Austria
Last modified on March 08, 2021
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List of abbreviations
| Abbreviation | Description |
|---|---|
| AGES | Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (Österreichische Agentur für Gesundheit und Ernährungssicherheit GmbH) |
| BMK | Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (Bundesministerium für Klimaschutz, Umwelt, Energie, Mobilität, Innovation und Technologie) |
| BMSGPK | Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection (Bundesministerium für Soziales, Gesundheit, Pflege und Konsumentenschutz) |
| UBA | Environment Agency Austria (Umweltbundesamt GmbH) |
Part 1: General information on the Country, legal basis, overall organisation and structure of the monitoring systems
1.1. Generic data about country
Vienna | |
83 879 km2 | |
~8.9 millions | |
9 independent federal states (Bundesländer) |
1.2. Type of radioactivity monitoring conducted in the country
| Type of monitoring | Routine | Emergency |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental radioactivity monitoring | ✔ YES | ✔ YES |
| Foodstuff radioactivity monitoring | ✔ YES | ✔ YES |
| Drinking water radioactivity monitoring | ✔ YES | ✔ YES |
| Source-related monitoring | ✔ YES | ✔ YES |
| Other: |
| Additional information |
|---|
| — |
1.3. Main organisations and authorities
| Bodies having responsibility for radioactivity monitoring | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Additional information |
|---|
| — |
1.4. Main legal acts and regulatory documents
| Document title | Document No., issue date | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| National environmental radioactivity monitoring | |||
| Federal Act on measures to protect against harm resulting from ionising radiation (Austrian Radiation Protection Act – StrSchG) | BGBI. I Nr. 50/2020 | Link | |
| Ordinance of the Federal Minister of Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology, the Federal Minister of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection and the Federal Minister of Digital and Economic Affairs an general measures for the protection of individuals against harm resulting from ionising radiation (General Radiation Protection Ordinance - AllgStrSchV)) | BGBI. II Nr. 339/2020 | Link | |
| Monitoring of radioactivity content of foodstuff | |||
| Austrian Food Safety and Consumer Protection Act (LMSVG) | BGBl. I Nr. 13/2006; 20.Jan. 2006 | Link | |
| Federal Act on measures to protect against harm resulting from ionising radiation (Austrian Radiation Protection Act – StrSchG) | BGBI. I Nr. 50/2020 | Link | |
| Monitoring of radioactivity content of drinking water | |||
| Federal Act on measures to protect against harm resulting from ionising radiation (Austrian Radiation Protection Act – StrSchG) | BGBI. I Nr. 50/2020 | Link | |
| Ordinance of the Federal Minister of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection for the quality of water intended for human consumption | BGBl. II Nr. 304/2001, as amended (BGBl. II Nr. 362/2017) | Link | |
| Environmental radioactivity monitoring in emergency situations (if treated separately in specific documents) | |||
| Ordinance of the Federal Minister of Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology on interventions in emergency exposure situations and in existing exposure situations after radiological emergency or because of contaminated products or radiological legacy sites (Intervention Ordinance, IntV) | BGBl. II Nr. 343/2020 | Link | |
| Verification reports under the terms of Art. 35 of the Euratom Treaty | |||
| NACHPRÜFUNGEN GEMÄSS ARTIKEL 35 EURATOM-VERTRAG | 2013, AT-13/02 | Link | |
| TECHNISCHER BERICHT | 2013, AT-13/02 | Link | |
| Additional information |
|---|
| — |
1.5. Standards considered in the legislation/regulatory framework
| Regulatory standards | References |
|---|---|
| Council Directive 2013/59/EURATOM | |
| IAEA GSR Part 3 (Radiation protection and safety of radiation sources: International Basic Safety Standards) | |
| IAEA GSR Part 7 (Preparedness and Response for a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency) | |
| IAEA Safety Guide RS-G-1.8 (Environmental and source monitoring for purposes of radiation protection) |
| Additional information |
|---|
| — |
Part 2: Sources of increased radioactivity in the environment (installations discharging radioactivity in normal operation, existing exposure situations, NORM industries, etc.)
2.1. Overview of facilities discharging radioactivity in the environment in normal operating conditions or in the event of an accident
| Type of facility | |
|---|---|
| 1. Nuclear fuel cycle facilities | |
| 1.1. U/Th mining and milling facilities | |
| 1.2. U enrichment plants | |
| 1.3. Nuclear fuel fabrication plants | |
| 1.4. Nuclear power plants | |
| 1.5. Other nuclear reactors | ✔ YES |
| 1.6. Nuclear fuel reprocessing plants | |
| 1.7. Spent fuel storage facilities | |
| 1.8. Spent fuel disposal facilities | |
| 1.9. Storage of new fuel facility | |
| 1.10. Nuclear maintenance facility | |
| 2. Radioactive waste management facilities | |
| 2.1. Radioactive waste treatment plants | ✔ YES |
| 2.2. Radioactive waste storage facilities | ✔ YES |
| 2.3. Radioactive waste disposal facilities | |
| 3. Facilities using open radioactive sources | |
| 3.1. Radionuclide extraction plants | |
| 3.2. Cyclotrons and other particle accelerators for research or radionuclide production | ✔ YES |
| 3.3. Research laboratories | ✔ YES |
| 3.4. Radiotherapy departments (metabolic radiotherapy) | ✔ YES |
| 3.5. Diagnostic nuclear medicine departments (in vivo and/or in vitro) | ✔ YES |
| 3.6. Industrial Irradiators | |
| 4. Industries giving raise to NORM discharges | |
| 4.1. Fossil fuel (coal, lignite, oil and natural gas) power stations | |
| 4.2. Oil and gas extraction | |
| 4.3. Metal processing (iron and steel, tantalum and niobium) | |
| 4.4. Phosphate industry | |
| 4.5. Titanium oxide pigment production | |
| 4.6. Zirconium and rare earth processing - refractory products and brick manufacture | ✔ YES |
| 4.7. Cement production | |
| Others | |
2.2. List of facilities
| Facility name and type | Location, coordinates | Stage of operation | Main technical characteristics | Discharge authorisation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5. Other nuclear reactors | |||||
| TRIGA Mark II Research Reactor | Atomic Institute of the Austrian Universities, Vienna (48°11'47" N, 16°24'44" E) | 3 | Max. steady state thermal output 250 kW with pulsing capabilities up to 250 MW; in operation since 1962 | ✔ YES | |
| 2.1. Radioactive waste treatment plants | |||||
| RW Incineration Plant (IP) - NES | Austrian Research Center, 2444 Seibersdorf (47°58'32''N,16°30'24''E) | 3 | in operation for 3-4 months/year; consisting of a shaft furnace (max. material throughput ~ 40kg/h) and associated infrastructure facilities (gas burners, flue gas pipes, secondary combustion chamber, 4- stage flue gas cleaning system), a conical dryer for radioactive sludge and a “sorting box” | ✔ YES | |
| RW processing – Nuclear Engineering Seibersdorf (NES) | Austrian Research Center, 2444 Seibersdorf (47°58'32''N,16°30'24''E) | 3 | Built in 2010-2013, consists in: hot cell with underground storage (for processing of HASS), source processing centre (for processing of sealed sources), 2 stainless steel caissons (RW processing chambers), high-pressure compactor (for non-combustible RW), drum drying facility and a decontamination room | ✔ YES | |
| RW water purification building – NES | Austrian Research Center, 2444 Seibersdorf (47°58'32" N, 16°30'24"E) | 3 | Consisting in inlet pool for collection of waste water, collection tanks for intermediate buffering, sampling and chemical treatment, filtration systems, sludge filling station, storage pools for collection and sampling of purified wastewater before discharge | ✔ YES | |
| 2.2. Radioactive waste storage facilities | |||||
| RW interim storage - NES | Austrian Research Center, 2444 Seibersdorf (47°58'32" N, 16°30'24"E) | 3 | Total capacity of the interim storage ~ 18,000 conditioned 200-l drums, plus few special containers (for e.g. ILW) | ✖ NO | |
| 3.2. Cyclotrons and other particle accelerators for research or radionuclide production | |||||
| Radiopharmaceutical Laboratory – Seibersdorf Laboratories | Austrian Research Center, 2444 Seibersdorf, AT (47°58'32''N,16°30'24''E) | 3 | Production of F-18 with a GE PET trace cyclotron using 16 MeV protons, production of radiopharmaceuticals for therapeutic uses with Y-90 and Lu-177 | ✔ YES | |
| 3.3. Research laboratories | |||||
| IAEA SGAS, nuclear material laboratory | Seibersdorf | 3 | Uranium and plutonium analysis for safeguard, samples are collected by safeguards inspectors | ✔ YES | |
| 3.4. Radiotherapy departments (metabolic radiotherapy) | |||||
| General hospital vienna | 1 | ✖ NO | |||
| 3.5. Diagnostic nuclear medicine departments (in vivo and/or in vitro) | |||||
| General hospital vienna | Vienna A-1090 | 3 | decay installation | ✔ YES | |
| Hospital • Landeskrankenhaus Innsbruck, Univ.-Klinik für Nuklearmedizin | Innsbruck | 3 | decay installation | ✔ YES | |
| Hospital Kardinal Schwarzenberg Klinikum | A-5620 Schwarzlach im Pongau | 3 | decay installation | ✔ YES | |
| Hospital Klinik Donaustadt | VIenna A-1220 | 3 | decay installation | ✔ YES | |
| Hospital Klinik Hietzing | Vienna A-1130 | 3 | decay installation | ✔ YES | |
| Hospital Landeskrankenhaus Feldkirch | Feldkirch A-6807 | 3 | decay installation | ✔ YES | |
| Hospital LKH Salzburg | Salzburg A-5020 | 3 | decay installation | ✔ YES | |
| Hospital Ordensklinikum Linz - Barmherzige Schwestern | Linz A-4010 | 3 | decay installation | ✔ YES | |
| Klinikum Klagenfurt (Hospital) | Klagenfurt am Wörthersee A-9020 | 3 | decay installation | ✔ YES | |
| Privat Hospital Private Krankenanstalt für Schilddrüsendiagnostik und Nuklearmedizin | Telfs A-6410 | 1 | decay installations | ✔ YES | |
| 4.6. Zirconium and rare earth processing - refractory products and brick manufacture | |||||
| some minor facilities | 3 | ✔ YES | |||
| Additional information |
|---|
| — |
2.3. Overview of areas with increased radioactivity levels
| Type of area | |
|---|---|
| Radon prone areas | ✔ YES |
| Areas contaminated with artificial radionuclides as a result of radiation emergencies or past practices | |
| Areas contaminated with natural radionuclides as a result of NORM industries | ✔ YES |
2.4. List of areas with increased radioactivity levels
| Area name, status | Location, coordinates | Main technical characteristics | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radon prone areas | |||
| Radon prone area Status:Under evaluation | are published in the ordinance regarding radon BGBl. Nr. 470/2020 | Geological radon source,– Information, Prevention or Renovation is applied in Austria | |
| Areas contaminated with natural radionuclides as a result of NORM industries | |||
| Alt Erlaa Status:Partially remediated | Alt Erlaa A-1230 Vienna | historical facility for Th-232 incandescent gasmantle production, monitoring still conducted | |
| Neulengbach Status:Partially remediated | Neulengbach A-3040 | Radium factory, historical facility, special monitoring program until 2020, afterwards monitoring to be conducted wit respect to special situations e.g. flooding, construction works. | |
| Additional information |
|---|
| With respect to NORM industries, a report (Altlasten- und Verdachtsflächenkatalog) about historical facilities and areas of potential concern was prepared in Austria and is reviewed periodically. According to this report areas are and will be evaluated if monitoring and/or remediation is necessary. |
Part 3: National monitoring system
3.1. Existence of a formal monitoring program
| Yes | |
3.2. Development, approval, implementation and verification of monitoring programs
| Monitoring programs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Environmental radioactivity monitoring | ||
| Developed by | BMK with technical support by the AGES | |
| Approved by | BMK | |
| Implemented by | AGES | |
| Reviewed with a periodicity of | yearly | |
| Verified by | BMK | |
| Foodstuff radioactivity monitoring | ||
| Developed by | BMSGPK with the technical support of AGES | |
| Approved by | BMSGPK | |
| Implemented by | AGES | |
| Reviewed with a periodicity of | yearly | |
| Verified by | BMSGPK | |
| Drinking water radioactivity monitoring | ||
| Developed by | BMSGPK with the technical support of AGES | |
| Approved by | BMSGPK | |
| Implemented by | AGES | |
| Reviewed with a periodicity of | yearly | |
| Verified by | BMSGPK | |
| Additional information |
|---|
| monitoring programs can also be conducted by federal states e.g. monitoring of drinking water according to the Austrian Drinking Water Ordinance (BGBl. II Nr. 362/2017) by the competent authority for food monitoring in Vienna. Sampling locations for repeated monitoring between the well and the consumer are determined |
3.3. Environmental media and foodstuffs routinely monitored
| Main monitored media Environmental media monitored | On-line continuous monitoring | Off-line monitoring | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continuous collection, periodic measurement | Periodic samples collection followed by measurement | ||||
| Air | |||||
| Ambient gamma dose rate | ✔ YES | ||||
| Aerosols | ✔ YES | ✔ YES | ✔ YES | ||
| Rain (precipitation) | ✔ YES | ||||
| Water | |||||
| Groundwater | ✔ YES | ||||
| Surface water | ✔ YES | ✔ YES | |||
| Drinking water | ✔ YES | ✔ YES | |||
| Sewage water | ✔ YES | ||||
| Soil | |||||
| Sediment | ✔ YES | ||||
| Cultivated | ✔ YES | ||||
| Uncultivated | ✔ YES | ||||
| Vegetation | |||||
| Aquatic biota | ✔ YES | ||||
| Leafy vegetables | ✔ YES | ||||
| Other vegetables and fruits | ✔ YES | ||||
| Grain | ✔ YES | ||||
| Grass | ✔ YES | ||||
| Food | |||||
| Milk | ✔ YES | ||||
| Meat | ✔ YES | ||||
| Fish | ✔ YES | ||||
| Mixed diet | ✔ YES | ||||
| Industrial | |||||
| Industrial integrated dose | ✔ YES | ✔ YES | |||
| Additional information |
|---|
| — |
3.4. Types of monitoring programs and organisations/laboratories executing the respective programs
3.4.1. Organisations/laboratories executing monitoring programs
| Ref # | Organisation/laboratory | Information on organisation/laboratory | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AGES - Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety Ltd., Division for Radiation Protection Location: Vienna, Linz, Graz, Innsbruck | ISO 17025 accredited: | ✔ YES; | |
| Authorized by competent authority: | ✔ YES; | |||
| Recognized by nuclear regulatory body: | ✔ YES; | |||
| Involved in the following monitoring situations: |
Routine
Emergency | |||
| Participation in professional network: |
IAEA ALMERA
| |||
| 2 | Federal Ministry of Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) Directorate V/8 Radiation Protection Location: Untere Donaustrasse 11, 1020-Vienna | ISO 17025 accredited: | ✔ YES; | |
| Authorized by competent authority: | ; | |||
| Recognized by nuclear regulatory body: | ; | |||
| Involved in the following monitoring situations: |
Routine
Emergency | |||
| Participation in professional network: | ||||
| Additional information |
|---|
| — |
3.4.2. Monitoring programs in which the organisation/laboratory is involved
| Monitoring programs in which the organisation/laboratory is involved | |
|---|---|
| 1 . AGES - Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety Ltd., Division for Radiation Protection | |
| Air | |
| Aerosols | |
| Rain (precipitation) | |
| Dry atmospheric deposition | |
| Water | |
| Groundwater | |
| Surface water | |
| Drinking water | |
| Sewage water | |
| Soil | |
| Sediment | |
| Cultivated | |
| Uncultivated | |
| Vegetation | |
| Aquatic biota | |
| Leafy vegetables | |
| Other vegetables and fruits | |
| Grain | |
| Grass | |
| Food | |
| Milk | |
| Meat | |
| Fish | |
| Mixed diet | |
| Industrial | |
| Dose rate | |
| 2 . Federal Ministry of Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) Directorate V/8 Radiation Protection | |
| Air | |
| Ambient gamma dose rate | |
| Aerosols | |
3.5. On-line monitoring
3.5.1. Parameters monitored, number and location of on-line stations, type of measurement performed and availability during emergency situations
| Media | Parameter | Number of stations | Coordinates (Map or GPS) | Measurement type | Emergency availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air | |||||
| Ambient gamma dose rate | 319 | GPS coordinates can be provided in an xls sheet |
Direct | ✔ YES | |
| Radionuclide concentration in air Gaseous and aerosols | 10 locations along the borders | GPS coordinates can be provided in an xls sheet |
Direct | ✔ YES | |
| Aerosols | 10 locations along the borders et | GPS coordinates can be provided in an xls sheet |
Direct | ✔ YES |
| Additional information |
|---|
| Based on bilateral arrangements measurement data are exchanged automatically with the neighbouring countries directly (all but Italy) and via EURDEP data platform (Italy), Additionally the data from the stations mentioned in 3.9.4. are sent automatically and measurement data from stations in Hungary and Slovenia are exchanged with Austria. |
3.5.2. Integration time, types of detectors and technical information
| Media | Parameter | Integration time | Detector type | Typical LLD* | Measurement/ energy range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air | |||||
| Ambient gamma dose rate | — | ||||
| Radionuclide concentration in air Gaseous and aerosols | — | ||||
| Aerosols | — |
(*) Typical LLD (lowest limit of detection): minimum detectable activity defined as the radioactivity which, if present in a sample, produces a counting rate detected with a certain level of confidence.
3.5.3. Mobile automatic monitoring stations
| Media | Parameter | Integration time | Detector type | Typical LLD* | Measurement/ energy range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | |||||
| Additional information |
|---|
| — |
(*) Typical LLD (lowest limit of detection): minimum detectable activity defined as the radioactivity which, if present in a sample, produces a counting rate detected with a certain level of confidence.
3.5.4. Control centres included in on-line monitoring systems
| Centre | Operated by | Receiving data | Sending data | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From | Type of data | Every | To | Type of data | Every | ||
| 1 | Federal Ministry of Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) | Automatic monitoring stations | ambient dose rate | 10 min | EURDEP | ambient dose rate | 10 min |
| Additional information |
|---|
| The measure interval is usually 10 minutes. When a certain criteria is matched (rapid change of measured value) the WebDL switches to its 1-minute-mode for at least 30 Minutes and at the longest until the criteria is not fulfilled anymore. Exact criteria: If the difference between one 10-minute-mean value and the next one is exceeding 15%, the 1-minute-mode is activated. |
3.6. Off-line monitoring
3.6.1. Off-line monitored media, sampling locations, sampling methods, measurements during emergency situations and sampling frequency
| Media | Sampling locations | Sampling method | Performed during emergency | Sampling frequency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air | |||||
| Ambient gamma dose rate | dependent on situation | ✔ YES | Emergency:dependent on situation | ||
| Aerosols | 10 locations | continuous | ✔ YES | Routine:7 days Emergency:optimised on the expected activity concentration and necessity | |
| Rain (precipitation) | 9 locations | continuous | ✔ YES | Routine:monthly Emergency:optimised on the expected activity concentration and necessity | |
| Dry atmospheric deposition | dependent on situation | Dry deposition on rain water samplers | ✔ YES | Emergency:optimised on the expected activity concentration and necessity | |
| Water | |||||
| Groundwater | Chosen on the uranium content and on representative groundwater resources | in campaign | ✔ YES | Routine:every 5 to 10 years Emergency:dependent on situation | |
| Surface water | 21 locations | Continuously and spot sampling | ✔ YES | Routine:monthly Emergency:dependent on the situation | |
| Drinking water | DW of the 9 local capital cities | Daily sampling to a month mixed sample | ✔ YES | Routine:daily sampling combined to create a composite sample of the month Emergency:dependent on situation | |
| Sewage water | Linz-Asten, Graz-Gössendorf, Klagenfurt-Feuerbach, Wien-Simmering | Spot sampling | ✔ YES | Routine:monthly Emergency:dependent on situation | |
| Soil | |||||
| Sediment | Aschbach, Wallsee, Greifenstein, Freudenau | Spot sampling | ✖ NO | Routine:yearly Emergency:dependent on situation | |
| Cultivated | Bruckneudorf, Güssing, Deutschlandsberg, Ferlach, Schöneben, Sandl, Bad Leonfelden, Freistadt, Linz, Schärding, Völklabruck | Spot sampling | ✔ YES | Routine:yearly Emergency:dependent on situation | |
| Uncultivated | Bruckneudorf, Güssing, Deutschlandsberg, Ferlach, Schöneben, Sandl, Bad Leonfelden, Freistadt, Linz, Schärding, Völklabruck | Spot sampling | ✔ YES | Routine:yearly Emergency:dependent on situation | |
| Vegetation | |||||
| Leafy vegetables | Not assignable | Spot sampling | ✔ YES | Routine:in season Emergency:dependent on situation | |
| Other vegetables and fruits | Not assignable | Spot sampling by Food Inspection authority | ✔ YES | Routine:in season Emergency:dependent on situation | |
| Grain | Not assignable | Spot Sampling | ✔ YES | Routine:season, yearly Emergency:dependent on situation | |
| Grass | Monitoring program in Carinthia on pasture grass in 9 alpine regions | Spot sampling | ✔ YES | Routine:yearly, in season Emergency:dependent on situation | |
| Food | |||||
| Milk | 1) dense network 32 locations and 9 of them selected for Sr-90 2) sparse network (=one sample in Vienna) | Spot sampling | ✔ YES | Routine:1) each two months, 2) every month Emergency:dependent on situation | |
| Meat | Not assignable | Spot sampling | ✔ YES | Routine:200 samples a year Emergency:dependent on situation | |
| Fish | Research program | Spot sampling | ✖ NO | Routine:5 to 10 years Emergency:dependent on situation | |
| Mixed diet | Vienna, Graz | Spot sampling | ✔ YES | Routine:monthly and in a quater Emergency:dependent on situation | |
| Additional information |
|---|
| — |
3.6.2. Off-line monitored media, associated sample preparation method, measurement frequency, measurement techniques, main radionuclides monitored and reporting period
| Media | Sampling preparation method | Measurement frequency | Measurement techniques | Radionuclides monitored | Reporting period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air | ||||||
| Ambient gamma dose rate | ||||||
| Aerosols | Direct measurement | Routine:7 Emergency:dependent on situation | Routine:natural & artificial rad. Emergency:natural & artificial rad. | Routine:natural & artificial rad. | Routine:yearly Emergency:dependent on situation | |
| Rain (precipitation) | Concentration by evaporation | Routine:monthly Emergency:dependent on situation | Routine:Be-7, Cs-137, H-3, nat. rad. Emergency:Be-7, Cs-137, H-3, nat. rad. | Routine:Be-7, Cs-137, H-3, nat. rad. | Routine:monthly Emergency:dependent on situation | |
| Dry atmospheric deposition | Concentration by evaporation of the wash water, with which the dry dep. is washed down | Emergency:Concentration by evaporation | Emergency:I-131, Cs-134, Cs-137 | Emergency:dependent on situation | ||
| Water | ||||||
| Groundwater | Concentration by evaporation, radiochemical preparation | Routine:5 to 10 years | Routine:Rn-222, Ra-226, Ra-228, Pb-210, Po-210 Emergency:Rn-222, Ra-226, Ra-228, Pb-210, Po-210 | Routine:Rn-222, Ra-226, Ra-228, Pb-210, Po-210 | Routine:5 to 10 years Emergency:dependent on situation | |
| Surface water | Concentration by evaporation | Routine:monthly | Routine:Be-7, Cs-137, H-3, K-40, I-131, nat. rad. Emergency:Be-7, Cs-137, H-3, K-40, I-131, nat. rad. | Routine:Be-7, Cs-137, H-3, K-40, I-131, nat. rad. | Routine:yearly Emergency:dependent on situation | |
| Drinking water | Concentration by evaporation, radiochemical preparation | Routine:1) monthly (H-3, gross alpha+beta, Gamma spectrometry, Ra-228, Ra-226, Pb-210, Po-210), 2) quarterly of mixed sample (Sr-90) | Routine:H-3 and gross alpha+beta (all samples), Sr-90 (sample of Vienna), Ra-226 (Vienna), Ra-228 (Vienna), Pb-210 (Vienna), Po-210 (Vienna), Cs-137 (samples of Vienna, Linz, Innsbruck and Graz) Emergency:H-3 and gross alpha+beta (all samples), Sr-90 (sample of Vienna), Ra-226 (Vienna), Ra-228 (Vienna), Pb-210 (Vienna), Po-210 (Vienna), Cs-137 (samples of Vienna, Linz, Innsbruck and Graz) | Routine:H-3 and gross alpha+beta (all samples), Sr-90 (sample of Vienna), Ra-226 (Vienna), Ra-228 (Vienna), Pb-210 (Vienna), Po-210 (Vienna), Cs-137 (samples of Vienna, Linz, Innsbruck and Graz) | Routine:yearly Emergency:dependent on situation | |
| Sewage water | Concentration by evaporation | Routine:monthly | Routine:H-3, K-40, γ emitters, medical radiotracers Emergency:H-3, K-40, γ emitters, medical radiotracers | Routine:H-3, K-40, γ emitters, medical radiotracers | Routine:yearly Emergency:dependent on situation | |
| Soil | ||||||
| Sediment | Direct measurement of dried samples | Routine:yearly | Routine:Cs-137, K-40, I-131, nat. rad. Emergency:Cs-137, K-40, I-131, nat. rad. | Routine:Cs-137, K-40, I-131, nat. rad. | Routine:yearly Emergency:dependent on situation | |
| Cultivated | Direct measurement | Routine:yearly | Routine:Cs-137, K-40, I-131, nat. rad. Emergency:Cs-137, K-40, I-131, nat. rad. | Routine:Cs-137, K-40, I-131, nat. rad. Emergency:dependent on situation | Routine:yearly Emergency:dependent on situation | |
| Uncultivated | Direct measurement | Routine:yearly | Routine:Cs-137, K-40, I-131, nat. rad. Emergency:Cs-137, K-40, I-131, nat. rad. | Routine:Cs-137, K-40, I-131, nat. rad. Emergency:dependent on situation | Routine:yearly Emergency:dependent on situation | |
| Vegetation | ||||||
| Leafy vegetables | Direct measurement | Routine:yearly | Routine:Cs-137, K-40, I-131 Emergency:Cs-137, K-40, I-131 | Routine:Cs-137, K-40, I-131 | Routine:yearly Emergency:dependent on situation | |
| Other vegetables and fruits | Direct measurement | Routine:monthly | Routine:K-40, Cs-137 Emergency:K-40, Cs-137 | Routine:K-40, Cs-137 | Routine:yearly Emergency:dependent on situation | |
| Grain | Direct measurement | Routine:in season, yearly | Routine:K-40, Cs-137 Emergency:K-40, Cs-137 | Routine:K-40, Cs-137 | Routine:yearly Emergency:dependent on situation | |
| Grass | Direct measurement | Routine:in season, yearly | Routine:K-40, Cs-137 Emergency:K-40, Cs-137 | Routine:K-40, Cs-137 | Routine:yearly Emergency:dependent on situation | |
| Food | ||||||
| Milk | Direct measurement, radiochemical preparation | Routine:1) Gamma-spectrometry each two months and Sr-90 mixed sample and measured once a year 2) Gamma-spectrometry and Sr-90 monthly (Vienna) | Routine:Sr-90, Cs-137; I-131, K-40 Emergency:Sr-90, Cs-137; I-131, K-40 | Routine:Sr-90, Cs-137; I-131, K-40 | Routine:yearly Emergency:dependent on situation | |
| Meat | Direct measurement | Routine:monthly | Routine:Cs-137 Emergency:Cs-137 | Routine:Cs-137 | Routine:monthly Emergency:dependent on situation | |
| Fish | Direct measurement, radiochemical preparation | Routine:in campaign | Routine:Cs-137, I-131, Sr-90 Emergency:Cs-137, I-131, Sr-90 | Routine:Cs-137, I-131, Sr-90 | Routine:after campaign Emergency:dependent on situation | |
| Mixed diet | Direct measurement, radiochemical preparation | Routine:1) monthly, 2) mixed sample of 3 months(quaterly) | Routine:1) Cs-137, I-131, 2) Sr-90 Emergency:1) Cs-137, I-131, 2) Sr-90 | Routine:1) Cs-137, I-131, 2) Sr-90 | Routine:once a year Emergency:dependent on situation | |
3.7. Monitoring laboratories
3.7.1. Monitoring laboratories equipment
| Equipment | Number of equipment | Type of measurements | Available for emergency | Measurement energy/range | Typical LLD* | Capacity (samples per day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AGES - Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety Ltd., Division for Radiation Protection | ||||||
| HPGE spectrometer | 1 | y-spectrometry | ✔ YES | 40 to 2000 keV | Routine:Cs-137, -134; I-131: 2 E-6 Bq/m³; I-131 gas:5 E-5 Bq/m³ | Routine:20 to 30 Emergency:up to 500 |
| Liquid Scintillation Counter | LSC | ✔ YES | Routine:H-3: 2 Bq/l; Sr-90, Ra-226, Po-210: 1 E-2 Bq/l; Ra-228, Pb-210:2 E-2 Bq/l | |||
| Alpha - spectrometry | Alpha - spectrometry | ✔ YES | ||||
| ICP-MS | Ionised coupled plasma – mass spectrometry, U-isotopes, Pu-239 | ✔ YES | ||||
| Additional information |
|---|
| — |
3.7.2. Monitoring laboratories staff
| Organisation/laboratory staff composition | |
|---|---|
| Typical staffing for each laboratory (chemist, physicist, administrative personnel, radiation protection officer, medical doctor, lab technician, etc.) | Number of personnel for each type of staff |
| AGES - Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety Ltd., Division for Radiation Protection | |
| 2 chemist, 9 physicist, 1 administrative pers.,4 lab. technician | |
| Federal Ministry of Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) Directorate V/8 Radiation Protection | |
| Rad. Protection experts/emergency team ~20: IT experts: ~15 | |
3.7.3. Organisation/laboratory management systems
| Main elements | Yes/No | Additional information |
|---|
| 1 . | ||
| QA/QC procedures have been established and implemented for all monitoring activities (sampling, sample preparation, measurement, analysis, reporting). | ✔ YES | ISO 17025 |
| Monitoring equipment are calibrated, tested and verified as required by the competent authorities. | ✔ YES | |
| Calibration standards are traceable to national or international standards. | ✔ YES | |
| Uncertainties affecting the monitoring results are identified, analysed and reported. | ✔ YES | |
| Laboratory organises internal audits of the management system. | ✔ YES | |
| Laboratory organises external audits of the management system. | ✔ YES | |
| Laboratory participates in inter-comparison exercises. | ✔ YES | |
| Parameters tested during these proficiency tests. | ✖ NO | Alpha- Beta- and Gamma-emitters in different medias |
| Laboratory management system is certified under a national or international certification scheme. | ✔ YES | ISO 9001 |
| 2 . | ||
| QA/QC procedures have been established and implemented for all monitoring activities (sampling, sample preparation, measurement, analysis, reporting). | ✔ YES | BMK: according to GSR Part 7 requirements |
| 3 . | ||
| Monitoring equipment are calibrated, tested and verified as required by the competent authorities. | ✖ NO | |
| Calibration standards are traceable to national or international standards. | ✖ NO | |
| Uncertainties affecting the monitoring results are identified, analysed and reported. | ✖ NO | |
| Laboratory organises internal audits of the management system. | ✖ NO | |
| Laboratory organises external audits of the management system. | ✖ NO | |
| Laboratory participates in inter-comparison exercises. | ✖ NO | |
| Parameters tested during these proficiency tests. | ✖ NO | |
| Laboratory management system is certified under a national or international certification scheme. | ✔ YES | ISO 9001 technical operation of the automatic radiation monitoring system. |
3.8. Information available to public
3.8.1. Public information about environmental radioactivity monitoring
| Information to the public about environmental radioactivity monitoring | |
|---|---|
| During normal situation | Yes |
| During emergency situation | Yes |
3.8.2. Organisations responsible for informing the public
| Responsible organisations | Normal situation | Emergency situation |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental protection authorities | ✔ YES | ✔ YES |
| Public health authorities | ✔ YES | ✔ YES |
| Nuclear regulatory body | ✔ YES | ✔ YES |
| Emergency response organisations | ✔ YES | |
| Local administration | ✔ YES | ✔ YES |
| Regional government | ✔ YES | ✔ YES |
| Additional information |
|---|
| — |
3.8.3. Information transmitted to the public
| Environmental radioactivity monitoring data | Normal situation | Emergency situation |
|---|---|---|
| Ambient gamma dose rate / integrated dose | ✔ YES | ✔ YES |
| Radioactivity in air | ✔ YES | ✔ YES |
| Radioactivity in water | ✔ YES | |
| Radioactivity of soil | ✔ YES | ✔ YES |
| Radioactivity of vegetation | ✔ YES | ✔ YES |
| Radioactivity of food | ✔ YES | ✔ YES |
| Radioactivity of drinking water | ✔ YES | ✔ YES |
| Radioactivity discharged in the atmosphere | ✔ YES | ✔ YES |
| Radioactivity discharged in the water | ✔ YES | ✔ YES |
| The doses to the public, estimated based on the measured values | ✔ YES | ✔ YES |
| Details about the monitoring program | ✔ YES | ✔ YES |
| Interpretation of the measured values | ✔ YES | ✔ YES |
| Interpretation of the measured values | ✔ YES | |
| Interpretation of the measured values | ✔ YES | ✔ YES |
| Additional information |
|---|
| — |
3.8.4. Methods of communication to the public under normal and emergency situations
| Method of communication | Normal situation | Emergency situation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online, in real time, on the following website(s) : | |||
| Strahlenschutz.gv.at | ✔ YES | ✔ YES | |
| Online, with a certain periodicity (not in real time), on the following website(s) : | |||
| Strahlenschutz.gv.at | ✔ YES | ✔ YES | |
| Publication of periodic reports by the responsible organisations, on the following website(s) : | |||
| https://www.bmk.gv.at/themen/klima_umwelt/strahlenschutz/fruehwarnsystem/strahlenfruehwarnsystem.html (annual report of the Austrian radiation early warning system) | ✔ YES | ✖ NO | |
| Publication of periodic reports by the responsible organisations, on the following website(s) : | |||
| https://www.ages.at/service/service-strahlenschutz/informationsbroschueren/ (annual report on environmental and food radioactivity monitoring) | ✔ YES | ✖ NO | |
| Publication of periodic reports by the responsible organisations, on the following website(s) : | |||
| www.strahlenschutz.gv.at (Information before radiological emergency FAQs, emergency plans at federal level, Austrian Catalouge of Protective Actions) | ✔ YES | ✔ YES | |
| Media (radio/TV channels) : | |||
| text templates for announcements by the Austrian broadcast | ✖ NO | ✔ YES | |
| Social media (e.g. Facebook, twitter, etc.) : | |||
| test templates for social media | ✖ NO | ✔ YES | |
| Publication of periodic reports by the responsible organisations, on the following website(s) : | |||
| https://www.sozialministerium.at/Themen/Gesundheit/Strahlenschutz/Lebensmittelueberwachung.html (reporting of data from foodstuff monitoring; game; mushroom, after the Fukushima accident) | ✔ YES | ✔ YES | |
| Additional information |
|---|
| — |
3.9. Emergency monitoring of environmental radioactivity
3.9.1. Other organizations conducting emergency monitoring (not mentioned above)
| Are there other organisations/laboratories/authorities involved in emergency monitoring in your country? | Yes |
| Actor | Role | Technical capabilities |
|---|---|---|
| Police officer (intervention staff) | Radiation survey and source search (foot, manual, ground based, car based and air based (helicopters)); source recovery, emergency worker | Airborne gamma dose/count rate monitoring system; Car-borne gamma dose/count rate monitoring system; Gamma spectrometry system (NaI); Navigation system; Gamma/beta survey monitor; Personal contamination monitor; Personal Protection Equipment (EPD, Passive Personal dosimeter, Self-reading (electronic) dosimeter, Personal protection supplies,…); Communication Equipment; Software (data mapping system) |
| Environmental Agency | IT administration of early warning systems and automatic monitoring systems | |
| Other Intervention teams (Federal state, Provinces) | Dose-rate measurements, sampling, decontamination, sources recovery and transport | Dose-rate-meter, sampling equipment |
| NES | emergency workers, specialized for source recovery, transport and interims storage of dangerous sources | hand held devices, dose rate meters, in-situ gamma spec |
| fire-brigades | emergency workers, on-site measurement | dose rate and nuclide identification |
| Additional information |
|---|
| — |
3.9.2. Mobile monitoring equipment available in case of emergency
| Is there mobile monitoring equipment available in case of emergency? | Yes |
| Type of monitoring | Description of equipment |
|---|---|
| Marine | police boat: "Marine" monitoring on the danube; portal monitore "YANTAR" placed on the boat; gamma and neutron measurements e.g. next to cargo ships |
| Terrestrial | police boat: "Marine" monitoring on the danube; portal monitore "YANTAR" placed on the boat; gamma and neutron measurements e.g. next to cargo ships |
| Airborne | Monitoring by specially trained emergency workers from the Austrian Police with Police helicopters: The system mainly consists of four plastic scintillator probes; their signals are combined to achieve a reasonable level of detection. All over Austria, 10 such systems (helicopters) are in place, four of those are located in the Vienna region. |
| Additional information |
|---|
| — |
3.9.3. Bilateral agreements in the frame of environmental monitoring in emergency situations
| Bilateral agreements | Yes |
| Bilateral agreements | With country | Type of arrangements |
|---|---|---|
| Informations- und Erfahrungsaustausch auf dem Gebiet des Strahlenschutzes) | Germany | Exchange of dose rate measurement values from stations in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg |
| Regelung von Fragen gemeinsamen Interesses im Zusammenhang mit der nuklearen Sicherheit und dem Strahlenschutz) | Czech Republic | Exchange of dose rate measurement values |
| Regelung von Fragen gemeinsamen Interesses im Zusammenhang mit der nuklearen Sicherheit und dem Strahlenschutz) | Slovak Republic | Exchange of dose rate measurement values |
| Frühzeitigen Austausch von Informationen aus dem Bereich der nuklearen Sicherheit und des Strahlenschutzes) | Switzerland | Exchange of dose rate measurement values |
| Regelung von Fragen gemeinsamen Interesses im Zusammenhang mit kerntechnischen Anlagen) | Hungary | Exchange of dose rate measurement values |
| Frühzeitigen Austausch von Informationen bei radiologischen Gefahren und über Fragen gemeinsamen Interesses aus dem Bereich der nuklearen Sicherheit und des Strahlenschutzes) | Slovenia | Exchange of dose rate measurement values |
| Additional information |
|---|
| — |
3.9.4. Monitoring equipment installed in neighbouring countries
| Monitoring equipment in neighbouring countries | Yes |
| In which country | Type and number of equipment | |
|---|---|---|
| Czech Republic | AMS-02 HPGe station near Temelin based upon bilateral agreements | |
| Hungary | AMS-02 HPGe station near Paks based upon bilateral agreements | |
| Republic of Slovenia | AMS-02 HPGe station near Krsko based upon bilateral agreements | |
| Slovak Republic | AMS-02 HPGe station near Bohunice based upon bilateral agreements |
| Additional information |
|---|
| — |
3.9.5. Monitoring equipment installed from neighbouring countries
| Monitoring equipment from neighbouring countries | No |
| From which country | Type and number of equipment | |
|---|---|---|
| No equipment installed from neighbouring countries | ||
| Additional information |
|---|
| — |
3.10. Special monitoring programs
3.10.1. Additional environment monitoring programs (cross border monitoring, monitoring in specific existing exposure situations, etc.)
| Additional monitoring | Details of the additional monitoring |
|---|---|
| Groundwater monitoring | project based, for determination of natural radionuclides U-isotopes, Ra-226, Ra-228, Pb-210, Po-210, Rn-222, performed by AGES every 5 -10 year assigned by BMK |
| Monitoring of contaminated sites | Alt Erlaa, industrial legacy site, groundwater, soil, vegetation and dose rate, reported yearly to competent authority |
| Monitoring of contaminated sites | Neulengbach: monitoring until 2020, sediment, groundwater, surface water and soil, afterwards monitoring at special situations e.g. floodings, construction works |
| Additional information |
|---|
| Sometimes sampling locations and media from this measurement campaigns are selected to be included in the monitoring. For example a project to monitore the influence of neighbouring NPPs to the Austrian environment was conducted. Specific locations were selected for in-situ measurements, soil and grass sampling and their nuclide specific measurements in the laboratory. Now these measurements are included in the monitoring program. Other examples are the measurements of sediment samples from the Danube and fertilizers. |
Part 4: Verifications carried out by the European Commission
| Verifications | ||
|---|---|---|
| Reference: AT-01/1 | Dates: June 25, 2001—June 29, 2001 | |
| Verification target: | Einrichtungen zur Überwachung und Bilanzierung der Emissionen und Immissionen während des bestimmungsgemässen Betriebes der Österreichisches Forschungszentrum Seibersdorf GmbH (ÖFZS), des Allgemeinen Krankenhauses Wien (AKH) sowie zur grossräumigen Überwachung der Umweltradioaktivität | |
| Verification technical report: | Link | |
| Member State follow-up report: | — | |
| Commission recommendations: | — | |
| Commission suggestions: | — | |
| Other remarks: | — | |
| Reference: AT-09/06 | Dates: July 06, 2009—July 11, 2009 | |
| Verification target: | Radioaktive Ableitungen aus der Nuklearmedizin (Salzburg, Oberösterreich) und Überwachung der Umweltradioaktivität (Salzburg, Oberösterreich, Niederösterreich, Wien) | |
| Verification technical report: | Link | |
| Member State follow-up report: | — | |
| Commission recommendations: | — | |
| Commission suggestions: | — | |
| Other remarks: | — | |
| Reference: AT-13/02 | Dates: July 15, 2013—July 20, 2013 | |
| Verification target: | Austria – national monitoring, research reactor, Tyrol, Atominstitut | |
| Verification technical report: | Link | |
| Member State follow-up report: | — | |
| Commission recommendations: | The inspection team found that while the density of the Austrian ambient dose rate measurement network is very high, not all measuring stations in the areas inspected are in the optimum locations according to theoretical criteria. The team is aware that due to the country’s orography it is not always possible to place the measuring instruments in locations which would satisfy all requirements. It recognises Austria’s efforts and successes regarding the improvement of many locations in recent years. It recommends, however, that Austria consider whether thinning out the measuring network while at the same time improving the installation on site and possibly the scope of measurement could result in a system which meets the requirements of reliable measurement information to the best possible extent. | |
| Commission suggestions: | — | |
| Other remarks: | — | |