https://doi.org/10.1140/epjs/s11734-026-02393-w
Regular Article
Study on risk assessment for graded approach to NORM regulation
Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety, 62, Gwahak-Ro, Yuseong-Gu, 34142, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
a
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Received:
26
August
2025
Accepted:
18
May
2026
Published online:
31
May
2026
Abstract
In Korea, under the Act on Protective Action Guidelines Against Radiation in the Natural Environment, enacted in 2011, Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) exceeding 1 Bq/g (U and Th decay series) and 10 Bq/g (40 K) are subject to regulatory control. As of the end of 2024, approximately 450 entities have been registered. While radiation exposure doses for workers in these industries have been confirmed to be below 1 mSv/a. The ICRP recommends that a national list of NORM industries be established and that radiological risk assessments be conducted to determine the justification for radiation protection. The IAEA also emphasizes that the first step in establishing a regulatory process for NORM management is to determine a list of industrial activities to be considered for regulatory control. Radiation exposure in such industries can vary significantly depending on process conditions and material characteristics, particularly during maintenance work and the handling of process residues. Currently, regulatory control in Korea is based solely on radioactivity concentration and total annual activity. However, a graded approach proportional to the magnitude and likelihood of exposure is required. This study investigates domestic industrial processes involving NORM and evaluates the associated radiological characteristics and risks (dose), providing technical support for implementing such a graded regulatory approach.
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© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to EDP Sciences, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2026
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
