ORCID

Abstract

Background. Human use of radioactivity is increasing in fields such as nuclear power generation and nuclear medicine. Nuclear power continues to be a part of many countries’ energy portfolios and may increase dramatically in some Asian countries and Russia, with up to 300 new reactors currently proposed; other countries without existing nuclear power programmes are beginning to develop them (e.g. some African nations and Persian Gulf states). Worldwide there are c.450 operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) and 60 under construction (World Nuclear Association 2019). The continued use of nuclear power is considered, by some, as essential in the transition to low-carbon economies (e.g. Liu et al. 2013). At the same time, many nations face having to develop long-term strategies, and consequent infrastructure, to manage high-level radioactive waste (as arising from nuclear power production); other nations are challenged with legacy issues associated with past and on-going uranium mining and processing.

DOI

10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.106033

Publication Date

2019-08-24

Publication Title

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

First Page

106033

Last Page

106033

ISSN

0265-931X

Embargo Period

2020-08-23

Organisational Unit

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Share

COinS