Radiation dose rates and exposure associated to Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (TENORM) at locations of a Portuguese coal-fired power plant

• Type: Article in International Conference Proceedings Book
• Date: 2014

Authors

Maria De Lurdes Dinis (Author) FEUP; António Fiúza (Author) FEUP; Joaquim Góis (Author) FEUP; Ana Castro (Author) FEUP; José Soeiro Carvalho (Author) FEUP

Conference proceedings International

Title: Waste Management Conference ¿ WM14

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology

CORDIS: Physical sciences > Mathematics ; Technological sciences > Engineering ; Physical sciences > Physics

Associated Projects

MODELING RDN AND METALS AIRBORNE DISPERSION - MODELAÇÃO DA DISPERSÃO NA ATMOSFERA DOS ELEMENTOS RADIOACTIVOS E DOS METAIS ORIGINADA POR UMA CENTRAL TÉRMICA DE CARVÃO

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-014-W1A

Abstract (EN): Coal contains trace quantities of natural radionuclides such as Th-232, U-235, U-238, as well as their radioactive decay products and 40K. These radionuclides can be released as fly ash in atmospheric emissions from coal-fired power plants, dispersed into the environment and deposited on the surrounding top soils. Therefore, the natural radiation background level is enhanced and consequently increase the total dose for the nearby population. A radiation monitoring programme was used to assess the external dose contribution to the natural radiation background, potentially resulting from the dispersion of coal ash in past atmospheric emissions. Radiation measurements were carried out by gamma spectrometry in the vicinity of a Portuguese coal-fired power plant. The radiation monitoring was achieved both on and off site, being the boundary delimited by a 20 km circle centered in the stacks of the coal plant. The measured radionuclides concentrations for the uranium and thorium series ranged from 7.7 to 41.3 Bq/kg for Ra-226 and from 4.7 to 71.6 Bq/kg for Th-232, while K-40 concentrations ranged from 62.3 to 795.1 Bq/kg. The highest values were registered near the power plant and at distances between 6 and 20 km from the stacks, mainly in the prevailing wind direction. The absorbed dose rates were calculated for each sampling location: 13.97-84.00 ¿Gy/h, while measurements from previous studies carried out in 1993 registered values in the range of 16.6-77.6 ¿Gy/h. The highest values were registered at locations in the prevailing wind direction (NW-SE). This study has been primarily done to assess the radiation dose rates and exposure to the nearby population in the surroundings of a coal-fired power plant. The results suggest an enhancement or at least an influence in the background radiation due to the coal plant past activities.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

Notes: Projecto FCT - MODELAÇÃO DA DISPERSÃO NA ATMOSFERA DOS ELEMENTOS RADIOACTIVOS E DOS METAIS ORIGINADA POR UMA CENTRAL TÉRMICA DE CARVÃO

No. of pages: 15