One aspect of securing safety from the operation of Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) is to evaluate the impact on residents at the facility’s exclusive area boundary to confirm that the radiological risk is below the allowable level. Normally, the risks from gaseous and liquid effluents are evaluated during the operation of facilities. Meanwhile, in order to be approved for the decommissioning plan, the environmental risks caused by activities during dismantling is also evaluated. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the exposure pathways considered in evaluating the risks to nearby residents from the operation and decommissioning of nuclear facilities and to examine the differences. The emission rate by radionuclide is calculated by evaluating the amount of leak from nuclear fuel during the operation of the facility through design data of the NPP. Each of the liquid and gaseous effluents is calculated, and the exposure dose received by nearby residents is calculated by considering the exposure pathways with these emission rates. In order to initiate the decommissioning of nuclear facilities, approval of the Final Decommissioning Plan (FDP) must be obtained. The FDP chapter shall describe the results of the environmental impact assessment of the decommissioning. It will not differ significantly in the exposure pathways during operation. However, the decommissioning of nuclear facilities is ultimately to remove Systems, Structures, and Components (SSCs) and to remove the regulation of the Nuclear Safety Act by ensuring that sites and remaining buildings meet the criteria for the license termination. In terms of release and reuse of nuclear facilities, the exposure dose to be considered in evaluating the dose can be considered for two main types: the site and the remaining building. The factors affecting the exposure pathways considered in assessing the environmental impacts considered in the operation and decommissioning of nuclear facilities are due to gaseous and liquid effluents. However, the difference should reflect the impact of NPP operations and decommissioning activities when evaluating the amount of radionuclides released by these effluents. Decommissioning should consider the impact after decommissioning, which is the effect of the receptor by radionuclides remaining on the site and in the remaining buildings. At this time, the effects of the source from the soil and the source from the surface of the building should be considered for the external and internal exposure pathways.

The aim of this study was to calculate the health risks which children were exposed to trace metals through several pathways including air, floor dust, wipe and hand wipes in elementary-schools and academies. The samples were collected at children's facilities (50 elementary-schools and 46 academies) in summer (Aug ~ Sept, 2008), winter (Dec 2008 ~ Feb, 2009) and Spring (Mar ~ Apr, 2009) periods. The lifetime Excess Cancer Risks (ECRs) were estimated for carcinogen trace elements such as As, Cd, and Cr. For carcinogens, the Excess Cancer Risk (ECR) was calculated by considering the process of deciding Cancer Potency Factor (CPF) and Age Dependent Adjust Factor (ADAF) of the data of adults. Hazard Quotients (HQs) were estimated for the non-carcinogens trace metals like Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb. The average ECRs for young children were 1×10^-9~1×10^-8 (50%th percentile) level in all facilities. Non-carcinogens did not exceed 0.1 for all subjects in all facilities. For trace metals their risk based on health risk assessment was also observed to be acceptable.

This study assessed the health risk of trace elements in indoor children-facilities by multi-pathway measurements (Air, Dust, Wipe, Hand washing). The samples of indoor place were collected at various children's facilities (40 day-care houses, 42 child-care centers, 44 kindergartens, and 42 indoor playgrounds) in summer (Jul~Sep, 2007) and winter (Jan~Feb, 2008) periods, and analyzed by ICP-MS. The lifetime Excess Cancer Risks (ECRs) were estimated for carcinogen trace elements such as As, Cd, Cr and Ni. For carcinogens, the Excess Cancer Risk (ECR) was calculated by considering the process of deciding Cancer Potency Factor (CPF) and Age Dependent Adjust Factor (ADAF) of the data of adults. Both Hazard Quotients (HQs) and Hazard Index (HI) were estimated for the non-carcinogens and children sensitivity trace elements like Cd, Cu, and Cr. The average ECRs for young children were 1×10^-10~1×10^-6 (50%th percentile) level in all facilities. Non-carcinogens and Children's sensitivity materials did not exceed 1.0 (HQs, HI) for all subjects in all facilities. For trace elements their detection rates through multi-pathways were not high and their risk based on health risk assessment was also observed to be acceptable. In addition, through education on the risk of multi-pathway exposure of trace elements for managers of facilities as well as for users the risk control of exposure of children.