External contamination and exposure are manageable occupational hazards. Time, distance, shielding, PPE, dosimetry. On the job we have all sorts of controls for safety.
The problem for the general public is internal contamination, primarily due to bioaccumulation of isotopes that are ingested (cesium, strontium) or inhaled (radioiodine, respirable dust). Particularly insidious are the alpha emitters, since those can be difficult to detect and from a radiation quality standpoint are about 20X worse than gamma photons. Much of what we accumulate in plant work or (especially) in NORM scenarios is alpha emmitting.
I am all for tight accounting for and segregation of radioactive waste. The point about the very slightly radioactive waster is valid, though I think it needs to be dumped out in very deep ocean, not near shore where it will bioaccumulate in seafood. The Japanese diet (small ‘d’) is VERY seafood-dependent. Its all about keeping those pesky Bequerels out of the human environment.
I would have to get someone who REALLY knows what he is talking about get all technical on me!
Just kidding. Thanks for the detailed, informative reply!
As you say, just be careful not to ingest alpha emitters and wash your outsides and that will take care of a lot of the problem.
Is the contaminated water mostly a problem with tritium? Decay releases beta radiation?