For appropriate safety assessment of TRU waste disposal, gasification ratios and distribution coefficients (Kd) of 14C labeled [1, 2-14C] sodium acetate were determined by batch experiments for a Japanese paddy soil sample. Approximately 60% of the total added C-14 was released from the flooded paddy soil into the air as gas forms during 7 days shake-incubation periods. In the present study, the paddy soil was contacted with deionized water and well water, and the lower gasification ratio was found for the well water sample. The similar result was observed for the Kd values. Values of Kd varied from 51 to 138 mL g-1. The lower values were observed when the soil was contacted with well water. When the microorganisms in the samples were killed by glutaraldehyde, both gasification ratios and Kd values were nearly zero. These results suggested that microorganisms responsible for the behavior of C-14 in biosphere. In addition, water characteristics such as dissolved ions, pH and electrical conductivity would affect the gasification ratio and the Kd values.

The results of the low-level performance of an anti-Compton device are presented. The anti-coincidence action of the NaI detectors lowers the total background of the HPGe detector integrated on the energy range 30 keV to 2730 keV by a factor 8.1 and suppresses the continuum above 300 keV by a factor larger than 10. Qualitative and quantitative results on environmental samples are described to illustrate the improvement of uncertainties determination and the significant reduction of detection limits. This provides ever more accurate and precise data on natural and anthropogenic radionuclides often used as tracers for environmental studies.

99Tc and 79Se, two long-lived radionuclides, are supposed to be highly mobile in soils, because of their anionic forms. Their behaviours in the soil are often considered only from a physico-chemical point of view, although the microorganisms can affect either directly or indirectly their speciation. This study demonstrates the role of the microbial compartment in the retention of Se and Tc in soil by comparing experiments with soils constrained to different microbiological status (sterile / raw / amended). Kd coefficients for Se and Tc were determined in batch experiments, whereas transport of Se and Tc was investigated through column leaching experiments. Kd for Se was enhanced for the raw soil without amendment compared to the value obtained for the sterilised soil. The retention of Se was higher again in the amended soil. Besides, a biofilm, which can directly retain Se, was obtained at the entrance of the amended soil column. This effect was less obvious for Tc in batch experiments, but was revealed by leaching experiments where a high quantity of Tc was retained in the amended soil columns. These results give strong evidence that microorganisms are responsible for a greater retention of Se and Tc in soil.

In 1986–2009 the dynamics of the radionuclide contamination of the Pripyat inlet ánd Perstok Lake and their biota as well as the set of biological test criteria reflecting impact of ionizing radiation on pulmonate mollusk Lymnaea stagnalis from these reservoirs have been investigated. The γ-activity of biota after the highest level in 1987 (up to 1100 kBq kg−1 wet mass) quickly decreasing. In 2005–2008 the activities of biota in the Pripyat inlet dropped to the natural level, but in the Perstok Lake they remained a rather high – up to 4000 Bq kg−1. Alongside the increase of activity of transuranium α-isotope 241Ám in bottom sediments of the Perstok Lake has been observed since 2006. In the L. stagnalis population in the Perstok Lake the obvious negative effect of chronic impact of radiation was noted. The share of cells with the micronuclei has considerably grown there if compared with the mollusks from the Pripyat inlet. The negative effects mentioned above did not influenced seriously on the viability on organism and populations levels. So, the embryonic mortality in both populations is low and they are capable to maintain sufficient level of reproduction despite the chronic radioactive impact.

In the mid-long-term after a nuclear accident, the contamination of drinking water sources, fish and other aquatic foodstuffs, irrigation supplies and people's exposure during recreational activities may create considerable public concern, even though dose assessment may in certain situations indicate lesser importance than for other sources, as clearly experienced in the aftermath of accidents like Chernobyl. The MOIRA system is designed to allow for a reliable assessment of the long-term evolution of the radiological situation and of possible alternative rehabilitation strategies, including an objective evaluation of their social, economic and ecological impacts in a rational and comprehensive manner. MOIRA also features a decision analysis methodology, making use of multi-attribute analysis, which can take into account the preferences and needs of different types of stakeholders. A decision-making exercise regarding such problems, in which MOIRA has been be used as a decision support tool, was organised in Spain involving the organizations responsible for emergency management and the affected services, as well as local and regional stakeholders and several international observers. The system resulted very helpful in assessing the overall situation and the alternative management strategies and also facilitated the interaction between agencies which reached a better common understanding of all related issues.

Natural radionuclide concentrations in soil samples collected within and around crude oilflow and gas compression stations in the Niger Delta, Nigeria, were determined usinggamma-ray spectroscopy. The mean activity concentrations of 40K,238U and 232Th varied from 30.1 ± 3.0 to 59.0 ± 17.1, BDL to 8.8 ±2.3 and 7.9 ± 3.7 to 10.9 ± 1.9 Bq.kg-1, respectively. The 40K,238U and 232Th contents of the soil samples are very low comparedwith the world average for natural background area. The absorbed dose rate and effectivedose ranged from 6.9 to 11.1 nGy.h-1 and 8.5 to 13.6 μSv.y-1,respectively. The annual gonadal dose equivalent rate ranged from 48.9 to 77.5μSv.y-1, which is lower than the world average of 0.30 mSv.y-1.The radium equivalent activity and the external hazard index of the soil samples werebelow the recommended limits of 370 Bq.kg-1 and unity, respectively. Theresults obtained reveal that there is no significant radiation hazard due to naturalradionuclides of the soil samples in the studied areas.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Peu d’études sur le thème des recommandations de radioprotection que doivent suivre les patients hors du secteur d’hospitalisation après traitement du cancer différencié de la thyroïde par de l’iode-131, sont basées sur une détermination expérimentale de la période effective. Le but de ce travail a été de calculer des valeurs de durées pendant lesquelles le patient doit respecter des recommandations à l’aide d’une mesure du débit de dose à 30 cm le dernier jour avant qu’il quitte le secteur d’hospitalisation. Les mesures du débit de dose ont été réalisées tous les jours au niveau de l’abdomen et du cou pendant la durée d’hospitalisation. Ces points sont ajustés par un modèle mono-exponentiel ou bi-exponentiel pour déterminer la période effective. Nous modélisons 7 situations d’exposition des personnes proches. Nous montrons que dans les conditions réalistes de diffusion le rapport des débits de dose en fonction de la distance suit une loi en l’inverse de la distance de mesure. La période effective est de 16 ± 6 h quelle que soit la localisation de la mesure. Cela nous conduit à un calcul de respect de recommandations n’excédant pas 2 jours après 3 jours d’hospitalisation. Un abaque simple est donné pour permettre le calcul des durées de recommandations en fonction du débit de dose mesuré à la sortie. Ce protocole de mesure est mise en oeuvre dans notre institution et donne entière satisfaction tant du point de vue de l’information au patient que du respect de l’irradiation minimale des proches suivant le principe ALARA.

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.

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.

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.

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.