Discharges of radioactive substances and generic model development for assessment of radiation impact to the environment

The International Basic Standards for Protection against Ionizing Radiation and for the Safety of Radiation Sources (BSS), based on primarily on the 1990 Recommendations of ICRP and other IAEA Safety Series publications, establish basic and detailed requirements for protection against the risks associated with exposure to radiation and for the safety of radiation sources that may deliver such exposure. The BSS place requirements and the procedures outlined in more detail in Safety Standards No.WS-G-2.3, in which, in particular, provides the information necessary to allow the legal person responsible to 'make an assessment of the nature, magnitude and likelihood of the exposures attributed to source'. With the development of nuclear facility ad its application in China, it is apparent that people pay more attention to the management of radioactive materials. The Chinese Basic Standards for Protection against Ionizing Radiation and for the Safety of Radiation Sources (GB18871-2002) requires assessment of doses to humans and environment from releases of radionuclides to the environment. It is clear that the assessment of the consequential radiation exposure arising from any releases of radioactive materials to the environment will have to rely on some forms of model. This paper summarizes recent progress from relevant publications and concludes primarily the basis requirements and prospect in assessment model development, so that enhances the quality and standard of radiation environment assessment in China. (author)