1 Subject Content and Application Scope
This standard specifies the classification/rating criteria of radioactive wastes.
This standard is applicable to radioactive wastes produced from the procedure of radioactive substance production, research and use, as well as treatment, conditioning and decommission.
This standard is not applicable to the wastes produced in the mining/milling procedure of uranium, thorium and its associated mine, but their environmental management may apply by reference.
2 Terms
2.1 Radioactive waste
For the purpose of reviewing and management, it is defined as the substance containing radioactive nuclide or contaminated by radioactive nuclide, whose concentration or activity is higher than the clearance level specified by the national reviewing and management department; it is expected not to be reused.
2.2 Radioactive gaseous waste
Liquid waste containing radioactive gas aerosols, whose radioactive concentration is higher than the emission limit specified by the national reviewing and management department.
2.3 Radioactive liquid waste
Liquid waste containing radioactive nuclide, whose radioactive concentration is higher than the emission limit specified by the national reviewing and management department.
2.4 Radioactive solid waste
Solid waste containing radioactive nuclide, whose radioactive specific activity or contamination level is higher than the clearance level specified by the national reviewing and management department.
2.5 Exempt waste
Waste containing radioactive substance, whose radioactive concentration, radioactive specific activity or contamination level is not higher than the clearance level specified by the national reviewing and management department.
2.6 Clearance level
A set of values expressed by radioactive concentration , radioactive specific activity and / or total activity, which is specified by the national reviewing and management department; the reviewing and management control may be lifted when the radiation source is lower than or equal to these values.
3 Radioactive Waste Classification Structure
3.1 By radioactivity, the radioactive waste is classified into exempt waste, low-level radioactive waste, intermediate-level and high-level radioactive waste, see Figure 1.
3.2 By physical behavior, radioactive waste is divided into gaseous waste, liquid waste and solid waste.
3.3 The radioactive gaseous waste is divided into ones with different level by radioactive concentration level (expressed in Bq/m3).
3.4 The radioactive liquid waste is divided into ones with different level by radioactive concentration level (expressed in Bq/L).
3.5 The radioactive solid waste is firstly divided into five types by half life and emission type of nuclide contained; and by radioactive specific activity level (expressed in Bq/kg), it is divided into ones with different level.
