Assessment of Environmental and Economic Damage from Radioactive Environmental Pollution

A description of the methodology for assessing environmental and economic damage from radioactive environmental pollution is presented. Radiation damage to biota has been estimated in monetary terms. Environmental and economic damage is estimated by calculating the dose rate to reference wildlife organisms in the impact area of nuclear power facilities and comparing the resulting values with the radioecological safety criteria maintaining environmental conservation. If these criteria are exceeded, organisms in the biota are conservatively recognized as "destroyed" by the results of radiation dose calculations, taking into account the site area and data on the average number. The total cost of possible radiation damage to the environment is determined according to the regulatory and methodological documents in the field of environmental protection using national taxes and standards for compensating for the destruction of wildlife objects. Based on the assessment of the radiation dose rate to reference organisms of the biota, it is shown that the radioecological safety criteria are satisfied for most nuclear power facilities, which indicates that there is no significant environmental or economic damage. An example of assessment of environmental and economic damage from radiation exposure to organisms near Karachai Lake, a radioactive waste storage, caused by past activities of the Mayak Production Association, is given.