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Criteria for Safe Handling and Disposal of NORM Residue
p.330
In Malaysia, there are several industries processing mineral ores generate residues containing naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) with activity concentrations above the control limits established by the Malaysian Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB). These industries use mineral ores or concentrated ores as their feed materials to produce or extract valuable sand minerals or rare earth compounds for use in another industries. The control limits for activity concentrations of Uranium-238 (U-238) and Thorium-232 (Th-232) and their decay series is 1.0 Becquerel per gram (Bq·g−1) while activity concentration of Potassium 40 (K-40) is 10.0 Bq·g−1. The management of residue containing NORM radioactivity above the control limits must be done in accordance with current rules and regulations including proper handling, storage, transportation and/or disposal. Where possible, appropriate mixture process with other non-radiological material would reduce the activity concentrations to below the control limits. Depending on specific characteristics of residue, appropriate approach to reuse or recycle should be encouraged as part of special waste management. For this case, an exemption to release it from radiological controls can be applied but require scrutiny review and approval process by AELB. In addition, the health and safety aspects and environmental issues should be assessed which to be done in accordance with the relevant rules and regulations. As a last resort, a disposal of residue containing NORM radioactivity shall be done at the landfill disposal facility approved by AELB and other relevant Authorities.
