Bases for a national valuation of NORM's waste in Mexico. With a focus on a comprehensive strategy

Waste containing NORM's (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials), which may or may not be waste, are generated by different industries and processes typical of the productive activities of any country. In this paper, the situation in Mexico and the geographical distribution of the sectors are analyzed in a first stage: Coal burning, oil and gas industry, metallurgical mining and geothermal energy generation, all of them identified as generators of NORM's waste, The importance of this type of waste is discussed, which may be contained in industrial waste, which is generated annually in the country in an order of 2 million tons (not including the mining industry) of which 75% do not have control, this situation can potentially cause contamination to the soil and water and a radiological risk to the population. Likewise, the foundations of a technical assessment and its development elements are presented, to derive towards a proposal for a national management strategy, which must include the participation of different actors of society, of the political, economic, academic, scientific type. , among others, with the premise of prevention and reduction of the generation of NORM's waste, its economic recovery and adequate disposal techniques, taking into account the strengths, needs and challenges of the country.