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Radiological protection of the environment from an NGO perspective

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 June 2009

J. Barescut  and
S. Carroll
S. Carroll*
Affiliation:
Centrum för biologisk mångfald, Box 7007, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
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Abstract

Non-governmental environmental organisations (environmental NGOs) may consider the issue of radiological protection of the environment differently to other interested parties such as regulators or industry. While environmental NGOs are broadly positive towards the current emphasis and engagement on radiological protection of the environment per se, there remain concerns about the precise meaning of the term, the scope of the system being developed and the ultimate objectives of the current initiatives. Ongoing work on developing a “reference organism” approach to radiological protection may contribute to a better understanding of the possible impacts of inputs of radioactivity into the environment. However this approach may lead to narrowly-defined regulatory compliance criteria that do not ensure effective environmental protection. A more comprehensive approach is needed in order to provide a sufficient basis for developing an effective system for protection of the environment. At the core of such a system would be an ecosystem-based and precautionary approach, drawing on developments and experience in environmental protection across a range of disciplines, industrial sectors and human activities. To be considered sustainable, any future nuclear developments would need to be undertaken fully within the framework of such an integrated, holistic system of environmental protection.

Type
Research Article
Information
Radioprotection , Volume 44 , Issue 5: ECORAD 2008 - Radioecology and Environmental Radioactivity , 2009 , pp. 439 - 443
Copyright
© EDP Sciences, 2009

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