[en] The chairman of ANSTO comments on some aspects of the organisation of nuclear research in Europe and North America. Parallels are noted with the Australian situation, as well as divergence in the commercial attitude of nuclear organisations

[en] Since the discovery of the ozone hole, the knowledge of atmospheric chemistry related to ozone depletion and chlorofluorocarbons has increased significantly. Factors that result in large losses in ozone during the Antarctic spring are present in the Arctic, although a hole has not been observed. The latest science is discussed as it pertains to the Arctic and Antarctic regions. The ozone depletion potentials (ODP) and global warming potentials (GWP) of the most likely alternatives are presented and related to their environmental acceptability. NASA, NSF, NOAA, EPA and the industry sponsored AFEAS program are coordinating efforts to provide further scientific information to more fully understand the potential environmental effects of alternatives. A progress report is given

[en] In general terms, safety demonstration of nuclear installations is carried out through an assessment of compliance with design criteria and safety requirements established in national and international codes and standards applicable to each type of installation. In addition, a safety analysis consisting of installation behavior study during its useful lifetime, shall be developed considering normal operating conditions, transients, and postulated accidents, to determine safety margins and verify the adequacy of items designed to prevent accidents or mitigate their consequences. Also, design requirements applicable to each installation item depend on its classification with respect to safety. Thus, safety classification of structures, systems, and components (SSCs) must be performed based on adequate methods and clear and consistent criteria to ensure that an overall safety level expected for the installation is achieved. It is worth emphasizing the importance of the terminology adopted and the understanding of concepts definitions used in a safety classification process. In this work, this subject is raised to demonstrate that divergent definitions and misinterpretations of concepts may result in inconsistencies in SSCs safety classification. Thus, this article presents a review of the application of 'safety-related item' and 'item important to safety' terminology, evaluating definitions and interpretations given by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (U.S.NRC) and the National Nuclear Energy Commission (CNEN) of Brazil. (author)

[en] The future of American Pacific (AmPac; Las Vegas, NV) is riding on two products that the company is not yet selling--sodium azide--the gas-generating component of automotive air bag systems--and halon alternatives. Together the two products should generate $140 million-$150 million/year in revenue. That business depends heavily on US Navy and Environmental Protection Agency assessments of halon alternatives before AmPac can start selling its Halotron I for critical US military applications. Rooker expects approval in Europe to follow. AmPac has acquired the technology for two products: Halotron I, which replaces halon 1211, used in fire extinguishers; and Halotron II, a substitute for halon 1301 for certain flooding applications, such as in computer rooms. A competing product, 3M's perfluorohexane (C₆), has been ruled out for use in fire-fighting training, a large portion of the fire extinguishment market. And Great Lakes Chemical's FM-100 is likely to be phased out soon after halons because of its ozone depletion potential. Halotron I is a blend based on hydrofluorocarbon (HCFC)-123, and Halotron II is simply described as a proprietary blend not based on HCFCs. Other methods of fire prevention and suppression may reduce demand for halon alternatives. And AmPac's early lead will not ensure long-term dominance of the market, as competitive products are sure to make their way to market. But for the time being, AmPac's product appears to be the only candidate likely to receive EPA approval, says Brown

[en] The Quality Assurance policy of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stipulates that every project involving environmentally related monitoring, measurements, and data collection activities must have a written and approved quality assurance project plan (QAPjP). A QAPjP is a written document which presents, in specific terms, the policies, organizations, objectives, functional activities, and the quality assurance/quality control activities designed to achieve the quality goals for data collection. In the research studies involving novel or non-routine measurements that use unvalidated methods, measurement quality goals are often difficult or impossible to specify at the beginning of the project for which a QAPjP must be written. Furthermore, it may not be possible for the QAPjP reviewers to evaluate the reasonableness of these goals without initial information about the system under study. For the project to evaluate chlorofluorocarbon for recycling from domestic refrigerators, the QAPjP incorporated standard analytical techniques used by industry. These techniques did not provide accuracy and precision or other validation information. For the initial version of the QAPjP, measurement quality goals were assigned based on limited experience. Quality assurance support was called upon to evaluate the performance of the measurement system for this project through a series of audits. The performance evaluation audits necessitated designing novel audit materials and sample delivery techniques. Continued interaction is necessary between the project and QA teams to permit evolution of reasonable data quality indicators for meaningful assessment of data quality. By treating the QAPjP as a living document that is updated and amended as more knowledge of a system is obtained, AQ becomes an integral part of the research program. This results in a greater understanding of the system under study

No abstract available

[en] The SET (Strategic Energy Technology) plan draws the priority axis for the development of no-carbon energies on the whole and of nuclear energy in particular. The double aim of SET for 2020 is to maintain the competitiveness of fission reactors and to find a valid solution for the management of radioactive wastes. The SET plan also includes a system (SETIS) for assessing the progress made and an organization (ESFRI) whose role is to earmark the projects that are most relevant for research infrastructure projects. The SNETPR (Sustainable Nuclear Energy Technology Platform) gathers the actors of a given sector with the objective to develop the public-private collaboration around strategic topics. The purpose of the European sustainable Nuclear Industrial Initiative (ESNII) is to assure a sustainable nuclear energy by the management of radioactive wastes and by a better use of natural resources. ESNII has led to the selection of fast reactor with a closed cycle. ESNII includes the design of a sodium prototype (ASTRID), of a gas cooled demonstrator (ALLEGRO) and of lead cooled pilot plant (MYRRHA). The achievement of all these projects is very dependent on the financial perspectives of the E.U. (A.C.)

[en] A brief summary is given of a report presented at a seminar in Bologna in 1987 on a beta dosimetry intercomparison programme held in 1986/87 involving five European laboratories. The purpose of the intercomparison had been to assess the quantity individual dose equivalent, superficial, Hsub(s) (0.07). (U.K.)

[en] ABNT NBR ISO/IEC 17025 introduced in its latest review, 2017, the mentality of risk, turning the norm more flexible and with requirements focused to the results. The norm does not require the laboratory has formal action procedures to approach the risks and opportunities (requirement 8.5); however, CNEN/LAPOC has chosen to establish and document a formal risks and opportunities management process to detect and treat more effectively the opportunities of improvement in the management system. Thus, this case study describes the procedure assumed by LAPOC for the management of risks and opportunities. (author)

[en] Interaction between rare earth elements and chlorphosphonazo (3) has been investigated. The effect of a number of outer factors and electron configuration of rare earths on the properties of complex lanthanide-chlorphosphonazo 3 compounds is described. Their constants of instability are calculated