Comprehensive assessment of radiation impact from natural radioactivity and tritium around Rooppur NPP before commissioning and predicted exposures of NPP operation

Abstract

The research work undertakes an in-depth evaluation of radiation impact on the population due to natural radioactivity and tritium around the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) before it is put into operation in the People's Republic of Bangladesh. Expected atmospheric releases during normal operation of the RNPP following commissioning are also evaluated. The dose of tritium β-radiation that the residents of Rooppur would receive from their drinking water before the RNPP is put into operation is assessed using techniques suggested by Momot et al. (2017) and Zhuravkov et al. (2019). Risk is calculated using the linear non-threshold approach. The findings of dose and risk assessment on the general public are four orders of magnitude below the permissible limits of 1 mSv/yr. and 5.0 × 10−5, respectively. Calculated dose and risk levels are 3 orders of magnitude lower than the annual effective dose and risk due to naturally occurring radionuclides in drinking water within Bangladesh including the Rooppur area. It is also calculated how much radiation the populace will be exposed to from anticipated atmospheric releases when the RNPP is operating normally after commissioning. This has been done following models of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) using CROM software. 3.67 μSv/yr., or 0.37% of the annual dose quota of 1 mSv/yr., is the estimated annual effective dose to the local population. Consequently, it can be said that there is low radiation risk to Bangladesh's people, both before and after the RNPP's commissioning of its two VVER-1200 reactor units. Following commissioning, the radiation monitoring information can be utilized to calculate the dose of technogenic radiation exposure and, consequently, the RNPP's contribution to the overall radiation dose to the general public.