Abstract
Background: The construction and operation of nuclear facilities require that retrospective environmental impact assessments (REIAs) be conducted to identify the realistic radiologic impact of those facilities, thereby providing useful information for minimizing effects on the public and the environment.Materials and Methods: A retrospective assessment of nuclear facilities has two main aspects: spatial distribution of radionuclide concentrations and assessment of the dose to the representative individual. In the present study, a comprehensive REIA method was established in combination with effluent discharge and environmental monitoring data obtained for the nuclear facility. Using historical effluent discharge data and local parameters, the spatial distribution of radionuclide concentrations was simulated, and the representative individual was identified. In combination with the monitoring data, the actual radiation doses that representative individuals received were further assessed, ensuring more accurate assessment results.Results and Discussion: Effluent discharge and environmental monitoring data series collected between 2002 and 2019 for uranium processing facility in China were analyzed. Results indicated a significant declining trend in the radioactive effluent per 100 tons of raw material during that period. Based on the actual data for the discharge of airborne effluent, the maximum effective dose to the representative individual was 0.015 μSv/yr. In comparison, the dose to the representative individual based on environmental monitoring data was close to zero. Those results suggest that the uranium processing facility has had little radiologic impact on the representative individual, despite many years of operation.Conclusion: The REIA method proposed in this study can use effluent discharge data in conjunction with environmental monitoring data to effectively identify the representative individual and assess the realistic radiologic impact to that individual.