Evaluation of the consequences of LWR spent fuel and plutonium shipping package loss at sea

In ocean shipment of radioactive materials it is conceivable that accidents could occur which would result in loss of the materials into the sea. The effects of two postulated loss situations for typical shipping packages for LWR spent fuel or plutonium dioxide are analysed. These concern loss to the sea of an undamaged package and that of a fire-damaged package. The shipping package for LWR spent fuel is assumed to be a large 100-t mechanically cooled cask. The plutonium dioxide package is a 57-litre specification 6M container with a standard 2R inner containment vessel. In each loss situation the effects are dependent on the ocean depth where the loss occurs. Two ocean locations are considered, the continental shelf (200-m depth) and the deep ocean. The total population dose to man via the marine food chain is calculated. The annual dose to man is determined as a function of the amount released and the productivity of the ocean at the location of the release. Productivity is defined as amount of seafood taken per unit volume sea. (author)