Protection of the Environment from Ionising Radiation The Development and Application of a System of Radiation Protection for the Environment INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY UNEDITED PAPERS Proceedings of the Third International Symposium on the Protection of the Environment from Ionising Radiation (SPEIR 3) held in Darwin, Australia, 22–26 July 2002, and organized by the Supervising Scientist Division of Environment Australia and the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency in co-operation with the International Atomic Energy Agency The originating Section of this publication in the IAEA was: Waste Safety Section International Atomic Energy Agency Wagramer Strasse 5 P.O. Box 100 A-1400 Vienna, Austria PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT FROM IONISING RADIATION: THE DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF A SYSTEM OF RADIATION PROTECTION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT IAEA, VIENNA, 2003 ISBN 92–0–103603–5 ISSN 1563–0153 © IAEA, 2003 Printed by the IAEA in Austria May 2003 IAEA-CSP-17 FOREWORD In recent years, awareness of the vulnerability of the environment has increased, as evidenced by new and developing international policies for environmental protection, starting with the Rio Declaration of 1992. In the context of ionizing radiation, the existing international approach is largely based on providing for the protection of humans, but this is being critically reviewed in several international fora. It is in this context that the Third International Symposium on Protection of the Environment from Ionising Radiation (SPEIR 3) was held between 22 and 26 July 2002, in Darwin, Australia. The symposium focused on issues related to the development and application of a system of radiation protection for the environment. The symposium programme included sessions dedicated to: ongoing research on the effects, responses and mechanisms of the interactions of ionizing radiation with biota; policy and ethical dimensions of the development of a framework for environmental radiation protection; and the development and use of methods and models for evaluating radiation as a stressor to the environment. Three workshops were held to allow for detailed discussion of each of these subjects. This symposium was the third in a series. The first International Symposium on Ionising Radiation: Protection of the Natural Environment, was held in Stockholm, Sweden, 20–24 May 1996. This symposium was organized jointly by the Swedish Radiation Protection Institute (SSI) and the Atomic Energy Control Board (AECB) of Canada, and the proceedings were published by the Akademitryck AB, Edsbruk, Sweden in 1996. The second International Symposium on Ionizing Radiation: Environmental Protection Approaches for Nuclear Facilities, was held in Ottawa, Canada, 10–14 May 1999, and was organized by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), the Supervising Scientists Group of Environment Australia, and the Swedish Radiation Protection Institute (SSI). The proceedings were published in April 2001 by CNSC. This third symposium was organized by the Supervising Scientist Division of Environment Australia and the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, in co-operation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, and supported by the following organizations: Energy Resources Australia Limited, Australia. Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Canada. Radiation and Environmental Science Centre (RESC), Ireland. Swedish Radiation Protection Authority (SSI), Sweden. British Nuclear Fuel Limited (BNFL), United Kingdom. The Environment Agency, United Kingdom. The United States Department of Energy, United States of America. European Commission. The theme of this symposium is closely related to the IAEA’s work programme on the development of safety standards on the protection of the environment from the effects of ionizing radiation. The IAEA’s programme also has the objective of fostering information exchange and establishing an international consensus on this issue, and its involvement in the organization of this symposium, and the publication of these proceedings, are examples of its activity in this regard. This work is continuing with preparations for the International Conference on the Protection of the Environment from the Effects of Ionizing Radiation, which will be held in Stockholm, Sweden, 6–10 October 2003. The responsible IAEA officer is C. Robinson of the Division of Radiation and Waste Safety. EDITORIAL NOTE This publication has been prepared from the original material as submitted by the authors. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the IAEA, the governments of the nominating Member States or the nominating organizations. The use of particular designations of countries or territories does not imply any judgement by the publisher, the IAEA, as to the legal status of such countries or territories, of their authorities and institutions or of the delimitation of their boundaries. The mention of names of specific companies or products (whether or not indicated as registered) does not imply any intention to infringe proprietary rights, nor should it be construed as an endorsement or recommendation on the part of the IAEA. The authors are responsible for having obtained the necessary permission for the IAEA to reproduce, translate or use material from sources already protected by copyrights. CONTENTS Symposium Opening Speech 1 A. Johnston The development of IAEA policy on the radiological protection of the environment 3 A.J. González 1. IONISING RADIATION AND BIOTA: EFFECTS, RESPONSES AND MECHANISMS Effects of ionising radiation on plants and animals: What we now know and still need to learn (Abstract) 11 F.W. Whicker, T.G. Hinton A regulatory framework for environmental protection 12 G.J. Dicus Chronic radionuclide low dose exposure for non-human biota: Challenges in establishing links between speciation in the exposure sources, bioaccumulation and biological effects. Uranium in aquatic ecosystems: A case-study 15 J. Garnier-Laplace, C. Fortin, C. Adam, O. Simon, F.H. Denison A comparative study of the effect of low doses of ionising radiation on primary cultures from rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, and Dublin Bay prawn, Nephrops norvegicus 25 F.M. Lyng, P. Olwell, S. Ni Shuilleabhain, A. Mulford, B. Austin, C. Seymour, M. Lyons, D.C. Cottell, C. Mothersill A model for exploring the impact of radiation on fish populations 32 D.S. Woodhead Long-term combined impact of 90 Sr and Pb 2+ on freshwater cladoceran 43 D.I. Gudkov, M.G. Mardarevich, L.S. Kipnis, A.V. Ponomaryov Influence of 17-β-estradiol and metals (Cd and Zn) on radionuclide ( 134 Cs, 57 Co and 110 mAg) bioaccumulation by juvenile rainbow trout 50 C. Adam, O. Ausseil, J. Garnier-Laplace, J-M. Porcher Use of genetic markers for ecological risk assessment at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory: Microsatellite mutation rate of burrowing mammals. Genetic markers for ecorisk assessment (Abstract) 59 A.I. Stormberg, S. Perry, M. Lucid, J.A. Cook The use of biomarkers in the assessment of biological damage in the lugworm (Arenicola marina) and the lobster (Homarus gammarus) due to environmental contamination 60 J.L. Hingston, D. Copplestone, P. McDonald, T.G. Parker Statistics of extreme values – comparative bias associated with various estimates of dose to the maximally exposed individual 69 M.D. Wilson, T.G. Hinton Radiation effects on the environment beyond the level of individuals (Abstract) 77 U. Kautsky, M. Gilek The FASSET radiation effects database: A demonstration 78 D. Copplestone, I. Zinger-Gize, D.S. Woodhead Alpha radiation weighting factors for biota 87 D.B. Chambers, M. Davis, N. Garisto Recommended RBE weighting factor for the ecological assessment of alpha-emitting radionuclides 93 P.A. Thompson, C.R. Macdonald, F. Harrison 2. FRAMEWORKS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RADIATION PROTECTION Radiological protection of the environment 103 L E. Holm Development of an international framework for the protection of the environment from the effects of ionizing radiation 110 C.A. Robinson From human to environmental radioprotection: Some crucial issues worth considering 119 F. Bréchignac, J.C. Barescut Radiation protection in the 21st century: Ethical, philosophical and environmental issues: The Oslo Consensus Conference on Protection of the Environment 129 D. Oughton, P. Strand Is there a role for comparative radiobiology in the development of a policy to protect the environment from the effects of ionizing radiation? Comparative radiobiology and radiation protection 137 C. Mothersill, C. Seymour The application of an ecological risk assessment approach to define environmental impact of ionizing radiation 142 I. Zinger-Gize, C-M. Larsson, C. Jones Ethical aspects of the protection of animals 151 L. Koblinger, I. Vigh Development of a Framework for ASSessing the Environmental impacT of ionising radiation on European ecosystems – FASSET 156 C M. Larsson, G. Pröhl, P. Strand, D. Woodhead Development of a national environmental monitoring programme for radionuclides – Sweden 165 P.J. Wallberg, L.M. Hubbard The U.S. Department of Energy’s graded approach for evaluating radiation doses to aquatic and terrestrial biota 171 S.L. Domotor, A. Wallo III, H.T. Peterson, Jr., K.A. Higley Expectations for the protection of the environment: Greenpeace perspectives (Abstract) 178 S. Carroll Uranium mining in Australia: Environmental impact, radiation releases and rehabilitation 179 G.M. Mudd ARPANSA's regulatory role in the protection of the environment from ionising radiation: Licensing the remediation of abandoned uranium mine workings in Kakadu National Park 190 J.S. Prosser Regulatory guidance in England and Wales to protect wildlife from ionizing radiation 196 I. Zinger-Gize, D. Copplestone, C. Williams Regulatory assessment of risk to the environment: Radiation 203 B.L. Dooley, P.J.Colgan, P.A. Burns 3. METHODS AND MODELS FOR EVALUATING RADIATION AS A STRESSOR TO THE ENVIRONMENT Evaluating the effects of ionising radiation upon the environment 215 R.J. Pentreath Radioactive contamination of aquatic ecosystem within the Chernobyl NPP exclusion zone: 15 years after accident 224 D.I. Gudkov, V.V. Derevets, M.I. Kuzmenko, A.B. Nazarov Multi-tiered process in the characterization of a uranium mine waste dump in Lathrop Canyon, Canyonlands National Park, Utah 232 R.V. Graham, J.E. Burghardt, M. Mesch, R. Doolittle Assessment of the impact of radionuclide releases from Canadian nuclear facilities on non-human biota 241 G.A. Bird, P.A. Thompson, C.R. Macdonald, S.C. Sheppard A method of impact assessment for ionising radiation on wildlife 248 S. Jones, D. Copplestone, I. Zinger-Gize An ecosystem approach to assess radiation effects on the environment used for nuclear waste disposal facilities (Abstract) 257 U. Kautsky, L. Kumblad Consideration of biota dose assessment methodology in preparation of environmental impact statements 258 T. Harris, E. Pentecost SYMBIOSE: A modeling and simulation platform for environmental chemical risk assessment 266 M A. Gonze, L. Garcia-Sanchez, C. Mourlon, P. Boyer, C. Tamponnet Defining the spatial area for assessing doses to non-human biota 278 R.C. Morris The RESRAD-BIOTA code for application in biota dose evaluation: Providing screening and organism-specific assessment capabilities for use within an environmental protection framework 283 C. Yu, D. LePoire, J. Arnish, J J. Cheng, I. Hlohowskij, S. Kamboj, T. Klett, S. Domotor, K. Higley, R. Graham, P. Newkirk, T. Harris RadCon: A radiological consequence assessment model for environmental protection 290 J. Crawford, R.U. Domel Evaluation and verification of foodweb uptake modeling at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory 298 R. VanHorn Application of RAD-BCG calculator to Hanford’s 300 area shoreline characterization dataset 309 E.J. Antonio, T.M. Poston, B.L. Tiller, G.W. Patton Radiation doses to frogs inhabiting a wetland ecosystem in an area of Sweden contaminated with 137 Cs 317 K. Stark, R. Avila, P. Wallberg Modelling of consequences for marine environment from radioactive contamination 325 M. Iosjpe, J. Brown, P. Strand 4. POSTER PRESENTATIONS Is environmental radiation protection an attempt to psychologically avoid confronting our own fear? 337 C. Seymour, C. Mothersil The justification for developing a system of environmental radiation protection 341 A. Janssens, G. Hunter Hanford’s West Lake and the Biota Dose Assessment Committee’s screening methodology (Abstract) 348 E.J. Antonio, G.W. Patton, B.L. Tiller, T.M. Poston Aboriginal participation and concerns throughout the rehabilitation of Maralinga 349 P.N. Johnston, A.C. Collett, T.J. Gara Ecosystem modelling in exposure assessments of radioactive waste in coastal waters (Abstract) 357 L. Kumblad Some common regularities of synergistic effects display 358 V.G. Petin, J.K. Kim Towards an improved ability to estimate internal dose to non-human biota: Development of conceptual models for reference non-human biota 365 T.L. Yankovich Significance of the air pathway in contributing radiation dose to biota 374 K.A. Higley, S.L. Domotor The influence of solution speciation on uranium uptake by a freshwater bivalve (Corbicula fluminea): its implication for biomonitoring of radioactive releases within watercourses (Abstract) 382 F. Denison, C. Adam, J. Garnier-Laplace, J. Smith Theoretical conception, optimization and prognosis of synergistic effects 383 J.K. Kim, V.G. Petin Practical issues in demonstrating compliance with regulatory criteria (Abstract) 389 D.B. Chambers, M. Davis Ultrastructural effects of ionising radiation on primary cultures of rainbow trout skin (Abstract) 390 P.M. Olwell, F.M. Lyng, C.B. Seymour, D.C. Cottell, C. Mothersill The application of the U.S. Department of Energy’s graded approach at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant: A case study 391 R.C. Morris Application of biota dose assessment committee methodology to assess radiological risk to salmonids in the Hanford reach of the Columbia River 397 T.M. Poston, E.J. Antonio, R.E. Peterson Implementation and validation of the USDOE graded approach for evaluating radiation impacts on biota at long-term stewardship sites 406 D.S. Jones, P.A. Scofield, S.L. Domotor Investigations on the mechanism of terrestrial transport of radionuclides in a complex terrain 410 P.M. Ravi, R.P. Gurg, G.S. Jauhri 5. SUMMARY OF WORKSHOP DISCUSSIONS 417 ANNEX 423 INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE 425 DOMESTIC ORGANIZING COMMITTEE 425 LIST OF PARTICIPANTS 427 1 Symposium Opening Speech A. Johnston Supervising Scientist Division, Environment Australia, Darwin, NT, Australia Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Dr. Arthur Johnston, Supervising Scientist. Please join me in thanking Mr. Ash Dargan of the Larrakia Aboriginal people, once again, for his welcome to his country. I would also like to welcome you to Darwin and to the Third International Symposium on the Protection of the Environment from Ionising Radiation, or SPEIR 3 as we have come to know it. This Symposium would not have been possible if not for the hard work of the International Organising Committee and the Domestic Organising Committee. The membership of these committees is on the back page of the Symposium Program and I encourage you to take a moment during the next few days to take note of those individuals. In particular, it is appropriate that we recognise the extraordinary efforts of Ms. Sandie Devine who has done such a magnificent job over the past 18 months to make this Symposium happen. SPEIR 3 has received excellent support from various organisations which must be acknowledged. The Domestic Organising Committee was drawn from the Supervising Scientist Division of Environment Australia and the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency. These Australian Federal Government Agencies organised the Symposium in co-operation with the International Atomic Energy Agency. I also wish to recognise the contributions of our sponsors who have provided considerable financial support. They are:  The International Atomic Energy Agency;  United States of America Department of Energy;  Swedish Radiation Protection Authority;  United Kingdom Environment Agency;  British Nuclear Fuels Limited;  Energy Resources of Australia Limited; and  The Radiation and Environmental Science Centre of the Dublin Institute of Technology. The Symposium was also supported by the the Eurpoean Commission and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. But now to what lays before us. Over the next few days, 48 oral presentations will be made, 15 posters will be presented, and 3 workshops will be completed covering the broad topics:  Ionising Radiation and Biota: Effects, Responses and Mechanism;  Frameworks for Environmental Radiation Protection; and  Methods and Models for Evaluating Radiation as a Stressor to the Environment. 2 Many conferences and symposia are proud to boast one internationally recognised keynote speaker. We have three of the highest order; Professor Ward Wicker of Colorado State University, Dr. Lars-Erik Holm, Director of the Swedish Radiation Protection Authority, and Professor Jan Pentreath from the University of Reading. In addition to delivering a keynote address, they have each agreed to act as session chairs and lead the Workshops on Day 4 – so we are certainly getting value for money! We also have about 100 delegates, from every corner of the globe representing, I dare say, a very significant proportion of the world’s expertise in the emerging field of environmental radiation protection. So we have a recipe for a very successful Symposium. However we still need to combine the ingredients in the right way. The subtitle of the Symposium is “The Development of a System of Radiation Protection for the Environment”. I ask that each of us focus on that throughout the next few days, and particularly during the workshops, as it is the ultimate goal behind this Symposium, and behind others that have preceeded it and that will follow. The challenge is to make progress in identifying the important issues, defining what we know, don’t know, and need to know, agreeing on where there is consensus and where there is not, and then close, even if only slightly, the gaps and uncertainties that emerge. I’m confident that we will succeed in meeting that challenge, and also have a lot of fun along the way. On that note, and with the big picture firmly in mind, I take great pleasure in opening the Third International Symposium on the Protection of the Environment from Ionising Radiation and invite Dr. Abel González, Director of the Division of Radiation and Waste Safety of the International Atomic Energy Agency, to discuss the Development of IAEA Policy on the Radiological Protection of the Environment. [...]... [23] This rich history of commitment to the control of releases of radioactive materials to the environment, has continued with consideration of issues related specifically to the protection of the environment itself In the first half of 2002, the Agency issued the first international report on ethical considerations for protecting the environment from the effects of ionizing radiation [24], which is... HISTORICAL BACKGROUND The Agency has a long history of involvement in the field of radiation protection from radioactive materials released into the environment The wording of its Statute, which requires the ‘minimization of danger to life and property…’ [1], may be interpreted as a reference to the environment , as it would now be phrased In 1958, the UN Conference on the Law of the Sea [4] recommended... detail in another paper in these Proceedings [25] Other elements of the Agency’s work are also of relevance to an understanding of the levels of radionuclides present in the environment, and of the practical application of international standards in an environmental context For example, the Agency has compiled inventories of radioactive waste disposals at sea [26], and the first global inventory of ‘accidents... arena of environmental protection Good morning It is a pleasure for me to be here today to help start off the Symposium’s timely discussion of Protection of the Environment from Ionizing Radiation I am sure some of you attended the Forum in Sicily earlier this year that addressed Radiological Protection of the Environment When I spoke at that Forum, I focused my comments on several areas, including the. .. and responsibilities related to environmental radiation protection; notably the United Nations Scientific Committee on Effects of Atomic Radiation and the International Commission on Radiological Protection The Agency continues to work closely with these organizations with the objective of consolidating a strong international regime for the radiation protection of the environment, comprising legally... Assessing the Impact of Discharges of Radioactive Substances to the Environment, Safety Reports Series No 19, IAEA, Vienna (2001) INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, Ethical Considerations in Protection the Environment from the Effects of Ionizing Radiation: A Report for Discussion, IAEATECDOC-1270, IAEA, Vienna (2002) ROBINSON, C.A., Development of an International Framework for the Protection of the Environment. .. the development of safety guidance on the application of this principle In 1999, the Agency issued its first dedicated report on issues related to the protection of the environment from the effects of ionizing radiation [21] In 2001, the Agency updated its standards for limiting radioactive discharges to the environment [22], and issued the first comprehensive generic models for applying the international... responsibilities to the Agency for promulgating standards to prevent pollution due to radioactive materials In 1963, the Agency issued the first international standards for radiation protection [5], and in 1967 revised them with the effect of implicitly affording protection of the environment [6] In 1972, the Agency established the definition and recommendations for the London Convention, one of the first international... for the future Today’s presentations and others during this symposium concern the science of radiation impacts on the environment Our radiation protection standards and are our regulatory requirements are based generally on the best available science They are therefore dependent on the work of scientists – the studies, the findings and the interpretations of those findings Sooner or later, in some... Standards for Protection Against Ionizing Radiation and for the Safety of Radiation Sources, Safety Series No 115, IAEA, Vienna (1996) INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, Protection of the Environment from the Effects of Ionizing Radiation A Report for Discussion, IAEA-TECDOC-1091, IAEA, Vienna (1999) INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, Regulatory control of Radioactive Discharges to the Environment, . Protection of the Environment from Ionising Radiation The Development and Application of a System of Radiation Protection for the Environment INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC. Conference on the Protection of the Environment from the Effects of Ionizing Radiation, which will be held in Stockholm, Sweden, 6–10 October 2003. The responsible IAEA officer is C. Robinson of the. by the publisher, the IAEA, as to the legal status of such countries or territories, of their authorities and institutions or of the delimitation of their boundaries. The mention of names of