The European Radioecology Alliance - Working group on NORM issues

Transcription

1 The European Radioecology Alliance - Working group on NORM issues Maarit Muikku on behalf of the Alliance maarit.muikku@stuk.fi Nordic NORM 2015 Helsinki

2 The European Radioecology Alliance Association the ALLIANCE Founded in 2009 Mission - Integrate research and infrastructure to maintain and enhance radioecological competences and addresses scientific and educational challenges in assessing the impact of radioactive substances on humans and environment 8 founding members, 21 partners from 14 countries

3 Objectives of the ALLIANCE Coordinate and promote research in Radioecology Act as a Research Platform Definition of Priorities Definition of Research Programmes and Resources Assessment of results obtained Promotion and Communication Make its information public Act as partner in future EU funding mechanisms: Horizon 2020, CONCERT project ( ),

4 Interaction The ALLIANCE is one of the 4 radiological protection research platforms existing in Europe (NERIS, MELODI, EURADOS). As such the ALLIANCE has fruitful and regular interactions with those associations NERIS (Emergency preparedness and recovery) MELODI (Low dose research) EURADOS (European radiation dosimetry group) Active cooperation with other associations IUR (MoU), EUTERP, IRPA Contacts and interactions with many others: ICRP, IAEA, UNSCEAR, NCORE,... DOS (Person s dosimetry)

5 The strategic research agenda (SRA) The Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) was initially developed by the STAR Network of Excellence for the European Radioecology Alliance. The SRA sets out to: Define a long-term vision of the needs for, and implementation of radioecological research Be useful to science and society, be shared with stakeholders and researchers, and be realistic A document open for debate with relevant stakeholders

6 SRA Challenges Challenge 1: Predict human and wildlife exposure in a robust way by quantifying key processes that influence radionuclide transfers and exposure Challenge 2: Determine ecological consequences under realistic exposure conditions Challenge 3: Improve human and environmental protection by integrating radioecology Download from

7 Roadmap for Radioecology: Translating a Vision into Reality A first phase roadmap produced by the COMET project and the ALLIANCE Seven topical working groups (WG) have been launched aiming to build a 5-year roadmap and implementation plan for each of the topics and to initiate a limited number of research activities that have been identified as priority in the radioecology SRA (see & SRA)

8 Working groups Atmospheric transfer processes Enhance understanding of transfer processes of radioactive aerosols to soil and biota, study contribution of fog and snow events in transfer models, investigate secondary emission mechanisms Human food chain Improve quality and completeness of radiological parameters, incorporate the human-environment into models, including the region-specific parameterisation, optimise model complexity

9 Working groups Marine radioecology Improve knowledge on transfer processes for marine organisms and on marine transfers in non-equilibrium situation, develop tools to model transport, transfers and radiation exposure for man and wildlife, provide dynamic models incorporating spatial and temporal processes Forest radioecology Reduce the uncertainties in assessments of short- and long-term impacts of radioactive contamination in forested areas through model sensitivity analysis and parameterization of key processes controlling the transfer of radionuclides

10 Working groups Transgenerational effects of chronic exposure to ionising radiation Understand contribution of genetic and epigenetic changes to propagation of effects through generations, determine the molecular basis of resistance/vulnerability gained through generations Intra- & inter-species differences in radiosensitivity Elucidate mechanisms explaining inter- and intra-species sensitivity, identify specific molecular or cellular fingerprints as biomarkers of radiosensitivity, implement powerful meta-analysis among species and exposure conditions Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM)

11 Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) Lead by Susanne Sachs and Thuro Arnold (Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf - HZDR)

12 WG NORM Main objectives Improve risk assessment for existing and future NORM sites. Extend transport modelling of radionuclides into the uncontaminated environments by including chemical/geochemical and biological/microbiological mobilization/immobilization processes (identify and mathematically describe processes that significantly contribute to the environmental transfer of radionuclides resulting in exposure of humans and wildlife).

13 WG NORM Main objectives Develop a mechanistic understanding of chemical and biological processes on a molecular scale and translate this knowledge into robust sub-models, thus paving the way for new strategies for a sustainable rehabilitation and remediation of NORM sites. Create a research platform for NORM interested scientists for chairing and exchanging knowledge on radionuclide behaviour in nature.

14 WG NORM The added value for the society: (i) improved transport models for radionuclides with reduced model uncertainties (ii) more reliable and less conservative assessments of the radionuclide transfer, which represent (iii) the basis for new innovative, cost-effective and sustainable remediation measures of NORM sites and (iv) licensing procedures of NORM industries that provide adequate protection of humans and environment without unnecessary restrictions.

15 WG NORM Starting point: In a number of European countries there are NORM sites of interest, resulting from mining activities (e.g., U, Zn, Cu mining, Upper Silesian Observatory Site) and phosphate industry (e.g., phosphogypsum stock pile, phosphate production plant, pine forest on a sludge heap from the phosphate industry), which may cause health hazards for human and the environment. Sites are under investigation on a national level. No financial funding for WG NORM, each partner currently contributes with own data, skills, knowledge, and financing from other national and international sources (projects, grants, funds).

16 WG NORM Main working tasks of WG NORM

17 WG NORM Tasks and selected topics of interest Task 1: Data generation/monitoring (including sampling methods and strategies ) Compilation of hypotheses and research questions that guide data generation and monitoring Radionuclide fluxes in NORM sites (e.g., U, Th, Ra, Rn, 210 Pb, 210 Po) Physicochemical characterization of soils (TF and K d values and their correlation with the physicochemical parameters of the NORM site)

18 WG NORM Tasks and selected topics of interest Task 2: Process understanding and identification of key processes Identification and parameterization of radionuclide transfer in plants and microorganisms (including radionuclide speciation) Molecular understanding of the radionuclide interactions with simple inorganic and organic model compounds, proteins, cells, bacteria and plants considering their organs, cell types, and subcellular compartments Soil-to-plant transfer of radionuclides Influence of co-contaminants Radionuclide transfer considering redox processes and reactive transport processes Use of geochemical speciation databases and codes to support the interpretation of results

19 WG NORM Tasks and selected topics of interest Task 3: Transport modelling Development of modules for transfer and exposure models that incorporate physical, chemical, and biological interactions Task 4: Dose calculations/predictions Calculation and modelling of doses related to external and/or internal exposure depending on the radionuclides and scenarios

20 WG NORM Tasks and selected topics of interest Task 5: Sustainable remediation strategies Engineering of affine and specific binding sites in proteins and in simple model compounds such as peptides Water decontamination using selected hyper resistant and/or hyper accumulating microorganisms (bacteria, microalgae) at micro-pilot scale and high-affinity chemicals, peptide derivatives or proteins

21 Communication plan Continuing professional development PhD students Workshops NORM session within the ALLIANCE workshop in 2016 (tbc) Presentation of NORM topics at the radiation protection week Sept 2016 in Oxford, UK and at the ICRER conference 2017 in Berlin, Germany Knowledge dissemination Publications (by individual institutes or WG NORM), PhD theses, popular scientific presentations (lectures, posters) etc.

22 Thank you! The ALLIANCE: NORM group leaders: Susanne Sachs Thuro Arnold