Radioactivity in the ocean: laws and biological effects

• Main Author: Hunsaker, C.T.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Oak Ridge National Laboratory 1985
• Subjects: 98 Nuclear Disarmament; Safeguards; And Physical Protection; 055000 > Nuclear Fuels > Safeguards; Inspection; & Accountability; Radioactive Materials; Marine Disposal; Regulations; Waste Disposal; Radioactivity; 052002 > Nuclear Fuels > Waste Disposal & Storage; Materials; Wastes 520300* > Environment; Aquatic > Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport > (1989); Laws; Surface Waters; Radioactive Wastes; Usa; 12 Management Of Radioactive And Non-Radioactive Wastes From Nuclear Facilities; Seas; 520600 > Environment; Aquatic > Regulations > (-1989); International Regulations; Low-Level Radioactive Wastes; Radioactive Waste Disposal; Management; Waste Management; North America; 54 Environmental Sciences; Northeast Atlantic
• Online Access: https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1063747/

This paper summarizes the literature on US laws and international agreements, experimental and monitoring data, and ongoing studies to provide background information for environmental assessment and regulatory compliance activities for ocean dumping of low-level radioactive waste. The Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act is the major US legislation governing ocean disposal of radioactive waste. The major international agreement on ocean dumping is the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and other Matter. The United States ended its ocean dumping of radioactive wastes in 1970, but other countries have continued ocean dumping under international supervision in the northeast Atlantic. Monitoring of former US disposal sites has neither revealed significant effects on marine biota nor indicated a hazard to human health. Also, no effects on marine organisms have been found that could be attributed to routine discharges into the Irish Sea from the Windscale reprocessing plant. We must improve our ability to predict the oceanic carrying capacity and the fate and effects of ionizing radiation in the marine environment.