Optimization of radiation protection in nuclear power plants in Italy

There are some reasons to think that actually the cost- benefit analysis cannot be broadly used as optimization procedure in the stage of design for NPP. First of all, an agreement is not yet achieved on the possibility (also with reference to social and political considerations) of assigning a monetary value to the manSv. In addition it is then believed that the feasibility of a cost-benefit analysis, due to the present uncertainties on the various components of the cost (i.e. the costs of health detriment associated with production and installation of protective means and equipments), can perhaps be demonstrated for very simple cases, but not for the NPP as a whole. With regard to this point it is important to note how the input data, often assumed from a cautious standpoint, can dramatically influence the results. Other problems arise from the fact that until now proposed cost-benefit calculations generally refer to routine discharge of radioactive effluents or to shielding related to normal operating conditions, while a major concern is now related to the radiological consequences of accidents. By this way it is important to note also that, also from the economical point of view, the major efforts are concentrated on safety-related systems, in order to reduce the probability of events which can lead on catastrophic consequences. On these bases we prefer to implement optimization procedures in design stage making reference to past experience and to evolution of technology, and to concentrate new efforts on the operating period, when working procedures can produce more effective reduction of radiation exposure. (author)