Precautions arising from the experimental campaign on contaminated metal components parameters for safely nuclear power plant components dismantling

Caorso’s Nuclear Power Plant (Boiling Water Reactor, 870 MWe), built in the 70s and fully operating in the period 1981-1986, was shut down on 1987, due to Italy’s poll that abrogated nuclear power based on U235 fission. The preliminary dismantling activities have involved an experimental campaign adopting plasma and oxyacetylene metal cutting processes and concerning no activated materials (plates and tubes exposed to the coolant steam of the reactor). Analyses have been carried out of by use contaminated components below the free release level (1·10 4 Bq/m 2 ), not yet considering radioactivity, allowing a correct evaluation of the physical and chemical characteristics of the produced aerosol, finding the possible chances related to the associated filtration systems, and, in general, important precautions for a safely NPP components disassembling.