Beförderung radioaktiver Stoffe: Beförderungsaufkommen und Transportsicherheit

The results of the survey of transport data represent the most comprehensive current database on the types and arisings of radioactive materials in the Federal Republic of Germany. They show that, summed up over all carriers, almost halfa million shipments of radioactive substances were carried out nationwide (old plus new German federal states) in the late eighties. The largest number of transports, i.e. 665,000 units, were conducted on the road, while some 240,000 packages were shipped by air. The nationwide arisings of shipments of radioactive substances thus have increased by more than 50% since the mid-seventies. These numbers underscore the importance of handling and shipping radioactive materials in our technology-oriented society. Yet, transports of radioactive materials, i.e. hazardous substances, represent only a small fraction of the total number of hazardous goods transported on public routes. According to a survey of shipments of hazardous goods of all categories (categories 1-9) in the old German federal states, the total volume shipped in the period under review amounted to approx. 177 million t/a, with an (estimated) share of radioactive items of approx. 0.04 million t. This corresponds to less than 0.03%. In the view of IAEA and the European Union alike, the safety record of shipments of radioactive materials to date can be judged positive. This assessment also applies to the Federal Republic of Germany. It is borne out especially by the experience accumulated over the past thirty or forty years, which includes not a single shipping incident worldwide with major radiological consequences, let alone casualties due to radiation. In view of the greater risk awareness in our industrialized society, and also stricter safety requirements, e.g. those based on recent ICRP recommendations, the safety. issue associated with transports of radioactive materials, as of other hazardous goods, remains a constant challenge to those responsible for safety.