Radiological hazard assessment for human from nuclear power plant effluent released under normal operation scenario (hypothetical case study)

Abstract

This paper presents an assessment of the radiological hazard for humans from nuclear power plant effluent released into a river under normal operation scenarios (NOS). A hypothetical case study was conducted to estimate the annual effective dose (AED) received by the general public due to the discharge of effluent from the nuclear power plant. The results indicate that the radiological hazard for humans from nuclear power plant effluent released under (NOS) is minimal. The estimated AED received by the general public was found to be below 0.1 mSv/year, which is well below the annual dose limit of 1 mSv/y set by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). The excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) detected remained within acceptable limits. These results estimated that nuclear power can be a safe and reliable source of energy when operated in accordance with established safety protocols. The study revealed that the concentration of 137Cs in sediments was higher than that of other radionuclides studied, leading to increased potential hazards over time. Overall, this study provides valuable information on the radiological hazard associated with nuclear power plant effluent released into a river under (NOS), which can be useful in the development of radiation protection strategies for nuclear power plants and in the communication of the risks associated with nuclear power to the public.