ugU/m3/s (est.)
       440 gmU/hr

           CNSC regulatory limits exceed levels classed as
             Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health
                                                                 26
Uranium in Port Hope soils

  Uranium in soil           Levels

1. Ontario mean       2 mgU/Kg – 2 PPM     CCEM proposes in 2006

2. Port Hope range   0.6 mgU/Kg –          Agri Land 23 PPM
                     258 mgU/Kg            Res, Parks 23 PPM
                                           Commercial 33 PPM
3. Port Hope mean    13.9 mgU/Kg           Industrial 300 PPM

4. MOE for PH        33 mgU/Kg or
                     33 PPM – 97.5%        Abundances of uranium in
                                           ore at world’s largest
                                           uranium mine, Langer
13. Unregulated      10 PPM UO2 as         Heinrich Uranium Project,
    dispersal        Fertilizer            Namibia:
                                                300 PPM uranium
15. Cameco           0.1 ppm – 59 ppm
    2005/06
                     Avg. 8 PPM                                   27
Accumulations of “ground shine”


 MOE's study of uranium levels in soils –
  showed annual increases:

 From 0.85 ppm to 1.78 ppm in 1997

 From 1.78 ppm to 3.93 ppm in 1998.

 MOE found uranium concentrations up to 135
  ppm in 1986.

 MOE for PH is recommending establishing a
  baseline of 33 mgU/Kg or 33 PPM – 97.5%


                                              28
Uranium in air

No legal standard for U in air
Ontario MOE proposes: 0.48 ugU/m3



1. North America norm     0.000025 – 0.0001 ugU/     Cameco Reports in
    NCRP 1999                 m3                        Licensing
                                                        document
2. Mean - Ontario         0.0001 ugU/m3

3. Health Canada          0.002 - 0.004 ugU/m3     28 fold increase in upper
    Cameco 2002                                       release levels
                                                             (2800%)
4. 2 Km from Cameco,      0.00006 - 0.076 ugU/m3
(Ahier and Tracy, 1997)

5. Cameco 1996 – 2001     0.002 – 0.006 ugU/m3
     avg.

6. 2001 – 2006 avg.       0.002 - 0.172 ugU/m3



                                                                        29
Is there a point (place and time) of IDLH in Port Hope?


IDLH for Uranium (NIOSH) – 10 micrograms mgU/m3

  Stack discharge           2001                    2005

  UF6                   2.843 mgU/s              2.94 mgU/s
  UO2                   0.279 mgU/s              0.77 mgU/s

If standing at the stacks’ lips, it would take <5 seconds for UF6 and
    about 15 seconds for UO2 to release a uranium concentration
    equivalent to the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and
    Health’s emission exposure level classed as:

              Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health


                                                                          30
Port Hope’s burden (1)

 1. There are instruments monitoring site-derived gamma radiation but there is
    no monitoring of (1) residents exposure to airborne uranium or (2) the
    pathways of airborne uranium and its deposition patterns.

 2 No program of measurement has been undertaken to determine the uptake,
   retention and fate of inhaled uranium by a Port Hope resident (non nuclear
   workers).

 •   Cameco’s dose estimate method, developed by SENES Consulting, and
     approved/used by CNSC (i.e. to report to the UN, the IEAE, NEA, etc) does
     not make reference to a radiological dose estimate for (1) internally deposited
     radionuclides or (2) accumulating internal burden of uranium (only a
     chemical dose).

 4. The continuous accumulation of bioavailable uranium compounds deposited
    to PH soils, building surfaces, playgrounds, sidewalks, roads & building
    sites is not acknowledged as a chronic contributor to pubic dose.

 5. Insoluble uranium’s biological burden to individuals, based on the
    concentrations of uranium at the levels reported in PH & by the CCEM imply
    an annual net accumulation in PH residents bodies.
                                                                                 31

 .
Radon alpha ionizing the atoms of a photographic plate




                                                         32
Port Hope’s burden (2)


6. According to SENES Consulting (2001, the major contribution of gamma
    radiation in PH is (1) natural background, (2) historical contamination
    (Eldorado), and (3) historical facility contamination that cannot be attributed
    to the current operation [ yet there are references to plant emissions of 105
    uR/hr).

4. Neutron radiation is not monitored. Each 14 t UF6 canister produces over
   450,000 High LET neutrons every/second. Neutrons can “activate”
   (transform) sodium, potassium, magnesium and iron molecules in the body
   so they become radiation emitters.

6   SEU, enriched U, U/Dysprosium and 238U are important neutron emitters.
    Uranium powder mixtures that produce neutrons and gamma radiation not
    reflected in licensing reports: Beryllium/Uranium, Dysprosium/Uranium,
    Depleted Uranium/Titanium.

9. Neutrons are 3 to 20 times more damaging to human cells and genetic
   materials than gamma radiation. Alpha emissions from internalized
   uranium are 20 times more damaging to the body than gamma and beta
   radiation.


                                                                                 33
Neutrons collide with and activate nuclei




                                            34
Port Hope’s burden (3)


10.There are stored and licensed radionuclides in Port Hope facilities that are
   not mentioned in the dose models and exposure reports, including: Thorium,
   DUO2, SEU, LEU, HEU, transuranics’ heels in UF6 canisters.

11.Radon levels in Port Hope are frequently and officially attributed to “natural
   background uranium”. Port Hope’s Radon levels are unusually high and
   cannot be explained by natural background.

12.The fate of uranium discharged to Lake Ontario is not reported by Cameco or
   CNSC.

13.CNSC approved Cameco dose model and coefficients based on empirical
   studies conducted (2000) using quantities for airborne exposure to uranium
   ½ of today’s levels and 1997 population levels.

14.CNSC treats each licence holder independently without reference to the
   collective public impacts from (1) all facilities, (2) facility historic
   contamination and (3) town historic contamination. Cameco’s emissions
   (current operations) are judged to be 16% of PH’s radiation dose.



                                                                                35
Port Hope’s Burden (4)

15. Dose is recalculated from zero-point annually. Limits to emissions are
   derived from dividing the radioactivity from Cameco by the PH population.
   The more residents, the lower the dose. Amalgamation and housing
   developments have significantly reduced dose. That’s how there can be a
   reported 5 year decline in public dose levels (when emissions are up).

16. Not all uranium emission sources are accounted for in the models and
   reports. Only 3 “major stack samples” out of over several dozen release
   points are reported.

17. CNSC and Cameco documents report air releases of uranium have reduced
     by almost 25% during the licensing period – a review of the numbers shows
    a 28-fold increase in the range of releases of airborne uranium and a three
   fold increase in the mass of releases of airborne uranium (yet Cameco reports
   a 74% reduction in public dose).

18. Port Hope is at risk from a regulatory change in permissible limits to
   uranium in soil. The proposal it to revise PH’s background to 33PPM and
   allow Cameco and other industrial property to have 300 PPM – a level of
   uranium equivalent to viable uranium ore bodies.

19. Vision 2010 is potentially a point of significant increase in airborne uranium
   (and progeny) and local gamma levels.
                                                                                36
Annihilation of matter by a directed energy weapon’s experiment
                                                                  37
Bio-kinetics of Uranium
•   Type of U
•   Bio-clearance
•   Half-life
•   Solubility
•   Particle features
•   Dose effect
•   Radiation emissions, exposure, effect, dose
•   Chemistry
•   Detecting and measuring urine
•   Bio background
•   Gulf War
•   Afghanistan
•   Non-exposed populations
•   Nuclear workers

                                                  38
“Characterizing” the contaminant




                                   39
“Physico-chemical” form of the contaminant

Dose depends on (1) amount of energy transferred (intensity) and (2) the length
   of time cells are exposed to the radiation.

Inhaled, absorbed and ingested uranium and uranium-rich compounds are the
   most dangerous forms of exposure

The “dose” of internally deposited radionuclides depends on:

The metabolic path the contaminant follows in the body

Each nuclide and form by which it is presented to the body has determinable
   chemical and physical characteristics.

The biological half-life is the point at which one-half of the mass of the
   radionuclide material remains inside the body.

Bio-half-life and metabolic route are first determined by “solubility”.

Physical and chemical properties determine the half-life.
                                                                                  40
Solubility classes
•   “ … dose from inhaled uranium dust is … complicated …, given the wide
    range of physical and chemical forms of uranium … in a multi-product site
    …”

•   Products and airborne materials

•   UO3 is converted to “high purity, ceramic-grade UO2 powder”
•   DUO4 enrichment plant tails and DU stockpiles converted to DU metal
•   UO3 is converted to UF6




                                                                                41
Classification of uranium compounds for worker inhalation

               Solubility classes, retention of inhaled nuclides
       Type                    ICRP 1994b             Cameco’s compounds
                    Soluble:
< 10 days
                    UF6 gas and liquid, UO2F2,
F (fast)
                       UO2(NO3)2, UO2Cl2,
D (days)

                    Less soluble compounds:
10 –100 days
                    UO4, UO3, UF4, UCl4,, ADU,
M (moderate)           solid UF5, solid UF4,
W (weeks)              U2O7, solid UF6, mixed
                       oxides
                    Highly insoluble compounds:

>100 days           High-fired compounds UO2,
                       U3O8., U hydrides and U
S (slow)
Y (years)              carbides
                                                                           42
                    Sub-class Q
Particulate physical characteristics


Aerodynamics (transport in air, rate of decent)
Respirable; inhalable
Solubility

Diameter
Symmetry
Sorption
Density
Solubility




                                                  43
Physical and chemical features
  of UF6 and DUF6

Gaseous and liquid UF6 are soluble.
UF6 from the facility is considered “separated”.
Fresh UF6 immediately begins to decay to Th and Pa.
UF6 exposed to water converts to UO2F2 (uranyl fluoride)
UF6 in lungs, half-time <20 minutes.

10 mg UO@F2/kg body wt produces renal injury.

Alpha radiation bombardment “disassociates” UF6 and
creates UF5 – a powder form of uranium fluoride.

UF6 gas desublimes to solid at 134 F. UF6 solid and UF5 are slowly soluble.

Layers form on surface of the solid UF6 act as diffusion barrier that limits access of
water.

UF forms complexes in contact with metals. UF6 gas reacts with hydrocarbons;
forming a black residue of uranium-carbon compounds; in the liquid phase UF6 +
hydrocarbons may explode.
                                                                                   44
Sources
•   Assessment of Source Emissions from Uranium Refining and
    Conversion Facilities in Canada, CNSC Staff Report, Presented to
    NEA, Japan, CNSC, Oct 2001

•   Development of Operating Release Levels for the Cameco Uranium
    Conversion Facility at Port Hope, SENES, 2001

•   CNSC Staff Report – CMD 06-H18, Cameco Class B1 Nuclear
    Facility Licensing Renewal Report

•   Cameco and Zircatec monthly and annual regulatory reports to
    Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission




                                                                       45

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Semelhante a Burdening port hope (presentation), tedd weyman, october 2006

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Burdening port hope (presentation), tedd weyman, october 2006

  • 1. Burdening Port Hope: Material releases, human exposure and biological effects remain unclear and unmeasured Port Hope October 10, 2006 Tedd Weyman Deputy Director Uranium Medical Research Centre U ranium M ed ical Research C entre
  • 2. John Goffman, Head Biomedical Research Division Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Lead AEC radiation health research – Manhattan Project The uniquely violent and concentrated energy-transfers, resulting from xrays (and other types of ionizing radiation), are simply absent in a cell's natural biochemistry. As a result of these "grenades" and "small bombs," both strands of opposing DNA can experience a level of mayhem far exceeding the damage which metabolic free-radicals (and most other chemical species) generally inflict upon a comparable segment of the DNA double helix. Dr Kleihues, Director, IARC International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) The global burden of cancer is on the increase. Ten million people developed a malignant tumour in 2000. … , the number of new cases will rise by half by 2020 – to 15 million new cancer cases per year. For every person with cancer, there are families and friends who also must cope with the threat and fear of the disease. 2
  • 3. Photo of uranium annihilating a DNA molecule Northern Arizona University, Diane Stearns 2005 3
  • 4. CNSC’s licensed Cameco products • 2,800 tonnes/yr of uranium as UO2 • 12,5000 tonnes/yr uranium at UF6 • 2,000 tonnes/yr DU (depleted uranium) and uranium metals and alloys • 1,000 tonnes/yr UO2 and 1,000 tonnes/ADU (ammonium diuranate) waste recovery • Increase to 45 tU/day in 2003 • Licensed waste – Uranium discharge to atmosphere. – Uranium discharge to water courses – Several million cubic meters of waste licensed separately from current operations and not factored into “operating release limits” (i.e. public dose). 4
  • 5. Cameco’s uranium emissions and sources • Uranium-loaded, airborne powders, particulates, dusts, smoke and gases. U is presented in both pure and compound forms. • UO2 main plant stack air emissions • North UO2 stack emissions • UF6 main stack emissions • E-UF6 plant (not in operation) • Direct gamma radiation from all of the above and … • Centre pier (uranium storage; DUO2/Ti; military uranium; magnox) • Dorset St east warehouse • Recycling operation • Incinerator – no quantity of discharged uranium reported • Uranium emissions to free flowing water courses - plant discharge direct to Lake Ontario, to municipal sewage treatment, to storm sewer. The quantities are unreported. • 2001, DRL was 1018.85 Kg/yr (1 metric tonne of uranium) • Actuals were reported to range between 2 Kg/y to 5 Kg/y. 5
  • 6. Emissions and sources • Neutron radiation from U238, uranium materials’ stockpiles, containers; from depleted uranium, enriched uranium, UF6, uranium powder mixed with dysprosium and beryllium. • 2282 t of UO2 rich NH4NO3 – ammonium nitrate fertilizer -10 mg/L (10 PPM) and 370 Bq/L (U and Ra). • Soil and surface “shine” (i.e. fallout) (depositions of the low- mobility, insoluble industrial-commercial, anthropogenic uranium). • 34 t/mo UF6 slurry, shipped to Utah for recovery of uranium. • Floods, storms, snow melt wash uranium-rich fall-out and dust out of facilities into streets and sewers. • UF6 cylinder leaks 6
  • 7. Ionizing radiation Alpha, beta, gamma and neutron radiations are continuously delivered into Port Hope’s breathing and living space, directly from Cameco’s facilities and as products of the nuclear waste discharged into the community’s air, soils and water. Artificial radiation emitters are permanently incorporated into all our bodies in Port Hope; and, are continuously reinforced by the arrival of fresh radiogenic materials, hourly. Tasteless, colorless and odourless … 7
  • 8. … but nonetheless deadly to cells and genetic materials 8
  • 9. Ionizing radiation's character: Linear Energy Transfer Elementary particle tracks exemplifying ionizations by charged particles Electron – positron tracks (pair formation) 9
  • 10. Alpha are dense and heavy high energy particles – each track consists of 10’s of thousands to millions of ionizations in less than a millimetre. 10
  • 11. LET’s outcomes Source: LLNL 11
  • 12. Ionizing radiation: “Q” – the relative biological effectiveness Type HIGH Linear Energy Transfer Radiations LOW Linear Energy Transfer Radiation Features α-Radiation n-Radiation β-Radiation γ-Radiation Alpha Neutron Beta Gamma Nature Particle radiation EM radiation – no mass Composition He (helium) nuclei Free nuclei of an atom Unbound electrons – “e” Photon (light packets) Charge Positive (+2) No charge (0) Negative (-1) Pure energy, neutral (0) Mass 6.64 X10e-24 g 1.68X10e-24 g 9.11X10e-28g 0 4.003 amu 1.0087 amu 0.00055 amu Energy eV 4 - 8 MeV 2keV – 20MeV Several keV to 5 MeV 0.5 MeV – >5 MeV Relative size 7,352 X’s larger than e 1,838 X’s larger than “e” 10e-16 cm No mass Bio-damage efficiency 4K -9K ion pairs/um A few K to Millions of 6-8 ion pairs/um tissue Indirectly ionizing Ionization tissue ions/um tissue. Penetration Induces radiation in targets. 4 meters in air Kilometres in air. Attenuation 10 cm in air Few mm in tissue Meters in tissues. Dose 60 um in tissue Free “n” life – 12 – 15 minutes Dose Q – 20 Dose Q: Dose Q: 1 Dose Q - 1 •CNSC: 3 – 20 Most efficient, most •LANL: 3 – 300 damage. Velocity, c 1/20 c (0e7 m/s) Thermal n - 2.2 Km/s 0.9 C C - 1.0 12
  • 13. Relative biological damage: Linear Energy Transfer (LET) effects Low LET radiations High LET radiations Electron tracks Alpha tracks Gamma effects Neutron effects 13
  • 14. The wide, open space of atoms and molecules and their size relative to ionizing radiation (particles and photons) 14
  • 15. DNA coil @ 10 e-8 (marked with square) in double –helix DNA 10 e-9 15
  • 16. Scale and comparative effects of high vs. low LET ionizing radiation Gamma, X-Rays & Beta particles– Low LET Alpha particles and neutrons – High LET 16
  • 17. Neutron (“n” )emissions Origin of artificial neutrons: • (a, n) reactions occur when alpha emitters are mixed with light elements: uranium-fluorine, uranium-beryllium, uranium-dysprosium, uranium- magnesium. • SF – spontaneous fission – uranium has high SF factor Ingredients of nuclear fuels and critical mass generators use the physics of the (a, n) reactions to start up a reactor and drive it towards criticality. In nuclear fission and fusion bombs, Californium and Polonium are high-volume alpha emitters that when mixed with DU (238U) and H3 (tritium), generate an instant, dense flux (energetic field) of neutrons. One (1) 48W or 48X canister contains 13 tonnes of pure separated UF6, (a, n) + SF result in 569,000 neutrons per second/canister Does not include the 50 – 100 kilo’s of “heels” of uranium daughter products in- growth (thorium protactinium, etc) or possible transuranics from canisters used by uranium enrichment facilities. 17
  • 18. UF6 cylinder emissions One (1) 48W or 48X canister contains 13 tonnes of “pure separated UF6”; its (a, n) + SF reactions result in the production of 569,000 neutrons per second/canister … 18
  • 19. Residual contaminants in UF6 canisters Statement of Work: Cylinder Management DUF6 Conversion John Shepard Source Evaluation Board US DOE Dec 2000 • Heels mass ranged from 216 - 1399 pounds of uranium progeny – beta and gamma emitters; and, • Transuranics (if cylinders are interchanged with enrichment plants (i.e. Paducha cylinders) 19
  • 20. Ionizing radiation – NIOSH CARCINOGEN LIST – Center for Disease Control, USA http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npotocca.html#uz » Uranium, insoluble compounds » Uranium, soluble compounds International Agency for Research on Cancer PRESS RELEASE N° 168 20 April 2006 WHO Group 1: Carcinogenic to humans Radionuclides, a-particle-emitting, internally deposited (Vol. 78; 2001) Radionuclides, b-particle-emitting, internally deposited (Vol. 78; 2001) 20
  • 21. Neutrons (neutral particles) collide with nuclei of atoms and initiate a series of massive, indirect effects Neutrons are penetrating like gamma but many times larger 21
  • 22. Uranium discharged by monitored stacks Cameco Port Hope Conversion Facility UF6 and UO2 stack releases are combined – Uranium mass only, no other metals 2000 – 2001 2001 study to set 2001 Future 2002 – 2005 Licensing period PHCF ORL’s release targets Licensing Period average (Operating provided to CNSC average Release Limits) Actuals reported Consultants’ Predicted for Actual emissions to CNSC measurements, “future period” – for period avg./yr empirical study for basis for current DRL’s licence approval 6.16 gU/hr 15.17 gU/hr 29.9 gU/hr 14.22 gU/hr 54.O KgU/yr 133 KgU/yr 262.1 KgU/yr 122.5 KgU/Yr *Fugitive emissions and unmonitored release point not included gU/hr - Grams of uranium per hour released into atmosphere KgU/yr - Kilograms of uranium per year released 22
  • 23. Stack discharge rates and volumes compared by licensing periods Reported releases Reported releases 2000 – 2001 2002 – 2005 Previous Licensing Period average Current Licensing Period average (4 years data available) 6.16 gU/hr 14.0 gU/hr 54.O KgU/yr 122.72 KgU/Yr Reported emissions have increased ~ 2.3 X’s (230%) over the previous licensing period. gU/hr – Grams of uranium per hour KgU/yr – Kilograms of uranium per year 23
  • 24. Extremely shocking: CNSC permitted maximum stack discharge limits 1996 – 2011 Reported Reported Licensed Limits for Uranium 2000 – 2001 2002 – 2005 Licensing Period Licensing Period Set by the Canadian Nuclear average average Safety Commission 440.00 gU/hr 6.16 gU/hr 14.22 gU/hr 3,850.04 tonnes of 54.O KgU/yr 124.7 KgU/Yr uranium per year 24
  • 25. Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health NTIS Publication No. PB-94-195047 Insoluble Uranium - Revised IDLH: 10 mg (milligrams) U/m3 Basis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for insoluble uranium compounds is 10 mg U/m3 based on sub-chronic inhalation toxicity data in animals [ILO 1972] and to be consistent with soluble uranium compounds which have a revised IDLH of 10 mg U/m3. [Note: NIOSH recommends as part of its carcinogen policy that the "most protective" respirators be worn for insoluble uranium compounds at concentrations above 0.2 mg/m3.] Soluble Uranium - Revised IDLH: 10 mg (milligrams) U/m3 Basis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for soluble uranium compounds is 10 mg U/m3 based on chronic toxicity data in animals [Wilson et al. 1953]. [Note: NIOSH recommends as part of its carcinogen policy that the "most protective" respirators be worn for soluble uranium compounds at concentrations above 0.05 mg U/m3.] 25
  • 26. Air concentrations of uranium (suspended particulate) •Cameco monitoring stations avg. 2000 – 2001 0.004 ugU/m3 2002 – 2005 0.087 ugU/m3 •North America background 0.0000625 ugU/m3 •NIOSH IDLH 10mg U/m3 - 10,000.00 ugU/m3 •At the stack mouths (est.) IDLH at 3 seconds UF6 3,940.00 ugU/m3/s (est.) IDHL at 15 seconds UO2 770.00 ugU/m3/s (est.) •CNSC permissible levels 122,000.00 ugU/m3/s (est.) 440 gmU/hr CNSC regulatory limits exceed levels classed as Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health 26
  • 27. Uranium in Port Hope soils Uranium in soil Levels 1. Ontario mean 2 mgU/Kg – 2 PPM CCEM proposes in 2006 2. Port Hope range 0.6 mgU/Kg – Agri Land 23 PPM 258 mgU/Kg Res, Parks 23 PPM Commercial 33 PPM 3. Port Hope mean 13.9 mgU/Kg Industrial 300 PPM 4. MOE for PH 33 mgU/Kg or 33 PPM – 97.5% Abundances of uranium in ore at world’s largest uranium mine, Langer 13. Unregulated 10 PPM UO2 as Heinrich Uranium Project, dispersal Fertilizer Namibia: 300 PPM uranium 15. Cameco 0.1 ppm – 59 ppm 2005/06 Avg. 8 PPM 27
  • 28. Accumulations of “ground shine” MOE's study of uranium levels in soils – showed annual increases: From 0.85 ppm to 1.78 ppm in 1997 From 1.78 ppm to 3.93 ppm in 1998. MOE found uranium concentrations up to 135 ppm in 1986. MOE for PH is recommending establishing a baseline of 33 mgU/Kg or 33 PPM – 97.5% 28
  • 29. Uranium in air No legal standard for U in air Ontario MOE proposes: 0.48 ugU/m3 1. North America norm 0.000025 – 0.0001 ugU/ Cameco Reports in NCRP 1999 m3 Licensing document 2. Mean - Ontario 0.0001 ugU/m3 3. Health Canada 0.002 - 0.004 ugU/m3 28 fold increase in upper Cameco 2002 release levels (2800%) 4. 2 Km from Cameco, 0.00006 - 0.076 ugU/m3 (Ahier and Tracy, 1997) 5. Cameco 1996 – 2001 0.002 – 0.006 ugU/m3 avg. 6. 2001 – 2006 avg. 0.002 - 0.172 ugU/m3 29
  • 30. Is there a point (place and time) of IDLH in Port Hope? IDLH for Uranium (NIOSH) – 10 micrograms mgU/m3 Stack discharge 2001 2005 UF6 2.843 mgU/s 2.94 mgU/s UO2 0.279 mgU/s 0.77 mgU/s If standing at the stacks’ lips, it would take <5 seconds for UF6 and about 15 seconds for UO2 to release a uranium concentration equivalent to the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s emission exposure level classed as: Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health 30
  • 31. Port Hope’s burden (1) 1. There are instruments monitoring site-derived gamma radiation but there is no monitoring of (1) residents exposure to airborne uranium or (2) the pathways of airborne uranium and its deposition patterns. 2 No program of measurement has been undertaken to determine the uptake, retention and fate of inhaled uranium by a Port Hope resident (non nuclear workers). • Cameco’s dose estimate method, developed by SENES Consulting, and approved/used by CNSC (i.e. to report to the UN, the IEAE, NEA, etc) does not make reference to a radiological dose estimate for (1) internally deposited radionuclides or (2) accumulating internal burden of uranium (only a chemical dose). 4. The continuous accumulation of bioavailable uranium compounds deposited to PH soils, building surfaces, playgrounds, sidewalks, roads & building sites is not acknowledged as a chronic contributor to pubic dose. 5. Insoluble uranium’s biological burden to individuals, based on the concentrations of uranium at the levels reported in PH & by the CCEM imply an annual net accumulation in PH residents bodies. 31 .
  • 32. Radon alpha ionizing the atoms of a photographic plate 32
  • 33. Port Hope’s burden (2) 6. According to SENES Consulting (2001, the major contribution of gamma radiation in PH is (1) natural background, (2) historical contamination (Eldorado), and (3) historical facility contamination that cannot be attributed to the current operation [ yet there are references to plant emissions of 105 uR/hr). 4. Neutron radiation is not monitored. Each 14 t UF6 canister produces over 450,000 High LET neutrons every/second. Neutrons can “activate” (transform) sodium, potassium, magnesium and iron molecules in the body so they become radiation emitters. 6 SEU, enriched U, U/Dysprosium and 238U are important neutron emitters. Uranium powder mixtures that produce neutrons and gamma radiation not reflected in licensing reports: Beryllium/Uranium, Dysprosium/Uranium, Depleted Uranium/Titanium. 9. Neutrons are 3 to 20 times more damaging to human cells and genetic materials than gamma radiation. Alpha emissions from internalized uranium are 20 times more damaging to the body than gamma and beta radiation. 33
  • 34. Neutrons collide with and activate nuclei 34
  • 35. Port Hope’s burden (3) 10.There are stored and licensed radionuclides in Port Hope facilities that are not mentioned in the dose models and exposure reports, including: Thorium, DUO2, SEU, LEU, HEU, transuranics’ heels in UF6 canisters. 11.Radon levels in Port Hope are frequently and officially attributed to “natural background uranium”. Port Hope’s Radon levels are unusually high and cannot be explained by natural background. 12.The fate of uranium discharged to Lake Ontario is not reported by Cameco or CNSC. 13.CNSC approved Cameco dose model and coefficients based on empirical studies conducted (2000) using quantities for airborne exposure to uranium ½ of today’s levels and 1997 population levels. 14.CNSC treats each licence holder independently without reference to the collective public impacts from (1) all facilities, (2) facility historic contamination and (3) town historic contamination. Cameco’s emissions (current operations) are judged to be 16% of PH’s radiation dose. 35
  • 36. Port Hope’s Burden (4) 15. Dose is recalculated from zero-point annually. Limits to emissions are derived from dividing the radioactivity from Cameco by the PH population. The more residents, the lower the dose. Amalgamation and housing developments have significantly reduced dose. That’s how there can be a reported 5 year decline in public dose levels (when emissions are up). 16. Not all uranium emission sources are accounted for in the models and reports. Only 3 “major stack samples” out of over several dozen release points are reported. 17. CNSC and Cameco documents report air releases of uranium have reduced by almost 25% during the licensing period – a review of the numbers shows a 28-fold increase in the range of releases of airborne uranium and a three fold increase in the mass of releases of airborne uranium (yet Cameco reports a 74% reduction in public dose). 18. Port Hope is at risk from a regulatory change in permissible limits to uranium in soil. The proposal it to revise PH’s background to 33PPM and allow Cameco and other industrial property to have 300 PPM – a level of uranium equivalent to viable uranium ore bodies. 19. Vision 2010 is potentially a point of significant increase in airborne uranium (and progeny) and local gamma levels. 36
  • 37. Annihilation of matter by a directed energy weapon’s experiment 37
  • 38. Bio-kinetics of Uranium • Type of U • Bio-clearance • Half-life • Solubility • Particle features • Dose effect • Radiation emissions, exposure, effect, dose • Chemistry • Detecting and measuring urine • Bio background • Gulf War • Afghanistan • Non-exposed populations • Nuclear workers 38
  • 40. “Physico-chemical” form of the contaminant Dose depends on (1) amount of energy transferred (intensity) and (2) the length of time cells are exposed to the radiation. Inhaled, absorbed and ingested uranium and uranium-rich compounds are the most dangerous forms of exposure The “dose” of internally deposited radionuclides depends on: The metabolic path the contaminant follows in the body Each nuclide and form by which it is presented to the body has determinable chemical and physical characteristics. The biological half-life is the point at which one-half of the mass of the radionuclide material remains inside the body. Bio-half-life and metabolic route are first determined by “solubility”. Physical and chemical properties determine the half-life. 40
  • 41. Solubility classes • “ … dose from inhaled uranium dust is … complicated …, given the wide range of physical and chemical forms of uranium … in a multi-product site …” • Products and airborne materials • UO3 is converted to “high purity, ceramic-grade UO2 powder” • DUO4 enrichment plant tails and DU stockpiles converted to DU metal • UO3 is converted to UF6 41
  • 42. Classification of uranium compounds for worker inhalation Solubility classes, retention of inhaled nuclides Type ICRP 1994b Cameco’s compounds Soluble: < 10 days UF6 gas and liquid, UO2F2, F (fast) UO2(NO3)2, UO2Cl2, D (days) Less soluble compounds: 10 –100 days UO4, UO3, UF4, UCl4,, ADU, M (moderate) solid UF5, solid UF4, W (weeks) U2O7, solid UF6, mixed oxides Highly insoluble compounds: >100 days High-fired compounds UO2, U3O8., U hydrides and U S (slow) Y (years) carbides 42 Sub-class Q
  • 43. Particulate physical characteristics Aerodynamics (transport in air, rate of decent) Respirable; inhalable Solubility Diameter Symmetry Sorption Density Solubility 43
  • 44. Physical and chemical features of UF6 and DUF6 Gaseous and liquid UF6 are soluble. UF6 from the facility is considered “separated”. Fresh UF6 immediately begins to decay to Th and Pa. UF6 exposed to water converts to UO2F2 (uranyl fluoride) UF6 in lungs, half-time <20 minutes. 10 mg UO@F2/kg body wt produces renal injury. Alpha radiation bombardment “disassociates” UF6 and creates UF5 – a powder form of uranium fluoride. UF6 gas desublimes to solid at 134 F. UF6 solid and UF5 are slowly soluble. Layers form on surface of the solid UF6 act as diffusion barrier that limits access of water. UF forms complexes in contact with metals. UF6 gas reacts with hydrocarbons; forming a black residue of uranium-carbon compounds; in the liquid phase UF6 + hydrocarbons may explode. 44
  • 45. Sources • Assessment of Source Emissions from Uranium Refining and Conversion Facilities in Canada, CNSC Staff Report, Presented to NEA, Japan, CNSC, Oct 2001 • Development of Operating Release Levels for the Cameco Uranium Conversion Facility at Port Hope, SENES, 2001 • CNSC Staff Report – CMD 06-H18, Cameco Class B1 Nuclear Facility Licensing Renewal Report • Cameco and Zircatec monthly and annual regulatory reports to Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission 45