Heavy Metals - doe-hdbk-1188-20060130

DOE-HDBK-1188-2006

89. HEAVY METALS. Metallic and semimetallic elements that are generally highly toxic to plants and

animals and that tend to accumulate in food chains are referred to collectively as "heavy metals."

Heavy metals include lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, and arsenic.

Additional optional information:

Many metallic and semimetallic elements analyzed in environmental samples are often referred to

collectively as "heavy metals."

(For example, EPA regulation 40 CFR 258.4 refers to t he following monitoring parameters as

"heavy metals": antimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper,

lead, nickel, selenium, silver, thallium, vanadium, and zinc.)

Note: The term "heavy metals" is deeply embedded in environmental usage and will doubtless

continue to be used. However, some of the elements commonly called "heavy metals" are not

heavy (e.g., beryllium) or are not true metals (e.g., arsenic). Therefore, "heavy metals" should

be avoided whenever more precise wording can be substituted.

[Derived from ESTD, 40 CFR 258.4]

90. HEAVY METAL. In the context of nuclear technology, "heavy metal" means all uranium, plutonium,

or thorium placed into a nuclear reactor. (See metric tons of heavy metal.) [Derived from 40 CFR

191.12]

91. HEPA (HIGH EFFICIENCY PARTICULATE AIR) FILTER. An air filter capable of removing at

least 99.97 percent of particles 0.3 micrometers (about 0.00001 inch) in diameter. These filters

include a pleated fibrous medium (typically fiberglass) capable of capturing very small particles.

[Derived from 40 CFR 61.152, 40 CFR 63.542, 40 CFR 763.83]

92. HIGH-LEVEL WASTE OR HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE (HLW). Defined by statute

(the Nuclear Waste Policy Act) to mean the highly radioactive waste material resulting from the

reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, including liquid waste produced directly in reprocessing and any

solid material derived from such liquid waste that contains fission products nuclides in sufficient

concentrations; and other highly radioactive material that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

(NRC), consistent with existing law, determines by rule requires permanent isolation. The NRC has

not defined "sufficient concentrations" of fission products or identified "other highly radioactive

material that requires permanent isolation." The NRC defines high-level radioactive waste (HLW) to

mean irradiated (spent) reactor fuel, as well as liquid waste resulting from the operation of the first

cycle solvent extraction system, the concentrated wastes from subsequent extraction cycles in a facility

for reprocessing irradiated reactor fuel, and solids into which such liquid wastes have been converted.

For a specific NEPA document, an additional statement can be included. For example: In this

EIS "high-level waste" refers to [INSERT BRIEF EXPLANATION].

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