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: Source Type: research