Anthropogenic radiotracers assessment as tool to environmental compliance rules and management

A framework, within models and studies can be applied, to develop coherent and logical environmental impact management methodologies for ionizing radiation, is essential. A number of components, which form the basis for such a system, included the dilution factor for radioactive liquid effluent releases. In this study we established a strategic, fast and cheap methodology to estimate the dilution factor for the release of liquid radioactive effluents at IPEN. The radioisotopes 3H, 54Mn, 60Co, 65Zn, and 137Cs, generated in the routine operation of the Research Reactor IEA-R1, were used as radiotracers. The generated liquid radioactive effluent was stored in a 300 m3 capacity tank. The initial concentration of its present radioisotopes were determined. A planned release of effluent from the storage tank was carried-out. Simultaneously, the sampling was made upstream of the storage tank discharge point and the concentration 3H, 54Mn, 60Co, 65Zn and 137Cs in the mix sewerage system discharge point E1 at IPEN were monitored. The estimated dilution factor of discharge point of the aqueous effluent for 3H was 4.3 and 7.4, 54Mn was 12 and 16.1, 60Co was 12.6 and 14.2, 65Zn was 12 and 27.9 and 137Cs was 6.2 and 13.9, respectively. (author)