Study of the radiological and chemical quality of sediments and water of the Loire river at the vicinity of the Belleville-sur-Loire CNPE. Study performed on the request of the Belleville-sur-Loire Local Information Commission

This study reports an assessment of the influence of present and previous releases of the Belleville-sur-Loire nuclear site, as well as of the persistence of other pollutions in the environment. The report first recalls authorised annual levels for liquid and gaseous radioactive releases and for chemical releases. It describes the strategy and method adopted to assess the radiological and chemical influence of the nuclear power plant on the environment: studied area, sampling locations and samples, examined radiological and chemical parameters. It indicates the adopted strategy and comments results obtained for radiological measurements in waters, in sediments, and in aquatic plants. Results are notably discussed in terms of natural and artificial radioactivity. Chemical measurements are then reported in the same way: strategy, measurements and discussion of results obtained in water and in sediments. Additional information on radionuclides and on sampling and analysis methodologies are given in appendix