THE ROLE OF ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENTATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL PROGRAMMES

Abstract

The demand for energy is continually growing, both in the developed and the developing countries. Traditional sources of energy such as oil and gas will probably be exhausted within a few decades. The nuclear energy, with its proven technology, is the most significant reliable source available for closing the energy gap. During the past few years, many countries have constructed nuclear research or power plants. More than 350 reactors are now in operation and in the longer term nuclear energy is expected to play an increasingly important role in the development of energy programmes throughout the world specially the developed countries. During normal operation of the reactor, some radioisotopes are discharged. Releases of radioisotopes from reactors should be controlled and monitored by means of continuous measurements by sampling and radioactive determination during a year. The results are compared with limits and the ALARA principle. Moreover in case of nuclear accident, radioisotopes were released and exposure to man and his environment is expected. Therefore an environmental radioactivity monitoring programme, should be implemented in accordance with the requirements of the regulatory body. The main purpose of this programme is; to provide measurements of the level of the background radiation and their variations in environmental media in the area surrounding the plant. The present work investigates radiation survey measurements of the environment surrounding the first Egyptian reactor to determine the background radiation levels and to determine the radioactivity in the environmental samples due to normal release of radioisotopes from the reactor during normal operation.