Re-evaluation of dietary intake based on new demographic survey and the dose due to ingestion at Tarapur

Members of public residing in the environment of Tarapur are likely to receive external and internal dose due to radioactive releases from nuclear facilities. The external dose is mainly due to stack releases of Fission Product Noble Gases (FPNGs) from Tarapur Atomic Power Station (TAPS). The internal dose is due to inhalation of particulates and radioiodines in air and ingestion is due to radioactive elements present in the food stuffs. The external and inhalation doses are computed based on the meteorological parameters and mathematical models. However, ingestion dose evaluation has to take into consideration, the likely changes in food habits due to socio economic condition. A demographic survey was conducted in 2000-01 to evaluate the changes if any of dietary intake of the people residing in the Tarapur environment as compared to the previous studies. It is observed that the seafood intake is only about 40 % of the earlier estimate. On the basis of the new data the ingestion dose for the period 2000-02 has been reevaluated and presented. The survey included water intake data of the local population, which will be useful for dose computation due to tritium when the PHWRs presently under construction become operational. (author)