The IAEA Activities in Radiological Impact Assessment

Gerhard Proehl Assessment and Management of Environmental Releases Unit Department of Nuclear Safety And Security IAEA

IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency

Outline • • • •

General background Radiological Impact Assessment IAEA Safety Guides Modelling and Data for Radiological Impact Assessments (MODARIA) • Peer reviews • Support to international conventions • Summary and conclusions

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Radioactivity in the environment • Discharges from • Energy production (nuclear power) • Mining and processing of uranium, minerals, phosphate • Oil and gas production

• Natural sources or presence of contamination • Need to control discharges • Compliance with radiological criteria

• Need to assess • Exposures to the population • Radiological impact to the environment IAEA

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Radiation Protection and Safety of Radiation Sources (BSS) • Basic requirements on Radiological Impact Assessment (RIA) • Basis • IAEA Safety Fundamentals (2006) • ICRP Publication 103 • All facilities and activities giving rise to radiation risks • Nuclear installations • Radioactive sources • Transport • Radioactive waste • Represents an international consensus • Developed jointly with international organizations • Approved by IAEA Member States

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Three exposure situations • Planned situation • Exposure due to planned operation of a facility or activity

• Emergency situation • Exposure due to accidents or unexpected events requiring prompt action to reduce or avoid consequences

• Existing situation • Exposure due to natural sources or presence of radioactive contamination. Need to control/reduce exposure. IAEA

Radiological Impact Assessment • Dispersion of radionuclides • Atmosphere • Fresh and marine waters

• Transfer of radionuclides in the environment • Terrestrial environment • Aquatic environment

• Assessments • Radionuclide concentrations in air, soil, water, food • Exposures to people • Radiological impacts to the environment (flora and fauna)

• Comparison with radiological criteria IAEA

Radiological Impact Assessment

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Four IAEA Safety Guides • Application of Radiation Protection Principles • Radiation Protection of the Public and the Environment (DS432)

• Discharges of radionuclides to the environment • Radiological Environmental Impact Assessment for Facilities and Activities (DS442) • Regulatory Control of Radioactive Releases to the Environment from Facilities and Activities (DS427)

• Remediation of affected areas • Remediation Process for Areas with Residual Radioactive Material (DS468) IAEA

International model test and comparison programme:

MODARIA: Models and Data for Radiological Impact Assessments

IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency

Modelling and Data for Radiological Impact Assessments (MODARIA) • Improve capabilities in radiological impact assessment • Test, compare and develop models • Analyse, evaluate and compile data

• Assessments in planned, emergency and existing exposure situations • For people • For flora and fauna

• Support to fulfil regulatory requirements • Compliance with criteria

• Forum for discussion IAEA

Previous International IAEA modelling testing programmes • 1985-1991: BIOMOVS • BIOspheric Model Validation Study, sponsored by SSI (Sweden)

• 1988-1994: VAMP • Validation of Model Predictions, prompted by Chernobyl

• 1991-1996: BIOMOVS II • BIOspheric Model Validation Study, with SSI, Sweden

• 1996-2001: BIOMASS • BIOsphere Modelling and ASSessment, 1996-2001,

• 2003-2007: EMRAS I • Environmental Modelling for Radiation Safety, 2003-2007

• 2009-2011: EMRAS II IAEA

MODARIA themes and working groups Remediation of Contaminated Areas • Strategies and decision aiding • Urban environments • Impacts from NORM and contaminated legacy sites

Uncertainties and Variability • • • •

Analysis of radioecological data Uncertainty and variability analysis Environmental change in assessments of disposal facilities Models for accidental tritium releases

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MODARIA themes and working groups Exposures and Effects on Biota • Biota modelling: Transfer and exposure models • Models for assessing radiation effects on wildlife Marine Modelling • Marine dispersion and transfer of radionuclides accidentally released from land-based facilities

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MODARIA participants and meetings • • • •

Four year programme (2012 – 2015) 150 participants from 40 Member States Comprehensive documentation on the IAEA web site Technical Meetings • 19 – 22 November 2012 • 11 – 15 November 2013 • 10 – 14 November 2014

• Welcome to participate! IAEA

Peer reviews • IAEA arranges peer reviews on the request of Member States • • • •

Infrastructure Plans and programmes Assessments and methodologies for radiological impacts Technical advice on specific activities

• Reviews Teams • Involves international experts • IAEA has a coordinating role

• Benchmarks of the review • IAEA Safety Standards • IAEA Technical Guidance • International good practices IAEA

Peer reviews of radiological impacts • Accidents and incidents • Palomares (Spain) accident in 1966 (2010) • Depleted uranium after the war in Iraq (2010)

• Operation of Nuclear facilities • New nuclear power plant in Lithuania (2009) • New nuclear power plant in Kaliningrad (Russia) (in preparation)

• Nuclear test sites • Semipalatinsk nuclear test site (Kazakhstan) (2010 and 2013) • Nuclear tests in French Polynesia (2010) IAEA

International Conventions • Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (London Convention, 1972) • IAEA maintains a database of radioactive material dumped or lost at sea • IAEA provides support on assessment of radiological impacts

• Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR, 1992) • Reduction of discharges, emissions and losses of radioactive substances • IAEA designated as technical advisor on radiological impacts • IAEA has suggested methods for estimating radiological impacts to people and marine biota IAEA

Summary and conclusions • Control and assessment are necessary for allowing operation of • • • • •

facilities and conduct of activities Safety Standards for controlling radiological impacts Practical methodologies for assessing impacts Special projects for sharing information and developing methods Peer reviews gives advice and builds confidence Technical Cooperation Programme gives specific support to Member States and regions

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Thank you!

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