Evaluation of Exposure of Lake DrūkšIai Biota Reference Organisms Using Probabilistic Methods

Abstract External, internal and total exposure dose rates received by freshwater biota reference organisms of Ignalina NPP cooling basin Lake Drūksiai were evaluated by applying ERICA computer code and probabilistic methods. These investigations were based on measurements of radionuclide activity in bottom sediments and water of Lake Drūksiai (mean values, standard deviations, minimal and maximal values), and ecotoxicologic investigation data published during 1989–2003. The dose rate distributions for every investigated radionuclide and reference organism (average, minimum and maximum dose rate values, 5 and 95 order percentiles) were estimated. In the case of technogenic radionuclides originating from Ignalina NPP, the total dose rate values for Lake Drūksiai reference organisms do not exceed the maximum permissible dose rate of 10 µGy h−1, which is currently recommended for technogenic radionuclides in the European Union. Due to the ionising radiation of natural radionuclides, the exposure dose rate of ...