http://www.ouest-france.fr/actu/actuDet ... 9_actu.Htm
remember to take your geiger counter to go shopping ...
SixK
Radioactive waste in our everyday objects
Since May, a ministerial decree has authorized the use of low-level radioactive waste in the manufacture of everyday consumer goods. Against the opinion of the competent authority.
"Metals, plastics, rubble ... from the dismantling of nuclear installations can be used to manufacture cement or steel. These contaminated products will be used for the construction of houses, cars, boats, bicycles ... ”Director of Criirad (independent association specialized in nuclear), Corinne Castagnier does not do science fiction. She comments on a recent ministerial decree.
A huge challenge for the nuclear industry
This text, published in the Official Journal on May 14, constitutes a derogation from the Public Health Code. It makes it possible to circumvent the ban, taken in 2002, to use radioactive substances in consumer goods and construction products. The Nuclear Safety Authority had nevertheless issued an unfavorable opinion, recalling "France's constant position to avoid diluting waste, in particular by adding it to consumer goods". Contacted yesterday, ASN maintains its position. The four ministries ¯ Health, Ecology, Housing and Economy ¯ overlooked.
The stakes for the nuclear industry are enormous. "With the deconstruction of important installations, such as the Brennilis power station (Finistère), it finds itself in front of mountains of radioactive products which it does not know what to do", indicates the Criirad. We are talking about millions of tonnes of waste to be treated in the coming decades. Finding sites where to store them is not going to be simple and the financial cost will be high (...)