[en] This product review describes recently developed equipment for personnel dosimetry, area monitoring, personnel contamination monitoring, portable contamination monitoring and portable area survey monitoring. (author)

[en] Two Pressurized Water Reactor nuclear power plants in China are expected to start up within the next three years. These are Qinshan (300MWe) - the first indigenously designed and constructed Chinese plant - and Guangdong. Daya Bay (2 x 900MWe) - built jointly with France and the UK. For the successful development of nuclear power, the Chinese government has set up the principle of ''safety first, quality first'', and has promulgated a series of regulations, codes and guides for nuclear safety and radiation protection. This article introduces China's dose management systems and radiation protection regulations for plant releases under normal operation. (author)

[en] The enrichment market can be divided into two periods: the near-term market (1991 to 1995) and the long-term market (1995 and beyond). The near-term market is characterized by limited unfilled requirements of 4% per year, to be supplied by national stockpiles and excess inventories. This low-cost material will be drawn down by about 1993, causing a subsequent price rise. As the price rises, primary supplier activity is expected to increase. In the near-term, two contracting activities are apparent: spot; and intermediate-term. The current spot market is expected to last until available low cost inventories are drawn down. Recently, in attempts to gain market share, suppliers have offered attractively priced intermediate-term (3 year) contracts for 1996 to 1998. While a small spot market will continue after 1995, it is anticipated that utilities will prefer a mix of medium- and long-term (5 to 10 year) contracts from primary suppliers for most of their enrichment requirements. As national stockpiles and utility inventories are consumed, low-cost supply available to the spot market is expected to diminish. Consequently, with little low-cost supply available, the only apparent source of material will be from primary suppliers, and the resulting competition over market share is expected to be intense. (author)

[en] Developments which could influence radiation protection and dosimetry during the 1990s are reviewed. These include the probable increase in risk estimates by a factor of two or three above those currently employed, and a consequent reduction in dose limits; the increasing use of complementary electronic detectors in personal dosimetry, the interest in hand-held and portable monitoring equipment generated by the Chernobyl accident; and the requirement for fast and accurate radiological measurements in emergencies and during the decommissioning of nuclear installations. (U.K.)

[en] Over the past few years, the Commission of the European Communities has funded an intercomparison of environmental dose rate meters. Initially, the object of this work was to assess various calibration techniques and to determine inherent backgrounds and cosmic component responses of the various instruments. This was the basis for phases I and II of the intercomparison, which took place in 1984 and 1985. Inevitably, the accident at Chernobyl in 1986 had a marked effect on the measurements planned for the third phase in August 1987. To the usual comparison of calibration techniques was added a series of measurements to investigate and assess the suitability of instruments in the event of an accident. The outcome of this exercise is reported. (author)

[en] The specifications of nuclear fuel assemblies as designed by a number of different companies are listed. Diagrams accompany the specifications. The reactor types included are Magnox, AGR, BWR, PWR and VVER-440. (author)

[en] This handbook is a guide to the civil nuclear power industry. It contains detailed lists of power, research and test reactors with their technical specifications, a table of power reactor load factors and a review of performance trends. Fuel cycle statistics and facilities are also listed. The addresses and main contacts of the principal national and international bodies dealing with nuclear energy are given. The handbook concludes with a buyers' guide to companies, a classified guide to products and services, and company data files. (UK)

[en] Since publication of the 1977 Recommendations, the Commission has periodically reviewed the biological basis of its recommendations and its method of defining the human health detriment associated with exposure to ionising radiations. It is now convinced that the risks of radiation-induced cancer are greater by a factor of 3 or 4 than those assumed in 1977. Thus it is necessary to consider the appropriateness of the currently recommended annual dose limits as part of the proposed System of Radiological Protection. The system of dose limitation recommended in 1977 was intended to be applied to controllable activities in normal operations. The Commission now wishes to extend its advice to clarify its position in those situations where exposures are not certain to occur; and to define the principles of protection necessary to reduce dose in situations where the source of radiation is not under control. The 1990 Recommendations are intended to be of help to regulatory and advisory agencies and to management bodies and their professional staff. They deal only with ionizing radiations and with the protection of man. (author)

[en] Developments in radiation monitoring equipment are reviewed. The most dramatic improvement is the widespread introduction of walk-in personnel monitors using gas-flow proportional counters. Despite the drawbacks of increased electronic complexity and the need for counting gas, use of these monitors interlocked with turnstiles reduces the chance of workers leaving an active area with any significant contamination on them. Similar technology has been applied to hand held equipment facilitating the introduction of detectors which are simpler than and have a larger thin window area than scintillation counters. They can also be used to monitor alpha and a wide range of beta radiations. Recent improvements in digital display are overcoming initial hostility to digital instruments and their advantages are now being appreciated. Increasing use is being found for microprocessors in contamination monitors. The greatest scope for the immediate improvement of contamination monitors now lies in ergonomic factors such as ease of use, robustness and portability. (U.K.)

[en] Low level waste (LLW) accounts for 70-80% by volume of all radioactive wastes produced by the nuclear industry. It has low specific activity, negligible actinide content and requires little, if any, shielding to protect workers. Volume reduction for LLW of high volume but low density may be achieved by incineration and compaction as appropriate, before packaging for disposal by near surface burial. Intermediate level waste (ILW) is treated and packed to convert it into a stable form to minimize any release of activity and make handling easier. The matrix chosen for immobilization, usually cement, polymers or bitumen, depends on the nature of the waste and the acceptance criteria of the disposal facility. The special case of LLW and ILW which will arise from reactor decommissioning is discussed. Packaging methods adopted by individual countries are reviewed. The range of costs involved for packaging ILW is indicated. There is no international consensus on the performance required from packaged waste to ensure its suitability both for interim storage and final disposal. (UK)