Radiological impact caused by emissions of radionuclides into air in the United States: preliminary report. Technical report

The report presents a preliminary analysis of the radiological impact caused by emissions of radionuclides into air from major source categories in the United States. Assessments were made on source categories which were divided into four major groups: (1) facilities licensed by the NRC or States under agreement with NRC; (2) facilities operated and regulated under the direction of DOE; (3) facilities emitting naturally occurring radioactive materials; and (4) other minor sources of emissions. For each source category, a model facility was selected and for this model facility an estimate was made of the amount of radionuclides released into air, the radiation dose to individuals of the whole population, the lifetime risk to individuals, and number of fatal cancers in the exposed population per year of facility operation. Section 122 of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1977 (Public Law 95-95) directed the Administrator of EPA to review all relevant information and determine whether emissions of radioactive pollutants into ambient air will cause air pollution which could endanger public health. The assessment was made to support this determination