Harmonisation of standards for permissible radionuclide activity concentrations in foodstuffs in the long term after the Chernobyl accident
The article critically examines the practice of post-Chernobyl standardisation of radionuclide
concentrations (mainly 137 Cs and 90 Sr) in food products (FPs) in the USSR and the successor
countries of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. Recommendations are given on potential harmonisation of
these standards of radionuclide concentrations in FPs among the three countries, taking into account
substantial international experience. We propose to reduce the number of product groups for
standardisation purposes from the current amount of several dozens to three to five groups to
optimise radiation control and increase the transparency of the process. We recommend five product
groups for the standardisation of 137 Cs and three groups for 90 Sr in food in radiocontaminated
areas. The values of standards for individual product groups are recommended to be set
proportionally to the measured specific activity in each of these groups, which will reduce unre...
Source: Journal of Radiological Protection - Category: Physics Authors: M Balonov, V Kashparov, A Nikolaenko, V Berkovskyy and S Fesenko Source Type: research