Reference levels of radioactive contamination of water bodies based on the environmental criteria

Abstract

Quantitative environmental criteria for the radiation protection of aquatic ecosystems, namely, reference concentrations of radionuclides in water are developed. If activity concentrations of radionuclides do not exceed these levels, aquatic biota can be considered completely protected from the negative effects of ionizing radiation. Reference concentrations of radionuclides in environmental objects can be compared directly with the measurement data on radioactive contamination parameters that allows using them for the monitoring data interpretation. Reference concentrations of anthropogenic radionuclides in the sea and fresh water are calculated using the environmental criteria and are compared to the values of reference concentrations computed using the hygienic criterion. It is demonstrated that the current levels of concentration of 90Sr, 137Cs, and tritium in the seas, rivers, and lakes of Russia are considerably lower than the values of reference concentrations of these radionuclides calculated using the environmental criterion.