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Conference Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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No impact from Savannah River radioactive wasps
The news is abuzz with recent news stories about four radioactive wasp nests found at the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site in South Carolina. The site has been undergoing cleanup operations since the 1990s related to the production of plutonium and tritium for defense purposes during the Cold War. Cleanup activities are expected to continue into the 2060s.
Joseph M. Doster, Brit E. Hey
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 93 | Number 1 | May 1986 | Pages 1-12
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE83-A17412
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
In pool-type research reactors, a sudden loss of all pool water can result in significant external radiation dose. Of concern are fission product decay gamma rays emitted within the core, streaming out of the biological shield producing unacceptable radiation exposure in and around the reactor building. A Monte Carlo model was developed and used to generate dose maps for key access and traffic areas throughout the reactor facility at North Carolina State University. It was found that several of these areas could be exposed to significant gamma radiation fields, ranging from 230 rem/h 20 ft directly over and in line of sight of the core to 4 mrem/h outside and adjacent to the reactor building. Expected dose rates were also computed for the reactor bay floor, control room, and offices. The model was benchmarked against dose rates measured at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory pool-type reactor.