Current situation of radiation safety in China

It was over 40 years history for the application of nuclear technology in China. There are 9 nuclear power units in operation, 2 units under construction, 17 civilian research reactors in operation, and several nuclear fuel cycle facilities. A nuclear program of development of nuclear power plants is under planning. According to the program, China will build about 27 nuclear power plants in coming 15 years in the policy of standard design, local manufacture, and advanced technology with the international cooperation. And there are several tens of nuclear facilities are in the face of decommissioning. Beside them, a mass amount of radiation sources and irradiation facilities are in operation. All of the facilities have potential to release the radiation materials to environment. A large amount of radiation waste has been produced during the past 40 years from these facilities. Several fatal and in-fatal accidents have occurred, and some accidents happened with environment pollution of radiation. In order to protect public and environment, China has made great efforts to strengthen the radiation protection. The paper presents the progress and development legislation system, regulatory control, occupational radiation protection and monitoring for radiation environment. China is stepping up development of nuclear power plants to meet the voracious energy needs of the nation's rapid economic growth. During the next 15 years, a further 27 plants, each the size of the one at Daya Bay in Guangdong province, will be added to the existing 9 facilities. They would generate a combined 36 million kW of electricity a year, or 4 to 5 percent of the projected national power output. The central government has decided to make nuclear power an "important component" of the nation's energy sector, arguing it reduces reliance on polluting fossil fuels and eases the burden on the transportation System. Meanwhile, the nuclear technology is broadly applied in China on medicine, research, industry, agriculture, etc. Therefore, radiation protection plays an important role on radiation safety. The paper briefly introduces the its present situation in China.