Environmental and effluent monitoring at ANSTO sites, 2006-2007
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Date
2008-03
Authors
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
Abstract
This report presents the results of ANSTO’s environmental and effluent monitoring at the Lucas Heights Science and Technology Centre (LHSTC) and the National Medical Cyclotron (NMC) sites, from July 2006 to June 2007. Estimated effective doses to the members of the public potentially affected by routine airborne emissions from the LHSTC were lower than in previous years due to the closure of the HIFAR research reactor. The maximum potential off-site dose of 0.002 mSv/year was 10% of the As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) objective of 0.02 mSv/year, and much lower than the public dose limit of 1 mSv/year that is recommended by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA). The effective doses to the critical group potentially exposed to routine liquid effluent releases from the LHSTC have been realistically assessed at less than 25% of the estimated doses to the critical group for airborne releases. Based on releases of liquid effluent from the LHSTC during 2006-07, a radiological risk assessment was conducted for marine biota in the receiving environment at Potter Point. The possible dose-rates to various species of marine biota were evaluated against international criteria recommended for the protection of biota from radiological hazards. In all cases it was concluded that the radiological risk to marine biota from ANSTO’s effluent releases was negligible. The median tritium concentrations detected in groundwater and surface waters at the LHSTC were typically less than 2% of those set out in the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. The airborne emissions from the NMC were below the ARPANSA-approved notification levels. Results of environmental monitoring at both ANSTO sites confirm that the facilities continue to be operated well within regulatory limits. ANSTO’s routine operations at the LHSTC and NMC make only a very small addition to the natural background radiation dose of approximately 1.5 mSv/year experienced by members of the Australian public.
Description
Keywords
Environmental impacts, Radioactive effluents, ANSTO, Water quality
Citation
Hoffmann, E. L., Loosz, T., & Ferris, J. M. (2008). Environmental and effluent monitoring at ansto sites, 2006-2007 (ANSTO/E-762). Lucas Heights, NSW: Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation.