National Atomic Energy Agency

National radiological monitoring consists in systematic measurements of gamma radiation dose rate in given points within the territory of Poland and the performance of measurements of radioactive isotopes in main components of the environment and foodstuffs.

Depending on the scope of tasks, it is possible to distinguish two system types:

• nationwide monitoring allowing to obtain data necessary to assess radiological situation of the whole territory of Poland in normal conditions and in radiation emergency, and to examine long-distance changes of the environment and food radioactivity,
• local monitoring allowing to obtain data from areas where there are (or were) conducted activities which may cause local increase of radiation exposure of the population living there (it refers to National Centre for Nuclear Research at Swierk, National Radioactive Waste Repository at Rozan and areas of former uranium ore plants in Kowary).

Nationwide and local monitoring measurements enable to:

• assess national radiation situation and assess radiation hazards to the public during radiation emergency and under normal conditions, and examine long-distance changes of the environment and food radioactivity;
• forecast consequences caused by the contamination of the environment with radioactive substances and take possible preventive measures;
• early detect and alarm about the increase of the level of dose rate and radioactive contaminations in the environment in order to take suitable measures, and comply with provisions of conventions and bilateral agreements on early notification of nuclear accidents (conventions in official UN languages are available on IAEA website)     

The Regulation of the Council of Ministers containing a list of early warning stations for radioactive contamination and units conducting measurement of radioactive contaminations has been applicable since 1 January 2003. It also specifies in detail tasks of these stations. Measurements are conducted by:

• measurement stations, which make up an early warning network for radioactive contamination,
• measurement units, which conduct measurements of radioactive contamination relating to the environmental materials and foodstuffs,
• specialized units of research and development entities within universities and other institutions.  

The President of National Atomic Energy Agency coordinates activities of measuring stations and units and performs a systematic assessment of national radiation situation.   Radiation monitoring results are the basis for the national radiation assessment made by the PAA President, which is announced on a daily basis (and published on the PAA Internet site) in quarterly releases published in the Polish Monitor and in annual reports, and in the event of radiation emergency, the information given constitutes the basis for the assessment of radiation hazards for humans and intervention measures, if necessary.

The task of early warning stations for radioactive contamination, operating under  Regulation of the Council of Ministers of 17 December 2002 on early warning stations and units conducting radioactive contamination measurements, is early detection of changes in alpha, beta and gamma radiation in the environment in order to provide information required for a current national radiation situation.

The tasks of early warning stations, being basic stations operating continuously 24 hours, 7 days a week, include a continuous monitoring of dose rate and spectrometric gamma radiation in order to detect the increase in a dose rate by 25nSv/h above the mean value for the period of 24h before the actual measurement, caused by the presence of artificial radioactive gamma isotopes in the surroundings of the station. The task of stations possessing equipment for collecting atmospheric aerosols is to detect I-131 and Cs-137 isotope concentration at single microbequerel level per cubic meter of air and concentration of total alpha and beta radiation at single microbequerel level per cubic meter after 1 hour of collection. On the other hand, the tasks of subsidiary stations include a continuous monitoring of gamma radiation dose rate in the surroundings.

35 automatic Permanent Monitoring Stations (PMS) owned by the PAA which perform permanent monitoring of:

• gamma radiation dose rate and gamma radiation spectrum caused by the contamination of air and land surface,
• intensity of atmospheric fallout and local temperature.

Monitoring data from PMS stations is transmitted to international monitoring network of the European Union and the Council of Baltic Sea States.

12 ASS-500 stations (Aerosol Sampling Station), owned by the Central Laboratory for Radiological Protection (11) and the PAA (1), which perform continuous monitoring activities consisting in:

• collecting particles of atmospheric aerosols on the filter which allow to establish radionuclides in the air layer just above the ground.
• analyzing and assessing artificial radionuclides on filters, in case of particular stations equipped with spectrometric devices

After removing filters, experts carry out spectrometric measurements to identify certain artificial radioisotopes on filters. Usually these measurements are performed on a weekly basis, but if necessary the frequency of measurements may be raised.  

9 stations of the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMWM) which perform:

• continuous monitoring of gamma radiation dose rate,
• continuous monitoring of total and artificial alpha and beta activity of atmospheric aerosols,
• monitoring of total beta activity and content of Cs-137 in weekly and monthly samples of total fallout (7 stations),
• monitoring of total beta activity in 24-hour and monthly samples of the total fallout.

Additionally, once a month the stations provide an assessment of the content of Cs-137 (spectrometric method) and Sr-90 (radiochemical method) in the cumulative monthly samples of the total fallout from all 9 stations.

Subsidiary stations include:

• 8 monitoring stations of the Ministry of National Defence, located on the site of military facilities, which perform continuous monitoring of gamma radiation dose rate registered automatically in the Centre for Contamination Assessment. 

Radiation monitoring data is exchanged on the international level within the framework of the following systems:

The European Union exchange of measurement data system based on routine radiological monitoring networks in the EU Member States. The system includes data concerning a dose rate and contamination of air, drinking water, surface waters, milk and food (diet). The data is submitted by the PAA Radiation Emergency Centre to the Joint Research Centre in the city of Ispra in Italy on an annual basis. 

The European Radiological Data Exchange Platform system (EURDEP) functions on the ongoing basis and includes the exchange of the following data from the early warning stations for radioactive contaminations:

• gamma radiation dose rate (Permanent Monitoring Stations and stations of the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management),
• complete beta and alpha activity from artificial radionuclides in atmospheric aerosols (stations of the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management).

Poland provides its monitoring data once every hour, regardless of the mode of operation.

The scope and format of data transmitted by Poland within the framework of the Council of Baltic Sea States (CBSS) i.e. within the framework of regional exchange is identical to the EURDEP system operating in the European Union.