Environmental impact assessment of Ar-41 released by the normal operation of Triga-Mark II research reactor

In accordance with the international regulation of nuclear safety and radiological protection of the environment applicable to the basic Nuclear Installations, category in which the Triga-Mark II research reactor is considered, an assessment of the impact in to the environment of the Ar-41 radioelement is accomplished. This radioelement is released by the normal operation of this reactor. The assessment is based on the characteristics of a Moroccan site (where the reactor is installed). It is carried out using CEA(c) Gaussian models and mathematical models developed in LLNL(d). Considering the assumptions of impact assessments of the radioactivity in the atmosphere, the most important exposure is relatively corresponding to 1 Km from the reactor. This exposure is approximately 0,07% of the lawful limit. Beyond this locality, the exposure becomes lower than 0.02% of this limit. Beyond 5 Km, it becomes lower than ten nano-Sievert. In the basis of the site radiological baseline, the environmental impact of Ar-41 released in normal operation of the reactor is negligible in the studied case. (author)