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• Radiation exposure of members of the public resulting from operations of the Ranger Uranium Mine (PDF 411 KB)

About the report

The climatic, aquatic and demographic features of the Alligator Rivers Region that are relevant to the assessment of radiation exposure to the public resulting from operation of the Ranger uranium mine are described. The specific locations or activities at the mine site that act as sources for the transport of radionuclides into the environment are identified, and the steps taken to minimise such transport are summarised. Critical groups for the two principal transport pathways, atmospheric and surface water transport, are identified.

Data on atmospheric transport of radon and long-lived nuclides in dust are reviewed. The current best estimate of the annual effective dose equivalent to a member of the critical group is 0. 1 mSv per year. Of this total, 30% arises from radon daughter exposure, and 70% from inhalation of long-lived nuclides in dust.

Modelling of the radiation exposure resulting from release of radionuclides into surface waters is described. The estimate of annual effective dose equivalent received by members of the critical group via the surface water pathway is 0.003 mSv per year for current operations.

Thus, for current operation of the Ranger mine and mill, radiation exposure via the atmospheric pathway dominates. The critical group's exposure is estimated to be one tenth of the maximum recommended by the International Committee on Radiation Protection.

*This article will appear, in an abbreviated form, under the title 'Site-specific Dose Assessments - Australia' in the monograph 'Environmental Behaviour of Radium' to be published by the International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna.