Technical Meeting on the on the Harmonization of Reference Levels for Foodstuffs and Drinking Water

Contaminated Following a Nuclear Accident

8 – 12 September 2014, Vienna

P.O. Box 22, 1020 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia

phone: +389 2 3099 030 fax: +389 2 3099 032 www.drs.gov.mk

Republic of Macedonia Radiation Safety Directorate

Angelina Mishevska

(angelina.mishevska@drs.gov.mk)

Republic of Macedonia Radiation Safety Directorate

• an independent governmental authority established on 5 May 2005

• managed by Director -responsible for the work to the Government of the Republic of Macedonia

Law on Ionizing Radiation Protection and Safety

(O.G. Republic of Macedonia, No. 48/02, 135/07, 53/11)

Article 4, Law (No.48/02, 135/07,53/11), the RSD is responsible for:

• control of the ionizing radiation sources; • establishing the intervention levels and radiation protection and safety

requirements; • undertaking intervention measures in case of emergency; • defining the criteria for exemption and exclusion; • maintaining National Registry on ionizing radiation sources and

occupational exposed workers, as well as register on nuclear material; • intergovernmental and international cooperation on matters within the

competence of the Directorate; • establishing appropriate mechanisms for informing the public in relation

with the radiation protection; • undertaking any other activities related to radiation protection.

Radiation Safety Directorate - responsibilities

Radiation Safety Directorate -regulations

Regulation on the maximum permitted levels of radionuclides in food, water, air, soil, animal and plant products and raw material, as well as in general use products (OG of RM, No. 163/09, 58/11, 84/12)

– II. Maximum permitted levels of radionuclides in food and air – III. Maximum permitted levels of radionuclides in water

Regulation on the manner and measurement of the exposure of the general public, keeping records and submitting reports (OG of RM, No. 29/10)

II. Maximum permitted levels of radionuclides in food and air

Article 2 The maximum permitted levels of radionuclides in food and air shall be

determined by the limits for annual intake of radionuclide in the human body by inhalation and ingestion, in accordance with the regulations on ionising radiation protection and radiation safety.

Article 3 The maximum permitted levels of radionuclides in food and feed intended

for the market following a nuclear accident or radiation emergency - given in Appendix 1 (part of this Rulebook).

Evidence of compliance with the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article shall be submitted for imports of food and feed proceeding from a country where a nuclear accident or radiation emergency has occurred.

Regulation on the maximum permitted levels of radionuclides in food, water, air, soil, animal and plant products and raw

material, as well as in general use products

Table 1. Maximum permitted levels of radionuclides in food (Bq/kg)

Regulation on the maximum permitted levels of radionuclides in food, water, air, soil, animal and plant products and raw

material, as well as in general use products (cont.)

Table 2. List of foods used at insignificant levels

Regulation on the maximum permitted levels of radionuclides in food, water, air, soil, animal and plant products and raw

material, as well as in general use products (cont.)

Table 2. Maximum permitted levels of radionuclides in animal feed (Bq/kg)

Regulation on the maximum permitted levels of radionuclides in food, water, air, soil, animal and plant products and raw

material, as well as in general use products (cont.)

Radionuclide pigs poultry, lambs,

calves

other

Cs-134

Cs-137

1250 2500 5000

Amending the Regulation on the maximum permitted levels of radionuclides in food, water, air, soil,

animal and plant products and raw material, as well as in general use products OG of RM, No.58/11)

Regulation on the maximum permitted levels of radionuclides in food, water, air, soil, animal and plant products and raw

material, as well as in general use products (cont.)

III. Maximum permitted levels of radionuclides in water

Article 5

The reference exposure level for all radionuclides present in

drinking water consumed for a period of one year shall be 0,1 mSv.

In cases where the indicative values for a total beta activity and for a total alpha activity of 1 Bq/l and 0,5 Bq/l respectively are not exceeded, additional radiological analyses shall not be performed and the drinking water shall be considered.

In cases where the indicative values for a total beta activity and a total alpha activity referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article are exceeded, additional radiological analyses shall be performed for the purpose of determining whether the reference level has been exceeded referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article.

Regulation on the maximum permitted levels of radionuclides in food, water, air, soil, animal and plant products and raw

material, as well as in general use products (cont.)

III. Maximum permitted levels of radionuclides in water

Article 5 (cont.)

The reference levels of the maximum permitted levels of radionuclides

in drinking water shall be calculated by means of the following formula:

- GLj is the reference level of radionuclide j in

drinking water (Bq/l);

- IDC is the reference level equivalent to 0,1

mSv/per year;

-h(g)j,ing is the dose conversion factor for

radionuclide j introduced into the body of an

individual aged above 18(mSv/Bq);

- q is the annual volume of consumed water,

amounting to 730 l/ per year

The reference levels referred to in para. 4 of this Article shall refer to natural radionuclides and radionuclides emitted into the environment in accordance with the regulations on ionising radiation protection and radiation safety.

Article 6 The non-dimensional activity index I, calculated on the basis of the

results obtained by measuring the activity of a given radionuclide per unit volume of drinking water, shall be used to determine whether the reference level has been exceeded referred to in paragraph 1 of Article 6 of this Rulebook.

The activity index referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be

calculated with the following formula:

Regulation on the maximum permitted levels of radionuclides in food, water, air, soil, animal and plant products and raw

material, as well as in general use products (cont.)

- Cj is the measured activity of radionuclide j

per unit volume of drinking water and

- GLj is the reference level of radionuclide j

referred to in Article 6 paragraph 4 of this

Rulebook.

If the activity index is smaller than or equals 1, the drinking water

may be consumed without any restrictions regarding exposure to ionising radiation.

If the activity index exceeds 1, the water shall be considered unfit to drink and additional water analysis shall be performed in addition, appropriate activities to overcome this condition shall be taken, if such activities are deemed necessary and justifiable.

If the additional analyses demonstrate that the water is unfit to drink and it is not possible to take the appropriate activities to overcome this condition, the water shall not be used for drinking and a sign “Water unfit to drink” shall be put.

Regulation on the maximum permitted levels of radionuclides in food, water, air, soil, animal and plant products and raw

material, as well as in general use products (cont.)

Article 6 , (cont.)

Article 8

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in cases of nuclear accidents or radiation emergencies.

Regulation on the maximum permitted levels of radionuclides in food, water, air, soil, animal and plant products and raw

material, as well as in general use products (cont.)

Regulation on the manner and measurement of the exposure of the general public, keeping records and submitting reports

Article 2 The measurement of the exposure of the general public to ionising

radiation shall be performed by means of workplace and environmental monitoring.

Article 6 The exposure of the general public to ionising radiation from radionuclides

present in the environment shall be assessed on the basis of the environmental monitoring results (air, water, sediments, soil, atmospheric deposits, drinking water, food, feed), established in, Table 6 and Table 7, given in the Appendix, which is a constituent part of this Rulebook

This Rulebook is being aligned with Council Directive 96/29/Euratom of 13 May 1996 laying down basic

standards for the protection of the health of workers and the general public against the dangers arising

from ionising radiation (CELEX 31996L0029)

Regulation on the manner and measurement of the exposure of the general public, keeping records and submitting reports

(cont.)

Table 6. Monitoring of drinking water

Regulation on the manner and measurement of the exposure of the general public, keeping records and submitting reports

(cont.)

Table 7.Food monitoring

Article 10 Results obtained from measuring the exposure of the general public shall

be kept and shall be submitted to the RSD as a report

Article 12

Report shall contain the following information:

• the name and main office of the authorised expert technical service performing environmental monitoring;

• the date of taking samples, i.e. of performing measurements;

• the sample and the sampling site, frequency and manner;

• the measuring site, if applicable;

• the manner of examining the samples;

• the results obtained and any errors therein;

• the methodology of assessing the exposure dose of the general public;

• the dose assessed, and

• notes.

Regulation on the manner and measurement of the exposure of the general public, keeping records and submitting reports

(cont.)

Thank you for your attention