Radiation Monitoring for Protection of the Public after Major Releases of Radionuclides to the Environment-363CD2BB

International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU) Report 92, Radiation Monitoring For Protection Of The Public After Major Releases Of Radionuclides To The Environment has been published.

Nuclear installations may contain a large inventory of radioactive material and in cases of emergency significant amounts of radioactive material can be released to the environment. The accidents at the Chernobyl and Fukushima Daichi nuclear power plants are two unique examples of such situations. Malevolent acts may also cause the radioactive contamination of the environment.

The objective of the report is to provide detailed practical guidance on radiation monitoring to protect people and the environment after major releases of radionuclides. The report builds on the experience gained from responding to prior accidents that involved releases or potential releases of radioactive material combined with analyses of various policies and procedures used by countries worldwide. Guidance and recommendations on the design and operation of off-site monitoring programs and systems relating to releases of radioactive material to the environment are provided. The report is focused on emergency and existing exposure situations caused by radionuclide release events at nuclear power plants, but it is also applicable to other emergencies involving the contamination of the environment and public exposures.

Target users of the report are managers responsible for the planning, design, and operation of off-site radiation monitoring at the national, regional, and local levels. The report would also be useful for national authorities and organizations regulating and implementing emergency preparedness and response and the environmental remediation of areas affected by an emergency.

The report was prepared by a Committee of international experts from the Ukraine, Russia, Japan, Europe and the USA.