Radionuclides Transport Phenomena in Vadose Zone

Radioactive waste management is fundamental to safeguard population and environment by radiological risks. Environmental assessment of a site, where nuclear activities are located, allows to understand the hydro geological system and the radionuclides transport in groundwater and subsoil. The use of dedicated software allows the investigation of transport phenomena and to predict accidental scenarios dynamic; this allows to understand the evolution of the accidental contamination, but at the mean time the potentiality of the software itself can be verified. The aim of this paper is to perform a numerical analysis by means of HYDRUS 1D code, so as to evaluate radionuclides transport dynamics in a nuclear site in Piedmont region (Italy). In particular, the behaviour in vadose zone has been investigated. An iterative assessment process has been performed for risk assessment of radioactive contamination. The analysis therein developed considers the following aspects: i) hydro geological site characterization; ii) individuation of the main factors influencing water flow and radionuclides transport phenomena; iii) software potential for radionuclides leakage simulation purposes.