title: Screening level dose assessment of aquatic biota downstream of the Marcoule nuclear complex in southern France.
abstract: Aquatic biota in the Rhone River downstream of the Marcoule nuclear complex in France are exposed to natural sources of radiation and to radioactivity released from the Marcoule complex. A simple conservative screening level model was used to estimate the range of concentrations in aquatic media (water, sediments, and aquatic organisms) of both artificial and natural radionuclides and the consequent absorbed (whole body) dose rates for aquatic organisms. Five categories of aquatic organisms were studied, namely, submerged aquatic plants (phanerogam), non-bottom-feeding fish, bottom-feeding fish, mollusca, and fish-eating birds. The analysis was based on the radionuclide concentrations reported in four consecutive annual radioecological monitoring reports published by French agencies with nuclear regulatory responsibilities. The results of this assessment were used to determine, qualitatively, the magnitude of any potential health impacts on each of the five categories of aquatic organisms studied. The range of dose rate estimates ranged over three orders of magnitude, with maximum dose rates estimated to be in the order of 1 to 10 microGy h(-1). These maximum dose rates are a factor 40 or more below the international guideline intended to ensure the protection of aquatic populations (about 400 microGy h(-1)), and a factor ten or more below the level which may trigger the need for a more detailed evaluation of potential ecological consequences to the exposed populations (about 100 microGy h(-1)). As a result, chronic levels of radioactivity, artificial and natural, measured in aquatic media downstream of Marcoule are unlikely to result in adverse health impacts on the categories and species of aquatic organisms studied. Thus, based on the screening level analysis discussed in this paper, a more detailed evaluation of the dose rates does not appear to be warranted.
authors.affiliation: SENES Consultants Limited, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: St-Pierre
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Chambers
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Lowe
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Bontoux
mesh_terms: D000512:Alpha Particles / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D017753:Ecosystem; D005602:France; D005618:Fresh Water; D008386:Marine Biology; D009688:Nuclear Reactors; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D011868:Radioisotopes; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive