Classical beta spectra calculations are briefly described, highlighting the usualassumptions and limitations. To go beyond these usual assumptions, the numericalresolution of the Dirac equation for the atomic and beta electrons is necessary. Thisallowed us to determine the parameters λi involved in the theoretical shapefactors exactly. A systematic comparison between theoretical and experimental shapefactors led us to disqualify the usual λi = 1 assumption for all forbiddentransitions. The usual ξ-approximation was proved to be incorrect fornumerous first forbidden non-unique transitions, and for all higherorder non-uniquetransitions. A more accurate screening correction was defined and the atomic exchangeeffect was taken into account, an effect which is always neglected in usual calculations.The beta spectra of 63Ni and 241Pu, recently measured down to very low energies, arewell reproduced in our calculations. The exchange effect was demonstrated to have a greatinfluence on the spectral shape within this energy range.

In the framework of the Austrian federal monitoring programme of the environment and food stuffs radioactivity in air has been measured for many years. High volume aerosol samplers at different locations in Austria collect aerosols on filter material. After a sampling period of one week the filters are measured routinely with high resolution gamma spectrometry. One sampler is located at a high-altitude Alpine station at 3106 m. In addition, a high volume cascade impactor with six impactor stages (Dp, 50 cut-points at 10.2, 4.2, 2.1, 1.4, 0.73, 0.41 μm, and backup filter) is in operation at the sampling site in Linz. Damaged by a tsunami, from 12 March 2011 on radionuclides have been released by the Fukushima nuclear power plant (Japan) into the atmosphere and the sea. Contaminated air masses were transported across the Pacific and North America to Europe and were detected by the national monitoring network in Austria as well as in many other countries. In this poster we present the long-term time series and activity size distribution of Be-7 in air. Because of its actuality the time series of gaseous and particulate fraction and the activity size distribution of I-131 in Austria after the Fukushima NPP accident on 11 March 2011 are given.

Emergency treatment of pulmonary contaminations by transuranium elements. A new galenic form of Na3CaDTPA.The emergency treatment of pulmonary contamination by plutonium and transuranium elements needs the early use of a chelator, the Na3CaDTPA under monocalcic trisodic form. The local administration ofthe active principle is carried out by an appliance, the Spinhaler$^{\circledR}$, which delivers theactive principle under micronised form without any propelled gas. The French Military Health Service isthe manufacturer which produces this treatment and has studied a modification of the galenic form ofNa3CaDTPA to improve the intrapulmonary distribution. This treatment, without any secondary effect, isproposed even for a presumed pulmonary contamination. Its easy use allows an early administration for alarge number of people supposed to be contaminated. However, it cannot take the place of the other formsof treatment, especially intraveinous, which needs a medical prescription in case of an establishedcontamination.

L’objectif de ce document est de proposer aux médecins du travail des INB, des recommandations pour la rédaction de protocoles de traitement par le Ca-DTPA des contaminations internes par le plutonium et l’américium. Ces recommandations s’appuient sur le bilan des injections réalisées dans les centres CEA et AREVA en France. Elles ont été réalisées par un groupe de travail de médecins du CEA, d’AREVA et du Service de protection radiologique des Armées. Cet article concerne principalement le Ca-DTPA administré par voie intraveineuse (IV). Les autres formes galéniques, voies d’administration ainsi que les traitements adjuvants sont également évoqués. Pour les plaies contaminées et les inhalations, les indications du traitement par le Ca-DTPA sont précisés ; en particulier son initialisation, sa posologie, sa durée, sa fréquence d’administration, les critères d’arrêt, son efficacité et le gain dosimétrique. Une aide décisionnelle est proposée pour la prescription du suivi radiotoxicologique nécessaire à la conduite du traitement et à l’évaluation dosimétrique.

La cataracte radio-induite était considérée jusqu’à nos jours comme une pathologie assez peu fréquente, nécessitant de fortes doses de rayonnement (dépassant un seuil élevé, de l’ordre de 2 Grays au cristallin) et se réduisant principalement aux cataractes radiques des patients de radiothérapie. Plusieurs études récentes portant sur des populations aussi diverses que les astronautes, les survivants d’Hiroshima–Nagasaki, les patients ayant subi un scanner céphalique, les « liquidateurs » de Tchernobyl ainsi que quelques expérimentations animales nous amènent à reconsidérer la question : le seuil d’apparition aussi bien des opacités détectables que des cataractes symptomatiques paraît nettement plus bas qu’actuellement estimé. L’existence même d’un seuil n’est plus tout à fait une certitude dans la mesure où la pathogénie de la cataracte radio-induite serait moins de type déterministe (dommage tissulaire direct tuant ou endommageant gravement une population cellulaire donnée) comme on le pensait, mais d’avantage de type stochastique (altération du génome des cellules cibles, perturbation de la division cellulaire, trouble de la différenciation cellulaire des cellules filles). De manière plus pratique, ces observations sont de nature à nous faire reconsidérer la protection des populations spécifiquement exposées : patients et travailleurs principalement. S’agissant des travailleurs, et si ces nouvelles données étaient confirmées, la limite actuelle de dose équivalente au cristallin du code du travail de 150 mSv sur 12 mois consécutifs pourrait, à terme, être revue à la baisse.

Measurements of indoor radon concentrations were performed in 44 workplaces and 87 dwellings in the region of Epirus, north-western Greece, using electret and alpha-track detectors. Radon concentrations followed a log-normal distribution with an arithmetic mean of (92 ± 54) Bq m-3 in workplaces and (86 ± 52) Bq m-3 in dwellings. In all cases, radon levels were below 400 Bq m-3, which is the action level proposed by the European Commission. Comparing summer and winter measurements, no statistically significant seasonal variation was established. However, radon concentrations measured in basement and ground floor levels were significantly higher (p < 0.001) than those measured in the first and upper floors. A mean annual effective dose of 0.64 and 1.63 mSv y-1 was estimated for occupational and residential exposure, respectively. The reported data contribute to the assessment of radon distribution and dose estimate at the national level.

In this work TF values for 90Sr and 137Cs were measured for reference plants grown in lysimeters containing soils representative of large agricultural areas in Brazil: Ferralsol, Nitisol and Acrisol. These results were discussed in the light of pedological analyses and results from the follow sequential chemical extraction protocol: 1) slightly acidic phase containing readily bioavailable elements; 2) easily reducible phase containing elements bound to Mn oxides; 3) oxidizable phase containing elements bound to labile organic matter; 4) alkaline phase containing mainly elements bound to Fe compounds; 5) resistant phase not potentially available to crops. These results showed that the main soil factors influencing the 137Cs transfer to these soils were: exchangeable K, organic matter and iron oxides content. These results showed that 90Sr plant uptake was influenced by exchangeable Ca. All these finds are in accord with previous studies and seems confirm the vulnerability of Ferralsol and Acrisol to 137Cs contamination


La méthode utilisée en routine pour déterminer une éventuelle contamination par des actinides, émetteurs alpha, est la mesure de la fraction éliminée dans les excreta (urine et/ou fèces). Laprocédure actuelle se compose de deux étapes, tout d'abord une séparation radiochimique sélective de chaque élément présent puis, après préparation d'une source électrodéposée, la mesure deson activité par spectrométrie alpha. Dans un souci de simplification de cette procédure, on évalue ici les performances de l'analyse des actinides par spectrométrie de masse, pour deuxtechniques particulières l'ICP-MS et le SIMS. L'utilisation des trois outils analytiques (spectrométrie alpha, ICP-MS, SIMS) est étudiée sur la base de résultats récents provenant de lalittérature et de ceux obtenus dans le laboratoire. Sur la base de ces résultats, le présent article analyse les avantages propres à chaque technique.

This paper presents a dynamic box model for the radionuclide behaviour in rivers on medium- and long-term periods (several days to several years). The river is described as a succession of boxes representative of its different reaches. In each reach, the compartments are the water column and three bottom sediment layers. Called interface, the first layer plays a fundamental role for the vertical exchanges of solid radionuclide phases between the water column and the sediment. The second layer results from the consolidation of the previous one. Its interstitial water is mobile and the dissolved radionuclide phases can be exchanged with the water column. It is called active. The last layer results from the consolidation of the active layer. Its interstitial water is slightly mobile and it is assumed that its dissolved radionuclide phases cannot be exchanged. It is called passive. In each compartment, the model computes the temporal evolution of the radionuclide activities in the main abiotic and biotic components. The abiotic components are the water and different matter classes classified according to their deposit kinetics. The biotic components are phytoplankton, zooplankton, and fish distributed in planktonivorous and omnivorous species, in water column and macrobenthos in bottom sediment.

Important historical informations on the temporal changes of anthropogenic pollution in marine environment can be assessed using sediment analysis. Dating is a crucial prerequisite to reconstruct pollution events, to calculate fluxes, and thus to allow comparison between different sites. This work presents estimates of accumulation rates of sediments in the Bay of Biscay. Fives cores were collected during RIKEAU 2002 cruise on board o/v Thalia in order to study temporal changes in PAH and organohalogens compounds content of sediment. We compare chronostratigraphic estimates on cores derived from the natural radionuclide 210Pb in excess with estimates from the known times of introduction of the artificial radionuclide 137Cs to the environment. 210Pb, 226Ra and 137Cs were measured directly by non-destructive gamma spectrometry using a well type γ-detector. Total 210Pb and 226Ra activities vary from 30 to 150 mBq g-1, and 20 to 36 mBq g-1 respectively; 137Cs presents lower levels (< 5 mBq g-1). Profiles of 210Pb$_{\scriptsize\textrm{xs}}$ in three cores present a well mixed layer, from 2-3 to 10 cm, in the uppermost sediments, followed by an exponential decrease of activities, suitable for the determination of sedimentation rates. Under constant flux and sedimentation rate assumptions, vertical accretion rates derived from 210Pb$_{\scriptsize\textrm{xs}}$ present a large range from nearly 0.1 cm yr-1 up to almost 0.3 cm yr-1. Differences are mainly due to relative position of studied cores regarding the muddy patch. Although the moderate level of 137Cs limits the accuracy of this dating method, profiles of 137Cs with depth strengthen mean rates derived from 210Pb$_{\scriptsize\textrm{xs}}$ data. The implication of this dating on pollutant inputs in sediments of the Bay of Biscay is briefly discussed.

Coal mine Tusnica is located in South-West part of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the municipality Livno. Coal mine Tusnica consists of two surface coal mines. The first one is brown coal surface deposit called Drage and second one is lignite deposit called Table. The brown coal deposit shows increased levels of natural radionuclides. The highest absorbed dose rate is recorded in the center of the surface coal mine Tusnica-Drage (500 nGy h-1) as result of the increased content of uranium and radium in coal (average specific activity of U-238 is 623 ± 23 Bq kg-1 and Ra-226 is 1191 ± 5 Bq kg-1). Levels of natural radionuclides in the vicinity of the surface deposit Drage in agricultural soil (about 3 km of the centre mine) are slightly increased due to the use of the coal ash and coal dust for fertilization of the land (U-238 is 142 ± 11 Bq kg-1 and Ra-226 is 197 ± 2 Bq kg-1). Obtained results in soil-plant-animal products chain does not show significantly increased levels of natural radionuclides due to the fact that mentioned radionuclides, in general, have a low transfer factors in soil-plant-animal products chain.

Reload of spent nuclear fuel of nuclear submarines and its subsequent transportation for reprocessing may be carried out by the vessel – floating technical base (FTB). Up to 4–5 reactor cores (∼ 1016 Bq) can be taken aboard, transportation can occur for long distance. In case of the accidents with infringement of protective barriers, FTB may be a significant source of radiation hazard. Two hypothetical accidents associated with explosion and fire aboard and sinking the FTB are analyzed. In the first case a source term for the release and aerial radionuclide spreading out have been estimated, in second case radiation consequences have been estimated for water way taking into account remaining protective barriers. Main task of the assessments was radiation impact on population and environment at long distances from the source.

Clay minerals are one of the most important components in soil for radiocesium sorption. There are many types of clay minerals in soil, and their capacities for cesium (Cs) sorption differ. However, the effects of differing clay mineral amounts and compositions on Cs sorption behavior have not been clarified yet. In this study, therefore, we studied Cs sorption on illite, kaolinite, and illite–kaolinite mixtures, carrying out batch sorption test and sequential extractions to investigate Cs sorption mechanisms. The amount of sorbed Cs in the mixtures did not depend on the illite content, but the amount of exchangeable Cs decreased as the illite content increased. Conversely, the amount of fixed Cs in the mixtures increased with increasing illite content. These results suggest that the distribution of Cs sorption between ion exchange sites and fixed sites may be dependent on the illite/kaolinite ratio. In addition, we can estimate the amount of sorbed Cs in an illite-kaolinite mixture from the amounts of sorbed Cs in illite and in kaolinite, and the abundance ratio of each clay mineral in the clay mixture. This is basic knowledge needed for long-term assessment of Cs mobility in soil.

There is a need to confirm that the environment is being adequately protected from the contaminants released into it. In the field of environmental radioactivity, modelling and assessment tools are being developed to assess the impact of ionising radiation on wildlife. There is also a need to fill gaps in the scientific data upon which these assessments are based. New documentation has been produced by the UK Environment Agency to provide guidelines on structuring experiments (using environmentally relevant chronic doses) and on selecting suitable non-human species and endpoints for study. It is anticipated that this documentation will be used to direct future experiments. This paper presents the results of the first of these experiments on chronic low-level radiation exposure on soil fauna. Soil fauna species the earthworm Eisenia fetida and the woodlouse Porcellio scaber were segregated and continuously exposed to one of six radiation doses (background, 0.2, 0.4, 1.5, 4.0 and 8.0 mGyh-1) for a total of 16 and 14 weeks respectively. The endpoints of mortality, number of viable offspring and average weight of an individual were recorded. This paper presents the results for Porcellio scaber.

The metal bioaccumulation levels in target-organs associated with microlocalisation approaches at the subcellular level provide information for the understanding of the metabolic metal cycle. These findings could be used to select relevant biomarkers of exposure and to focus on specific contaminated organelles to study potential biological effects. Moreover, the metal accumulated in the cytosol fraction can be bound to macromolecules in order to be eliminated and/or to induce a potential cellular effect. Tissular distribution, transfer efficiency from water and subcellular fractionation were investigated on the freshwater bivalve, Corbicula fluminea after uranium aqueous exposure. The subcellular fractionation was performed while measuring associated uranium to each cellular different fraction as follows: cellular debris and nuclei, mitochondria and lysosomes, membranes, microsomes and cytosol. In our experimental conditions, the accumulation in the cytosol fraction was low and more than 80 % of the total uranium in gills and visceral mass was accumulated in the insoluble fraction. Main results presented in this paper come from light and electron microscope observations of subcellular fractions (nuclei/debris and lysosomes/mitochondria) in order to validate the efficiency of the fractionation technique. An adaptation of the fractionation technique is proposed. This set of data confirms high differences of fractionation efficiency as a function of used fractionation technique and organs/biological model.

Le technétium, composant des déchets nucléaires, est une source potentielled'exposition des générations futures. L'étude de la toxicocinétique du technétiumchez le rat a montré une rétention par la peau, le rein et la thyroïde (respectivement15,26 %, 0,18 %, 0,03 % de l'activité initiale 14 jours après ingestion),une élimination rapide et importante (82 % de l'activité initiale excrétée3 jours après ingestion).

Une enquête a été réalisée en 1995, afin d’appréhender le niveau de connaissance desSuisses sur le thème du radon. En 2008, une deuxième enquête, basée sur une méthodologiesimilaire, a été menée par l’OFSP. La nouvelle étude a montré qu’environ 40 % de lapopulation suisse a déjà entendu parler du radon, ce qui représente une augmentation de 8 % par rapport à l’enquête de 1995. La majorité des personnes interrogées savaient quele radon provoque le cancer du poumon, mais pensaient que le gaz induit aussi d’autreseffets sur la santé, notamment la migraine et les affections dermatologiques. Parailleurs, les personnes âgées, avec un niveau élevé de formation et propriétairesimmobiliers connaissaient tendanciellement mieux la problématique du radon que le grandpublic. Les habitants des régions à risque élevé ont obtenus des résultats nettementmeilleurs, ce qui démontre que les campagnes d’information dans ces régions ont portéleurs fruits. Par contre, un effort d’information supplémentaire est nécessaire dans lescommunes à risque léger et moyen, dans lesquelles la majeure partie de la populationréside.

L’objectif de ce travail est de caractériser l’émissionde particules radioactives de 99mTc (technétium-99métastable émetteur gamma de demi-vie 6 h) servant au marquage pulmonairedans l’environnement d’un service de médecine nucléaire. Nous avonsétudié les fuites du système générateur de particules radioactiveslors d’un examen de scintigraphie pulmonaire. Cette éventuelle sourcede contamination ambiante a été peu étudiée et une méthodologiede surveillance spécifiquement adaptée reste à développer. Pourmesurer les fuites des générateurs d’aérosols radioactifs étudiés,nous avons conçu une enceinte d’essai transportable permettant decapter les particules et de les échantillonner avec une précision connue,un niveau de bruit de fond très faible et une capacité d’enregistrerles émissions transitoires courtes. Nous présentons les opérationsde caractérisation de ce système et les résultats obtenus avec despatients. Ces résultats montrent que l’activité émise en ambiancepar les fuites du générateur est supérieure à celle déposée dansles poumons du patient par inhalation, soit respectivement 5,7 %et 3,8 % de l’activité initialement introduite dans le générateur.

The objective of this paper is to present the (rarely heard) argument in favour of retention of the present system of radiation protection of the environment. There has been a recent trend in the radioecological and radiation protection community towards greater regulation of the effects of ionising radiations on biota. In particular, the often quoted International Commission on Radiation Protection (ICRP) hypothesis that: If humans are protected from the effects of ionising radiation, then flora and fauna are also adequately protected has been criticised as being too anthropocentric and not adequate for protection of the environment. In this paper I will challenge this view, arguing firstly that this statement is almost always quoted out of its proper context, and secondly that the ICRP hypothesis does adequately protect the environment from the effects of ionising radiations. In view of the relatively insignificant effect of regulated releases of ionising radiation on the environment, the economic cost of further regulation will not result in a significant environmental benefit. Whilst empirical research to test the ICRP hypothesis should continue, until there is clear evidence against it, this simple and cost-effective approach should be retained. This would benefit the environment by directing scarce resources to more urgent environmental problems.

The fifth framework EU project BORIS (Bioavailability Of Radionuclides In Soils: role of biological components and resulting improvement of prediction models) had three scientific objectives. The first was to improve understanding of the mechanisms governing the transfer of radionuclides to plants. The second was to improve existing predictive models of radionuclide interaction with soils by incorporating the knowledge acquired from the experimental results. The last and third objective was to extract from the experimental results scientific basis for the development of bioremediation methods of radionuclide contaminated soils and to apprehend the role of additional non-radioactive pollutants on radionuclide bioavailability. This paper is focused on the second objective. The purpose of the BORIS assessment model is to describe the behaviour of radionuclides in the soil-plant system with the aim of making predictions of the time dynamics of the bioavailability of radionuclides in soil and the radionuclides concentrations in plants. To be useful, the assessment model should be simple and use only a few parameters, which are commonly available or possible to measure for different sites. The model shall take into account, as much as possible, the results of the experimental studies and the mechanistic models developed in the BORIS project. The adopted approach was to introduce in the assessment model a quantitative relationship between bioavailability of the radionuclides in soil and the soil properties. To do this an operational definition of bioavailability was proposed. Here, operational means experimentally measurable, directly or indirectly, and that the bioavailability can be translated into a mathematical expression. This paper describes the reasoning behind the chosen definition of bioavailability and how it was used in the assessment model.