Comparative assessment of radiation exposure to biota and population in identical radioecological conditions in the zone of influence of the radioactive waste storage

This article presents analysis of radiation impact factors (RIF) to human and biota species habiting the same area. RIF is expressed as the ratio of actual radiation doses to human and non-human biota to critical dose. To calculate RIFs, critical doses given in the ERICA project and doses measured by authors during field experimental studies of radiation effects on reference doses to terrestrial mollusk F.fruticum. The source of radioactive contamination of the area under study is the area around the radioactive waste storage contaminated as a result of depressurization failure of a storage facility. Radiation doses to the public and non-human biota habiting the contaminated area were estimated. For evaluating human radiation exposure the approach applied to IAEA scenario “fluid leak” was used. Annual total radiation doses to the public formed by radionuclides entered a human body is 4.0E-04 Sv/year. Absorbed dose rate to the terrestrial mollusk, calculated with Monte-Carlo method, is 76±9 mGy/year. The scenario "fluid leak" creates a radioecological situation in the study area, in which a human is protected from radiation exposure. The mollusk, objects of the field studies, exposed to critical doses, are not protected, however, the mollusk exposed to radiation at dose rate limit, proposed by the ERICA, are protected. Results of the experimental study demonstrates that RIF values calculated with the use of experimental data and data recommended by international organizations for non-human species are higher than RIF values for human. The results of analysis allow authors to make the following conclusion: much more radioecological situations, in which the anthropocentric principle in the radiation protection system can be invalid and the ecocentric approach can be valid, should be subjected to analysis.