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Radioprotection of the environment in France: IRSN current views and workplan

K. Beaugelin-Seiller, IRSN

Vienna IC, 27-29 June 2007

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Our involvment The national context

IRSN = technical support of the French national authority

Research programmes and studies on health and environmental radiological risks

=> foundation to ensure a high quality of our workCurrently, wide research programme devoted to radiological chronic risks for human health and environment (ENVIRHOM) Operational issues in combination

Conception/improvement of risk assessment methodsConception/improvement of models and associated parameters

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Our involvment The international context

EC projects: FASSET (2001-2004)

ERICA (2004-2007): risk characterisation (theoretical & experimental aspects)

PROTECT (2006-2008): concept review and method applicability

FUTURAE (2006-2008): feasibility of a network of excellence in radioecology

ICRP: comittee 5

IAEA: EMRAS BWG (2005-2007), action plan…

UNSCEAR

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The ERICA approach The 4 steps classical and consensual approach

human and non-human, chemicals and radionuclides

Three tiersTier 1: screening

Tier 2: generic assessment

Tier 3: site-specific assessment

Some limitationsFinite list of radionuclides (in 2005, but not more true)

Finite list of exposure scenarios

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« ERA » for the French NPPs A source term well defined

Radionuclides absent from the initial ERICA list

Annual releases known

Dilution conditions

Release characteristics

Temperate ecosystems (FW, SW and T)

Water and air

Chronic (routine) or acute (accident)

Possible underestimation of the radiological risk/ERICA

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Our solution A method (initiated in 2005)

Limited to screening Exposure: unified dosimetric calculation, wathever the ecosystem and the organism (EDEN)Effects: SSDsBackcalculation of concentrations in media (air, soil/sediment, water) for the 95% percentile of exposure

A tool, CARREN (av. end of 2006)

Excel fileimmediate access and results

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SCREENING general menu

Terrestrial ecosystem

Marine ecosystem

Freshwater ecosystem

Terrestrial ecosystem

Marine ecosystem

Freshwater ecosystem

Terrestrial ecosystem

Marine ecosystem

Freshwater ecosystem

Terrestrial ecosystem

Marine ecosystem

Freshwater ecosystem

Chronic exposureAcute exposure

Weighted dose conversion coefficients (relative biological effectiveness of and radiation included)

customised dose and dose rate only

Non weighted dose conversion coefficients

About CARREN

SCREENING: risk assessment through comparison between exposure concentrations and reference no effect concentrations (tabulated values)

objectives

Methodology principles

application area

Calculation

Select the ecosystem in association with

the adapted calculation conditions

* Tool not yet available in English, screen translated for the meeting needs

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Calculation conditions

Results risk per media risk (RN, organism)

Limiting organisms

Input data dosimetric benchmark media concentrations

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Data gaps and limitationsScreening approach

Conservative approachEquilibrium assumption

Use of Kds and CRs

Based on available data Size of data set (exposure as well as effects) highly dependent on:

The radionuclides

The organisms

ERICApresent knowledge: robust ERA possible for RNS

But gaps on fate within ecosystems and effects of RNs on NHBExperimentation: fate and effects for chronic low-level RN exposure for NHB

Extrapolations

If not passed?

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SolutionsKey issue Effect analysis

acute-high dose vs. chronic-low dose rate Desktop study: Acute to Chronic Ratio (ACR) derivation on the basis of effect data for a given wildlife group (eg vertebrates, invertebrates, plants).

external vs. internal Experimental refinement also combined with statistical analysis of existing Relative Biological Effectiveness per type of effects.

One species to another Desktop study: Species Sensitivity Distribution among a given trophic level or wildlife community (e.g. fish).

Individual vs. population Experimental refinement also combined with population dynamic modeling.

Population vs. higher organizational levels Desktop study: Prey-predator interaction modeling and/or safety factors

Single RN vs. multi-contaminants Experimental refinement for mixtures and to delineate the relative contribution of chemical toxicity and radiological toxicity for radioactive substances with low specific activity (e.g. U)

Intra-generational to multigenerational Experimental refinement coupled with quantitative genetic analysis to evidence adaptative responses of chronically exposed populations.

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SolutionsIRSN R&D 2007

Mining context (screening level)Chemotoxicity and radiotoxicity

Comparative risk: concepts and method

Dosimetric calculationEDEN 1.5 available free of charge since september 2005

EDEN 2.1 available in 2007

Possible upgrade in 2007

FREDERICA data treatmentTo update SSDs with new data

To mathematically process data previously ignored as exhibiting hormetic pattern

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PublicationsEDEN: Health Physics, 90 (5): 485-493

Comparative risk:-SETAC 21-26 may 2007- paper in 2007

U ore mining- paper in 2007