Ionizing radiation increasingly used in medicine, it is important to safely manage radioactive waste

An increasingly widespread use of ionizing radiation sources to defeat cancer requires an important ability to safely manage the radioactive waste produced, from the moment of their generation to final disposal. This important issue was discussed today during the meeting of the ENSREG Working Group on Radioactive Waste and Decommissioning, chaired by the Coordinator of the ISIN Council, Stefano Laporta. The Group meets twice a year, usually at the ISIN headquarters and at the offices of the European Commission.

The periodic meetings are organized in order to discuss the issues related to the regulatory aspects concerning the safety of the management of radioactive waste, irradiated fuel and the decommissioning of nuclear installations, compare the experiences of the various Nuclear Safety Authorities and national organizations involved in the waste management, also with the aim of promoting ever greater harmonization on these issues within UE.

In particular, during the meeting, the progress of two activities currently carried out by the Group was discussed, concerning the practices in use in the member states for the management of radioactive waste produced in the health sector and the definition of the final phase of the process of decommissioning of nuclear plants, with the aim of being able to quantify the associated costs without uncertainty.

It should be noted that the study on the management of medical waste is closely connected with the European Commission project called Strategic Agenda for Medical Ionising Radiation Applications (SAMIRA), an important element of the broader community action plan to defeat cancer.

The meeting was also an opportunity for an update on the activities on the subject implemented by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Nuclear Energy Agency at the Organization for Cooperation and Economic Development (OECD / NEA).

During the meeting, the preparatory actions for carrying out the Topical Peer Review II (TPR II) envisaged by the Directive on the safety of nuclear installations, which will take place in 2023 - 2024 on the subject of protecting nuclear installations from fires, were discussed. TPR II, in which members of the Working Group also participate, will also cover radioactive waste storage depots on sites and decommissioning activities for spent fuel depots.

The ISIN, fully involved in the process, has collaborated in the preparation of the consultation documents and will take care of the national report based on the assessments carried out by the exhibitors according to the technical specifications prepared. It will also participate, with its own experts, in the subsequent phases of the peer review, consisting of the revision of the national reports, with possible technical visits in the field, and of a final workshop.

The next meeting of the Working Group on Nuclear Waste and Decommissioning will be held in the first ten days of March 2023.