Environmental and effluent monitoring at ANSTO sites, 2005-2006
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Date
2007-03
Authors
Journal Title
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 Lucas Heights Science and Technology Centre (LHSTC) and the National Medical Cyclotron (NMC) sites, from July 2005 to June 2006. Estimated effective doses to the critical group of members of the public potentially affected by routine airborne emissions from the LHSTC were less that 0.005 mSv/year. The maximum potential dose was 23% of the ANSTO ALARA objective of 0.02 mSv/year, much lower than the public dose limit of 1mSv/year that is recommended by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Authority (ARPANSA). The effective doses to the critical groups of members of the public potentially exposed to routine liquid effluent releases from the LHSTC have been realistically estimated as a quarter (or less) of the estimated doses to the critical group for airborne releases. The medium 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 ~1.5 mSv/year experienced by members of the Australian public.
Description
Keywords
Environmental impacts, Radioactive effluents, ANSTO, Water quality
Citation
Hoffmann, E. L., Looze, T., Ferris, J. M., & Harrison, J. J. (2006). Environmental and effluent monitoring at ANSTO sites, 2005-2006 (ANSTO/E-761). Lucas Heights, NSW: Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation.