The impact of a Czech nuclear power plant operation on the Vltava River radioactivity

¹ University of South Bohemia, Dept. of Physics, Jeronýmova 10, 371 15 České Budejovice, Czech Republic, e-mail: maja@jcu.cz
² T.G. Masaryk Water Research Institute, Podbabská 30, 160 62 Praha 6, Czech Republic, e-mail: Eduard_Hanslik@vuv.cz

Abstract

In this contribution, the results of the radioactivity bio-monitoring of the Vltava River before (1996-2000) and after (2000-2003) the start-up of the PWR-type South Bohemian nuclear power plant are presented. The liquid radioactive effluents are discharged into the Vltava River, which also serves as a source of drinking water intended for Prague. The bio-monitoring was made by means of water plants and freshwater bivalve that are found along the watercourse. Biological samples were processed and then the activity of natural and man-made radionuclides was assessed by gamma-spectrometry. The analysed statistical data did not prove any impact of the three years NPP operation on the Vltava River radioactivity.