A research report submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the
Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the
degree of Masters of Science
Johannesburg 2013 / Monitoring for internal exposures to uranium and calculating the corresponding
Committed Effective Dose (CED) can be complex. Several contributing
parameters such as the differences in the physiochemical nature of the uranium
compound, the nature of the exposure scenario, variances in human metabolic
behaviour and the capabilities of available bioassay techniques add uncertainty in
developing an Internal Dosimetry and Monitoring Programme (IDMP). Necsa’s
IDMP was reviewed and found to be in line with best international practices and
adequate for monitoring routine exposures to Type M uranium. As found in
literature and shown in the present study, the monitoring for Type S uranium is
problematic. The present study recommends continuance with the current Type S
monitoring programme, however, the need for faecal analysis was identified. A
combination of bioassay techniques can assist in determining the unknowns in the
abovementioned contributing parameters. Analysis done to quantify the effect of
differences in the contributing parameters has brought an understanding on how
these parameters can influence and IDMP and knowledge gained from the present
study will further enhance the programme and assist in developing the necessary
documentation, providing the technical justification for Necsa’s uranium IDMP.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:wits/oai:wiredspace.wits.ac.za:10539/12710 |
| Date | 03 May 2013 |
| Creators | Beeslaar, Frederik Johannes Louw |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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