REVIEW

Risk assessment and management of radionuclide leakage in nuclear power plants

¹ State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
² Nanjing Qixia District Hospital, Nanjing 210023, China

^* Corresponding authors (emails: huanglei@nju.edu.cn (Lei Huang); lmao@nju.edu.cn (Liang Mao))

Received: 29 May 2024
Revised: 9 July 2024
Accepted: 8 August 2024

Abstract

Nuclear power plants are designed with stringent safety measures to prevent accidents and radioactive releases. However, major accidents like the Three Mile Island (1979), Chornobyl (1986), and Fukushima Daiichi (2011) have significantly impacted human health, the environment, and public perception of nuclear energy. Even during normal operation, nuclear power plants release effluents that can have some impact on the environment. These effluents are carefully monitored and regulated to minimize their environmental impact. Radioactive releases have potential long-term consequences for human health and the environment. To mitigate the risks of accidents and the environmental impact of normal operation, continued focus on nuclear safety, rigorous regulatory oversight, and improved emergency response measures are crucial. The behavior and impact of radionuclides in the environment, models and methods for simulating the transport and deposition of radionuclides in the atmosphere and ocean, toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic studies to predict the potential impacts of radionuclide releases and support risk management decisions, and environmental monitoring and control technology of nuclides, et al are discussed. The article aims to provide an overview of the importance of environmental toxicology in radioactive risk assessment and management, discuss the unique challenges associated with monitoring and remediating radioactive releases, and suggest future research directions.