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It would be inappropriate to start any discussion of radiation without talking about its presence in daily life, both as part of nature, and as contributed by technology (TVs, X-ray machines, etc.). It is estimated that the average person in the United States receives 360 mrem in a year from all sources of radiation (natural and man-made). In this section of NFSFacts.com, information about types of radioactive materials, types of radiations, and additional information about typical radiation doses are provided (including a link to a calculator that you can use to estimate your personal annual radiation dose). We hope you find this information useful.
What different types of radioactive material are worked with at NFS?
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NFS is licensed by the State of Tennessee, Department of Environment and Conservation and the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission to possess, store, transfer, and process a wide variety of radioactive materials. These materials include source material, by-product material, and special nuclear material. Although authorized to store nuclear materials, NFS does not conduct long-term storage as a significant part of our business. NFS is a processing facility, and our focus is on production of valuable nuclear materials. Our storage areas are primarily used to stage material for processing.
Source material is a class of radioactive material that is in the same form in which it is found in nature. This includes uranium (natural – not enriched in U-235) and thorium. NFS uses source materials primarily for enrichment blending and as surrogates during testing of new processes.
By-product material is a name given to a broad class of radioactive material produced in nuclear reactors by the fission (or splitting) process. NFS uses a number of these radionuclides, primarily for calibrating radiation detection instruments.
Special nuclear material (SNM) is a name reserved for the various isotopes of plutonium, uranium-233, and uranium that has been enriched in the isotope U-235. Special nuclear material is most commonly used in commercial nuclear power reactors (typically uranium with U-235 enriched to ~5%). Research and pebble-bed type reactors may use uranium with higher enrichments. The highest enrichments are used in naval reactors or in nuclear munitions. Plutonium (some isotopes) and U-233 find use in certain special power or research reactors, and plutonium (again, certain isotopes) is also useable in nuclear munitions.
NFS uses highly-enriched uranium for only two purposes: (1) to manufacture fuel for naval reactors, and (2) to blend with natural uranium to make low-enriched solutions for manufacture by another company into commercial nuclear reactor fuel.
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How do these materials differ in terms of radiations emitted?
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The various types of source material and SNM generally emit an alpha particle (an alpha particle is the same as a helium nucleus), accompanied by photons.
The by-product materials are typically characterized by emission of beta particles (beta particles are the same as electrons) accompanied by photons.
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How much radiation exposure do I normally receive, and how much can come from a facility like NFS?
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EPA – RadTown USA
Radiation is natural and all around us. It can also be man-made. But it's nothing new. It is, quite simply, part of our lives. RadTown USA is a virtual community showing a wide variety of radiation sources and uses as you may encounter them in everyday life.
http://www.epa.gov/radtown/
American Nuclear Society - Public Information – Dose Calculator
We live in a radioactive world - humans always have. Radiation is part of our natural environment. We are exposed to radiation from materials in the earth itself, from naturally occurring radon in the air, from outer space, and from inside our own bodies (as a result of the food and water we consume). This radiation is measured in units called millirem (mrem).
The average dose per person from all sources is about 360 mrem per year. It is not, however, uncommon for any of us to receive far more than that in a given year (largely due to medical procedures we may undergo). International Standards allow exposure to as much as 5,000 mrem a year for those who work with and around radioactive material.
Click on the following link to calculate a better estimate of your radiation dose from common sources of radiation around us everyday:
http://www.ans.org/pi/resources/dosechart/
NFS contributes to public radiation exposure primarily through air and water. Emissions through these pathways are strictly limited by State and Federal regulations, as well as through local utility permits. While limits that apply to public dose range from 25 to 100 mrem per year (depending on the activity involved), NFS typically operates with doses that are over one thousand times lower than these limits. This is due to the aggressive actions taken by NFS to keep emission sources contained when possible and to apply clean-up technology to air/water prior to release of the limited effluents that are generated. Current and recent past actual potential dose data from NFS activities is available in the Environmental Facts section of this website.
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Where can I learn more about radiation and radioactive materials?
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The following two web sites are dedicated to informing the public about radiation and radioactive materials:
Health Physics Society – Public Information
Do you have questions about radiation, radioactive materials, or radiation safety? The Health Physics Society is dedicated to providing information for you so that you can better understand these subjects.
http://hps.org/publicinformation/
American Nuclear Society – Public Information
The American Nuclear Society is a not-for-profit, international, scientific and educational organization. It was established by a group of individuals who recognized the need to unify the professional activities within the diverse fields of nuclear science and technology. The core purpose of ANS is to promote the awareness and understanding of the application of nuclear science and technology.
http://www.ans.org/pi/
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