Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2014. Vol. 59. No. 2. P. 5-12
RADIATION SAFETY
N.K. Shandala1, A.A. Filonova1, E.S. Shchelkanova2, K. Sneve3, N.Ya. Novikova1, M.P. Semenova1, R.A. Aladova1, T.I. Gimadova1, N.A. Busarova1, R.I. Sheina1, L.N. Volkonskaya1
Radiation Survey at Andreeva Bay Sites of Temporary Storage of the Spent Nuclear Fuel and Radioactive Waste
1. Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of FMBA, Moscow, Russia. E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; 2. Northwest Center for Radioactive Waste Management SevRAO (NWC SevRAO – Branch of RosRAO), Murmansk, Russia; 3. Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority (NRPA), Oslo, Norway
CONTENT
Purpose: To investigate the radiation-hygienic situation and to estimate effective doses to the public, who live and/or work (workers of B personnel category) at Andreeva Bay sites of temporary storage of the spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste.
Material and methods: During 2005–2013, 13 expeditions have been made and more than 300 samples of the environmental media, local foodstuffs and drinking water have been collected; personal dose monitoring of the public has been made, as well as in-situ dosimetry. Monitoring points were located within the health protection zone and surveillance area. The samples were examined by gamma-spectrometry, radiochemistry, radiometry and dosimetry methods.
Results: Current conditions of the spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste storage at sites of temporary storage (STS) have caused substantial degradation of some part of spent nuclear fuel during its storage. As a result, radionuclides have already penetrated into the soil near the storage areas at the depth of a few meters. Some areas on the sites had high dose rates – up to about 140 μSv/h – due to contamination from past spent fuel storage practices. The obtained results suggest that currently there are no major radiological impacts of the STS sites on the adjacent territory and population, with the possible exception of the sea media in the coastal areas (bottom sediments, seaweeds). The concentrations of 137Cs and 90Sr in the environmental media are at background levels typical for the present region.
Conclusions: Radiation situation at STS in Andreeva Bay is significant and complicates the safe management of work to remove the spent nuclear fuel and stored radioactive waste. On-site measurements suggest that remediation work will have to be planned with taking into account the on-site contamination in two ways. Firstly, the activity levels will present external and internal exposure hazards to workers involved in remedial operations. Secondly, the spent nuclear fuel removal must be planned so as not to disturb and, hence release, significant contamination from the sites.
Key words: site of temporary storage, health protection zone, surveillance area, environmental media, local foodstuffs, personal dose monitoring, effective dose