Abstract

In 2017, the Netherlands fulfilled its annual European obligation to measure how much radioactivity is present in the environment and in food. All countries of the European Union are required to perform these measurements each year under the terms of the Euratom Treaty of 1957. The Netherlands performs these measurements following the guidance issued in 2000. The measurements represent the background values for radioactivity that are present under normal circumstances. They can be used as reference values, for instance, during a nuclear emergency. The results on radioactivity in the environment are reported to the European Commission by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) on behalf of the competent authority in the Netherlands.

Radioactivity in air, food, milk, grass and feed
Radioactivity levels in the air were normal and similar to previous years. Radioactivity levels in food and milk were below the European export and consumption limits, with the exception of one out of almost 2,600 samples. This was a sample of wild boar in which the radioactivity level was about 10 percent higher than the limit. A risk assessment based on a single consumption of this wild boar shows that it poses a small threat to health. The radioactivity levels in grass and feed were also normal, as in previous years.

Radioactivity in surface water, seawater and drinking water
Radioactivity levels in surface water and seawater were similar to previous years. The levels of radioactivity in most of the samples (95 percent) of untreated water for drinking water production were well below the so-called screening levels: above these levels further investigation should be carried out. The levels of a small number of samples (20) were slightly above the screening level. These measured radioactivity levels do not pose a threat to health. Further investigation revealed that radioactivity levels in associated finished drinking water were well below the screening levels.