Natural radioactivity around Rooppur nuclear power plant before commissioning

Abstract

A detailed overview of the natural and anthropogenic activity concentrations in soil, surface and groundwater, agricultural products, food, river sediments, aquatic flora and fauna, air and radon hazards in the vicinity of the first ever under-construction Rooppur nuclear power plant (NPP) in the People’s Republic of Bangladesh has been portrayed in the current exhaustive review article. Most of the reported data have been obtained using gamma-ray spectrometry. A comparative study for the activity concentrations around Rooppur NPP site with other studies performed in different areas in Bangladesh has also been presented. All the reported values of activity concentrations are comparable to global averages and are within permissible limits, hence authenticating the radiological safety of the region. The content of 90Sr and 137Cs in water samples is relatively low averaging to 0.06 and 0.07 Bq l−1 respectively. Furthermore, activity of 137Cs in soil samples is below detection level, proving the absence of activity due to fallout in this region. The study provides a baseline of radioactivity in the proposed Rooppur NPP site hence allowing the observation of changes and the identification of impacts caused by the technogenic changes of background radiation after commissioning of the NPP on the environmental situation in the region.