understanding NORM and TENORM issues

1. What are NORM and TENORM?

• NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material) includes naturally present radioactive elements like uranium (U‑238, U‑235), thorium (Th‑232), radium (Ra‑226/228), radon (Rn‑222), and potassium‑40. These exist in soils, rocks, water, and raw

• TENORM (Technologically Enhanced NORM) refers to these materials whose radioactivity has been concentrated or brought to the surface by industrial activities (e.g., drilling, mining, smelting)

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2. Industry Hotspots: How and Where TENORM & NORM Arise

a. Oil & Gas Extraction and Processing

• Scale forms inside pipelines, valves, separators, tanks; typically enriched with Ra‑226, Ra‑228, Pb‑210, Po‑210 

• Sludge and produced water collects radioactive residues; radium levels can reach ~75 pCi/g and Pb‑210 up to 27,000 pCi/g

• Equipment contamination: North Texas/Gulf Coast equipment may give off 30–70 μR/hr; poorly shielded areas can have up to ~1 mR/hr 

• Radon gas dissolves in produced fluids and decays, depositing Po‑210 and Pb‑210 on internal surfaces 

b. Metallurgy & Steelmaking

• Smelters processing ores (e.g., iron, copper, lead, zinc) or phosphates concentrate U/Th decay products in slags, dust, particulates 

• Workers may inhale dust in foundries or decommissioning operations, risking exposure to α, β, and γ emitters 

c. Uranium Mining & Rare Earths

• Uranium ores require extensive precautions but mines (e.g., Orano’s operations) routinely manage γ‑dose and radon exposures 

3. Health Risks

External Exposure

• Gamma radiation from scales and sludge can penetrate steel walls. Dose rates in oil/gas equipment may reach tens to hundreds µSv/h—hundreds to thousands times background 

• Cumulative exposure increases risk of cancers (leukemia, bone, lung, stomach, thyroid, brain) 

Internal Exposure

• Inhalation / ingestion of dusts, radon daughters (e.g., Po‑210, Pb‑210), or process water can introduce alpha & beta emitters internally—particularly dangerous “bone-seekers” like radium 

• Alpha radiation is harmful when inside the body; radium in bones may cause cancers and bone disorders over years 

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Environmental & Public Risk

• In areas like Azerbaijan’s Apsheron Peninsula, contaminated equipment and soils led to public exposure, scrap disposal in homes, and radium-induced dose rates of 0.6–5 μR/hr 

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4. Real-World Company Contexts

• Tata Steel, Qatar Steel, China Energy: metallurgical operations involve smelting and handling ores; dust emissions rich in radionuclides require monitoring and control.

• TotalEnergies, ExxonMobil, Qatar Petroleum: oil & gas production facilities generate scale, sludge, radon-contaminated flowback, and may need specialized NORM waste treatment.

• Orano (formerly Areva): uranium extraction & processing involves addressing high levels of NORM through dose controls, radon venting, and PPE-for-miners.

5. Protection & Mitigation Measures

a. Engineering Controls

• Close systems & remote tools when cleaning pipelines/tanks to avoid personnel exposure 

• Shielding, e.g., temporary steel or lead barriers, especially during maintenance and scale removal .

• Ventilation & radon exhaust systems to prevent gas accumulation in confined spaces .

b. Administrative Controls

• Radiation Protection Programs with roles, training, dosimetry, record‑keeping, and health monitoring 

• Time–distance–shielding protocols: limit time near hot zones, increase extraction distance, use shields .

• Restricted access to contaminated areas and signage to prevent inadvertent entry.

c. Personal Protective Equipment

• Respirators with HEPA filters for dust and radon progeny 

• Protective clothing: Tyvek suits, gloves (neoprene, nitrile) to prevent skin and clothing contamination .

• Dosimeters: wearable electronic dosimeters to track γ exposure in real time 

d. Decontamination & Waste Management

• Surface monitoring for removable NORM; decontamination before maintenance .

• Proper labeling, packaging, and disposal of NORM-contaminated materials, sludge, scale, and equipment

• Specialized treatment facilities for scrap metals, as in Azerbaijan, to avoid reuse of contaminated items 

6. Regulatory Exposure Limits

• IAEA / ICRP set occupational limits at 20 mSv/year (public 1 mSv) and require action above thresholds such as 1 Bq/g U/Th or 10 Bq/g K‑40 

• U.S. OSHA/EPA/NRC enforce controls on radon, gamma exposure, and TENORM disposal 

7. Summary Table

Hazard Source	Industries	Exposure Pathways	Control Measures
Scale & Sludge	Oil & Gas	External γ, internal inhalation	Shielding, HEPA masks, remote handling, PPE, decontamination
Dust & Ores	Metallurgy, mining	Internal inhalation	Ventilation, respirators, surface cleaning, monitoring
Radon Gas	Oil & Gas, uranium	Internal via inhalation	Radon venting, monitoring, access controls
Contaminated Equipment	All	External, internal	Scrapping, disposal, shielding, signage

Final Thoughts

Workers in metallurgical, oil, gas, uranium, and mining sectors are at risk from naturally occurring and enhanced radioactive materials. The most critical exposures come from gamma radiation, radon and its progeny, and dust containing alpha/beta emitters, especially in removal and maintenance operations.

Protection hinges on:

1. Engineering safeguards – shielding, ventilation, remote tools

2. Administrative procedures – training, time/area control, dosimetry

3. Personal protective gear – respirators, protective suits, gloves

4. Waste handling – careful disposal, dedicated scrap processing

Implementing these measures—together with ongoing monitoring, record‑keeping, and regulatory compliance—protects both workers and the public. Leading companies like TotalEnergies, ExxonMobil, Orano, Tata, Qatar Petroleum, and China Energy generally have robust programs in place. Continuous vigilance, especially during scale/sludge cleanup, pipeline pigging, and plant decommissioning, is essential.