National Radiological Protection Board

Citation

(1998), "National Radiological Protection Board", Structural Survey, Vol. 16 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ss.1998.11016cab.006

National Radiological Protection Board

National Radiological Protection Board

The National Radiological Protection Board has published Radiological Protection Objectives for Land Contaminated with Radionuclides. The publication describes board advice on the radiological protection criteria for the change of use of land contaminated with radioactive materials from past practices. It supersedes the Consultative Document published by the Board in 1996. Although advice already exists on a number of related subjects, there is relatively little specific advice concerning the particular issue of land contamination.

Besides the historical review of the sources of radioactive contaminated land in the UK, the new publication summarises the board's reasons for issuing advice and gives guidance on the application of radiological protection principles and standards to contaminated land situations.

NRPB advice separates contaminated land situations into two categories: those where a change of use of the land is proposed, and those where the contamination is discovered when the exposed people and exposure pathways are already in place. The former would include the "release" of land from a license site (irrespective of its intended use in the public domain) as well as the more direct change of use in, for example, redeveloping industrial or derelict land. Situations in this category should be subject to the requirements.

Copies of this document can be obtained from NRPB Communications Group, Chilton, Didcot, Oxon OX11 0RQ (Cheque for £7.50 with order, payable to NRPB).