DOSE CONTROL LEVELS IN CONTAMINATED FOODSTUFFS WITH RADIONUCLIDES AND A SAMPLE APPLICATION WITH CHERNOBYL FALLOUT DATA IN TURKEY

Abstract

Fission, fussion or activation products consist of nuclear reactions in a nuclear accident or explosion. These products rise to atmosphere with high pressure and thermal effect, by concentrating in the atmosphere, they descend to the earth with the effect of gravity and create the fallout. Some of the radioactive particles are dispersed from near source circles to the distant surroundings. Dispersed radionuclides contaminate air, water and soil and harm the human health and whole ecosystem by emitting radiation. The radioactive contamination and irradiation dimensions vary in qualitative and quantitative terms according to the phases of the accident and the distance from the accident site. These differences are taken into consideration when determining the protection measures. Pollutants depend on the level of contamination, contamination routes, the type and timing of protective measures, characteristics of the accident, geographical location, season, meteorological conditions and agricultural practices. Radionuclides reach the human from the environment directly or through different intermediate step food chains. In remote areas, the consumption of food contaminated with radionuclides should be controlled to limit or prevent the low irradiation doses that the community receives indirectly. Although the contamination level of radionuclide reaching human with the last product can be calculated by transfer parameters, used transfer models may not always identical to the original. The best way to achieve emergency decision is to determine derived intervention levels of radionuclide contamination according to the latest food data. In this study, radioactive contamination levels in basic foodstuffs in Turkey were investigated with resulting from the global fallout after Chernobly Reactor Accident.

Keywords

• Radionuclide,nucleer accident,fallout,derived intervention levels

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