SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Technologically Enhanced Naturally
Occurring Radioactive Material

	Autoradiograph of leaf from Phacilia robusta shows preferential uptake of radium from soil affected by a uranium deposit.

Technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive material (TENORM) is generated by a variety of industrial, mineral extraction, and water treatment processes. Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is actively developing cost-effective and environmentally responsible approaches for managing TENORM waste.

The SwRI TENORM program focuses on:

• Geochemical processes controlling generation of TENORM

• Fate of radionuclides from TENORM in the environment

• Human health risks associated with these radionuclides

Recent research studied land disposal of TENORM waste from petroleum extraction and from water treatment to remove radium and uranium from public drinking water supplies. Investigations examined release of radon gas from land disposal units. Other research has considered the mobility of naturally occurring radionuclides in soil and their uptake by vegetation.

	Simulation of radon flux through the surface of a landfill containing TENORM; five landfill gas extraction wells control the simulated gas emissions.
	SwRI's radiochemistry laboratory includes facilities for bench-scale testing of environmental samples and remedial technologies.

TENORM Program

The TENORM program provides expertise and scientific services in:

• Radiochemistry

• Environmental process modeling

• Probabilistic risk assessment

• Environmental regulatory compliance

The TENORM program is supported by:

• Advanced laboratory facilities for radiochemical analyses and bench-scale testing of radionuclide transport and stabilization processes

• Public domain and proprietary models for multimedia modeling and probabilistic risk assessment

• Facilities for large-scale pilot testing of environmental technologies on SwRI's 1,200-acre site

For more information about managing technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive material and other capabilities at SwRI or how you can contract with SwRI, please contact Dr. Gary Walter at gwalter@swri.org or (210) 522-3805.

| Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses | Department of Earth, Material and Planetary Sciences |
| Geosciences and Engineering Division | SwRI Home |

Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is a multidisciplinary, independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences research and development organization with 11 technical divisions.

September 29, 2008