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Ionising Radiation > ... > Residues with enhanced natural radioactivity resulting
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Residues with enhanced natural radioactivity resulting from industrial processes
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The regulations under Part 3 of the Radiation Protection Ordinance (StrlSchV) of July 20, 2001 are the first to protect workers and the general public against enhanced radiation exposures due to natural radioactive substances not utilized on account of their radioactive features or suitability as nuclear fuel, but occurring as an (undesired) by-product of conventional industrial processes in Germany.
Such enhanced radiation exposures are either due to raw materials containing enhanced levels of radioactivity or to technologically caused accumulations, mainly in certain industrial residues. These residues are called "Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM)" in the scientific literature. Examples are accumulations in conveying tubes of the petroleum and natural gas industry, which may contain high levels of the radioactive element radium, depending on their deposit.
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Conveying tubes of the petroleum and natural gas industry
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Regulations concerning residues
Natural radioactivity is omnipresent. The legislator, therefore, deemed it reasonable to have the regulations in this regard confined to processes and substances that might bring about significant enhancements of radiation exposure, if, for example, the type and amount of raw materials and the substance flows, or utilisation or removal pathways, are taken into account.
The reference value of effective dose of 1 Millisievert (mSv) per year serves as a standard, geared to the variation limit of natural radiation exposure and has been well-established as a protection level for members of the public in other fields of radiation protection, too.
Surveillance in direct responsibility
Comprehensive investigations have been conducted in relevant industrial branches to determine a number of residues requiring surveillance, and of which removal or utilisation might presuppose measures to protect the general public (Radiation Protection Ordinance, part 3).
The legislator refrained from the licensing reservation as is the rule in radiation protection otherwise, since handling of this kind of residues does not involve a potential for sudden release or accident. Implementation of radiation protection procedures largely falls to the respective company’s direct responsibility. However, the operators are obliged to report the results of their inspections to the competent regional radiation protection authority. This latter may impose additional licensing requirements and orders or implement controls.
Surveillance limits
The legislator has, however, established surveillance limits for residues in the Radiation Protection Ordinance. Residues exceeding these surveillance limits shall not be utilised or removed until released from surveillance.
Release from surveillance is granted by the competent radiation protection authority upon application. For this end, evidence has to be provided that:
- the level of radiation exposure of 1 mSv per year for the general public will be observed on the scheduled pathway of utilisation and removal, and
- that no concerns are raised over the admissibility of the scheduled utilisation or removal pursuant to waste law.
Effects
Experience gained so far when implementing Part 3 (Work Activities) of the Radiation Protection Ordinance reveals that the regulations have not only strengthened all those concerned in their awareness of the problem of enhanced natural radioactivity, but have also led to a noticeable improvement of radiation protection in some areas without inappropriately incriminating the affected industries.
Support
Part 3 of the Radiation Protection Ordinance represents an entirely new scope. It is, therefore, not surprising that its implementation is associated with questions arising on the levels of the Laender. The Federal Environment Ministry (BMU) and BfS therefore support the implementation of the regulations, among others by rules or standards and recommendations.
BMU prompted the German Commission on Radiological Protection (SSK) to deal with the question of representative sampling of the residues. Meanwhile the SSK has issued a corresponding recommendation.
BfS supports the implementation by elaborating guidelines for the assessment of radiation exposure and measuring instructions. Furthermore, BfS is currently examining whether the recommendations and guidance for the fields of mining relics might be applied to residues under Part 3 of the Radiation Protection Ordinance.
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