Analysis of approaches to organization of radioecological monitoring on areas of nuclear and radiation-hazardous facilities location. Review

Methodological approaches to the organization of state and departmental systems for environmental monitoring environment in order to ensure the radiation and ecological safety of population and biota in the vicinity of nuclear and radiation hazardous facilities (NF) are reviewed. The authors justify the need for implementation of the monitoring at all stages of the facilities life cycle, tailored to the facilities features, regional-specific factors, as well as personnel, the public and biota exposure situations. The authors defined directions of radioecological monitoring of a facility (facility level), radiation-hygienic level (evaluation of exposure of the public, biota and ecosystems to released radionuclides), socio-hygienic level, prospective (evaluation of health effects), agroecological, biological and ecological levels. The impact of the facilities operations on the public and biota is evaluated on the basis of data of the long-term surveillance of radionuclides concentration in the lowest atmospheric layer, terrestrial (agro- and natural) and aquatic ecosystems. Various aspects of radiation-ecological monitoring, strengths and shortcomings of used methods are reviewed. Analysis of the current organization system of radioecological monitoring allows making the following conclusions: efficiency and organization of radioecological monitoring need to be enhanced and optimized. The comprehensive radioecological monitoring integrated elements of different systems of the monitoring due to interaction of different agencies should be developed. Implementation of integrated radioecological monitoring on areas of NF location should be based on integrated risk values for population and biota from wide range sources of pollution considering migration pathways of toxicants in critical ecosystems.