Estimation of the behaviour of artificial environmental radionuclides and the resulting population exposure in the vicinity of nuclear facilities, with particular regard to the ingestion of agricultural products

To begin with, the method recommended by the Radiation Protection Commission for the calculation of ingested doses was analyzed, and the factors influencing the calculation were reviewed in the relevant literature. The main points of emphasis were the transfer factors. For all radionuclides contained in the model emission mixtures, calculation factors were compared with the results of enrichment experiments in the relevant literature. It was found that calculation factors were always either among the lowest transport factors given in the literature or even several orders of magnitude smaller than realistic experimental factors. In the experimental part, transfer factors were determined for the three elements Co, Mn, and Sr in various plants and soils. In most cases, these values were higher than those recommended by the Gesellschaft fuer Reaktorsicherheit and the Radiation Protection Commission. Radiation doses due to ingestion of various foodstuffs in the vicinity of a modern nuclear power plant (1300 MW PWR) were calculated in a model program. The radiation burden was calculated separately for adults and infants for various organs. Contrary to the experts' opinions by the Technische Ueberwachungsvereine and the Gesellschaft fuer Reaktorsicherheit usually presented in the licensing procedure, values significantly higher than the maximum permissible radiation exposure were found in many cases. It seems that radiation exposure is heightened by a number of factors which due to a lack of data, cannot be included in the computer program (e.g. effects of inversion conditions, atmospheric conditions of low wind force, cooling towers, etc.) (orig./MG)