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Nuke hazards

THERMAL power plants, fertiliser firms and other industries involved in largescale coal combustion could be a major source of radiological pollution. A team of researchers from the research and development division of the Projects and Development India Limited, a New Delhi-based public sector company, have called for regular monitoring of radiological pollution in and around such industries.

The recommendation is based on a decade-long investigation on the extent of radiological pollution created by the burning of coal in the steam and power generation units at a fertiliser plant at Sindri in Bihar.

The level of radioactivity released and its exposure to the population through the flyash produced daily was found to be well within the maximum permissible limit as recommended by the International Commission for Radiological Protection. But the finding was based on certain assumptions that were made for the practical purpose of the study. So the exposure might be higher in different conditions.

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