Nuclear power: health implications of transuranium elements: report on a Working Group, Brussels, 6–9 November 1979

Abstract

Public interest in the health aspects of transuranium elements, together with the need for an outline of the current factual position as regards these elements, led to the convening of a Working Group by the WHO Regional Office for Europe in collaboration with the Belgian Government on 6–9 November 1979. The objective was to consider, discuss and assess the health aspects of these elements. The meeting was the second in a series organized by the Regional Office on the health effects of nuclear activities. This report provides general guidelines for national public health and environmental authorities. It includes a brief summary of the physical and chemical properties of those transuranium elements considered by the Group to be important (‎Chapter 2)‎. Chapter 3 deals with the radiobiological aspects of these transuranium elements, including their metabolism, dosimetry and health effects. This is the most important section since the health implications of the transuranium elements depend on the fundamental parameters and assumptions discussed here, and these provide the basis for a quantitative evaluation of the associated health risks. Chapter 4 deals with the sources of human exposure. These are considered in further detail in Chapter 5, which is concerned with occupational exposure, and in Chapter 6, in which the environmental aspects arising from possible releases of transuranium elements are considered. Chapter 7 is concerned with environmental monitoring. Chapter 8 briefly discusses control and protective measures.