Abstract

In 2018, the radiation level caused by gamma radiation at the site boundary of the Borssele nuclear power plant was below the maximum permitted level of 10 microsievert per year. The maximum effective dose was 0.8 microsievert. This is the result of measurements carried out by the RIVM on location. RIVM is tasked by the Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ANVS) to report annually on whether the Borssele nuclear power plant meets the criterion stipulated in the license.

The nuclear power plant must ensure that the maximum effective dose received by persons outside the site boundary of Borssele NPP does not exceed 10 microsievert annually. This is stipulated in the operating license, which was granted in 2016 in accordance with Dutch legislation on the use of nuclear energy. In order to determine the maximum effective dose, gamma radiation is measured at the site boundary. The measurements are carried out within the framework of the MONET monitoring network, which falls under the administrative management of RIVM. The measurements are analyzed by subtracting the natural background value.

The resulting measurement data are then corrected with the so-called "Actuele Blootstelling Correctiefactor" (or ABC-factor, meaning actual exposure correction factor). An ABC-factor takes into account the specific use of the area where the gamma dose may occur. Around the boundary of the Borssele nuclear power plant the ABC-factor is 0.2. This translates into a maximum effective dose of 0.8 microsievert per year, which is below the maximum permitted yearly gamma dose.

In 2018 measurements of the radiation level were carried out continuously at eight locations at the site boundary. This report provides the daily averages of the radiation dose recorded by the MONET monitors around the Borssele nuclear power plant and explains how the background level at each measuring location was determined.