Waste classification: a proposed methodology for classifying low-level radioactive waste

Since low-level radioactive waste presents both a chemical and a radiological hazard, it is desirable that management practices take this into account. This paper describes a waste classification system that could provide a basis for such management practices. The classification method formulates the hazard of waste as the ratio of potential exposure or intake to a selected limit. Potential exposure or intake incorporates four factors: (a) the nature and (b) amount of toxic materials disposed in the soil, (c) the availability of the waste to enter an environmental pathway potentially exposing humans, and (d) the decay products. The system could provide guidance on how mixed wastes should be separated for disposal, and the degree of disposal isolation each waste material or shipment needs. Examples of the system's use are provided