Abstract
This study reviews the status of the radioactive material produced in Afghanistan. It also evaluates the legal framework and technical capabilities of Afghanistan in managing their radioactive sources. The study finds out that like many developing countries, Afghanistan is not an exception in poor management of its radioactive waste. The ineffectiveness of the system in managing radioactive waste due to the lack of technical and financial capabilities are discussed and some measures are recommended.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
IAEA (2018) Status and trends in spent fuel and radioactive waste management. IAEA, Vienna (IAEA Nuclear Energy Series No. NW-T-1.14, v. NW-T-1.14)
Ravichandran R, Binukumar JP, Sreeram Rajan, Arunkumar LS (2011) An overview of radioactive waste disposal procedures of a nuclear medicine department. J Med Phys 36(2):95–99. https://doi.org/10.4103/0971-6203.79692
IAEA (2002) Expert mission from the IAEA assists national and UN authorities to safely store radioactive materials. Vienna, checked on 1/23/2019
IAEA (2011): Afghanistan signs its first Country Programme Framework, Vienna. https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/afghanistan-signs-its-first-country-programme-framework-cpf-for-2012-2016
IAEA (2018) IAEA mission helps Afghanistan manage growing cancer burden. https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/iaea-mission-helps-afghanistan-manage-growing-cancer-burden
Tanha Mohammad, Riebe Beate, Ikeda-Ohno Atsushi, Schulze Marie, Khalid Fazal R, Storai Abobaker, Walther Clemens (2018) Environmental radioactivity studies in Kabul and northern Afghanistan. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 318(3):2425–2433. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-6242-1
ICRP (1997) Protection from potential exposures. Application to selected radiation sources: adopted by the Commission in November 1996. Published for the International Commission on Radiological Protection by Pergamon (ICRP publication, 76), Oxford. BLDSS. http://www.elsevier.com/journals
Batchelor S, Bladock C, Saunders JE (1991) A survey of radioactive waste disposal arrangements in UK hospitals and medical research institutions. 11(4), pp 259–265. http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0952-4746/11/4/005/pdf, checked on 1/23/2019
IAEA (2009) Classification of radioactive waste. General safety guide. International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna (IAEA safety standards series, 1020-525X, no. GSG-1)
Ockman RP (ed) (2017) DOD procured non-intrusive inspection equipment: $9.48 million worth of equipment sits unused at borders in Afghanistan (SIGAR-18-14-SP). SIGAR, Virginia
Thomas KT (1992) Management of radioactive wastes in developing countries. IAEA, Vienna
Darko EO, Fletcher JJ (1998) National waste management infrastructure in Ghana. J Radiol Prot 18(4):293–299
IAEA (2015) Afghanistan looks to open cancer care centre, Vienna. https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/world-cancer-day-afghanistan-looks-open-cancer-care-centre
Round WH, Jafari S, Kron T, Azhari HA, Chhom S, Hu Y et al (2015) Brief histories of medical physics in Asia-Oceania. Australas Phys Eng Sci Med 38(3):381–398. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13246-015-0342-9
Sadaty AK (2019) Support for a study on Radioactive waste control 28.01.2019. Email to Mohammad R Tanha. Magdeburg, 2019
Vennard, M (2008) Pakistan ‘dumped nuclear waste’. In: BBC World, 4/1/2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7323920.stm, checked on 5/22/2019AAEHC (2012) The history of atomic energy in Afghanistan. AAEHC. Kabul. Available online at The History of Atomic Energy, https://aaehc.gov.af/en/history-atomic-energy-activities-afghanistan), checked on 1/23/2019
DAWN (2008) Afghanistan to investigate N-waste allegation. In: DAWN Pakistan, 7/17/2008. https://www.dawn.com/news/312166, checked on 5/22/2019
Duraković, A (2003) Undiagnosed illnesses and radioactive warfare. Afghanistan Uranium Studies 44(5), pp 520–532. http://umrc.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Undiagnosed-Illness-and-Radioactive-Warfare-CMJ-2003.pdf, checked on 5/22/2019
IAEA (1981) Shallow ground disposal of radioactive wastes. A guidebook. International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna sold by [UNIPUB] (Safety series, no. 53)
Tecdoc IAEA (1998) Management of small quantities of radioactive waste. TECDOC-1041. IAEA, Vienna
The Afghan government (2015) Nuclear energy law. http://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/natlex4.detail?p_lang=en&p_isn=102065
IAEA (1995) The safe use of radiation sources. Training course series No 6
IAEA (2014) Radiation protection and safety of radiation sources. International basic safety standards/jointly sponsored by: European Commission [and seven others]. International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna (IAEA safety standards series, 1020-525X, no. GSR part 3)
Tanha MR, Khalid FR, Hoeschen C (2019) Assessment of radiation protection and awareness level among radiation workers and members of the public in Afghanistan—a pilot study. J Radiol Prot 39(3):1–7. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6498/ab2204
Ismail H, Hanafiah MM (2019) Discovering opportunities to meet the challenges of an effective waste electrical and electronic equipment recycling system in Malaysia. J Clean Prod 238:117927
Ismail H, Hanafiah MM (2019) An overview of LCA application in WEEE management: current practices, progress and challenges. J Clean Prod 232:79–93
Ali MY, Hanafiah MM, Khan MF (2018) Potential factors that impact the radon level and the prediction of ambient dose equivalent rates of indoor microenvironments. Sci Total Environ 626:1–10
Ali MY, Hanafiah MM, Khan MF, Latif MT (2017) Quantitative source apportionment and human toxicity of indoor trace metals at university buildings. Build Environ 121:238–246
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to the offered support by the AAEHC, the US embassy in Kabul, MTH authority (the director of the hospital Prof. Mahmud Gul Kohdamani) and the NRI authorities of the MoPH in collecting and providing the relevant information, dose measurements and on site photography.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tanha, M.R., Hanafiah, M.M., Khalid, F.R. et al. Current status of radioactive waste management in Afghanistan. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 323, 715–720 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-019-06974-z
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-019-06974-z