Radioactive transports

Are radioactive material convoys dangerous?

The perceived dangers associated with transporting highly radioactive materials are a source of concern for the public. Anti-nuclear militants have on several occasions chained themselves to rail tracks to block convoys carrying irradiated nuclear fuel or vitrified waste to or from Germany. In 2004, a militant was unable to free himself as the train approached and tragically died.

What potential hazards does the transportation of radioactive material present? What precautions are taken? The vast majority (90%) of movements concern radioactive sources used in nuclear medicine at hospitals. These small-scale movements generally involve short distances and relatively low radioactivity levels. The corresponding precautions are those defined in the standard radiation protection guidelines.

The nuclear industry is responsible for the remaining 10% of movements, involving much larger consignments. The lowest-risk transport operations relate to the manufacture of fuel prior to loading into the reactor. Around 300 such movements are performed each year in France. Natural or enriched uranium is heavy but not highly radioactive. For example, the risks associated with the transport of uranium hexafluoride from the conversion plant to the enrichment plant are chemical rather than radiological.

Transport operations involving spent fuel unloaded from reactors are far more critical. Highly radioactive materials that are normally kept isolated from the living world must occasionally by moved by rail, road or sea. Such materials include spent fuel (450 movements), plutonium oxide powders and MOX fuel resulting from reprocessing operations. The highly radioactive packages are overpacked in solidly constructed, thick-walled “transport casks” designed to withstand impacts and fire, absorb intense gamma radiation emitted by their contents and dissipate heat released by radioactivity. Foreign vitrified waste produced at the reprocessing plant in La Hague must be returned to its country of origin. In particular, waste is sent by rail to Germany, and by sea to Japan. Such movements are rare and tightly controlled.

After being reprocessed at the La Hague facility, vitrified waste and recoverable materials belonging to foreign companies are returned to their owners, in some cases by sea. In the United States, spent fuel is currently stored near the reactors. At some point in the future, this waste will be transported over long distances to the repository built instead of the abandoned Yucca Mountain project in Nevada.

In addition to the risk of accidental dissemination, the risks in terms of theft and terrorist activities must be addressed. These sensitive transport operations are subject to very stringent international regulations issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as well as domestic regulations issued by safety authorities.

It is important to neither underestimate nor overestimate the danger. Spent fuel and waste transport movements concern extremely small volumes in comparison to those required for the oil supply chain, given that one gram of plutonium produces as much energy as a tonne of oil. MOX and plutonium shipments to Japan can be counted on the fingers of one hand, and pale in comparison to the veritable armada of tankers that move oil around the world. Sophisticated nuclear transport operations are strictly regulated and closely monitored. Nuclear transport operations have never caused a significant accident.