Lynas Malaysia Public Communication July 13 2009 - Nuclear Malaysia presentation

Radiation SafetyDr Idris Besar Dr Idris Besar Nuclear Malaysia

Radiation Safety

�What is Radiation?��

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�Where does Radiation come from?��

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Radiation Safety

�How much dose is safe?�#��

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Human Activities

�Dose to lungs from smoking a pack of cigarettes daily

150

�Medical or dental x-ray 0.39�Living in a masonry home 0.07

Annual Exposure in mSv/yr

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�Living in a masonry home 0.07

�Sleeping next to someone for 8 hour 0.02

�Watching television 2 hour daily 0.01

�Air travel, every airborne hour 0.005

�Using a computer terminal 0.001Average for a person living in United StatesSource : US Environment Protection Agency, US Department of Energy, ConsumerReport, MIT World Nuclear Association

Consumer Products

�Tobacco (Polonium-210)�Smoke detectors (Americium-241)�Welding rods (Thorium-232)�Television (low levels of X-rays)

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�Television (low levels of X-rays)�Watches & other luminescent products

(tritium or radium)�Gas lantern mantles

Radiation Safety

�Is Radiation hazardous?

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Lynas plant has very low levels of radiation

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1000

500

mSvLynas Public Exposure (RIA finding)

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0.2

2

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mSv/year

Average exposure per Lynas employee

Exposure comparison among various industries

Non Destructive

Test Workers

Medical Workers

Industry Nuclear Malaysia

Lynas employees (estimated

avg)

mSv/year 6.1 0.4 0.08 0.03 0.2

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mSv/year 6.1 0.4 0.08 0.03 0.2

Number of radioactive Licenses issued by AELB : �more than 1000 companies

Personnel wear Radiation Badges which are tested and monitored by AELB

� Film� Thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs)� Electronic personal dosimeters

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Thank you

Nuclear MalaysiaNuclear MalaysiaDr Idris Besar

History of Nuclear Malaysia (NM)

�Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuclear Malaysia) is a national research centre

�Under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation

�Established in 1972 as PUSPATI, renamed as MINT

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�Established in 1972 as PUSPATI, renamed as MINT in 1990

�Core activities are to promote application and research on nuclear science and technology

Roles of Nuclear Malaysia (NM)

�Nuclear Malaysia is not the regulator. AELB is the regulator.

�Nuclear Malaysia main activities are research and technology development in nuclear field.

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nuclear field.�Nuclear Malaysia provide consultancy

services to industries, federal agencies and state government.

Nuclear Malaysia is well known in nuclear fields

�Highly trained professional workforce�Expertise sought after by the international

communities�Well equipped in research laboratories and

engineering support infrastructure and

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engineering support infrastructure and indigenously designed pilot plant facilities

�Well connected to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and others similar international and national agencies

Nuclear Malaysia is well known internationally

�Staff qualifications :� 56'�

� 7, $�

� 186*$�

�Consulted by countries in ASEAN, Africa,

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�Consulted by countries in ASEAN, Africa, Middle East, South Asia and Asia Pacific on various nuclear technology applications e.g. NDT, Radiation Processing, Agro-technology, Radiation Protection, and Quality Management

Nuclear Malaysia is consultant to Lynas

�Nuclear Malaysia carried out Radiological Impact Assessment for Lynas

�Radiological Impact Assessment (RIA) covers :�$��9��%��

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Raw MaterialRaw Material

In Lynas process, traces of radioactive is present only in Raw Material and Iron-Phospho-Gypsum Residue

Solid Residue

• Solids from gas scrubbing (gypsum)Lynas Plant, Lynas Plant,

• traces of naturally occurring radioactive material

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• Solids from gas scrubbing (gypsum)

• Gypsum by-product

• Iron-Phospho-Gypsum – traces of radioactive material

Lynas Plant, Malaysia

Lynas Plant, Malaysia

Lanthanide ProductsLanthanide Products

Will the Iron-Phospho-Gypsum Residue affect the environment?

The residue storage cell design ensures no pathway for contamination on environment�!"��#� ��

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Pathway for Contamination is one of the key consideration in RIA

�Pathway considered :�:��9��%��+

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Exposure pathways considered in RESRAD

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Nuclear Malaysia

�Findings of the Radiological Impact Assessment on Lynas

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Radiation exposure to public is negligibleRadiation exposure to workers is well below the limit

Average exposure per

Background = 0.04 mSv/mth

Bac

kgro

und

= 0.

04 m

Sv/

mth

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Average exposure per employee :

0.2 mSv/year

Bac

kgro

und

= 0.

04 m

Sv/

mth

Background = 0.04 mSv/mth

Is Lynas Iron-Phospho-Gypsum residue within acceptable risk?

� The permissible exposure limit for workers is 50 mSv/year, set by the AELB.

� Theoretical maximum worker exposure in the Lynas plant from WLP residue is 6 mSv/year

� In practise, Lynas will manage and limit worker

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� In practise, Lynas will manage and limit worker exposure below 3 mSv/year

� No exposure to the public from Lynas residue management

Conclusion

Based on Radiological Impact Assessment; �The public and the workers exposure are

well below the limits set by the authorities. �There is negligible impact to the

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�There is negligible impact to the environment.

Thank youThank you

Lynas Malaysia Public Communication July 13 2009 - Nuclear Malaysia presentation

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