WASTES IN THE SEA — WALLEN 397 



independent of enviroiunental conditions, and all isotopes decay in- 

 dependently of all others. Wlien the chemical composition and quan- 

 tity of individual isotopes are known in discarded wastes, it is simple 

 to calculate the length of time necessary for the radioactivity of the 

 waste to decay to negligible levels. Likewise, if the composition and 

 chemical state of the wastes are known, it is possible to predict their 

 ultimate distribution in biological organisms, in sea water, and in 

 sediments. 



The United States approach to nuclear wastes research differs 

 from that of the British. In establishing its nuclear power plant at 

 Windscale, the British Government encouraged scientists to investigate 

 openly the specific area to be exposed to radioactive wastes. Follow- 

 ing extensive studies the nuclear plant began operations and predic- 

 tions could be checked. Such an approach was favored by the scientific 

 community and by the public to the extent that an editorial in Nature 

 magazine commended the government for its waste policy. 



By contrast the United States Government has preferred to investi- 

 gate and evaluate its waste disposal sites under a cloak of Government 

 classification of data, and no clear picture of the adequacy of such 

 studies has been made public. The result is that no broad scientific 

 endorsement has ever been given publicly to the Atomic Energy Com- 

 mission policies of waste disposal. 



DECONTAMINATION 



When nuclear devices are tested or utilized as well as when accidents 

 occur in or above harbors, estuaries, and the open ocean, large quanti- 

 ties of sea water may be radioactively contaminated. Studies of the 

 decontamination of natural sea water have had some support. Mostly 

 theoretical, the investigations have considered the use of various ma- 

 terials as decontaminating agents, including almninum, silicates, 

 activated charcoal, barium and iron salts, and potassium perman- 

 ganate. Activated silica is used successfully as an aid to coagulation in 

 municipal water-treatment processes, and this use justified a detailed 

 study by the Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory of its use in 

 decontamination of sea water. 



Although results of laboratory and field tests have not been conclu- 

 sive, it is believed that sodium orthosilicate is the best single coagulat- 

 ing decontaminant. It may absorb 90 percent or more of mixed fission 

 products released in sea water. Liquid slurries give better results 

 than dried materials. 



The radioactive decontamination of sea water is difficult because of 

 its high rate of chemical reactivity ; however, flocculation techniques 

 will carry the wastes down for a considerable distance. The efficiency 

 of the removal of mixed fission products seems to be directly propor- 

 tional to the volume of floe present. The elements which are chem- 



