Numerical simulation of air pollutant dispersion using an in situ tracer experiment at a nuclear site

Most of the current computer models for estimating the dispersion of airborne radioactive materials, which are needed to gain construction approval for a nuclear power plant, are based on the Gaussian plume model. Overall, the Gaussian plume model overestimates the concentration of airborne radioactive materials compared with actual observations. This suggests that the model is suitably conservative to enable its use in radiological environmental impact assessment of the health risks to nearby communities.