The Chernobyl reactor accident in April 1986 released some 3-6.105 TBq 137Cs and 2-4.105 TBq 90Sr to atmosphere. About half of this was deposited within 20 km of the site, leading to extensive death of trees and other biota, and the establishment of a human exclusion zone. High levels of contamination remain in this zone. Nonetheless, birch (Betula spp.) and willow (Salix spp.) have recolonised the forest areas, while abandoned agricultural land has succeeded to tall grassland and scrub. This study summarises observations on invertebrate populations in sites with gamma dose rates varying from 0.1 to 140 μSv h-1. Corresponding activity concentrations were 3.103 to 3.106 Bq kg-1 dw 137Cs and 103 to 2.106 Bq kg-1 dw 90Sr in the top 5 cm of soil. Sub-surface bait lamina penetration decreases with increasing concentrations of 137Cs and 90Sr in soil. At the highest levels of contamination there is also some loss of above-ground invertebrate diversity; although little change in total biomass. Trials on earthworms in soils from the region and matched soils spiked in the laboratory have proved variable. However, there is a non-significant indication of depressed growth rates in all contaminated regimes compared to control populations.

In June 2009, the 5-year multi-national project EURANOS, funded by the EuropeanCommission in its 6th Framework Programme, reached its end, achieving most of theobjectives addressed in the work programme. Partners from 23 European countriesintegrating 17 national emergency management organisations with 33 research institutes,aimed to enhance the preparedness for Europe’s response to any radiation emergency andlong term contamination. Three handbooks to assist national and local authorities in themanagement of contaminated food production systems, inhabited areas and contaminateddrinking water resources in Europe were developed in conjunction with a wide range ofEuropean stakeholders. Further guidance was prepared to support the decision making teamin the lifting of early phase countermeasures. A governance framework for the sustainablerehabilitation of long term contaminated territories was developed and tested in Franceand in Norway. Considerable progress was made in developing a consistent set of models forcalculating the best estimate of the current radiological situation in both contaminatedagricultural and inhabited areas. These models were integrated in both the ARGOS and theRODOS decision support systems. Decision aiding components were improved to support theselection of management options with the help of multi criteria decision analysisprocedures. A mass consistent wind field model was implemented together with a particlemodel for complex terrain. The migration of RODOS (Real-time On-line Decision SupportSystem) to the operating system LINUX was completed. RODOS was completely re-engineered,taking into account the users’ recommendations from the demonstration projects andfeedback from its operational use. This new version will build the kernel for theoperational RODOS release in 2010 and new research activities related to the futureimprovement of RODOS.

Uranium and related decay-chain radionuclides remain important subjects of study for a number of reasons. Uranium has the potential to be chemically toxic near mining and processing facilities, and the decay-chain radionuclides can contribute substantially to radiation dose. Establishing an air quality standard for U in Canada has also been tentatively based on its accumulation and toxicity in soil. This paper summarizes two studies. The first investigated the mobility in soil, uptake by plants and ecotoxicity of U near a U refining facility. Because of the presence of co-contaminants, a large number of other elements were measured to fully characterize the samples. In general, the soil solid/liquid partition coefficients, Kd, for U were high enough that leaching is not a dominant process. Plant/soil concentration ratios (CRs) were not consistently different compared to background sites. The second study measured plant/soil CRs for 210Pb, 210Po, 226Ra, 228Ra, 228Th, 230Th, 232Th and 238U on a series of sites across Canada, with emphasis on background sites with possible human food-chain connections. Secular equilibrium was rarely observed, especially in plants.

This work is based on the describing a new approach in estimation of Concentration Factor (CF) for marine organisms radionuclides uptake. We considered the dependence of CF from the water salinity (determining the K+ and Ca2+ ions). The radionuclide uptake by the marine biota of Dnieper-Bug Estuary using the numerical compartment-model POSEIDON-R with latest modifications was applied. The levels of radionuclides in the different marine organisms, representing the various types of marine organisms in the different trophic levels of the foodweb, were calculated. The uptake model takes into account both the uptake of radionuclides via food consumption, by describing the predator-prey relations, and the direct uptake of radionuclides from the water via the gills. The influence of the K+ and Ca2+ ions, competitive ions against 137Cs+, 90Sr2+ ions respectively, on the uptake rate was investigated.

The key issue in the assessment system for radiation protection of wildlife is the establishment of dose-effects relationships for reference representatives of natural biota. Within the frame of the EC Project EPIC “Environmental Protection from Ionizing Contaminants" (2000-2003), a database has been created, which includes about 1600 records from 440 publications in Russian on the dose-effects relationships in wildlife from northern-temperate climatic zones. The EPIC database “Radiation effects on biota" is based on Russian/FSU experimental and field studies; chronic/lifetime exposures are the focus of the data collection. The database information covers a very wide range of radiation dose rates to biota: from below 1E(-5) Gy d-1 up to more than 1 Gy d-1. A great variety of radiation effects are registered in the EPIC database, from stimulation at low doses up to death from acute radiation syndrome at high doses. The paper presents the dose-effects relationships for northern wildlife in the conditions of low-LET chronic irradiation. The system of dose-effects relationships forms the scale of severity of radiation effects at increasing levels of chronic radiation exposure. The system can be used as a basis for establishing criteria for radiation protection of the Northern wildlife.

Three handbooks have been developed, in conjunction with a wide range of stakeholders toassist in the management of contaminated food production systems, inhabited areas anddrinking water following a radiological incident. The handbooks are aimed at national andlocal authorities, central government departments and agencies, emergency services,radiation protection experts, the agriculture and food production sectors, industry andothers who may be affected. The handbooks include management options for application inthe different phases of an incident. Sources of contamination considered in the handbooksinclude nuclear accidents and radiological dispersion devices; the most relevantradionuclides are included. The handbooks are divided into several sections which providesupporting scientific and technical information; an analysis of the factors influencingrecovery; compendia of comprehensive, state-of-the-art datasheets for around 100management options and guidance on planning in advance. A decision-aiding frameworkcomprising colour coded selection tables, look-up tables and decision trees and severalworked examples are also included. The handbooks can be used as a preparatory tool, undernon-crisis conditions, to engage stakeholders and to develop local and regional plans. Thehandbooks can also be applied as part of the decision-aiding process to develop a recoverystrategy following an incident. In addition, the handbooks are useful for trainingpurposes and during emergency exercises. To realise their full potential, the handbooksshould be customised at national, regional and local levels.

Cellular growth and intracellular concentrations of selenite in the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii showed considerable variability between replicates at ambient concentrations of Se that became toxic to the alga. However, growth inhibition was well correlated to the cellular quota of selenite; the correlation between absorbed selenite and toxicity was better than the simple correlation between ambient selenite and toxicity usually used to express metal toxicity, suggesting selenite toxicity is mainly linked to intracellular accumulation. It is usually expected that effects of contaminants on organisms depend on internal concentrations. These results confirm this hypothesis.

A few neutron field spectrometry techniques are presented, namely those having impact on neutron dosimetry and using active detectors: spectrometry using recoil-proton techniques (liquidscintillation spectrometer and proportional counter) or 3He-filled proportional counters, as well as spectrometry using moderator techniques (Bonner spheres). Results obtained with thesetechniques are shown and compared. It is concluded that in most cases, at least when radiation protection applications alone are of interest, it is sufficient to use a Bonner sphere spectrometer.

Ecological Risk Assessment is used to evaluate the potential hazards to the environment that are attributable to emissions of pollutants from industries. There is guidance available regarding the general ecological risk assessment process including problem formulation, exposure and effect analyses, and risk characterization. In a first step, the Screening-Level Ecological Risk Assessment (SLERA) is used to evaluate whether the emissions can put the receptor ecosystems at risk or not. Concerning releases from nuclear facilities under authorization, any SLERA is a challenging task because of (1) the large number of substances, (2) the various quantities that may be emitted to the aquatic ecosystems and (3) the various environmental situations to be considered. This task must be performed for two categories of pollutants, radionuclides and chemicals, each exhibiting specificities in terms of concentration in media or dose-effect relationships. Since these relationships for radioactive substances are based on the tissue-absorbed dose in Gray, the first step is to express critical exposure values to radionuclides in a consistent way with the critical concentration used for chemicals. We describe here the screening and ranking method that was developed and an application to the electronuclear sites along the Rhône River.

Natural radioactivity is associated with the vast mineral resources in South Africa in such concentrations that the radionuclides from the natural uranium and thorium decay series are found to pose concern for public exposure to communities living around these areas. The radiological impact of all operations is monitored as part of the license obligations, imposed by the South African National Nuclear Regulator Act [1]. Two main pathways giving rise to significant exposures are of interest: (a) direct ingestion resulting from regular and continuous use of contaminated water for drinking purposes, and (b) regular consumption of fish and other food products harvested from and/or grown in contaminated areas. To measure the individual nuclides in foodstuffs at the required sensitivity level in order to evaluate the yearly dose due to an individual source at a screening level of 25 μSv/a, one is faced with a required lower limit of determination (LLD) of 0.1 to 0.5 Bq/kg for certain foodstuffs. For some of the nuclides this LLD can only be obtained with radiochemical separation through acid destruction of dried foodstuffs followed by individual element separations. In this study the digestion of foodstuffs in an open-vessel microwave system followed by the determination of 210Po through radiochemical separation by spontaneous deposition onto silver discs and subsequent measurement by α-spectrometry, has been evaluated. The levels of 210Po in a variety of foodstuffs were determined and the estimated dose for the adult age group, resulting from consumption was evaluated. The dose from 210Po varied from 4 to 250 μSv/a for the various foodstuffs, with the largest intake from fish (about 0.5 Bq/day). The assessment of natural radionuclides in foods allowed us to evaluate the items that present the highest risk to the population, and compare this to the limits established by the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR). Not much data of this kind is available in South Africa. However, one would need more accurate consumption/intake values to calculate the actual yearly dose and the potential radiological impact on the public.

One of the tasks of the European Commission (EC) under the Euratom Treaty is to collect, validate and provide information about the levels of radioactivity in the environment. In order to offer to the public a more balanced view on the annual dose that it may receive from environmental radioactivity, a few years ago we decided to explore the feasibility of preparing a European Atlas of Natural Radiation. By now 21 European countries have already provided indoor radon data, and efforts continue to extend this information to more countries. In addition, we started to investigate the feasibility of a “geogenic radon map”, which would show “what earth delivers” in terms of potential radon hazard. In this paper we present the current state of the art of preparing the Atlas and provide detailed statistics for the results already obtained. The current efforts are still focussed on radon, but also progress on other components, such as cosmic rays and terrestrial gamma radiation, will be presented and discussed.

More than 200 data sets from the literature of measured time series of activity concentrations and transfer factors concerning: (1) soil, green plants, mushrooms, and game in forests and (2) water, particulate matter, and fish in rivers, reservoirs and lakes in Europe have been analyzed. We used a sum of up to 3 exponential functions to evaluate ecological half-times (T$_{\scriptsize\textrm{eco}}$). In fresh water systems we fitted lognormal distributions of T$_{\scriptsize\textrm{eco}}$ for 137Cs (e.g. in the water of 32 European lakes, T$_{\scriptsize\textrm{eco}1}$ = (0.3*2.2$^{\pm 1}$) years and T$_{\scriptsize\textrm{eco}2}$ = (5.7*3.9$^{\pm 1}$) years as geometric mean value and standard deviation). Pronounced seasonal variations were observed in suspended matter of Lake Lugano, reflecting the bio-mass cycle of this lake. In forests, ecological half-times for 137Cs can also be fitted by a lognormal distribution. For Central Europe T$_{\scriptsize\textrm{eco}}\:<$ 12 years. Extraordinarily high 137Cs activity concentrations were observed recently in wild boar in Germany. For Eastern Europe the physical half-time is dominant and in some components of the ecosystem the activity concentration is still increasing.


The study presented here, being its main goal to evaluate the behaviour of natural radionuclides in coal combustion, is part of a wider study carried out by CIEMAT and the University of Extremadura (UEX). The research is addressed to the radiological evaluation of the workers and the public as a result of the operation of the four biggest Spanish Coal-Fired Power Plants (CFPPs). Some generally used effects were confirmed in this study, as the difference in concentration of 210Po in fly and bottom-ashes. Enrichment factors relative to 40K as defined by UNSCEAR were found to be a little different than expected. 210Po enrichment was found in gypsum (material obtained as a by-product in the desulphuration process). In order to confirm the assumption considered to explain difference in 232Th activity concentration between bottom and fly ashes, carbon content was measured, obtaining that it should be reviewed.

In 2011 the IRSN conducted several assessments of atmosphericradioactive releases due to the Fukushima Daiichi NPP accident (March11, 2011) and of their impact on Japan’s terrestrial environment.They were based on the IRSN’s emergency management tools and onthe abundant information and technical data gradually publishedin Japan. According to these assessments, the main release phaselasted from March 12 to 25, 2011 and impacted Japanese land in twoevents, the first on 15 and 16 March, in which the main radioactivedeposits were formed, and the second from March 20 to 23, whichwas less significant. The highest amounts of radioactive deposits werefound in an area extending upwards of several tens of kilometersnorthwest of the plant. Lower amounts were discontinuously scatteredin an area extending up to over 250 km away. Initially composedmainly of short-lived radionuclides, the deposits’ activity sharplydecreased in the subsequent weeks. Since the summer of 2011, cesium-134and cesium-137 have become the residual deposits’ main components.According to IRSN estimates, in the absence of protection, the dosesdue to exposure to the radioactive plume during the atmosphericrelease phase may have been potentially higher for people who remainedin coastal areas up to several tens of kilometers north and southof the damaged plant. Thereafter, people living up to 50 km northwestof the plant, outside the 20-km emergency evacuation zone, were potentiallymost vulnerable to residual radioactive deposits over time.

The natural γ-radiation in samples of a variety of marblesimported into Bangladesh for use in building construction was measured,employing γ-ray spectrometry with a HPGe detector. From the measuredγ-ray spectra, activity concentrations were determined for 226Ra(29.31 ± 2.06 to 46.99 ± 2.97 Bq.kg–1), 232Th (42.91± 2.53 to 62.92 ± 3.37 Bq.kg–1) and 40K (824.42± 15.42 to 1071.58 ± 20.14 Bq.kg–1). The measured activityconcentrations for these natural radionuclides were compared withthe reported data of other countries and with the world averageactivity of soil. The radium equivalent activity (Raeq),the hazard indices, the gamma activity concentration index, theindoor absorbed dose rate and the corresponding annual effectivedose were estimated for the potential radiological hazard of themarble. The Raeq values of all marble samples are lowerthan the limit of 370 Bq.kg–1, equivalent to a dose of1.5 mSv.y–1. The average values of the external and internalhazard indices are less than unity. The average indoor absorbeddose rate (121.25 nGy.h–1) is higher than the population-weightedaverage of 84 nGy.h–1, whereas the corresponding annualdose limit falls within an average value of 0.60 mSv, which is anorder of magnitude below the limit specified for building materialsin the literature. The present results indicate that using marblein building construction in Bangladesh does not pose any significant radiologicalhazard.

An aluminum processing plant, which is located at the Antikyra Bay, at the northern margin of Corinth Gulf, is producing a high radioactive contamination in the marine environment, due to the discharge of bauxitic red mud tailings. The levels and the distribution of 238U, 232Th, 226Ra, 40K and 137Cs in marine sediments of the area have been determined. The results indicate that the seafloor of Antikyra bay and the basin of Gulf of Corinth are highly contaminated with 238U, 232Th and 226Ra. On the contrary, the red mud tailings induce depletion to the 40K and 137Cs concentrations in the area.

Dans le cadre d’une réflexion sur l’impact environnemental et sanitaire du tritium, un séminaire a été organisé par les experts de l’article 31 du traité Euratom en novembre 2007 à Luxembourg. Son objectif était de préciser les axes de recherches et développement et de déterminer des points réglementaires qui devaient être revus compte tenu de l’évolution des connaissances. Cet article présente les informations relatives aux sources et stocks actuels de tritium, rappelle succinctement les différentes techniques de mesure utilisables en considérant l’ensemble des besoins d’analyses, et présente à grand traits les connaissances principales et les incertitudes associées sur les transferts entre compartiments de la biosphère en conditions normales et accidentelles.

Ca-DTPA was used for the medical treatment of plutonium and americium contaminations in the CEA and AREVA plants from 1970 to 2003. This report is a survey of the administered injections of Ca-DTPA as a chelating molecule. This report will be part of the registration process for Ca-DTPA by intravenous administration, submitted by the Pharmacie Centrale des Armées. Out of 1158 injections administered to 469 persons, 548 events of possible or confirmed contaminations were reported. These employees were followed by occupational physicians according to the current regulations. The first part of the report is a summary of the most recent findings. Due to its short biological period and its limited action in the blood, Ca-DTPA does not chelate with plutonium and americium as soon as these elements are deposited in the target organs. This justifies an early treatment, even in cases of suspected contamination, followed by additional injections, if necessary. The second part presents data concerning these 1158 injections (contamination routes, posology, adverse effects, ...). These incidents took place at work, were most often minor, and did not require follow-up treatment. A study concerning the efficacy of the product was conducted on a group of people having received 5 or more injections. These results were compared with the efficacy theoretically estimated. Posologies and therapeutic recommendations were proposed based on these observations. Additional studies are needed to confirm these findings. This document is the first summary in this field. It is the result of the collaboration of the occupational medical departments, the laboratories of the CEA and the AREVA and a working group CEA-AREVA-SPRA.

A comparative assessment of physiological and cygotenetical parameters in Lymnaea stagnalis populations from Perstok lake and the inlet of Pripyat river with the highest in Belarus and moderate levels of radioactive contamination have been carried out. In 2004 f γ-activity of snails from river and lake amounted to 39.2 and 567.8 Bq kg-1, respectively, and β-activity - to 123.4 and 7055 Bq kg-1 respectively. Snails from the lake were characterized by the increase of the cells with cytogenetic damages (micronuclei) and by the decrease of cells with interphase death and proportion of young cells in hemolymph. It indicates the unfavourable environmental conditions in the lake due to increased level of radioactive contamination. Nevertheless, the embryonic mortality in the progeny of the snails from lake was lower and the average population radioresistance of snails much higher than that in the river indicating intensification of the radioadaptation processes in populations from the lake.

Uranium is known for both chemical and radiologicaltoxicity. East Singhbhum is known for uranium mining, and radionuclidescan be expected in its groundwater. Groundwater was collected aroundtwo proposed sites of Bagjata and Banduhurang and analysed for U(nat).The study reveals that the U(nat) varied from <0.5–11.2 and <0.5–27.5 µg.L-1 for the Bagjata and Banduhurang mining areas, respectively.The excess lifetime cancer risk due to the consumption of uraniumin water was calculated to be in the range of 8.81 × 10-6 to4.34 × 10-5 and 3.36 × 10-6 to 9.55 × 10-5 forthe two study areas, which are within the acceptable cancer riskvalue of 1 × 10-4. However, the risk at a few locationsis very close to the threshold value. The chemical risk evaluatedby the hazard quotient was found to be within 0.05–0.23 and 0.02–0.6for the two study areas and did not exceed the limit of 1. Thus,the concentration of U(nat) in the groundwater presently does notpose any serious threat to local people but must be monitored periodicallyand adequate actions must be taken in the few areas with elevatedlevels of uranium in the groundwater.