Radiation protection research and training programme

European Commission Directorate-General For The Information Society And Media Directorate-General For Research And Innovation

Description

Radiation protection programme: Revision 1988-89 post-Chernobyl actions: Executive summaries
Nuclear energy and safety

Informations

• Publié par: EUROPEAN-COMMISSION-DIRECTORATE-GENERAL-FOR-THE-INFORMATION-SOCIETY-AND-MEDIA-DI
• Nombre de lectures: 11
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 4 Mo

Extrait

Commission of the European Communities
RADIATION PROTECTION
RESEARCH AND
TRAINING PROGRAMME
Radiation protection programme
Revision 1988-89
Post-Chernobyl actions
Executive summaries
Report
EUR 13199 EN Commission of the European Communities
RADIATION PROTECTION
RESEARCH AND
TRAINING PROGRAMME
Radiation protection programme
Revision 1988-89
Post-Chernobyl actions
Executive summaries
Directorate-General
Science, Research and Development
1990 EUR 13199 EN Published by the
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
Directorate-General
Telecommunications, Information Industries and Innovation
L-2920 Luxembourg
LEGAL NOTICE
Neither the Commission of the European Communities nor any person
acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use which
might be made of the following information
Cataloguing data can be found at the end of this publication
Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 1990
ISBN 92-826-1941-9 Catalogue number: CD-NA-13199-EN-C
© ECSC-EEC-EAEC, Brussels • Luxembourg, 1990
Printed in France Contents
Preface v
Synopsis of the Results of the Post-Chernobyl Actions xi
I. Evaluation of Data on the Transfer of Radionuclides in the Food Chain
1 Participating institutes 1
2 Introduction
3 Impact of chemical speciation on radionuclide transfer 2
4 Soil-plant transfer 6
5 Plant-animal transfer 11
6 Transfer in aquatic systems7
7 General conclusions and recommendations 19
II. Improvement of Reliable Long-Distance Atmospheric Transfer Models
1 Participating institutes 23
2 Introduction
3 The analysis of radiological measurements in the REM data base .... 25
4 The estimation of source terms from radiological measurements 30
5 Long-range atmospheric transport models for emergency response ... 35
6 Atmospheric dispersion in complex terrain 41
rV. Radiological Aspects of Nuclear Accident Scenarios
A Real-time Emergency Response Systems
1 Participating institutes 47
2 Introduction
3 Short-range atmospheric dispersion9
4 Meso-scalecn 51
5 Long-rangec dispersion3
6 Source-term estimation
7 Dose assessment 60
8 Summary and future requirements
B The RADE-AID System
1 Participating institutes7
2 Introduction
3 The problem8
4 The RADE-AID system 71
5 Illustrative applications
6 Conclusions 84
III IV. Monitoring and Surveillance in Accident Situations
1 Participating institutes 87
2 Introduction
3 Accident detection networks8
4 Dose-rate measuring instruments 90
5 Measurement of surface contamination with ß-emitting radionuclides . 91
6 In situ gamma-ray spectrometry2
7 Rapid methods of radionuclide analysis3
8 In vivo measurements4
9 Conclusions and recommendations5
V. Underlying Data for Derived Emergency Reference Levels
1 Participating institutes 97
2 Introduction
3 Food-chain modelling9
4 Food consumption habits 103
5 Distribution of food
6 Internal dosimetry of ingested radionuclides 110
7 Estimates of individual doses in EC countries
due to ingestion of contaminated food6
8 Characterisation of critical groups8
9 Emergency management 121
10 Effects of countermeasures on ingestion dose 12
11 Conclusions7
VI. Improvement of Practical Countermeasures against Nuclear
Contamination in the Agricultural Environment
1 Participating institutes 133
2 Introduction
3 Lessons from the past for remedial actions 134
4 Characterisation of the contamination6
5 Countermeasures and their applicability7
6 Food processing 14
7 Further research needs .,8
VII. Improvement of Practical Countermeasures against Nuclear
Contamination in the Urban Environment
1 Participating institutes9
2 Introduction
3 Urban contamination 151
4 Inventory of urban surfaces4
5 The mineralogy and chemistry of urban surfaces 156
6 Surface chemistry and diffusion 163
7 Literature review and decontamination tests
8 Working towards a strategy for decontamination and
reclamation of the urban environment9
9 Conclusions and recommendations 170
IV VIII. Improvement of Practical Countermeasures: Preventive Medication
1 Participating institutes 177
2 Introduction
3 Evaluation of risks of radioiodine release 180
4n of risks of iodine treatment
5 Criteria for iodine treatment after a nuclear accident 19
6 Protocols for people having already ingested radioiodine1
7 Conclusions and recommendations 192
IX. Treatment and Biological Dosimetry of Exposed Persons
1 Participating institutes5
2 Introduction 19
3 Prognostic value of blood cell counts8
4c value of administration of haemopoietic growth factors . . 200
5 Biological dosimetry by quantitative analysis of chromosomal damage 201
6 Therapeutic implications 203
7 Recommendations4
X. Feasibility of Studies on Health Effects due to the Reactor
Accident at Chernobyl
1 Introduction9
2 Exposures in the European Community 210
3 Possible health studies 21
4 Study design and methodological considerations2
5 Limitations of epidemiological studies3 Preface
The Chernobyl accident, which occurred on 26 April 1986, presented major
challenges to the European Community with respect to the practical and regulatory
aspects of radiation protection, public information, trade, particularly in food, and
international politics. The Chernobyl accident was also a major challenge to the l scientific community which had to evaluate rapidly the radiological
consequences of the accident and advise on the introduction of any countermeasures.
Prior to the accident at Chernobyl, countermeasures to reduce radioactive
contamination had been conceived largely in the context of relatively small
accidental releases and for application over relatively small areas. Less consideration
had been given to the practical implications of applying such measures over a very
large area. The Radiation Protection Research and Training Programme was
influential in a number of important initiatives taken within the Community
immediately after the accident. Information was collected by Community scientists
and, from it, an assessment made within days of the possible consequences. This
showed that the health impact on the population of the European Community was
not expected to be significant. About four weeks after the accident, the Programme,
together with the US Department of Energy, organised a meeting in Brussels during
which the data on dispersion of radioactive material were discussed and evaluated.
Several other meetings followed soon after on the transfer of radionuclides in the
food chain and possible health effects. These meetings were carried out in close co­
operation with the DG XI (Directorate General, Environment, Consumer Protection
and Nuclear Safety) within the CEC, and, externally, with international
organisations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the
World Health Organisation (WHO). In addition, the Commission convoked a
Committee of high-level independent scientists to assess the scientific evidence from
current research in view of recent nuclear incidences, to consider the possible
implications for the Basic Standards and emergency reference levels and to advise
the Commission on future action in radiological protection including research. (EUR
11449 EN).
VII Soon after the accident, additional research requirements were identified by the
Programme; these were mainly better methods to assess accident consequences and
the further improvement of off-site accident management. Several existing contracts
were reoriented and new contracts were placed; however, the financial means then
available within the Programme were insufficient to fund the additional research
identified as necessary. A proposal for a revision of the Programme was, therefore,
elaborated in 1986. It comprised 10 specific "post-Chernobyl" research actions. This
revision, with an additional budget of 10 MEcu for a period of two years, was
adopted by the Council of Ministers on 21 December 1987. With the help of the
Management and Coordination Advisory Committee (CGC) "Radiation Protection"
a number of institutes was identified to carry out the research in a co-operative
manner, and the research began in the spring of 1988.
These post-Chernobyl activities have now been completed. Detailed reports on each
of these studies will be published in separate volumes by the end of 1990 (the report
on "Feasibility of studies on Health Effects due to the Reactor Accident at
Chernobyl" has already been published). An executive summary of each of these
studies has been prepared and these are compiled in this volume to provide an
overview of the main results of the work undertaken. The help given by the
members and experts of the Management and Coordination Advisory Committee
(CGC) "Radiation Protection" in the preparation and monitoring of these "post-
Chernobyl" actions and in the evaluation of this summary report is gratefully
acknowledged.
The research undertaken within the "post-Chernobyl" actions has a