Radioactive Waste Management Activities in Myanmar

Although Myanmar has no nuclear facilities such as power reactors, nuclear fuel cycle facilities, research reactors, nuclear research facilities, the utilization of ionizing radiation, radioisotope and radioactive sources to some extent for health, social and economic benefits have been started since late 1950's The main sources of radioactive wastes are mainly from hospitals that use short lived radioisotopes for nuclear medicine purposes Spent seal sources which are generated from the application of radioactive sources in medical diagnosis, treatment and agricultural research were studied For short lived radionuclides, waste management may involve collection and storage of the waste for decay until they can be exempted from further regulatory control For long half lives radionuclides, waste management may include not only collection and storage, but also more complicated activities such as conditioning and disposal. (author)