The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) has carried out a programme to monitor environmental radioactivity for many years. In 2009, a group of independent, international experts was requested to undertake a comprehensive strategic review of the programme. Here the objectives, terms of reference and process of this review are presented. As background, the legislative framework in which the programme is operated is laid out. The current programme is also summarised. Finally, the main conclusions and recommendations are described along with relevant changes to the programme which were subsequently enacted by the RPII.

We compared parameter values and models in N288.1 and TRS-472 and the doses predicted using them. The parameter values and models for tritium and C-14 are similar. For other radionuclides, the parameter values agree well for soil to plant transfer, and forage to animal products transfer. Agreement is not always good for the translocation factor (for which N288.1 is often more conservative) and for soil and sediment Kd and freshwater fish BAFs (for which N288.1 is often less conservative). Using parameter values from N288.1 rather than using those from TRS-472 results in higher doses for 8 of 9 radionuclides for airborne releases, and for 5 of 9 radionuclides for aquatic releases. For airborne releases, the maximum difference occurs for I-131, where using N288.1 parameter values results in doses being seven times higher. For aquatic releases, the difference reaches a factor of 194 for Co-60, with the use of N288.1 parameter values resulting in the lower dose. Where differences exist, site-specific values for key radionuclides should be obtained through a review of available data or new experiments. In the absence of site-specific data, the more conservative of the values in N288.1 and TRS-472 should be used.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has the mission to protect people and the environment. To support this important mission, the U.S. NRC staff assesses techniques and methods to characterize, model, monitor, and remediate radionuclide releases and their migration through the subsurface. Insights from ongoing reviews of field investigations by NRC staff involving radionuclide transport in the subsurface illustrate the need to test and confirm conceptual site models (CSM). The assumptions and parameterization inherent to these CSMs which affect radionuclide release and transport should be tested. In particular, the unsaturated zone where many leaks and spills originate needs detailed characterization and confirmatory monitoring. A dose assessment to determine risk-informed compliance with regulatory criteria is used to evaluate the need for and selection of remediation methods. If remediation is warranted, the choice of remediation method(s) is based upon site- and source-characterization, modeling and monitoring data. These data should be used to the test the CSM. Remediation options range from highly-aggressive methods such as pump, treat, monitor, and recycle or release; to more passive methods such as monitored natural attenuation. All successful remediation strategies involve monitoring programs to determine their efficacy. This monitoring is coupled to performance assessment models using performance indicators (PIs). These PIs provide a measurable indication of remediation performance and are derived from analysis of the CSM and monitoring data.

Environmental protection is a priority and a constant concern at CEA. Seven centres are subject to environmental radioactive monitoring, owing to their research activities entailing radioactive discharges. The continuous improvement approach helps to optimise these discharges and achieve negligible impact by these activities on the neighbouring populations and the environment. The environmental radioactivity levels are therefore very low and are indeed often undetectable using the most sophisticated measuring devices. These measures provide appropriate information regarding environmental monitoring. In addition, an evaluation of the dosimetric impact induced by CEA activities is carried out annually on each site and the highest levels recorded do not exceed one micro-sievert per year.

One of the major objectives of the 6th Framework EC RTD EURANOS (European Approach to Nuclear and Radiological Emergency Management and Rehabilitation Strategies) project was to improve the RODOS (Real-time on-line decision support) system in its operational applicability. In the first phase of the project two possibilities for the main system development has been discussed: either to carry out refinements in the current version of RODOS or to consider a complete software re-engineering. The RODOS Users Group (RUG) finally concluded that the latter option was one to be realised. As a result a JAVA based version named JRODOS has been developed introducing a cross-platform solution capable to run on most operation systems, including Windows, Macintosh and the main UNIX derivates. The re-engineered system preserves computational models from RODOS, adding a powerful GIS support and applying modern database technologies with flexible configuration possibilities. Furthermore, these new GIS functionalities allowed implementing advanced simulation models for simulating countermeasures in inhabited areas (ERMIN - European Model for Inhabited Areas) and food production systems (AGRICP – Agricultural Countermeasure Program). Both simulation models have been part of the EURANOS project and represent state of the art modelling capabilities in their respective area.

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.

Radioecology is defined as the study of the behaviour and effects of ionising radiations and radionuclides in the environment. Until recently, ecosystems were only considered in radioecology as an intermediate compartment between the source of radiation and man.

Interest in the effects of ionising radiation and radionuclides on the environment has recently increased because of the surge in the public awareness concerning the different sources of pollution of the environment and their effects on human health, the evolution of paradigm by the ICRP concerning the radiation protection of the environment, and the increase in our knowledge in that specific field of research. Radioecology is now a mature scientific domain which is standing on its own feet. Its maturity can be assessed in different domains: (i) Education: with the appearance and development of masters in Radioecology worldwide, it is becoming a proper teaching domain in Higher Education; (ii) networks of excellence: international collaboration are initiated all over the world; (iii) Regulation: radiation protection of the environment is becoming a major point of concern along with the radiation protection of the public worldwide (ICRP, IAEA, IUR,…) and more specifically in the European Union; (iv) Public concern: the public mind is now open for and in an urgent need for more information about the implications of human activities, and among them those producing and releasing ionising radiations and radionuclides, on his own environment and health, i.e. on his personal feeling of well-being.

During the early phase of a large-scale accident with release of radioactivity to the atmosphere, it is essential to notify and inform competent authorities as early and as extensively as possible. Only when the accident is rapidly notified and information is continuously made available in the form of real-time monitoring data and dispersion forecasts are decision makers able to define appropriate countermeasures. The Chernobyl accident taught us that information exchange should be carried out in a harmonised and consistent manner. Although several European countries already had developed automatic monitoring networks by 1986 and in some cases established bilateral agreements to exchange this information, the size of the accident demonstrated the need to extend such schemes to the continental scale. It became important to have commonly agreed international data formats and procedures in place. Over the past 25 years, the European Commission has invested in improving the rapid exchange of information and data in the event of a major accident. For the early phase of emergency support, it has focussed on three closely related systems: the early notification system ECURIE, the automatic data exchange platform EURDEP and the atmospheric dispersion model exchange and evaluation system ENSEMBLE. Starting from the legal background, we describe these information systems in detail with an emphasis on their current status and their planned future developments.

During the last decade or so, the topic of environmental protection from ionising radiation has become a major issue within the field of radiological protection. The change of focus from a purely anthropocentric approach has led to the development and availability of bespoke methodologies for the assessment of impacts on wildlife from radioactive contaminants. The application of such assessment methodologies to actual situations, however, remains relatively limited. This paper describes the implementation of the ERICA Integrated Approach and associated tools to areas exhibiting elevated levels of NORM at Søve in Norway and Wislinka and Kaniow in Poland. In all cases, lichen and bryophytes were found to be the most exposed organisms and tree and large mammals the least exposed. With the exception of Kaniow, Ra-226 is the radionuclide that dominates in terms of its contribution to the total dose rates for all animal organism groups. For plants, Th-228 and Po-210 are dominant contributors. While Th-228 is the primary contributor to external dose rates for all species at Søve and Wislinka, Ra-226 is the primary contributor to internal dose rates in most cases for all sites.

The present work encompasses some key aspects of a 3-year long research project (INTRANOR) where the main focus has been specifically on environmental assessments for radiation exposure through application of existing methodologies and their adaptation to quantify transfer, exposure and effects in Boreal/Arctic ecosystems. Non-parametric statistical methods have been applied in order to estimate the threshold dose rates above which radiation effects can be expected in vertebrate organisms. In addition, industrial areas contaminated by uranium mill tailings and radium production wastes, in the Komi Republic, Russia, were selected as suitable sites to study further the effects of exposure to radiation under boreal conditions. Dose–effect relationships have been established for a few natural populations inhabiting this area. Analyses of data have allowed benchmarks to be established below which no decrease in reproductive capacity could be observed. Other work performed within the project includes the collation of data in relation to naturally occurring radionuclides and application of existing methodologies to characterise background radiation exposures. These dose-rates may be a suitable means of contextualising the exposure attributable to enhanced dose-rates arising from human activities. Finally, combined action of ionizing radiation and low temperature has been analyzed and mathematically modelled.

This article summarises some key activities undertaken as part of a NATO-funded project to map and improve our understanding of the behaviour and fate of radionuclides in the Belarusian Sector of the Chernobyl Exclusion zone. Data are presented concerning activity concentrations of 137Cs, 90Sr and selected actinides and how these data have been used to produce contour maps of contamination densities. Factors affecting the transfer of radionuclides to plants and animals at selected study sites are considered and the geochemical phase association of radionulcides in soils and implications for actinide mobility commented upon. A final important subject for elaboration has been the transboundary transport of contamination by natural phenomena. The influence of forest fires on remobilisation of radionuclides, for example, has been addressed through the application of a bespoke probabilistic model.

One of the permanent concerns in the international scenario is the study of the consequences of nuclear and radiological accidents and other events that lead to the contamination of the environment and the exposure of members of the public as a consequence of this contamination. Decision-making in such situations need to be based in solid technical criteria but must also take into account the actual prevailing circumstance in order to reach optimized measures to protect people and the environment. The Multi-criteria Analysis Method is already being used for similar applications in some European countries but it is necessary that the criteria are established taking in account economic, social and climatic aspects that can affect the selection of protective measures applicable to specific regions, and the selection of the different weights to be associated to the different criteria that are to be applied to different social-politic environments. The present work describes the developments to support the decision making process for the implementation of protective measures to protect the public in situations of radiological accidents in Brazil, the steps already developed and the current status of the system under development, discusses the difficulties found and stresses the needs for future developments.

Since the 90’s the relevance of considering environmental aspects in development industrial activities has been steadily growing. The anthropocentric philosophy of radiological protection has been questioned and research and development on ecological risk assessment has now an import role in overall risk assessment procedures. However, most development up to now has focused temperate climate country biota and cannot be directly applied to tropical climate countries, due to the very different environmental characteristics and biodiversity. A preliminary survey focusing the area surrounding the Brazilian nuclear power plant site has shown that very few of the ICRP’s reference animals and plants can be used to characterize environmental protection in tropical climate areas. The development of such lists and all the research needed on parameter values to fulfill a risk assessment procedure would be extremely expensive, and more pragmatic approaches are needed to turn the process reliable in a more global way.

The new technologies of operative monitoring of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) condition at the bottom seas and search for the lost objects with SNF at the bottom using Kr-85, are developed. The development of the ship low-level background complex (Kr-85, tritium etc.) for radionuclide anomalies searching in the sea is launched also. The purpose of a carried out stage of researches is the development new paradigm of sea radioecology based on a preliminary experimental research of kinetics of release fission products (85Kr and 137Cs) from SNF, with the subsequent realization expedition (including preliminary radionuclide measurements on a vessel!) and modeling researches of 85Kr transport in near-bottom layer for minimization of points of sampling (stations and working horizons) on the hydrological data of expedition area (with use of a fractal formalism). Final result of the project is the conservative estimation of risks to the population and environment at its pollution in case of release of a radioactivity from dumped ship reactor and NPS with the not unloaded SNF.