Wastes from Reactor Program at 2000 A.D.: From the 200 
nuclear power stations, 2000 times the volume and activity produced 
in a single reactor is expected at the year 2000. The total volume 
would be of the order of a ain gallons per day with about a ton 
per day of fission products. 
Radiation Associated with Wastes: The potential hazard 
associated with nuclear reactor wastes is very real. For a concept 
of the magnitude, assume that the wastes from a single reactor, 
accumulated over 10 years, were spread uniformly over 1000 square 
miles. The ionizing radiation, at a height of 4 feet, is about 4.8 
roentgens per hour. The permissible radiation dose is but 300 milli- 
roentgens per week or 0.0075 roentgens per hour. 
If the wastes were kept in the pit, heat generated by the 
radioactivity becomes a very serious problem unless it is dissipated 
by heat exchangers or some other device. Making some liberal assump- 
tions with regard to the pit and with regard to heat losses, theoreticai 
temperature calculations indicate ranges up to 19 ,000° Gr 
Ranking of Hazardous Radioisotopes: Table 2 lists the critical 
radioisotopes, arranged in order of relative hazard. This ranking 
was determined by dividing the amount of each isotope accumulated 
over 10 years by the concentrations allowed in water and in air as 
90 
specified by Handbook 52 of the Bureau of Standards. Sr, in every 
case, is most critical. 
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