Carrying the nuclear can

There is no reason to believe that the good safety record achieved in the transport of radioactive materials will not be maintained, but there is no room for complacency. More and more consignments of radioactive materials, including irradiated fuel, high level wastes and toxic substances such as plutonium, will have to be transported. Assessments presented at the Patram conference in Berlin of the individual and collective doses received by transport workers and members of the public from the transport of nuclear fuel are discussed. These doses appear to be well below those received from the natural background activity. Package design, testing and manufacture is an important aspect of the transport of spent fuel and radioactive wastes are also discussed in relation to the IAEA regulations for safe transport of radioactive materials. (U.K.)