On March 11, 2005, a California industrial radiography licensee notified the state that two of its employees may have incurred an occupational overexposure. The licensee reported that two radiographers were conducting radiographic operations at a refinery located in Carson, CA using an Industrial Nuclear Corporation Model IR 100 exposure device. The device contained an iridium-192 sealed source with an activity of approximately 3.3 terabecquerels (90 Curies). The licensee reported that subsequent to performing several radiographic exposures (approximately 10), the radiographer approached the camera without any survey instrumentation and disconnected the guide tube. After disconnecting the guide tube, it became apparent to the radiographer and his assistant that there was a problem because their survey instruments were reading off-scale. Additionally, the radiography crew checked their pocket reading dosimeters and observed they were reading off-scale. The radiographer used pliers to successfully retract the source into the shielded position. On March 17, 2005, the State of California provided the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) with updated dosimetry results that revealed that the radiographer and his assistant received a whole body dose of 16 millisievert (1.6 rem) and 27 millisievert (2.7 rem) respectively. Additionally, dose reconstruction results indicated that the radiographer received a shallow dose equivalent of 550 millisievert (55 rem) to the hands, a dose in excess of the NRC’s applicable limit of 500 millisievert (50 rem). There were no reported physical abnormalities related to the exposure. The radiographic device was sent to the manufacturer for evaluation and repair.
Last year, the Dutch Province of Limburg started an alliance in which, besides the local government, research institutes, small nuclear reactor (SMR) developers, utilities, industrial customers and funders cooperated. With this "Limburg SMR alliance" Limburg tried to lead the way towards an SMR in Limburg. The preferred site for a first SMR would be Chemelot, […]
From the IPFM: During a visit to the Civaux nuclear power plant on 18 March 2024, France's Minister of the Armed Forces unveiled a plan to use the plant to produce tritium for the French nuclear weapons program. Civaux is a civilian power plant that belongs to and is operated by Electricité de France. According […]
An analysis by the Norwegian NGO Bellona of transborder trade operations with the customs code 840130 (irradiated fuel assemblies or fuel elements) show a more than twofold increase of import to EU countries of fresh nuclear fuel in cash terms – from 280 million Euros in 2022 to 686 million Euros in 2023. In physical […]
The French government has said it is "seriously" studying the option of building a plant to convert and enrich reprocessed uranium to cut its reliance on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine. The only plant in the world that currently converts reprocessed uranium for use in nuclear power plants is in Russia. "The option of […]
Jan vd Putte quickly changed from dressing as the pied piper at the protest during the IAEA nuclear power conference to warn for the Russian nuclear power conglomerate Rosatom and its role in Ukraine.