STUK supervises the environmental radiation levels of nuclear power plants, report on last year’s supervision has been released

Nuclear power companies are responsible for the safety of nuclear power plants and they also monitor radiation and radioactive substances in their surroundings. STUK’s supervision complements the companies’ own environmental monitoring.

STUK monitors radiation by collecting samples from the land and sea environment as well as outdoor air near the power plants. In addition, STUK monitors the concentrations of radioactive materials in people living near the power plants. In total, the STUK regulatory control programme collected nearly 300 samples from the surroundings of the Loviisa and Olkiluoto plants.  

The environmental samples are analysed at STUK’s laboratory. Methods of analysis include gamma spectrometry and radiochemical analyses. Every year, some samples include small amounts of radioactive substances that originate from the power plants. Last year, the radioactive substances and their levels did not deviate significantly from findings in the previous years and the levels detected were insignificant with regard to the safety of the environment and people. The results of emission measurements reported by nuclear power plants and the findings of the nuclear facilities’ own environmental monitoring correspond to the findings of STUK’s environmental monitoring.

Ydinvoimalaitosten ympäristön säteilyvalvonta Suomessa: Vuosiraportti 2019

Monitoring of radioactivity in the environment of Finnish nuclear power plants: Annual report 2019



Further information:
Senior Inspector Vesa-Pekka Vartti,  +358 9 759 88 593
Media Services, tel. +358 10 850 4761