WSC at ICRP Task Group 74 meeting, Munich, 30 June - 2 July 2008
WSC at ICRP Task Group 74 meeting, Munich, 30 June - 2 July 2008
At its meeting in Berlin last October, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) approved the establishment of a Task Group No. 74 on More Realistic Dosimetry for Non-Human Species. This task group is aimed at further developing dosimetric models for the calculation of radiation dose for the purpose of consolidating the international system of protection of the environment from non-ionising radiation. It addresses current status and remaining questions on the ICRP dosimetry for flora and fauna, as established by the previous Task Group 69, which helped to establish the ICRP methodology. The task group is composed of one representative each from the France, Germany, Norway, Spain, UK and the USA.
Dr. Jordi Vives i Batlle (also involved in the Task Group 69) was invited to serve as the UK Corresponding Member of the new Task Group, attending the meeting at the German Research Center for Environmental Health, Helmholtz Zentrum, Munich, in order to participate in the Commission’s work.
Dr Vives’ main contribution to the meeting was an improved dosimetric method for calculating radon exposure in animal and plant species. The work, which stems from a recently completed contract with the England and Wales Environment Agency, is of particular importance because the ICRP has identified that a critical pathway for doses to biota is inhalation of radon, particularly for animals in burrows.
A key outcome of the meeting was a newly established collaboration between WSC and the Institute of Radiation Protection (Munich) in order to model in more detail plant respiration for radon and other trace gases. Additional work is planned to develop allometric modelling of animal and plant physiology for the purposes of dose calculation.
NDA supports leading-edge research at Westlakes
Recognising the important contribution that Westlakes scientists are making nationally and internationally in assessments of radiation impact on wildlife, the NDA has awarded further research funding to the group. A new study, entitled 'Methodology for the assessment of risk from ionising contaminants to populations of non-human biota,' will focus on radioactivity in the marine environment and its uptake by organisms.
Scientists at Westlakes Scientific Consulting will be developing models of the impact of environmental radioactivity in lobster and plankton populations in order to compare radiation effects with other natural and manmade stresses. Westlakes has a world-wide reputation for its fundamental research in this field, and its scientists are invited experts at many international meetings and regularly attend scientific conferences to present their work.
Two recent examples are the International Conference on Radioecology and Environmental Radioactivity 16-20 June 2008 in Bergen (more), and the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) Task Group meeting on dosimetric modelling for animals and plants, 30 June - 2 July 2008, in Munich (more). The head of the group, Dr. Jordi Vives said 'We are developing our knowledge on the movement and impact of radioactivity on ecosystems to complement the knowledge on impacts to Man.
This is a very important area of study, as recognised by the NDA, and this award enables us to boost the research undertaken by the Westlakes Radioecology Group in providing new information to help fill knowledge gaps in this field and to further enhance the reputation of the science performed here in West Cumbria.'
We thank the NDA for generously awarding funding for attendance to this meeting, which is a major opportunity for Westlakes to bring back knowledge and expertise on environmental protection that can be passed on to stakeholders in our area.