CEEESA Waste Analysis Tools

The Center for Energy, Environmental, and Economic Systems Analysis (CEEESA) provides waste analysis tools that cover a wide range of issues. The table below summarizes the available models. Click on each model name to get more information.

WasteSIMS

WasteSIMS, an interactive modeling tool, is designed to assist in toxic waste processing. The system analyzes the costs and risks of treatment, storage, and disposal of toxic waste and then quantitatively describes the risks, possible health effects, and costs of different waste processing alternatives. The quantitative results are based on many factors, including the chemical composition of the waste; the radionuclides present; the short- or long-term contaminant dose-response of individuals or populations, respectively; the costs of processing facilities and waste transportation; and the geographical configurations of the waste processing alternatives. The WasteSIMS model is composed of a client/server geographic information system interface connected to independent cost and risk models.

Waste_MGMT

This computational database tracks waste streams and emissions from storage through various prescribed treatment technologies to disposal. Inputs include amounts, radiological and hazardous contaminant profiles, physical characterizations of the wastes to be processed at each site, and specifications of treatment processes and key partitioning factors. Outputs consist of final disposition of wastes, including amounts, radiological and hazardous contaminant profiles, physical form of the final waste products, and radioactive and hazardous contaminant emissions that accrue at each process step.

Waste_ACC

This computational database tracks prescribed accident sequences at waste management treatment and storage facilities and calculates radiological source terms and human health effects and risks. Inputs include (1) frequencies of initiating accidents and event-tree-based conditional probabilities of the sequences following the initiating accident and leading to radiological release source terms; (2) volumes and radiological profiles of the inventories comprising the material at risk; (3) fractions of the material-at-risk (MAR) involved in the various accident sequences; (4) respirable airborne release fractions for each radionuclide and sequence that depends on the MAR and relevant accident stresses; (5) leak path factors for each radionuclide and sequence; and (6) dose conversion factors for each population or receptor, which are dependent on the site meteorology assumed and site demographics. Outputs include the in-facility and atmospheric radiological airborne source terms with the frequency of occurrence and human health effects and risks for each receptor or population.

RISKIND

Developed to assess radiological health consequences from potential scenarios associated with the shipment of spent nuclear fuel, this code incorporates accident scenarios and is equipped with user-friendly features. The code’s capabilities have also been expanded for other radioactive materials and waste types. The RISKIND model was developed and is distributed by Argonne’s Environmental Science Division.

RISKCHEM

This suite of models predicts the impacts of chemical spills and releases, including (1) a single-event spill into water, (2) a single-event spill onto land, and (3) the probabilistic impact of water- and land-based spills. The RISKCHEM model was developed and is distributed by Argonne’s Environmental Science Division.

RESRAD

The RESRAD modules are used to evaluate radioactively contaminated sites. Each is briefly described. RESRAD BUILD analyzes the radiological doses caused by the remediation and occupancy of buildings contaminated with radioactive material. It considers external exposure, inhalation of dust and radon, and ingestion of soil/dust.

RESRAD-CHEM evaluates sites contaminated with hazardous chemicals. It calculates cancer incidence risks and hazard indexes to an on-site exposed individual and derives site-specific soil cleanup criteria for hazardous chemicals. The database in RESRAD-CHEM contains chemical properties, transfer factors, and toxicity data for 151 chemicals. RESRAD-Baseline produces a baseline risk assessment based on measured concentrations in the environmental media. RESRAD-RECYCLE assesses radiological doses that result from recycle of contaminated material and reuse of contaminated equipment. The recycle processes considered are initial transportation, smelting, transport to fabrication plants, product fabrication and distribution, and use of consumer products.

RESRAD-PROBABILISTIC has a Monte Carlo preprocessor and a postprocessor for parameter uncertainty analysis. RESRAD-ECORISK estimates risks from contaminant exposure to ecological receptors. Species-specific life history information (ingestion rate, body weight, and diet composition) is used to calculate the applied daily dose and ecological effects quotient.

The RESRAD model was developed and is distributed by Argonne’s Environmental Science Division.

For more information, contact CEEESA.