Decontamination and Decommissioning Options

Decontamination and decommissioning are integral processes that every business should incorporate into their waste management. It is an extensive process wherein only the professionals can examine and implement a process suitable for a specific kind of material or method. There are options in decontamination and decommissioning that a professional can do for a certain business.

Decontamination and decommissioning are two different processes. Decontamination is the actual removal of any materials or microorganisms that cause hazards to anyone or to the environment. Decommissioning, on the other hand, is the process of dismantling a nuclear power plant, or equipment, so that it will no longer impose any radiation dangers to the environment. The presence of radioactive wastes is dangerous not just to the environment but to any living things as well. Aside from that, these materials are kept within safety levels, which can be expensive and time-consuming.

Options To Choose From:

There are three options that the International Atomic Energy Agency has imposed. These are the Immediate Dismantling, Safe Enclosure and the Entombment.

Immediate Dismantling – this is the process that requires the whole facility to be removed or shut down. As the whole facility is dismantled, the professionals will now then implement a process where radiation exposure is set to safety levels. After the whole process, the facility becomes available to use again.

Safe Enclosure – it is also called Saftsore. This is another option that will postpone the removal of the controls for a specific period of time. The postponement will actually take more than 40 years as the whole facility will be stored in a safe place. This is until such time that the dismantling, decontamination and decommissioning begin.

Entombement – this option will not allow postponing or removal of a facility. It will just be placed in a safe condition wherein the remaining radioactive materials will be contained in-site in an indefinite period of time. The area usually is reduced and the whole place will be covered with durable materials such as concrete.

These are the three ways of decontamination and decommissioning. To know further, it is best to seek an advice of a professional. Visit http://www.ameriphysics.com for more details.