Collective Radiation Dose in West European Power Reactors and Some Observations on Distribution of Doses Between Individual Workers

Abstract

Collection, analysis and discussion of radiation dose statistics is one way in which the European Commission promotes the ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) principle in nuclear power plants of member countries. Some of the analyses undertaken are presented and the following major conclusions drawn: 1. Collective dose and the number of people receiving dose are log-normally distributed through the reactor population. 2. Collective dose in European water reactors is slowly increasing with age. 3. The number of people receiving measurable dose at each site varies from 300 to over 2000 with a geometric mean value of about 1000. 4. Average individual dose, collective dose and individual dose distributions are closely related and the relationship appears to be independent of the reactor type. If this relationship is not recognised when setting criteria for individual, average individual and collective dose, incompatibility can arise and cause difficulties when criteria are applied in operation and design.