VIENNA, 5th September 2014 (WAM) --- The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has warned that certain types of waste from nuclear reactors can remain radioactive from a few hours to hundreds of thousands of years, and said suitable approaches to storage and disposal must be developed to protect people and the environment from potential hazards and to ensure their safety now and in the future.
"With 437 nuclear power reactors in operation in 30 countries, a further 70 under construction in 15 states, and thousands of radioactive sources being used worldwide in industry, agriculture medicine and research, the safe and sustainable management of radioactive waste is a priority for every country," said IAEA in a press release on Friday. According to the IAEA Nuclear Technology Review 2014, there were 68 million cubic meters of radioactive waste in storage around the world at the end of 2013. And up to the year 2012, approximately 76 million m3 of radioactive waste were disposed of. To highlight this important issue, the IAEA is organising this year's Scientific Forum to focus on the scientific and technological experience gained around the world, providing the basis for safe and sustainable waste management approaches. The Scientific Forum will be organised between 23-24 September on the margins of the 58th General Conference (22-26 September), the annual weeklong gathering of all the IAEA's member states. Entitled 'Radioactive Waste: Meeting the Challenge - Science and Technology for Safe and Sustainable Solutions', the Scientific Forum will explore the importance of an integrated approach to waste management, from its generation to disposal, including anticipation of future developments. Representatives from 18 countries will showcase how available solutions can address the challenges being faced in radioactive waste management. In dedicated sessions, these experts will present available experience with waste characterization, treatment and conditioning, to convert it into a form suitable for storage, transport, and ultimately, disposal, and discuss how these provide the basis for its safe management. Although each country is responsible for the safe management of its radioactive waste, the IAEA, with experience in this area spanning more than five decades, says it provides technical assistance when member states request it.Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2014.
