Occupational Radiation Exposure at Commercial Nuclear Power Reactors and Other Facilities 2002 (NUREG-0713, Volume 24)

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• Publication Information
• Abstract

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Publication Information

Manuscript Completed: September 2003
Date Published: October 2003

Prepared by:
Sheryl Burrows
D. A. Hagemeyer*

*Science Applications International Corporation
301 Laboratory Road
Oak Ridge, TN 37830

Division of Systems Analysis and Regulatory Effectiveness
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, DC 20555-0001

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Abstract

This report summarizes the occupational exposure data that are maintained in the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) Radiation Exposure Information and Reporting System (REIRS). The bulk of the information contained in the report was compiled from the 2002 annual reports submitted by five of the seven categories¹ of NRC licensees subject to the reporting requirements of 10 CFR 20.2206. The annual reports submitted by these licensees consist of radiation exposure records for each monitored individual. These records are analyzed for trends and presented in this report in terms of collective dose and the distribution of dose among the monitored individuals. Because there are no geologic repositories for high-level waste currently licensed, and no low-level waste disposal facilities in operation, only five categories will be considered in this report.

Annual reports for 2002 were received from a total of 239 NRC licensees, of which 104 were operators of nuclear power reactors in commercial operation. Compilations of the reports submitted by the 239 licensees indicated that 120,753 individuals were monitored, 62,293 of whom received a measurable dose (Table 3.1). The collective dose incurred by these individuals was 14,844 person-rem, which represents a 0.7% increase from the 2001 value. The number of workers receiving a measurable dose also increased, resulting in an average measurable dose of 0.24 rem for 2002. The average measurable dose is defined as the total collective dose (TEDE) divided by the number of workers receiving a measurable dose². These figures have been adjusted to account for transient reactor workers.

In calendar year 2002, the annual collective dose per reactor for light water reactor (LWR) licensees was 117 person-rem. This represents a 9% increase from the value reported for 2001 (107). The annual collective dose per reactor for boiling water reactors (BWRs) was 175 person-rem and, for pressurized water reactors (PWRs), it was 87 person-rem.

Analyses of transient worker data indicate that 24,352 individuals completed work assignments at two or more licensees during the monitoring year. The dose distributions are adjusted each year to account for the duplicate reporting of transient workers by multiple licensees. In 2002, the average measurable dose per worker for all licensees calculated from reported data was 0.18 rem. The corrected dose distribution resulted in an average measurable dose per worker for all licensees of 0.24 rem.

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¹Commercial nuclear power reactors; industrial radiographers; fuel processors (including uranium enrichment), fabricators, and reprocessors; manufacturers and distributors of byproduct material; independent spent fuel storage installations; facilities for land disposal of low-level waste; and geologic repositories for high-level waste. There are currently no NRC licensees involved in low-level waste disposal or geologic repositories for high-level waste.

²The number of workers with measurable dose includes any individual with a dose greater than zero rem and does not include doses reported as "not detectable."