Protection of Natural Ecosystems: Impact of Radiation from Waste Disposal Practices

The prime concern in regulating radioactive material releases to the environment is ensuring the protection of human individuals and populations. In almost all situations, the need to limit radiation doses to low levels is expected to ensure that doses to other organisms will also be small and below the levels at which ecological changes could occur. This assumption is assessed in three scenarios: releases to the atmosphere and surface waters, deep underground radioactive waste disposal, and sea disposal. The analysis lends general support to the assumptions of ICRP regarding the radiation protection of populations of living species other than man.