Evaluation of Suitability of Cooling Water System of Nuclear Power Plant in Egypt Using ERICA and RESRAD Biota Models

Abstract

Egypt is planning for the construction of electricity generating nuclear facilities to accommodate population growth and increased industrial and domestic demand for electric energy. This study aims to predicate radiological exposure levels of marine biota such as crustaceans, bivalve mollusks and zooplankton using ERICA and RESRAD models. Due to assuming exposure of these organisms to the emitted radionuclides from the discharge of cooling water system of the suggested Egyptian Nuclear Power Plant (ENPP) on the northern coast of the Mediterranean Sea in Egypt. To achieve this study, eighteen water samples were collected from the three selected sites (Alam El-Aroum, Mina El-Hashish and El Alamein) in the coastal region of the north Mediterranean in Egypt where their activity concentrations were measured using high performance gamma spectrometer. The calculated absorbed dose rates of the selected biota by using both ERICA and RESRAD tools were below the ERICA 10 mu Gy/h screening value. The results of both two models showed that the biota concentration guide BCG and the risk quotient QR of the selected biota have complied with the recommended limits indicating that the minimum radioactive effect of once through cooling system on the selected biota. On the other hand, the results showed that the least radiological impact of the once through cooling system using the ERICA model was at a distance of 1 Km starting from the cooling discharge point to the shore and up to 2 km to the receptor inside the Mediterranean Sea.