BIOGEOCHEMICAL PATHWAYS OF ARTIFICIAL RADIONUCLIDES

Objectif

The RADPATH project was initiated two years ago under the auspices of the Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE), which is a standing committee of the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU). The project is examining the present status of knowledge concerning the environmental pathways of artificial radionuclides following releases from the nuclear fuel cycle, reactor accidents, spillages or detonation of nuclear weapons. As it is recognized that man made radionuclides contain a very wide range of chemicals elements and consequently exhibit a variety of behaviour patterns, the RADPATH programme is focusing on the more abundant and toxic isotopes.

The project also has a broader significance as knowledge from the study of radionuclide pathways provides valuable insight into those of stable elements. RADPATHS's overall programme is directed by a Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), chaired by Sir Frederick Warner, with coordination through an office at the University of Essex, UK Members of the SAC include members of the following organizations: Soviet Academy of Sciences, USSR; International Union of Radioecologists (IUR), Belgium; Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique (CEA), France; Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, India; Nagoya National Hospital, Japan and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), USA.

The subject is being addressed primarily by environmental compartment and pathway (comprising three principal areas: atmospheric, terrestrial and aquatic), and only secondarily by nuclide. With regard to atmospheric pathways, besides identifying sources of atmospheric radioactivity and physicochemical forms, processes, environmental measurements and modelling are being considered. This work is being coordinated through members of LLNL (USA) with contributions from members of: Bhabha Atomic Centre, India; National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Japan; Studsvik Nuclear, Sweden and various other UK and Soviet institutes and organizations. Studies of terrestrial pathways, coordinated through IUR, (Belgium), are concerned with identifying sources of radionuclides and their behaviour in various ecosystems (namely forests, agricultural and seminatural). Collaborators include: members of Associated Nuclear Services and Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, UK; Lawrence Livermore and Los Alamos National Laboratori s, USA and various laboratories in Holland, Belgium, Denmark and USSR. After consideration of the major chemical, physical and biological processes in the marine environment, the aquatic section is involved with examining radionuclides in fresh waters, estuaries, shelf seas, semienclosed basins and the deep ocean. This work is being coordinated via CEA (France) with contributors from several UK and Soviet institutes and academies; Risoe National Laboratory, Denmark and the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency, Germany. Factors affecting radionuclides in the urban environment, including elucidation of suspension and removal processes and retention behaviour, are being assessed by the University of Lancaster, UK, with collaboration of other UK and Danish institutes and laboratories. Finally, analysis of dosimetry and environmental effects is being coordinated by scientists from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, UK, with assistance from Soviet Academies of Science and the University of Tokyo Japan.

Champ scientifique

Programme(s)

FP1-RADPROT 6C - Multiannual research and training programme (Euratom) in the field of radiation protection, 1985-1989

Thème(s)

Data not available

Appel à propositions

Data not available

Régime de financement

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinateur

SCOPE-RADPATH

Contribution de l’UE

Aucune donnée

Adresse

SCIENTIFIC COMMITEE ON PROBLEMS OF THE ENVIRONMENT BLVD. DE MONTMORENCY 51
75016 PARIS
France

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