Radioactivity in marine organisms around Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant / 中国辐射卫生

ABSTRACT

@#<b>Objective</b> To determine the radioactive enrichment level in marine biological media around Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant and to evaluate the impact of effluent on marine biological media in the surrounding sea area based on the discharge of effluent from the nuclear power plant over the years and the monitoring level of surrounding marine media. <b>Methods</b> The monitoring data of ³H, ¹⁴C, ⁹⁰Sr, ¹³⁷Cs, and ^110mAg in the environmental media monitored in Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant from 2008 to 2017 were collected, and the data were processed and analyzed by IBM SPSS Statistics 26. <b>Results</b> The activity concentrations of tritium in mullet and oyster in the sea area around Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant were 0.5-2.9 Bq/kg and 0.55-8.2 Bq/kg, respectively, and the activity concentrations of tritium in both increased generally under the influence of effluent from the nuclear power plant. The activity concentrations of ¹⁴C, ¹³⁷Cs, and ⁹⁰Sr in the monitored organisms were lower than the background values. The results of correlation analysis showed that the effluent from the nuclear power plant had almost no effect on ¹⁴C. The activity level of ^110mAg decreased significantly year by year in oyster, and remained below the background level in mullet. <b>Conclusion</b> Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant is the longest operating nuclear power plant in mainland China. Most of the nuclides in biological media in the surrounding sea area are lower than the background levels, and the effluents from the nuclear power plant have little influence on marine biological media in the surrounding sea area.