Radiological Protection of the Environment and its Implementation into IAEA Safety Standards

Radiological protection of the environment has been intensively discussed in recent years. Much progress has been made recently with regard to the development of models: (i) to estimate the uptake of radionuclides by flora and fauna in different habitats and ecosystems; (ii) to calculate internal and external exposures for a wide range of terrestrial and aquatic organisms; and (iii) in investigating and analyzing the effects of radiation exposures to biota. This paper gives an overview of the current status of this work. Furthermore, the current status of the integration of environmental protection into the radiation protection system is also summarized.Received: 8 November 2013; Revised: 23 December 2013; Accepted: 30 December 201

Radiological Protection of the Environment and its Implementation into IAEA Safety Standards

Radiological protection of the environment has been intensively discussed in recent years. Much progress has been made recently with regard to the development of models: (i) to estimate the uptake of radionuclides by flora and fauna in different habitats and ecosystems; (ii) to calculate internal and external exposures for a wide range of terrestrial and aquatic organisms; and (iii) in investigating and analyzing the effects of radiation exposures to biota. This paper gives an overview of the current status of this work. Furthermore, the current status of the integration of environmental protection into the radiation protection system is also summarized

A new IAEA Technical Report Series Handbook on Radionuclide Transfer to Wildlife

The IAEA Technical Report Series (TRS) handbook on transfer of radionuclides to human foodstuffs from terrestrial and freshwater systems has recently been revised during the EMRAS I programme [1]. The document updates the previous handbook (TRS 364) and constitutes an important source of information for transfer parameters for the human foodchain. Quantification of the rates of transfer of radionuclides through foodchains to humans has long been a key focus of radiation protection. More recently, there has been a move away from radiation protection being solely anthropogenic to one which also considers protection of the environment as recognised by both the IAEA [2] and the ICRP [3] in their Fundamental Safety Principles and revised Recommendations, respectively, both of which now include the need to protect the environment. To address these recommendations and safety principles, the consequences of radiological releases need to be considered in part by estimating an internal dose. To do this, the transfer of radionuclides to wildlife of interest needs to be quantified. In response to the need for a reference source of information on radionuclide transfer to wildlife, the IAEA initiated the development of a TRS handbook, which has been supported by interaction with the EMRAS II Working Group 5, (http://www-ns.iaea.org/projects/emras/emras2/working-groups/working-group-five.asp). The TRS handbook has been finalised and is currently going through the IAEA approval process. The TRS handbook provides equilibrium concentration ratio values for wildlife groups in terrestrial, freshwater, marine and estuarine environments. Wildlife is considered to include all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms including feral species (i.e. non-native self-sustaining populations). The TRS handbook provides IAEA Member States with transfer data for use in the radiological assessment of wildlife as a consequence of planned and existing exposure situations [3]. As an equilibrium approach is presented, these data are not directly applicable to emergency situations

Beamline-Instrumentierung und Experimentautomatisierung fuer ROBL an der ESRF/Grenoble (F)

The Rossendorf research center finished the work (from 1996 - 1998) for building its own beamline for experiments with synchrotron radiation at the ESRF (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility) at Grenoble/France. The beamline has two measuring systems for alternative use for experiments investigating radioactive samples by means of X-ray absorption spectrometry, and materials structures by means of X-ray diffraction analyses. The report in hand focuses on work performed required for the control equipment for optical systems and performance of the measuring systems with respect to electronics, calculation methods, and software. Hardware components of importance to system instrumentation are explained, as well as the basic computing tasks and general software principles, and are illustrated with some examples. The general setting of the beamline is represented in a tabulated overview. The literature list serves as a guideline for detailed documentation. (orig./CB)Durch das Forschungszentrum Rossendorf wurde in den Jahren 1996-1998 ein eigenes Strahlrohr fuer Experimente mit Synchrotronstrahlung an der ESRF (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility) in Grenoble/Frankreich aufgebaut. Das Strahlrohr verfuegt ueber zwei alternativ nutzbare Messplaetze fuer die Untersuchung von radioaktiven Proben mittels Roentgenabsorptionsspektroskopie und fuer Materialstrukturuntersuchungen mit Roentgendiffraktion. Der Bericht konzentriert sich auf die Arbeiten, die fuer die Steuerung der Optik und die Nutzung der Messplaetze hinsichtlich der Elektronik, Rechentechnik und Software erforderlich waren. Nach einer Beschreibung der Randbedingungen und einer Kurzcharakteristik der geraetetechnischen Basis werden wichtige Hardwarekomponenten fuer die Instrumentierung der Systeme vorgestellt. Die rechentechnische Basis wird anschliessend beschrieben. Die angewendeten Software-Grundprinzipien werden erlaeutert und diskutiert sowie an einigen Applikationen beispielhaft verdeutlicht. Abschliessend werden spezifische Probleme bei der Programmierung von Applikationen mit grafischer Bedienoberflaechen in Verbindung mit Geraetezugriffen behandelt. Tabellen, in denen die benutzten Hardware-Module und die Softwarekomponenten zusammengestellt sind, ermoeglichen einen Ueberblick ueber das Gesamtsystem. Das Literaturverzeichnis dient als Leitfaden fuer die Detaildokumentationen. (orig.)Available from TIB Hannover: RR 1847(291) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEDEGerman

The environmental behaviour of radium: revised edition

This publication aims to provide IAEA Member States with information for use in the radiological assessment of accidental releases and routine discharges of radium in the environment. It covers radium behaviour in the terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments. The information presented is relevant to the transfer of radionuclides through food chains to both humans and non-human biota. The corresponding remedial options and regulating aspects are also within the scope of this publication. Additionally, applications of radium isotopes to environmental issues are discussed in order to alert readers to studies that use radium isotopes as tracers of environmental processes. The information could also serve as a basis for remediation planning and identification of optimal remediation strategies in areas contaminated by radium