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Measurement exercise 2012 in Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony
- The BfS and the German Federal Police (Bundespolizei) carried out helicopter-borne measurements of environmental radioactivity in the vicinity of nuclear installations in the states Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony from 24 to 27 September 2012.
- Measurement flights were carried out along given paths at an altitude of 100 metres enabling radiological mapping of the above-mentioned measurement areas.
The Federal Office for Radiation Protection (Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz, BfS) and the German Federal Police (Bundespolizei, BPOL) carried out a measurement exercise in Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony from 24 to 27 September 2012.
This included measurements of environmental radioactivity in the vicinity of the nuclear installations
- Brunsbüttel
- Brokdorf
- Krümmel, and
- Stade.
In the run up to the exercise, the BfS preselected the investigation areas in coordination with the states (Bundesländer) involved.
The measurement exercise involved overflying these areas along given paths at an altitude of about 100 metres, using two helicopter-borne gamma spectrometry systems.
Comprehensive evaluation of all results obtained during the measurement exercise
The assessed ambient dose rates (ODL) map the geological conditions in the vicinity of the nuclear installations.
A localised radiological deviation which is not displayed on the maps was detected when overflying an industrial facility where a leak test was performed at the time of the measurement exercise, with a test device including a low-energy gamma source. Such test devices are commonly used in industry. However, only skilled personnel is allowed to use them in order to avoid putting staff and residents at risk.
Measurement results for each power plant site
After completion of the measurement flights, the ambient dose rate (ODL) was calculated based on the total count rates measured by sodium iodide detectors in the energy range of 250 to 3,000 kiloelectronvolts. Results were provided on radiological maps.
Brokdorf and Brunsbüttel
The ODL levels at the power plant sites are between 40 and 150 nanosieverts per hour (1 nanosievert is equivalent to one billionth of a Sievert). This is within the range of radiation levels typically occurring in Germany (natural background).
The ambient dose rate is due to
- the natural radionuclide potassium-40 and
- the natural radionuclides of the thorium-232 and
- uranium-238 decay series in all cases.
Artificial radionuclides were not detected in the area of the power plant sites.
Stade
The ODL levels at the power plant sites are between 40 and 150 nanosieverts per hour (1 nanosievert is equivalent to one billionth of a Sievert). This is within the range of radiation levels typically occurring in Germany (natural background).
The ambient dose rate is due to
- the natural radionuclide potassium-40 and
- the natural radionuclides of the thorium-232 and
- uranium-238 decay series in all cases.
Artificial radionuclides were not detected in the area of the power plant sites.
Geesthacht
The ODL levels at the power plant sites are between 40 and 150 nanosieverts per hour (1 nanosievert is equivalent to one billionth of a Sievert). This is within the range of radiation levels typically occurring in Germany (natural background).
The ambient dose rate is due to
- the natural radionuclide potassium-40 and
- the natural radionuclides of the thorium-232 and
- uranium-238 decay series in all cases.
Artificial radionuclides were not detected in the area of the power plant sites.
Considering the individual measurement uncertainties, the values obtained by the helicopter-borne ODL measurements are comparable with those detected by the ODL ground probes installed in the area under study. They provide a consistent image of the spatial distribution of the ambient dose rate.
The exercise also showed that helicopter-borne aero-gamma spectrometry is particularly suited for emergency preparedness since it is ready for use at a moment’s notice due to its short lead-time.
Comparative measurements over the red mud landfill near Stade
At the beginning of the exercise, measurement flights were conducted over a red mud landfill near the city of Stade in order to match the data obtained using the two measurement systems.
The specific activities of the natural radionuclides from the thorium-232 and uranium-238 series occurring in this are known from previous laboratory analyses:
Source: Schkade, U.-K.et al.: Untersuchung natürlicher Radionuklide in ausgewählten NORM-Stoffen. Fortschritte im Strahlenschutz: Strahlenschutz-Aspekte bei der Entsorgung radioaktiver Stoffe; in: Zuberbühler, A. et al. (Hrsg.): 37. Jahrestagung des Fachverbandes für Strahlenschutz e. V. , Basel, Schweiz, 20. - 23. September 2005, Seite 60-67 | ||||||
Potassium-40 | Radium-228 | Thorium-228 | Radium-226 | Uranium-238 | Lead-210 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Red mud | Less than 30 | 370 (50) | 380 (50) | 190 (30) | 190 (40) | 150 (30) |
Gove-Bauxit | Less than 20 | 140 (20) | 140 (20) | 95 (15) | 93 (18) | 80 (15) |
Boke-Bauxit | Less than 20 | 135 (20) | 135 (20) | 65 (10) | 65 (13) | 62 (12) |
The specific thorium and uranium concentrations in red mud are up to ten times higher than the activities measured in the vicinity. The red mud landfill near Stade is therefore well suited for comparison with the measured levels.
Evaluation of the measurement spectrums of the two measuring systems shows that the specific activities determined for the identified radionuclides and for the ambient dose rate match.
The ambient dose rate levels are in the range of 20 to 200 nanosieverts per hour and are comparable with the ambient dose rate levels measured on the ground.
State of 2018.02.23