Revised radioactive airborne effluent discharge limit for the Lucas Heights Research Laboratories
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Date
1989-09
Authors
Petersen, MCE
Clark, GH
Bailey, GM
May, FG
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
Abstract
The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, formerly the Australian Atomic Energy Commission, is authorised under the NSW Radioactive Substances Act to release limited quantities of radioactive airborne effluent into the atmosphere from its facilities at the Lucas Heights Research Laboratories (LHRL). This authorisation is about twenty years old. This report proposes a revised site-wide airborne effluent discharge limit for the LHRL. The revised discharge limit is based upon the panoply of current International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and National Health Medical Research Council (NH & MRC) recommendations. It takes account of the operational changes at the LHRL and developments in radiation dosimetry and meteorology. The development and technical basis of the revised discharge limit, together with its relation to the ICRP recommendations, is briefly given. The formal discharge limit is to be approved by the NSW Radiological Advisory Council. The discharge limit consists of three components. First, a definition of the discharge limit expressed in terms of a fraction of the recommended ICRP dose limits. This limit is supported by, second, a compliance procedure and, third, a reporting procedure. In addition to the revised discharge limit, a number of operational and safety measures have to be further developed under the direction of ANSTO Management. The development of 'reference' levels' recommended by the ICRP is briefly described. In the present context, two reference levels for the quantities of activity released from each source will be established. The levels operate effectively like quality control measures in industry. They require certain operator actions if they are exceeded. The doses to individuals which are estimated for releases at the reference levels of releases of activity are well within the revised dose limits. From an operational point of view, these levels will vary with changing operations.
Description
Keywords
ANSTO, Radioactive effluents, Quality control, ICRP
Citation
Petersen, M. C. E., Clark, G. H., Bailey, G. M., & May, F. G., (1989). Revised radioactive airborne effluent discharge limit for the Lucas Heights Research Laboratories. (ANSTO/DR25). Lucas Heights, N.S.W.: Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation.