EMRAS Research Programme
The IAEA Environmental Modelling for Radiation Safety (EMRAS) programme is an international effort directed at areas where uncertainties remain in the predictive capability of environmental models. The focus is on studying the consequences of releases of radionuclides to particular types of environment (e.g. urban, terrestrial and aquatic environments), restoration of sites with radioactive residues and impact of environmental radioactivity on non-human species.
Drs. P. McDonald and J. Vives i Batlle attended the 4th Combined Meeting of EMRAS (Vienna, 6 – 10 November 2006), with active participation in two key working groups: NORM - modelling of naturally occurring radioactive material deposited or released by various extractive industries, and the Biota Working Group (BWG) - model validation for biota dose assessment.
The NORM group is engaged in collecting and evaluating information on NORM industries, available data (in particular legacy data), and existing models. It is recognised that many environmental models do not consider the full suite of decay products from the natural decay chains. The BWG is addressing a known gap in our ability to demonstrate that the environment is protected. The need for a system to protect the environment from ionising radiation is now generally recognised internationally and a number of national bodies and international projects have already developed assessment methodologies.
Prior to the meeting, WSC had submitted model predictions from PC-CREAM for a hypothetical point-source scenario. WSC was involved, as part of the NORM group, in considering and establishing several test scenarios involving NORM (point-source, area source, Megalopolis, Huelva) as well as the suitability of different models to assess them (e.g. RESRAD OFFSITE). The group is progressing towards scenario testing and the production of an IAEA Technical Report on its results. During this latest meeting, visitors from the World Nuclear Association and the Florida Institute of Phosphate Research (FIPR) participated in the workshops. The FIPR contribution was interesting by providing a different perspective on what may be required for model predictions to assist regulators and decision-makers in trying to best deal with the numerous phosphate stack issues in Florida and elsewhere.
IAEA Building, Vienna
EMRAS conference room, Vienna
On behalf of the BWG, WSC submitted, in advance of the meeting, an inter-comparison of modelled organism dose rates estimated by 11 international models for publication in a scientific journal.
Work on additional BWG publications continued while in Vienna, including intercomparison of activity concentrations for selected radionuclides in non-human biota, and two scenario tests against environmental monitoring data. A timetable is in place to advance this work for submission in peer-reviewed journals in early spring 2007, and to generate a dedicated IAEA Technical Report.
By our participation in international forums such as EMRAS, WSC draws on the benefits of this project and brings them back to the nuclear sector in West Cumbria, including the NDA, and UK regulators:
Maintaining links to international networks of expertise in radiation protection nationally and internationally, at a time when operators and regulators are awaiting outputs from EC funded research and IAEA & ICRP recommendations
Facilitating the alignment of environmental policy with more accurate assessments of a site, avoiding an overcautious environmental protection approach that could lead to unjustified costs for nuclear industries
Improving the reliability of assessments by inter-comparing predictions and validating them. International harmonisation is needed to ensure the credibility of national assessments
Contributing to the development of international guidance on environmental modelling
Advancing knowledge through the production of peer-reviewed scientific publications in the field of radio-ecological modelling
Improving ecosystem radiological assessment models by identifying and reducing uncertainty in their predictions
With the support of organisations such as the NDA in this field, the gain in terms of a credible and transparent commitment to environmental protection, that would stand comparison with the existing regimes for non-radioactive contaminants, is already becoming manifest.