Radioactive substances: emissions into ambient air and water by the processing industry in the Netherlands, 1994-2000

	Nuclide	1994	1996	1998	1999	2000
		GBq/yr
Emissions into ambient air
Steel production	²¹⁰Pb	46	30	21	19	18
	²¹⁰Po	114	115	118	116	87
Phosphorus production	²¹⁰Pb	33	97	49	62	56
	²¹⁰Po	506	393	534	652	499
Discharges into surface water
Phosphoric acid production	²²⁶Ra	809	598	377	-	-
	²¹⁰Pb	713	584	329	-	-
	²¹⁰Po	733	569	369	-	-
Source: RIVM.	RIVM/ EDC/Oct02
1) The becquerel (Bq) is a unit of radioactivity. GBq/yr stands for Gigabecquerels per year. ²¹⁰Pb, Lead 210, a radioactive form (isotope) of lead ²¹⁰Po, Polonium 210, a radioactive form (isotope) of polonium ²²⁶Ra, Radon 226, a radioactive form (isotope) of radium

Developments in discharges of radioactive substances to surface water

The emission of radioactive substances to water has fallen sharply since the period 1994-1999, and has come to a virtual stop since 2000. Most of the discharges came from two companies, which produced phosphoric acid from phosphate ore using acids and at low temperatures. Phosphoric acid is used in the manufacture of chemical fertilisers. Phosphogypsum, the waste product generated during the production of phosphoric acid, contains large quantities of polonium, lead and radium. Both companies discharged this gypsum into the New Waterway.
The fall in the discharges between 1994 and 1998 can be accounted for by, among other things, the use of raw materials with lower concentrations of natural radioactive substances. One of the two phosphoric acid manufacturers stopped production in late 1999 and the other stopped in early 2000. As a result, no data are available for 1999 or 2000. It can be stated that the closure of the two companies has put an end to the largest industrial discharges of natural radioactive substances into water in the Netherlands.

Developments in emissions of radioactive substances to air

Radioactive substances can also be released during the production of steel and elemental phosphorus. The use of high temperatures mainly results in the emission to air of volatile polonium (²¹⁰Po) and, to a lesser extent, of lead (²¹⁰Pb). Changes in the scale of production and the production process can result in annual fluctuations in emissions.

Origin of radioactive substances

It was only in the eighties that there was a recognition in policy that some companies in the processing industry discharge radioactive substances. When large amounts of raw mineral materials are processed, radioactive substances naturally present can end up in the product, in residues and wastes, or in emissions to air and water. The nature and size of these emissions depend very much on the raw materials used and on the production processes.

Policy

Since the mid-nineties, a number of companies have been granted permits under the Nuclear Energy Act. These permits include discharge limits for the companies. The quantities discharged are reported annually to the national government authorities.

Relevance

Human exposure to radiation caused by discharges of radioactive substances from processing industry is less than 2% of the average radiation load.

References

Eleveld, H, Blaauboer, RO et al., 2002. Emissies en doses door bronnen van ioniserende straling in Nederland. Jaarrapport 2001 'Beleidsmonitoring straling'. Report 610100001/2002.