Author(s)

N. K. Shandala, N. Ya. Novikova, S. M. Kiselev, D. V. Isaev, V. A. Seregin, E. G. Metlyaev & Yu. A. Shchagin

Abstract

Investigation monitoring in the vicinity of nuclear power plants (NPP) includes radiation hygienic monitoring and population health monitoring. Radiation hygienic monitoring is the system of the comprehensive and dynamic surveillance including the long-term continuous control of radiation hygienic situation parameters and doses of residents in the near-by areas of NPP. In the reference points of the NPP surveillance area and in the comparison area, the specialized rules are elaborated. These rules include the types of environmental media, scope and periodicity of sampling, methodological and technical requirements, etc. Two approaches are used for population health assessment: epidemiological and cohort. Medical demography characteristics are based upon indices of the birth rate, general malignant neoplasm mortality, and infant and childhood mortality. Morbidity is used as quantitative and qualitative index of the population health. The radiation hygienic situation in NPP surveillance areas is generally satisfactory and stable. The individual population risk for all radiation sources in surveillance areas of three examined NPPs is (2.5-3.1)·10-4 cases per year. The individual risk related to the NPP operation is 0.4·10-12 (Volgodonsk NPP) to 3.2·10-8 (Novovoronezh NPP) cases per year. Thus, this risk is hundreds and even million times lower if compared to unconditional acceptable risk – 1·10-6. The assessment of the health baseline as well as in the comparison areas was elaborated applying data of state medical statistics within more than ten years. The peculiar attention was attracted to the malignant neoplasm morbidity, their incidence rate and dynamics. The developed comprehensive investigation monitoring in the NPP vicinity should be the necessary part of the nationwide system of the public radiation protection regulation under nuclear renaissance, because it provides the opportunity to get

Keywords

NPP, radiation hygienic monitoring, population health monitoring, surveillance area, environmental objects, exposure doses, radiation risk, morbidity