Expert Reports
These reports are unique, authoritative expert evaluations. Each report is produced by a committee of experts selected by the Academy to address a particular statement of task and is subject to a rigorous, independent peer review.
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Analysis of Cancer Risks in Populations near Nuclear Facilities: Phase 1 (2012)
Report in Brief >> The question of whether there are cancer risks associated with living near a nuclear facility is of great interest to the public, especially those living closest to the facilities. Airborne and waterborne emissions of radioactive materials from the facilities’ normal operations (called effluents) can expose nearby populations to ionizing radiation, which could elevate the risk of cancer in the exposed populations. The firs... More >>
Report in Brief
Waste Forms Technology and Performance: Final Report (2011)
The Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM) is responsible for cleaning up radioactive waste and environmental contamination resulting from five decades of nuclear weapons production and testing that are stored at over 100 sites across the United States. A major focus of this program involves the retrieval and processing of stored waste to reduce its volume and incorporate it into suitable waste forms to facilitate saf... More >>
Understanding and Managing Risk Security Systems for the DOE Nuclear Weapons Complex (2011)
In the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Nuclear Security Administration -- a semi-autonomous agency -- is responsible for securing fully and partially assembled nuclear weapons and significant quantities of special nuclear material at facilities around the country. The U.S. Congress directed the Administration to ask the National Research Council for advice on augmenting its security approach, particularly on the applicability o... More >>
Evaluating Testing, Costs, and Benefits of Advanced Spectroscopic Portals (2011)
The Department of Homeland Security is assessing a new radiation screening system to improve detection of nuclear or radiological material in cargo containers entering the United States. Shortcomings in the design and evaluation of tests conducted in 2008 reduce the Department's ability to compare the performance of the proposed system -- advanced spectroscopic portals -- to the handheld devices and portal monitors currently in use, according t... More >>
Nuclear Forensics: A Capability at Risk (2010)
Nuclear forensics is the examination and evaluation of discovered or seized nuclear materials and devices or, in cases of nuclear explosions or radiological dispersals, of detonation signals and post-detonation debris. Nuclear forensic evidence helps law enforcement and intelligence agencies work toward preventing, mitigating, and attributing a nuclear or radiological incident. This report, requested by the Department of Homeland Security, th... More >>