Monitoring of radioactivity in the environment of Finnish nuclear power plants : Annual report 2019

Abstract

This report describes the results of radiation monitoring carried out by the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) in the environment of Fortum’s nuclear power plants in Loviisa and Teollisuuden Voima’s (TVO) nuclear power plants at Olkiluoto in 2019. STUK’s monitoring complements the monitoring of the radiation levels and radioactive substances in the environment of the plants conducted by the power plants. The monitoring is implemented by collecting samples from the land and marine environment in the vicinity of the power plants and of external air. In addition, the concentrations of radioactive substances in the bodies of inhabitants of the surrounding area of the power plant are monitored. The environmental samples are analysed in STUK’s laboratory. The analysis methods include gamma spectrometric and radiochemical analyses. In some of the collected samples, small quantities of radioactive substances originating from the power plant were found. There was no significant deviation from the environmental findings of the previous years in terms of the identified radioactive substances or their quantities. Radioactivity originating from the power plant observed in the environment is insignificant in terms of radiation exposure of the environment and people. The results of the release measurements reported by the nuclear power plants and the findings of the environmental monitoring carried out by the nuclear power plants themselves correspond to the findings of STUK’s environmental monitoring.