Author(s) |
Rao, D.D.; Baburajan, A.; Sudheendran, V.; Verma, P.C.; Hegde, A.G.
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The evaluation and assessment of monitoring data generated over a period of 1983-2007 (25 years) of
a nuclear facility is presented. Time trends of particulate radioactivity, correlation between 137Cs in
discharge canal seawater and station discharged activity and correlation of 137Cs, 60Co, and 131I in marine
species such as sponge and Nerita (gastropod) and corresponding discharged activity are discussed. The
concentration of 137Cs and 131I in seawater versus biota are discussed. A good correlation between 137Cs in seawater and 137Cs in liquid waste discharged was observed (R2=0.8, p < 0.001). Similarly, correlation
was good for Nerita and discharged concentration of 137Cs, 131I and 60Co (R2 =0.55-0.73 and p < 0.001).
The measurements over the years indicated that there is no accumulation of radionuclides in either the
terrestrial or aquatic environments. The mean 137Cs decreased from the pre-operational levels:
7.0e3.6 Bq kg-1 in soil, 0.91-0.016 Bq L-1 in milk and 0.28-0.036 Bq kg-1 in vegetation. Similarly, the
mean 90Sr in these matrixes decreased from 3.9 to 0.26 Bq kg-1; 0.37-0.011 Bq L-1 and 0.34-0.022 Bq kg-1
respectively. Cesium-137 of about
700 microBq m-3 was measured in the air filter disks during 1986 and there
was a decrease of three orders of magnitude in concentration over the 25 years. The evaluation of
environmental data indicated that the radionuclide concentrations and potential impacts, in terms of
effective dose to the members of public, have significantly reduced since 1969.
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