What are the principal hazards at an enrichment facility?
The principal hazards at an enrichment plant are the chemical hazards in handling UF6. When UF6 contacts moisture in air, it reacts to form hydrogen fluoride and uranyl fluoride. The chemical hazards of compounds of uranium in soluble form such as UF6 and uranyl fluoride are much greater than the radiological hazards of those same compounds. In addition, hydrogen fluoride can be very dangerous if inhaled; inhalation is the principal hazard at an enrichment plant. These hazards are controlled by plant design and administrative controls to confine soluble uranium compounds. The radiological hazards are relatively low and containers of natural, enriched, and depleted uranium can be handled without additional shielding. Transportation of UF6 to and from the enrichment plant is regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the NRC. Requirements for shipping UF6 are generally equivalent to requirements for shipping nonradioactive corrosive materials.
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