Radiation safety of nuclear power plants

The methods are presented of calculating the spread of radioactive products in nuclear power plants and their environment and of the evaluation of the consequences thereof. A complex model was constructed and the related system of programmes developed for the calculation of the spread of radioactive products. These programmes may be used both for normal operation and for accidents. The basic knowledge is summed up on the transport behaviour of radioactive products and the origin is studied of non-elemental forms of radioiodine (1 to 5% CH3I) by pyrolytic and radiolytic reactions and its kinetics. AgNO3 impregnated alumina is suggested for trapping radioiodine and its compounds and the possibility is studied of the trapping of these compounds using other sorbents. The environmental impacts of nuclear power plants are studied and are compared with the impacts of conventional power plants. The necessity is underlined of building storage dumps for highly radioactive wastes. Annual production in Czechoslovakia is estimated to reach 800 to 1,100 m3 of liquid wastes and 700 to 800 m3 of solid wastes by 1990. (Oy)