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Sustainable and Safe Nuclear Fission Energy pp 283–311Cite as

Radioactive Releases from Nuclear Power Plants and Fuel Cycle Facilities During Normal Operation

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Part of the book series: Power Systems ((POWSYS))

Abstract

During normal operation of nuclear power plants and facilities of the nuclear fuel cycle small amounts of radioactivity are released into the environment at a monitored and controlled rate. Men may be exposed to external radiation as well as radiation by inhalation and ingestion. Upper limits for the radiation exposure of individuals of the public as well as of employees during their occupational work time have been set by the International Commission on Radiation Protection as well as by state organizations. The nuclear fuel cycle begins with uranium mining and milling where the main effluents are radon and dust particles containing uranium and its decay products. Radioactive effluents are reported for both open pit and underground mining. This is followed by listing the radioactivity release and exposure rate of uranium conversion, enrichment and fuel fabrication facilities. For Pressurized Water Reactors the annual effective dose to the public is well below one micro-Sievert. For Boiling Water reactors the annual effective dose is somewhat higher. However, this is still more than a factor 100 lower than the permissible limit. Release data for radioactive nuclides from the European spent fuel reprocessing and waste treatment centers are collected by the European Commission. The radioactive exposures to the public from these facilities are well below the permissible effective radiation exposures as well. The same result is valid for the plutonium/uranium mixed oxide fuel refabrication plant MELOX in France.

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  1. Jägersteig 4, 76297, Stutensee, Germany

    Günter Kessler

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  1. Günter Kessler
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© 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Kessler, G. (2012). Radioactive Releases from Nuclear Power Plants and Fuel Cycle Facilities During Normal Operation. In: Sustainable and Safe Nuclear Fission Energy. Power Systems. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-11990-3_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-11990-3_10

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-11989-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-11990-3

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