Establishing and verifying emission limits for Ontario Hydro nuclear facilities in Canada

Emission limits for routine radionuclide emissions to the environment from Canadian nuclear generating stations are set on a site-specific basis by considering the potential doses to the public resulting from the emissions. A compartment model, operating under equilibrium conditions is assumed. ''Critical groups'' of the public are identified and each of the environmental pathways through which emitted radionuclides give rise to dose to these groups are evaluated and the potential doses summed. A computer spreadsheet model has been developed to perform these calculations. This paper highlights the key aspects of this process and gives examples of typical emission limits, actual emissions and comparisons of predicted and assessed critical group doses. (author)