Assessment of the radiological impact of a decommissioning nuclear power plant in Italy

TL;DR

This study evaluates the radiological impact of a decommissioned nuclear power plant in Italy through environmental monitoring, finding no significant radiological changes in the surrounding area over time.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive environmental radiological assessment of a decommissioned plant and compares current data with past surveys and control regions.

Findings

No significant radiological alterations detected

Radioactivity levels mainly from natural sources and global fallout

Environmental radioactivity remained stable over time

Abstract

The assessment of the radiological impact of a decommissioning Nuclear Power Plant is presented here through the results of an environmental monitoring survey carried out in the area surrounding the Garigliano Power Plant. The levels of radioactivity in soil, water, air and other environmental matrices are shown, in which {\alpha}, {\beta} and {\gamma} activity and {\gamma} equivalent dose rate are measured. Radioactivity levels of the samples from the Garigliano area are analyzed and then compared to those from a control zone situated more than 100 km away. Moreover, a comparison is made with a previous survey held in 2001. The analyses and comparisons show no significant alteration in the radiological characteristics of the area surroundings the plant, with an overall radioactivity depending mainly from the global fallout and natural sources.