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Questions and Answers

?Topical questions about radiation and nuclear power:


  1. The natural background radiation appears due to solar, Earth radiation and internal radioactivity of a human body. Our planet according to its physico-chemical composition and location in the space is made so that radiation is everywhere.

    There is also other group of radiation sources, it is created by men. This is, first of all, radiodiagnosis (x-ray examination and fluorography) and technogenic sources (television set, computer, cell phones etc).


  2. In our everyday life we undergo radioactive radiation from various sources. Look at the following figures for comparison:

      • 0.01 mSv - daily 3-hour television viewing for a year;
      • 0.01 mSv - 2-hour flight by plane
      • 0,005 mSv - annual dose due to influence of an atomic power plant on local population;
      • 1,5 - 2 mSv - annual dose due to natural radiation background;
      • 3,7 mSv - average fluorography radiation dose;
      • 30 mSv - single exposure to radiation during teeth roentgenography;
      • 300 mSv - single exposure to radiation during stomach roentgenography.


  3. The radiation limits are worked out by the International Commission on Radiological Protection acting under the UN aegis. These limiting doses have a large safety coefficient. The maximum radiation dose for population is up to 5 mSv per year. It is a limit for the whole body, blood-forming organs and testicles. Limiting dose for personnel with occupational radiation whose working conditions and health are very well controlled is 50 mSv per year. The mentioned limiting doses do not take into account doses received from natural radiation sources or during medical procedures.


  4. The main energy sources at the present time are fossil energy resources: oil, natural gas, coal. But when burning these mineral resources, carbon dioxide is generated and expelled into the atmosphere. It contributes to enhancement of glasshouse effect and raise of average annual temperature in the Earth. Besides, mineral resources decrease from year to year.

    The nuclear power industry can give us a way out of this “energy-ecological deadlock”. Actually, when burning, nuclear fuel does not consume oxygen. As a result, glasshouse effect is not enhanced. The practice of heat and energy generation from nuclear fuel is well developed and economically competitive in comparison with technologies in relation to fossil fuel. A unique feature of nuclear fuel is its ability to conversion. It makes nuclear fuel to a renewable energy source.

    1kg of natural uranium substitutes 20t of coal

    Nowadays only nuclear reactors with increased safety are put in operation, technologies of reliable and safe removal of high-level radioactive waste are applied, and waste recycling for further use is carried out. This points to the fact that up to date nuclear power industry can be rightfully considered as the most ecofriendly and perspective one.


  5. In 1957 the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) under the UN aegis was created for control over safe application of nuclear power for peaceful purposes. This organization performs development of standards on assurance of work quality in the nuclear power industry, selection of sites, design, operation and on quality assurance, consulting of IAEA member-countries on aspects of safety of nuclear power station construction, on information exchange and holding courses for personnel training.

    Therefore, efforts made by the international community on assurance of safety of nuclear power stations are the basis for successful use of nuclear power across the globe.


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