Radioactive emissions and radiation exposure from United States Department of Energy operations

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) conducts through its operating contractors major nuclear research, development, and production operations at nearly 30 installations. Emission and environmental monitoring programmes conducted at these sites are intended to ensure effective effluent controls and compliance with applicable radiation standards. Radionuclide emissions from DOE facilities are reported annually to a central computer-based effluent information system. This system enables DOE management to identify emission sources and observe trends in emission levels. Emissions to the environment from all DOE installations in 1981 totalled 1.9 million curies, predominantly short-lived activity, noble gases, and tritium. Significant trends in emissions and population exposures resulting from the emissions are discussed. Each DOE installation prepares an annual environmental monitoring report summarizing radionuclide emissions and computed radiation dose to the public within an 80 km radius. Actual measurements of radioactivity in human exposure pathways are used whenever possible to calculate dose to the public. Often it is necessary to calculate doses using effluent and meteorological data and appropriate dispersion equations. Calculations include the maximum individual dose and the 80 km population dose. Assessments of population dose at DOE installations in 1981 indicate that offsite exposure of the maximum individual did not exceed 10% of the 500 mrem limit at any site, and generally was less than 1% at most sites. For 1981, the calculated population whole-body dose within an 80 km radius of individual DOE sites ranged up to 120 man.rem and totalled about 230 man.rem. Calculated population doses from DOE operations are discussed, including radionuclide-specific contributions to public doses and year to year trends. A brief review is included of the DOE reporting systems for effluent releases and environmental doses. (author)