Correlation between potential radiation-induced carcinogenic risks associated with WWER-1000 spent nuclear fuel and BREST-1200 radiation waste in case of annual generation of 1 GW of electricity. Part 1. Radiological equivalence

Abstract

The paper presents for the first-time comparison of radiation safety for the population between spent nuclear fuel (SNF) irradiated in water-water power reactor with thermal neutrons (WWER-1000) and radioactive wastes (RW) from lead cooled fast neutrons reactor (BREST-1200). The re-actors generate equal amount of electric power 1 GW per year. Composition and radiation param-eters of long-lived radiation wastes sent to disposal is reviewed. Potential biological hazards from SNF and RW for about 10,000-years disposal were estimated as effective doses (Sv). To assess potential radiation-induced carcinogenic risk as estimates of lifetime attributable risk (LAR) new ICRP methodology was used. New ICRP methodology was used as the basis for the computer code for the program “Radiological protection of the population” (ROZA-N) developed by the Proryv Project of the Rosatom State Corporation. The project was registered at the Unified Register of Russian Software in 2021 (registration number 2442). It was found that potential radiation-induced carcinogenic risk for the population associated with WWER-1000 reactor SNF was 132 times high-er than the risk associated with BREST-1200 reactor RW. Radiological equivalence of carcinogenic risks associated with SNF WWER-1000 and natural uranium material was proven to be achieved in about 15,600 years (significantly more than 10,000 years), the radiological equivalence of risks associated with RW BREST-1200, on the other hand, to be achieved only in 120 years.