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It is typically mandated by national and/or local governments that nuclear power plants collect and analyze environmental samples from the area surrounding the plant on a periodic basis. The purpose is to make sure any radioactive releases from the plant do not negatively impact the surrounding public. Also, after analyzing samples for a number of years, a wealth of data is available to determine the normal background readings for the region should there ever be a significant release. If such a release were to occur, the sampling and analysis program could help to determine the extent of its effect on the area.

 

The types of samples that may be collected and analyzed are dependent upon bodies of water and food sources that are local to the plant. Sample types may include the following as applicable for the area: water (ground plus lake, river or ocean if these are a cooling water discharge point), air (from particulate filters and iodine cartridges), soil, vegetation (leafy garden vegetables and/or grasses), local dairy milk and aquatic life (fish, shrimp, oysters, etc.).

As shown here, “grab” samples are taken that are representative of the general environment.For dairy farms, raw milk may be sampled or the food the cows eat may be sampled if it is grown locally. Again, the sample types and frequency of sampling are typically mandated by government agencies in charge of public health.

These photos show water sample collection near the Marcoule Fuel Reprocessing Plant in France and cattle grazing near the Belleville Nuclear Power Plant, also in France.

 

After the samples are processed in a radiochemistry laboratory (either at the plant or via a commercial lab), they are analyzed for alpha, beta and/or gamma radiation. CANBERRA is the world’s leading supplier of analysis equipment for this purpose including:

Low Background Alpha/Beta Counters Gas Flow Series 5E Console-Based Automatic Low Background Alpha/Beta Counting System Series 5XLB Automatic Low Background Alpha/Beta Counting System Series 5 APC Console Based Automatic Alpha/Beta/Gamma Counting Systems LB4100 Multi-Detector Low Background Alpha/Beta Counting System Gasless iMatic™ Gas-less Automatic Alpha/Beta Counting System iSolo® Gas-less Manual Alpha / Beta Counting System Alpha Spectroscopy Systems Apex-Alpha™: Alpha Spectroscopy Suite Alpha Analyst™ Integrated Alpha Spectrometer PIPS® Detectors Gamma Spectroscopy Systems Apex® Lab Productivity Suite High Purity Germanium Detectors