Radiation risk assessment for the population from C-14 emissions of the World’s first NPP and Smolensk NPP

Abstract

The results of the internal radiation dose calculations for the population and the assessment of the radiation risk from radioactive carbon C-14 during the normal operation of the World’s First Nuclear Power Plant in Obninsk and Smolensk NPP are presented. Calculations were carried out using two methods, taking into account the inhalation and oral intake of C-14 with food into the human body. Radiation doses are 5.69·10-9 Sv/year and 5.95·10-9 Sv/year (for Obninsk NPP), 3.77·10-7 Sv/year and 3.96·10-7 Sv/year (for Smolensk NPP), which is orders of magnitude less than the established minimum significant dose (10 μSv). The assessed levels of radiation risk for the population does not exceed the risk established by NRB 99/2009 (1·10-5). It was found that the main contribution to the formation of the dose and risk of internal radiation of the population from C-14 radiation, released by the respective NPP, was the incorporation of radionuclide with locally produced food products, which is confirmed by the results of calculations using two methods, taking into account the influence of two nuclear power plants.