1Department of Radiological Science, Daegu Catholic University, 13-13, Hayang-ro, Hayang-eup, Gyeongsansi, Gyeongsangbuk-do, 38430, Republic of Korea
2Cyclotron Research Center, Chonbuk National University Hospital, 20, Geonjiro, Jeonju, Jeonbuk, 54907, Republic of Korea
3Pohang Accelerator Laboratory POSTECH, Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
*Corresponding author: Yongmin Kim Professor, Department of Radiological Science, Daegu Catholic University, Republic of Korea. E-mail: ymkim17@cu.ac.kr
Online published on 21 September, 2018.
Cyclotrons are used at industry, research, health care institutions in Korea and the world. Owing to reasons such as improvement or abolition, there is need for early decommissioning of cyclotrons. Prior studies have identified radioactivation in cyclotron vaults. It produces a large amount of intermediate and low-level radioactive waste. In the Republic of Korea, the waste disposal cost has increased four-fold in recent years. Through experience with decommissioning cyclotrons in the Republic of Korea, we observed a difference between the estimated and actual amount of produced radioactive waste. We investigated the operation pattern of cyclotrons by conducting a domestic survey. The survey revealed that the major use of cyclotrons in the Republic of Korea was the production of medical radioisotopes and that cyclotrons were widely located throughout the entire country. For the disposal of radioactive waste produced in medical centers, self-disposal after transient storage has been performed according to Korean regulations. However, there is no preparation for the decommissioning of cyclotrons such as a radioactivation assessment or the estimation of waste cost during the construction period. Furthermore, because of the shortage of storage space, it is impossible to perform any long-term decommissioning after sufficient decay time to reduce the radioactive waste and the decommissioning cost. Therefore, it is recommended that a preliminary decommissioning plan report is submitted at the construction stage similar to the case of nuclear facilities in order to prepare for effective decommissioning. The preliminary decommissioning plan report should consist of the estimation of decommissioning cost, the disposal and storage method of radioactive waste, and the method of radioactivation assessment. We aim to establish fundamental ideas for cyclotron decommissioning and improve Korean regulation with these data.
Cyclotron, Radioactive waste, Questionnaire, Decommissioning plan, Radioactivation
