Investigation on total radioactivity in drinking water following operation of the second phase expansion project at Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant / 中华放射医学与防护杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate and analyze the level of the gross radioactivity, and its variation trend, in surrounding drinking water since the second phase expansion project at Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant was officially put into operation.Methods:From 2010 to 2022, the source water, factory water and tap water within 30 km of Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant were collected in the flood season (May) and dry period (October) every year. The total α and total β radioactivity concentrations in drinking water was measured and analyzed. The levels of total radioactivity in drinking water around different nuclear power plants in China and around non-nuclear power plant areas was compared.Results:The mean radioactivity concentrations of total α and total β were (0.021±0.019) and (0.204±0.058) Bq/L in source water, (0.010±0.005) and (0.185±0.056) Bq/L in factory water , and (0.012±0.007) and (0.170±0.058) Bq/L in tap water, respectively, all lower than the limits stipulated in the Sanitary Standards for Drinking Water. There were no significant differences in the monitoring result of betweem the three types of water samples both in the flood and dry periods ( P> 0.05). The total radioactivity level in drinking water around Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant site was close to that in drinking water around different nuclear power plants in China and around areas without nuclear power plants. Conclusions:Following the second phase of the expansion project officially being put into operation, the total α and β radioactivity level in drinking water around the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant has been in a stable trend and lower than the guidance level given in national standard.