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Understanding Radioactive Waste
Annals of Nuclear Energy 31 (2004) 583 www.elsevier.com/locate/anucene
Book review Understanding Radioactive Waste R.L. Murray; 5th edition, paperback, 231 pages, Battelle Press, Columbus, OH, 2003, ISBN 1-57477-135-3 Occasionally, books purporting to cover the whole area of radioactive waste are published. Sadly, they are more often than not, a collection of pieces whose only relation to each other is little more than the typeface. R.L. Murray’s Understanding Radioactive Waste is a refreshing exception to this. The book covers the whole topic in a consistent manner, starting with fundamentals of chemistry and physics, moving on to radioactivity, its effects, and standards. Processes that generate such wastes are included, with all sectors leading to wastes being described in detail. Processing, transport and disposal round this off. The book also tackles what many scientists and engineers sometimes consider to be peripherals: societal and ethical issues. Understanding Radioactive Waste is ideally suited as an introduction for graduates or technicians entering this field, but it is also handy for the seasoned professional. Indeed, this tome contains a wealth of numerical information for which one often needs to hunt around (such as composition and volume data). The interested layman will also benefit from reading Understanding Radioactive Waste. As it is a good book, the author won’t mind if the reviewer suggests a few improvements that can still be made. One of these would be a discussion of the chart of nuclides, showing the variation in neutron/proton ratio, thus also explaining the radioactivity of fission products. Although the coverage is excellent for the US, it is somewhat insular, and more than a passing reference is needed for the French and Scandinavian achievements in this field. Finally, the use of mixed SI and imperial units can be frustrating. All in all, this is a worthwhile addition to a corporate or individual’s library. D. Vande Putte Electrowatt-Ekono, Century House, 100 Station Road, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 5UZ, UK
0306-454903/$ - see front matter doi:10.1016/j.anucene.2003.10.006
Book review Understanding Radioactive Waste R.L. Murray; 5th edition, paperback, 231 pages, Battelle Press, Columbus, OH, 2003, ISBN 1-57477-135-3 Occasionally, books purporting to cover the whole area of radioactive waste are published. Sadly, they are more often than not, a collection of pieces whose only relation to each other is little more than the typeface. R.L. Murray’s Understanding Radioactive Waste is a refreshing exception to this. The book covers the whole topic in a consistent manner, starting with fundamentals of chemistry and physics, moving on to radioactivity, its effects, and standards. Processes that generate such wastes are included, with all sectors leading to wastes being described in detail. Processing, transport and disposal round this off. The book also tackles what many scientists and engineers sometimes consider to be peripherals: societal and ethical issues. Understanding Radioactive Waste is ideally suited as an introduction for graduates or technicians entering this field, but it is also handy for the seasoned professional. Indeed, this tome contains a wealth of numerical information for which one often needs to hunt around (such as composition and volume data). The interested layman will also benefit from reading Understanding Radioactive Waste. As it is a good book, the author won’t mind if the reviewer suggests a few improvements that can still be made. One of these would be a discussion of the chart of nuclides, showing the variation in neutron/proton ratio, thus also explaining the radioactivity of fission products. Although the coverage is excellent for the US, it is somewhat insular, and more than a passing reference is needed for the French and Scandinavian achievements in this field. Finally, the use of mixed SI and imperial units can be frustrating. All in all, this is a worthwhile addition to a corporate or individual’s library. D. Vande Putte Electrowatt-Ekono, Century House, 100 Station Road, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 5UZ, UK
0306-454903/$ - see front matter doi:10.1016/j.anucene.2003.10.006