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Conference Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
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The RAIN scale: A good intention that falls short
Radiation protection specialists agree that clear communication of radiation risks remains a vexing challenge that cannot be solved solely by finding new ways to convey technical information.
Earlier this year, an article in Nuclear News described a new radiation risk communication tool, known as the Radiation Index, or, RAIN (“Let it RAIN: A new approach to radiation communication,” NN, Jan. 2025, p. 36). The authors of the article created the RAIN scale to improve radiation risk communication to the general public who are not well-versed in important aspects of radiation exposures, including radiation dose quantities, units, and values; associated health consequences; and the benefits derived from radiation exposures.
Roland Pusch
Nuclear Technology | Volume 45 | Number 2 | September 1979 | Pages 153-157
Technical Paper | Radioactive Waste | doi.org/10.13182/NT79-A32305
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Sodium saturated bentonite clay compacted to a high density is a very efficient isolation for preventing radiotoxic nuclides from deeply buried canisters with radioactive wastes from reaching the biosphere. The main function of the bentonite, which is applied in the form of blocks between the rock and the canisters in large boreholes, is to provide a practically impervious barrier. The bentonite blocks take up water and swell so that they completely fill the space between rock and canisters. The swelling potential, which is permanent, makes the bentonite self-sealing. This means that rock joints, which may be opened, are sealed by extruding bentonite.